A pioneer with the eggs and bacon

There are many aspects of wildlife-friendly gardening that can be done within the bounds of conventional gardening.

However, there are some areas where I feel we need to break the boundaries and challenge convention, where we redefine what is thought of as normal.

So I was delighted to receive an email from one of my RSPB colleagues up in Scotland, Toby Wilson, telling me what he has done with his front lawn which is bold and I would say very beautiful. 

What happened is that, a couple of years ago, Toby noticed a little patch of Bird's-foot Trefoil growing in his lawn. If you don't know it, it is that glorious low-growing plant in the pea family with clover-like leaves and whorls of yellow flowers that, in bud, are flushed with red, hence the name I knew it by as a kid - Eggs-and-Bacon.

It grows in short grass, especially on downland and near the sea, and is not only great for nectaring bees but its foliage is munched upon by the caterpillars of Common Blue butterflies (above) plus several attractive day-flying moths, including Six-spot Burnet, Burnet Companion and Mother Shipton (below), whose wing markings are said to look like the knarled face of the 16th century prophetess of the same name.

Based on just that one little clump of Trefoil, Toby stopped mowing between May and August and without any further intervention it has expanded to glorify the whole lawn. He also sowed some Yellow Rattle, by simply scattering some seeds and it has also taken well.

Now there is some apprehension in Toby's household as to what the neighbours might think, but I'd say that's all part of being a pioneer. The results in the 48 seconds of Toby's video speak for themselves...