Lessons from March
It’s the beginning of a new calendar month and I choose this time to reflect on the last one. What I’ve learnt within the realms of REwilding, REconnecting and REciprocating.
REwild:
In March, I began my new venture in wildlife gardening with the help of a friend, or more specifically; her garden. I was able to begin creating a space with the primary intention being for the benefit of wildlife. We carved out a space for a pond, a forest ‘glade’ and areas where pollinator friendly plants would grow. Down the track, we will install a hedgehog highway, a water butt and some beneficial trees and shrubs.
Forest glade in friend’s garden
Wildlife pond creation
The pond was a learn-as-you-go situation which I will write more about in another post as I came to realise there is a lot of trouble-shooting that happens when you are new to the process! I’ve learnt a lot from giving it a go and I really hope I can make another one again soon (now I am slightly better equipped), as I really enjoyed it. I’m hoping she gets some lovely wild visitors over the coming months.
The ‘glade’ section was a shady corner of the garden that Laura wanted to liven up. There were already daffodils at the base of the cherry tree, so I added some bluebells, wood anemone, viola, grape hyacinth and primula*. If I was more prepared and did it again, I’d try to make sure all the plants were native varieties as some of those mentioned are not. However, they will all help attract insect life to the garden.
We put a bank in another section and spread some wildflower seeds and sowed different species of sunflowers. I’m looking forward to visiting when they germinate.
Another lesson I had reiterated to me is to have patience. If you push too early, when nature isn’t ready, she won’t simply abide because you are a human. A great lesson that needs to be heard every day; slow down and enjoy the ride!
Beautiful Gorse*
Blackthorn*
REconnect:
REconnecting has been all about taking the time to notice where nature has called me. If you ask, she will answer- you just have to listen. I’ve taken to asking her where to go for the morning dog walk. Each time, I’ve had a very definite pull to a particular walk. For example, we walked along Fistral on a stunning morning when it was expected to rain. We walked Polly Joke and West Pentire where I stayed the only human for the entirety of the walk and got to witness multitudes of skylarks fighting for territory. We walked the woods when a graceful buzzard swooped silently in front of us and disappeared into the trees.
I don’t think these encounters would have been significant, or perhaps even have happened at all, if I had not followed my intuition and nature’s guidance. Those moments in time connected me to the land, the air and the wildlife.
REciprocate:
I like to think I give back in many aspects of my life, but I know that I could be doing more. I organise a litterpick every Sunday as part of Land and Sea. It gives me pleasure to know how much litter we, as a group, have been able to divert from the wild spaces over the years.
Litterpicking every Sunday
New double compost crate
Last month I finally had somewhere to put our food waste so it is not waste anymore! A crate that our new bath tub came in provided the perfect size and shape for 2 composts. We got it up to the allotment where it is already being put to good use.
Also at the allotment, I have been super conscious to only use peat free compost. We had a delivery in Feb from The Green Waste Company who turn our residential green waste into compost. Very affordable and its recycled goodness has been spread over the beds through March.
That’s it for this month! I’m really feeling like I’ve been called to this path now. Growing, observing, noticing and sharing.
*Latin names of plants listed:
Daffodil: Narcissus sp.
Bluebell: Hyacinthoides non-scripta,
Wood anemone: Anemone blanda
Viola: Viola wittrockiana
Grape hyacinth: Muscari armeniacum
Primula: Primula vulgaris
Gorse: Ulex europaeus
Blackthorn: Prunus spinosa
