Not so my garden – I will have a go at the nettles later next month, and if dry enough mow the path through what used to be a lawn but is now a herb garden with random flowers and plants like teasel. To be honest I do not know the names of many of the plants, but I do know that I see bees on them.
I read an article in the Observer today stating that some farmers are now putting out sky tables – 2m+ high with road kill deer and foxes – for scavenging birds of prey. By law farmers have to arrange for dead animals to be incinerated for good reason (foot and mouth, mad cow disease). But like many rules from on high they do not allow the adaptation of rules to accommodate wildlife. Rotting carcasses have bugs and flies which attract birds. I am sure that sensible precautions could be made to allow the untidying of our countryside – and cities.
And a thought – is there a correlation between the fall in the number of insects and the introduction of wheelie bins? Old style dustbins would have ill fitting lids after being dropped/thrown by whoever, rubbish is now always in plastic bags. When there is a fly in the house how many reach for the insecticide rather than opening the window? How many children today have made a daisy chain, or used a buttercup to tell if you like butter? Played with conkers, played pooh sticks, looked closely at the iridescent colours on a beetle or dragon fly. And seeing a kingfisher or arctic tern or red kite (let alone the ones I have not seen).