Rewilding is an exciting and increasingly popular approach to land management and conservation in the UK. It’s about allowing nature to thrive and evolve without the constraints of human control, enabling ecosystems to restore themselves over time. While rewilding is often associated with large-scale landscapes, such as forests and national parks, it is also making its way into smaller spaces, including gardens and urban areas. This method has gained traction among conservationists, gardeners, and nature enthusiasts who are eager to make a difference in their local environments.
In this blog, we’ll explore what rewilding is, the techniques used in rewilding areas and gardens in the UK, and the reasons behind its growing importance.
What is Rewilding?
Rewilding is the practice of restoring natural processes and habitats to landscapes that have been altered by human activity. It focuses on reintroducing native species, allowing natural processes like predation, grazing, and forest regeneration to take place, and letting ecosystems recover and self-sustain.
While the concept of rewilding is often linked to large-scale projects in rural areas, the principles can also be applied to smaller spaces, such as gardens, allotments, and community spaces in urban settings. In fact, these smaller-scale efforts are just as crucial for promoting biodiversity and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Techniques Used in Rewilding Areas and Gardens
Rewilding can look quite different depending on the location and scale, but there are several common techniques and approaches used to bring a garden or area closer to its natural state.
1. Reintroducing Native Plants
One of the foundational techniques of rewilding is the introduction of native plants. These plants are adapted to the local climate, soil, and wildlife, and they form the basis of a healthy ecosystem. Native plants provide food and shelter for local insects, birds, and mammals, and they help to support the delicate balance of the local environment.
• Wildflower Meadows: Creating wildflower meadows by sowing native wildflower seeds or allowing grass to grow tall and naturally flower throughout the year is a popular technique. These meadows attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and they provide a valuable habitat for small mammals.
• Hedges and Shrubs: Planting native hedgerows or shrubs such as hawthorn, blackthorn, and dog rose can offer shelter and nesting sites for birds and insects. Hedges also act as corridors for wildlife, connecting fragmented habitats and enabling species to move freely across the landscape.
• Trees and Woodland: If space allows, planting native trees like oak, ash, and silver birch can help restore areas to a more natural state. These trees provide shade, shelter, and food for a variety of species, including birds, insects, and small mammals.
2. Creating Ponds and Wetlands
Water is a key component in rewilding, as it supports a wide range of biodiversity, from aquatic plants to amphibians and insects. A small pond or wetland area in your garden can be a haven for wildlife.
• Wildlife Ponds: By digging a pond and allowing it to naturally fill with water, you can create a habitat for frogs, newts, dragonflies, and birds. Planting aquatic plants such as water forget-me-nots, pondweed, and water lilies will help to oxygenate the water and provide cover for small creatures.
• Wetland Areas: If you have space, you might consider developing a small wetland area by digging a shallow depression and encouraging the growth of marsh plants. Wetlands are incredibly important for biodiversity, providing habitat for insects, birds, and amphibians, and they also help with water filtration and flood management.
3. Letting Nature Take Its Course
Sometimes, rewilding simply means stepping back and allowing nature to take its course. Rather than constantly maintaining a perfectly manicured garden, gardeners are increasingly leaving areas to grow wild. This can include letting grass grow longer, leaving fallen leaves, and allowing plants to self-seed.
• Wild Grass Areas: Letting grass grow longer rather than regularly mowing it is an effective way to encourage wildflowers and provide habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Longer grass also offers shelter for small mammals and insects.
• Decomposing Materials: Allowing leaves, twigs, and branches to naturally decompose in the garden creates a rich, nutrient-dense environment that supports a range of fungi, insects, and soil-dwelling creatures. A small pile of logs or leaves can also provide shelter for hedgehogs and other small mammals.
• Minimal Intervention: The key to letting nature take its course is to minimise intervention, except where needed to ensure plant health and safety. The goal is to let ecosystems self-regulate, just as they would in a natural setting.
4. Providing Habitats for Wildlife
Creating space for wildlife to thrive is central to rewilding. In urban and suburban settings, this might involve installing bird boxes, bat houses, or insect hotels to provide shelter for a range of creatures. These additions encourage biodiversity and help protect species that may be struggling due to habitat loss.
• Bird Boxes and Nesting Sites: Installing bird boxes for species like robins, tits, or sparrows can support declining bird populations. Nesting sites and perch opportunities also help to attract more bird species to your garden.
• Bat Boxes: Bats are crucial for controlling insect populations, and by installing a bat box, you can support their roosting and breeding needs.
• Insect Hotels: These simple, DIY structures provide a safe haven for solitary bees, ladybirds, and other beneficial insects. They can be made from materials such as bamboo canes, wooden pallets, and even old bricks.
5. Reducing Chemical Usage
In traditional gardening, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers are often used to control pests and encourage plant growth. However, these chemicals can harm beneficial insects and disrupt the balance of your garden ecosystem. Rewilding involves reducing or eliminating chemical treatments and adopting more natural ways of maintaining plant health.
• Organic Gardening: Growing plants organically, using compost, mulches, and natural pest control methods, is an important part of rewilding. This supports biodiversity by protecting soil health and encouraging beneficial insects such as earthworms, which improve the structure of the soil.
• Encouraging Natural Pest Control: Rather than using chemical pesticides, rewilding encourages the use of natural predators, such as birds and ladybirds, to keep pests in check. Planting a diverse range of species can also help to create a balanced garden ecosystem, where pests are naturally controlled.
Reasons for Rewilding Gardens
1. Support for Declining Wildlife Populations
Many species in the UK are facing population declines due to habitat loss, climate change, and urbanisation. By rewilding your garden, you can help provide food, shelter, and breeding spaces for these species, particularly for those that are declining in numbers.
2. Restoring Natural Ecosystems
Rewilding restores the natural balance of ecosystems, allowing plants and animals to flourish as they would in the wild. This helps to maintain biodiversity, increase resilience to climate change, and ensure healthy ecosystems.
3. Climate Change Mitigation
Rewilding can help mitigate the effects of climate change by increasing carbon sequestration in plants and soils, reducing flood risks through natural water management, and improving air quality. By creating more green spaces, we can contribute to the overall health of the planet.
4. Improved Mental Health and Well-being
Having a natural, biodiverse garden has been shown to improve mental health by providing a calming, peaceful environment. The presence of wildlife, the sound of birdsong, and the beauty of flowering plants all contribute to a sense of connection with nature, which is essential for well-being.
5. Educational Value
Rewilding your garden can also have educational benefits, teaching children and adults alike about the importance of biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable living. It provides an opportunity to observe nature’s processes and witness the growth of local ecosystems first-hand.
Conclusion
Rewilding is not just a trend but a powerful tool for restoring balance to our ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and combating environmental challenges. Whether you have a large garden or a small urban space, there are numerous techniques that can help rewild your outdoor area, from planting native species to creating water features and wildlife habitats. The rewards are immense, both for the natural world and for us, as we reconnect with the life around us and play an active role in preserving it for future generations. Embracing rewilding practices in your own garden can have a lasting positive impact on the environment, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated to get started.