"A poor widow in her weeds Sowed her garden with wild-flower seeds˜ And now all summer she sits and sews Where willow, herb, comfrey, bygloss blows, Teasel and tansy, meadowsweet, Campion, toadflax, and rough hawksbit" (Walter de la Mare, 1962)

1.    Aims

To highlight and protect the overall resource for wildlife provided by private gardens in London.

To improve individual private gardens as habitat for a range of local wildlife.

2.    Introduction

For the purposes of this action plan, private gardens are defined as the private open space surrounding residential dwellings where the householders have sole responsibility for management.

Private gardens form an important part of London's landscape. For many people these are the places where they have most frequent contact with nature.

They are probably the most varied areas of green space in the Capital, ranging in size from the tiny 'pocket handkerchief' backyard in the central London boroughs, to the elaborate landscaped parkland of London's mansions. Garden ponds support amphibians and dragonflies. Dense undergrowth provides good breeding sites for small birds, many of which have suffered significant declines in the countryside. Hedgehogs, bats, butterflies are frequently associated with this habitat. Larger gardens and gardens adjoining areas of semi-natural habitat, may help support grass snakes, badgers and birds such as woodpeckers.

Contact

The Lead for this habitat is the London Wildlife Trust.

gardens © Sandy Bain

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