A personal account of--and guide to--unlocking the wildlife potential
of gardens and other plots of land in lowland Britain
Over the past decade, wildlife author and photographer Paul Sterry has
nurtured, both through action and by doing nothing, what has become a
small island of flourishing biodiversity in the half-acre garden that
surrounds his north Hampshire cottage. By giving nature a free hand, and
fostering habitats appropriate to this part of southeast England, he has
enabled an abundance of native plant and animal species to call the
garden home. This contrasts with the continued decline in biodiversity
in the surrounding countryside. In this inspiring and informative book,
Sterry tells the story of his own experiences in biodiversity gardening
and offers detailed practical advice to anyone who wants to give nature
the upper hand on their own bit of land, no matter how small.
Hampshire still retains traces of its rich wildlife heritage, but
changes in land use over the past half-century have had a devastating
impact on local biodiversity. Against this backdrop, The Biodiversity
Gardener presents a habitat-driven and evidence-based approach,
describing how any gardener can unlock the wildlife potential of their
plot and enjoy the satisfaction of watching it become home to a rich
array of native species, including butterflies, wildflowers,
grasshoppers, amphibians, and fungi.
In The Biodiversity Gardener, Sterry explains the ecological
imperative of adopting this approach. Collectively, biodiversity gardens
could leave a lasting legacy--wildlife oases from which future
generations stand a fighting chance of restoring Britain's natural
heritage. The book encourages and empowers readers to create their own
biological inheritance for posterity--and shows them how they can do it.
