My response to the backlash from cleb gardeners about rewilding. I do hope they listen. It's not about abandoning your garden. It's about thinking about nature first. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
@isabella_tree I don’t think they realise the two extremes in most (certainly urban) gardens aren’t manicured/overgrown but overgrown/concreted. Encouraging more positive perceptions of wildness discourages people from paving over their garden when they don’t feel they can ‘manage’ it.
@isabella_tree Excellent article and response!
@isabella_tree @Jemimasgarden 💚 There’s a patriarchal undercurrent in it too - that nature (she) will run riot if we don’t control (her). But perhaps nature (& all its inherent wildness) is whispering the solutions. I wrote a piece in @IndyVoices born out of this independent.co.uk/voices/wild-ga… #allmywildmothers
@isabella_tree 😀Excellent response! Human intervention is just as important in a ‘rewilded garden’. Rather than seeing the role like a composer planning each musical note, you’re more a jazz band drummer… you may keep the overall rhythm but the garden will play out + completely surprise you
@isabella_tree @Kate_Bradbury Mr Don and Mr Titchmarch might think parts of our garden are not a garden . But the bees like it and so do we .
@isabella_tree Sadly not many people realise not all plants / flowers don’t produce nectar . Too many are just over developed flowers created for beauty only. We need to educate people on that. A colourful garden isn’t necessarily correct.
@isabella_tree RHS Tatton Park nearly all the planting in the various gardens was around natives, pollinators, companion planting, herbs.... Maybe not quite re -wilding but a beautiful trend. Your garden, your choice both can work together formal borders, lawn and a wildflower plot, why not!💚
@isabella_tree Thank you for this beautifully written article ... and i just want to say i find leaf blowers particularly weird, what exactly is the point of that machine ... how is it superior to a broom or a rake
@isabella_tree @TheMontyDon has been urging the nation on for decades on wildlife-friendly, peat free gardening. This row sounds suspiciously like a Daily Mail manufactured special to me.
@isabella_tree Your response much more articulated than my drivel:
@isabella_tree @IoloWilliams2 Thank you for your common sense response. I was shocked by Don and Titchmarsh’s I’ll informed over the top outbursts. It’ll take years to undo their damage.
@isabella_tree More rewilding please 👍 Good for us, good for nature, good for the planet.
@isabella_tree Rewilding along with companion planting, herbs for medical use/as edibles, potagers & permaculture methods seem sensible when creating any garden
@isabella_tree I call it #NatureLed gardening and it works. (Though there has been a buttercup/ woodruff stand off over the last few days)
@isabella_tree @IoloWilliams2 As the article says, sadly, many don't even understand rewilding & their ignorance thinks it's letting gardens/spaces run amok, although horticultural celebs should know better! Whilst a bit of research & understanding is needed, it's not rocket science. Terrific article 😀
@isabella_tree It must be 40 yrs ago I bought Chris Baines book on wildlife gardening - clearly a lot of work & thought needs to be put into it. I'm genuinely shocked if Don & Titchmarsh are not aware of that unless they're deliberately causing some kind of PR fuss....
@isabella_tree Gardening is 100% personal. It is your own space to cultivate how you please. It is not political and not anyone’s place, yours or Mr Titmarch or Monty Don to tell people what they should do. My personal preference is to have some wild areas but keep my borders weeded.
@isabella_tree @DCWinslow It’s also important to know that Monty Don’s comments have been taken out of context, as he is in favour of genuine, managed #rewilding not the popular view of ‘sit back and let nature run wild’ It is what we do in Chaddesden Wood.
@isabella_tree I think these 2 particular 'gardeners' are just desperate to be in the news. And The Daily Torygraph are desperate for numbers. And the Torygraph know this is something that the public feels passionate about. How they love to provoke, divide & deride.
@isabella_tree Its about balance.. that's all.🌳🌿🦉🦋
@isabella_tree Am outstanding piece brilliantly describing green ‘rewilding’ and putting a lie to the celebrity gardeners stance on maintaining the status quo. Thank you 👏👏👏
@isabella_tree Thank you for speaking out. I only despair that none of the readers of the original articles are likely to read your rebuttal.
@isabella_tree I would rather listen to nature how to look after the environment then titmarsh not money driven .
@isabella_tree Hi, this bit at the back of my garden was monoculture lawn two years ago. It's the most beautiful place now.
@isabella_tree Loved that article Isabella. And much appreciated its brevity.
@isabella_tree I do hope a bumble bee temporarily gets lodged in one of Alan Titchmarsh's nostrils. Just long enough to give him a bit of a fright.
@isabella_tree @LittleStourOrch Not at all surprising that it’s male gardeners who dismiss Mother Earth.
@isabella_tree My gardening is about loving the holes in my leaves, knowing that things are living and feeding there. #Megachile 🐝🦋😄🐛🕷️
@isabella_tree @PermacultureMag It’s good to know that garden rewilding is a strong enough trend to merit comment from these high profile people. Next step, they get on board and show us all how to do it in our small spaces.
@isabella_tree Thank you Isabella for correcting them! I was horrified by their ignorance and public influence.
@isabella_tree Great article making a very reasoned point. Rewinding doesn’t mean do nothing!
@isabella_tree Dumping 400 tonnes of rubble on a manicured croquet lawn. That's pretty radical. I thought I was out there letting nettles and briars overrun large areas, certainly my neighbours think so. As you say, dynamics. We must be our own wild boar and create disturbance too.