The Biodiversity Gardener: Establishing a Legacy for the Natural World (Wild Nature Press, 34)

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. Cover Contents Acknowledgements Introduction The bigger picture Recent times The fight back Managing land for native wildlife Why is biodiversity important? Putting wildlife first Different approaches Does size matter? A work in progress What does the future hold? Setting the Scene Humble beginnings Pamber: a country parish The cottage and garden Environmental Decline and Fall Overview Basingstoke The parish of Pamber The cottage and garden Practical Biodiversity Gardening Basic principles Soil Grassland Woodland Freshwater The cottage as a habitat Managed retreat from conventional gardening The New Naturalist – A Biodiversity Gardener’s Wildlife Overview Garden wildlife classification Flowering plant life histories, structure and tips for identification Terrestrial Invertebrate classification and identification Introducing Arthropods The New Naturalist – A Closer Look at Garden Wildlife Butterflies Moths Bees, wasps and allied insects Beetles True bugs and allies True flies Orthoptera Terrestrial insect also-rans Spiders and allies Invertebrates of the underworld Pond life Amphibians and reptiles Birds Mammals Pets and domesticated animals Plants: a botanical overview Fungi Monitoring and Recording Wildlife – Making the Most of Your Garden, Both for Biodiversity and for You Nets Pond-dipping Binoculars Photography Foes become friends Botanical survey and study Fieldcraft Keeping and submitting records Freshwater pollution A Call to Action Troubling developments Is resistance futile? Escape to what was the country Plan of action Challenging planning Protected and notable species Statutory nature conservation bodies The moral of the story I Am Not Alone Manor Farm by Adam Rattray and Jenna Burlingham The Hughes Family Wilding Project by Karl Hughes and Nicola Hughes An oak wood on the edge of Dartmoor by Mic Cady Ask Not What Nature Can Do for You, Ask What You Can Do for Nature Historical perspective Synergy What’s to be done References List of species

A personal account of-and guide to-unlocking thewildlife potential of gardens and other plots of land in lowlandBritain Over the past decade, wildlife author andphotographer Paul Sterry has nurtured, both through action and bydoing nothing, what has become a small island of flourishingbiodiversity in the half-acre garden that surrounds his northHampshire cottage. By giving nature a free hand, and fosteringhabitats appropriate to this part of southeast England, he hasenabled an abundance of native plant and animal species to call thegarden home. This contrasts with the continued decline inbiodiversity in the surrounding countryside. In this inspiring andinformative book, Sterry tells the story of his own experiences inbiodiversity gardening and offers detailed practical advice toanyone who wants to give nature the upper hand on their own bit ofland, no matter how small. Hampshire still retains traces of itsrich wildlife heritage, but changes in land use over the pasthalf-century have had a devastating impact on local biodiversity.Against this backdrop, The Biodiversity Gardener presentsa habitat-driven and evidence-based approach, describing how anygardener can unlock the wildlife potential of their plot and enjoythe satisfaction of watching it become home to a rich array ofnative species, including butterflies, wildflowers, grasshoppers,amphibians, and fungi. In The Biodiversity Gardener,Sterry explains the ecological imperative of adopting thisapproach. Collectively, biodiversity gardens could leave a lastinglegacy-wildlife oases from which future generations stand afighting chance of restoring Britain's natural heritage. The bookencourages and empowers readers to create their own biologicalinheritance for posterity-and shows them how they can do it.