LAND USE

Then I look at my home. I would estimate the built on area to be about 50% if I include driveway and patio and paths. So my section of earth that I have direct control over is about 250m2 as a guess. So I want to counter my carbon footprint by encouraging as much wild life as possible in the remaining 125m2.

What I have inherited from previous owners is a fantastic wisteria, a lovely honeysuckle, a couple of fuchsia, a couple of spikes ones and a rose bush, oh and a couple of bushes out the front! Not sure what they are?

What I have added – a couple of trees to replace the silver birch and the leilandi that I have cut down – so an apple and an apricot, although that may have died. I have put in 2 mulberry trees but have only had a solitary berry in the last 5 years! And it was very nice too.

I have planted lots of berries, some of which are doing better than others, especially the raspberries – my favourite. I now have a greenhouse which has been great for tomatoes for 4 months a year, ok for cucumbers, and quite good for seedlings. This year I am doubling my tomatoes and probably avoiding exotic crops! I am waiting for my mini kiwi plant behind the greenhouse to bear fruit! And some nettles have crept in, and a buddlia. My back lawn now has been sown (well sort of) with wild flower seeds and I think the birds have contributed some from the bird feeders as I had a wheat plant last year. As this area is largely under the apple tree which is now 4m across (I have just lopped of the top bits) and the rotary washing line, and gets trodden on, I will wait and see what evolves here. I also have 2ild strawberries in various places, and ordinary strawberries at the top end of the garden.

The patio now has 4 mini fruit trees; apple, pear, cherry and plum I think. We will see how they get through the winter. The patio itself has self seeded with a lemon mint which I cannot bring myself to pull up! and one or two other herbs! In a pot I have lemon verbena which I hope will survive the winter as its smell is amazing and is great as a bedtime herb drink. I tend to have a few other random plants here like night-scented stock and nasturtiums, and I love Californian Poppies, and had some marigolds last year.

Back to the front. Well by the corner of the house I have put in a summer jasmine (I have a winter jasmine with a lime and a lemon tree and a Benjamin plant in the porch). I have also planted 3 bought rose bushes, and one from a wild rose hip. And various other plants that may, or may not come up this year. Hot lips and bergamot were nice last year. I also have a small bay tree which is used in cooking by me! To be honest I do not remember the names of all the other plants – I tend to buy if it looks nice and is good for wildlife and let them get on with it.

My herb beds – this was the start of my wilding adventure. One with sage, thyme, rosemary, fennel and marjoram is sort of as it should be (apart from the Lerusalem Artichoke for the last 2 years and Angelica the year before. The other was for mints, and I have made a few mistakes here. Firstly I am now told mints of different varieties need to be separated. Secondly for some reason I put in a couple of other plants that have spread. However the chicory was lovely with beautiful blue flowers, lemon verbena I hope will be back as the smell is divine. and I have put other things in the bed like garlic and borage – which does get too big! but the bees love it so `I think planting somewhere else this year?

And then the plants inside! 60+. I am never to sure as they keep multiplying!

Interesting website on edible flowers

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