How To Make A Wildlife Garden

by Chris Baines

Book by Baines, Chris

Genres: Gardening, Nature

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 19, 2000

Reviews

[Noodles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a wealth of practical information on wildlife gardening. But it's the writing style that makes it so appealing. This isn't a dry, horticulture-society type of book. It's very personal in how it's written, with many anecdotes about wildlife experiences the author has had in the gardens he has created. His passion for wildlife and creating suitable habitat really shines through. There are also many beautiful pictures, which adds visual appeal and helps get the point across of what he is trying to achieve.
Part one has three chapters which put wildlife gardening in the context of habitat changes in England over many centuries, so you really understand what (lost) natural habitats you are trying to re-create with your efforts.
Part two is about creating new wildlife habitats, with chapters on The Woodland Edge (shrubbery), Hedgerows and Climber Covered Screens, Lawns and Wildflower Meadows, and Ponds and Wetlands. There is plenty of detail about what to do and how to do it, with boxes listing suitable plants to introduce. It's not just a list of instructions, though. The whole book tries to make the reader understand what s/he is trying to achieve and why. So it helps you to plan it for yourself, instead of following a model of someone else's garden.
The last part is called Supplementing the Habitats, all about maximising the wildlife value of an existing or newly created garden. This covers planting flowers, mixing in vegetable and fruit growing, and installing bird feeders and nestboxes. There are also several chapters at the end describing the interplay of species in the garden, how to study the wildlife you've encouraged and how your new habitats fit into the broader landscape. These are all central themes of the whole book, which are returned to many times, so you understand how you are contributing to nature, and what to look for to enjoy it.
This book is quite specific to English wildlife, and is an excellent reference to return to again and again as your garden progresses. It is also an enjoyable read, giving a vivid mental picture of the results you are aiming for.

[Ruric Amhari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hands on practical book for increasing wildlife presence in urban gardens.

Sections on:

Why make a wildlife garden (why wildlife, special role for gardens, planning the garden as a habitat)

Creating new habitats: shrubberies, hedgerows and climber screens, live in lawns and meadows, garden ponds and wetlands.

Supplementing the habitat: cottage garden service stations, fruit/veg & wildlife, artificial habitat boosters, propagating native plants, rich tapestry, studying widlife, ocer the garden wall.

Included throughout the book are plant lists for suitable places and to encourage wildlife.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this for 50p in a local charity shop and thought it would be interesting to look through - since my copy was published in 1985, I assumed that mostly, the book would be too outdated to be much practical use, but I couldn't have been more wrong! It's true that some advice has changed, mostly in the section on providing food - the suggestion to put out cheddar cheese for your birds is definitely not recommended now, due to the high salt content, and bread and milk is now known to be harmful to hedgehogs. However, the advice on how to build, plant and maintain and wildlife garden is still extremely relevant, as are the planting suggestions.

The book starts off by emphasising the importance of wildlife, and of the key role that private gardens can play in supporting it. Chapter three shows how it is possible to have a garden that functions well as a leisure space for its owners, while still providing great benefit to the local wildlife.

The second section focuses on the creation of specific habitats, which a chapter devoted to each type: shrubberies (woodland edge habitat); hedgerows and screens; lawns and wildflower meadows; and ponds and 'wetlands'.

The third section is on 'Supplementing the Habitats' and looks at practical ways in which you can make the garden more attractive to wildlife by choosing native plants over imported ones, putting up nest boxes, creating hibernation spaces and feeding stations etc. It closes with some suggestions for studying garden wildlife and also for campaigning for better conservation in your local area.

Baines writes in a very accessible style, with a nice touch of wry humour. His enthusiasm and love for both gardening and wildlife bubbles over and is very infectious. Recommended to anyone who would like to make their garden more wildlife friendly or who would like to learn a little more about the world that surrounds us.

[Ruth Brumby · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is scary that, written in 1985, only 35 years ago, this book is dated in terms of what wildlife might come to your garden. He has spotted flycatchers and lots of hedgehogs.
There are useful plant lists and the sections on various aspects of wildlife gardeningare quite helpful.
However he tries to be funny, wants to avoid being seen as serious or eccentric, or too polemical and generally doesn't come across as a very nice person. He is a bit overenthusiastic and over optimistic.
The final chapter does have some good ideas about mapping and demonstrating the need for wildlife corridors and joined up thinking.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book for ages but I didn’t really appreciate it until last night. It was exactly what I needed to remind me of how I could improve wildlife in our garden.

[Gary Itano]

Treasures Lie at Your Feet - The Professionals - TV - NHK WORLD Dec 18, 2015 - This episode focuses in on Paul Smither, a garden designer from England who's popular in Japan.