One of the biggest joys of gardening for wildlife for me is feeling that I have responsibility for a piece of this world of ours. It may only be a little piece, but it is still part of the living surface of the only living planet we know of in the universe. What a privilege! And what an opportunity to make it as rich as possible for life.
What you can't control, however, is what goes on over the garden fence. And this week something happened next door to me that will have profound effects on what wildlife will visit my garden.
Now the garden that backs onto mine has been untouched for over 15 years; the elderly former resident never even ventured into the garden. The garden had gone the way most of Britain would if left to its own devices - a pioneer woodland.
But early one morning this week as I was heading to work, I heard the unmistakeable whirr of a chainsaw starting up.
By the next morning, the change was startling:
All gone!
Now the new owners have every right to do that, of course, and many of the trees were way too close to their house.
What will be interesting is what changes it will bring to my garden. Those were trees in which dozens of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers stopped off in spring and autumn, and where I've seen migrant Spotted Flycatchers and Pied Flycatchers, Song Thrushes and Fieldfares, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Goldcrests. The trees were also the main stepping stones down to my feeders for Greenfinches and Chaffinches.
But the trees also heavily shaded my garden, making it far less suitable for butterflies, dragonflies and pollinating insects, and reducing the number of flowering plants I could grow. So some creatures could do very well by the new situation.
I do hope, however, that a little bit of life is put back into the piece of the planet next to mine, and I hope I can provide the new owners with a bit of encouragement along the way
If you want to drop by my RSPB wildlife gardening blog, it is updated every Friday, and I'd love to see you there - www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hfw
how dreadful! I fear a similar situation in my tiny garden in London if the bird lovers next door who help our community of sparrows should sell up and the newcomers clear their garden.Any thoughts as to practical ways we can all get together as neighbours to protect the wildlife we have? Angela
I mourn the loss of the trees for whatever reason. When I leave (next year some time) I'm dreading the new owners cutting down the Rowan and Apple tree in favour of say, a flippin trampoline. I've watched neighbours cut down their trees with great sadness although it hasn't affected the birds that visit my garden.
We had to remove a huge pear tree which was a stepping for our feeders. A clause in our buildings insurance meant we were not covered if the tree damaged our house. The tree was old and had already lost a few small limbs during high winds so it did have to go. There was a Magpies nest right at the top, the day the tree came down the Magpies began building a new nest in a neighbouring tree and our feeders are just as busy as they ever were. I was able to plant many more nectar rich flowers once the shade had been removed. For us and our wildlife, the removal of the tree had no negative effects. I hope it is the same for you.
You could drop a few 'Gardening for wildlife' leaflets through your new neighbours door or even pop round. I have found once people realise that gardening for wildlife doesn't mean a garden full of brambles and stinging nettles they love the idea of planting for bees and butterflies. With a bit of luck they will get hooked too.
Build it and they will come.