Boglarka Zilla Gulyas, University of Sheffield and Jill Edmondson, University of Sheffield
12.09.2023 - 15:23 / houseandgarden.co.uk
'A Rewilding Britain Landscape’ by Urquhart & Hunt at Chelsea in 2022
Rewilding was a term invented in the 1990s by American conservation scientists Michael Soulé and Reed Noss, who presented a landmark paper describing the scientific basis for rewilding as a response to biodiversity loss. Originally called ‘wilderness recovery’, it was a term used to describe large-scale conservation projects and had little relevance to domestic gardens. Today it is a buzzword used much more widely, brought to the public’s attention at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2022 when garden designers Urquhart and Hunt won Best in Show for their A Rewilding Britain Landscape garden. ‘Rewilding in its strictest sense means allowing nature to go back to its natural, dynamic self,’ explains Lulu Urquhart. ‘This requires the presence of keystone animals – both predators and herbivores – species that have such a significant impact on the ecosystem that a myriad of life can thrive.’
On a domestic garden scale, ecologists are encouraging us to leave our lawns unmown and to create as much biodiversity in our gardens as possible. A spokesperson for the charity Rewilding Britain says: ‘If people want to play their part by creating wilder gardens and enjoy the benefits of bringing more nature into their lives, that should be welcomed. Simple actions – such as leaving a messy area, putting in a pond, letting wildflowers grow, easing up on the mowing, planting with nature in mind – can make a big difference, and can work well alongside traditional gardening. We all need to be standing fast against the damage caused by plastic grass, garden chemicals, use of peat, over-mowing, and excessive hard-landscaping of gardens.’
Charlie and Isabella Tree on their estate
Boglarka Zilla Gulyas, University of Sheffield and Jill Edmondson, University of Sheffield
Cindy Strickland has shared on the GPOD before (Gardening for a Friend), and today she’s taking us along to visit a beautiful English garden.
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The impressive topiary-framed Italianate formal gardens at Mapperton