Sustainable Gardens

Everyone can garden in a more sustainable manner; here are a few thoughts and ideas:

• Don’t over water your lawn; consider using a hose instead of a sprinkler.

• Have a water butt installed to reduce run-off from your roof, and use the water on your garden.

• Use pesticides & fertilisers sparingly.  Better still, use organic mulch or safer, natural pest controls whenever possible.

• Compost or mulch garden waste.

• Plant and encourage native species, and species that attract native wildlife

• Provide food & water for birds & animals, particularly at times of drought or other hardship.

• Use local & renewable materials, preferably recycled.

• Utilise an area of your garden for the production of organic fruit and vegetables.

There are more than 15 million gardens in the UK and these already provide a very important home for wildlife. But they could be far more valuable still if more people gardened with wildlife in mind.

	Dig 2 Discover ideas for outdoor learning
	RHS Gardening for All sharing expertise to help you in your garden, at home and at school.
	Forum for Gardening with Wildlife in Mind bringing together a wide variety of organisations and individuals with an interest in gardens and gardening.
	Wild About Gardens a joint project between The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society, bringing together the worlds of gardening and nature conservation
	Landlife Wildflowers a charitable organisation growing & selling native wildflower seeds, wildflower grass and books online
	The Organic Gardening Catalogue organic seeds for vegetables, heritage and modern varieties, herbs, flowers and green manures, organic composts and fertilisers, biological pest controls, organic gardening books and gifts
	Biological pest controls by mail order