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We have been programmed to equate 'neatness' with beauty - the manicured lawn has long been a staple for a desirable garden. But loving the wild will give nature a chance and will encourage wildlife into our gardens. Manicured lawns often come with a big price - toxic chemicals & over mowing equates to a sterile environment that does not offer habitat to much (if any) life. Even worse are the horrendous plastic lawns that seem to be springing up everywhere. If you want a trouble free garden, allow a wild flower meadow to grow instead! If we are lucky enough to have a garden, shifting our perception away from 'owner' to temporary steward will enable us to understand that we share the world - even our tiny piece of it - with many other beings. Recognising we share our space with many other forms of life, both plant and animal, is magical and once we begin to truly see who is around us we can see it for the privilege it surely is. See here for ideas of how to create a wild area in your garden. 

Strimmers, (and indeed lawnmowers) cause thousands of injuries, many fatal, to any number of species each year. Hedgehogs, baby birds, fox cubs, slow worms, frogs, toads, not to mention incalculable insects, are some of the victims of these power tools. Garden Guardians would strongly advocate against using strimmers, particularly the very noisy and polluting petrol driven type of device, but if you do use a strimmer, please check the area thoroughly and remember that the grass you are about to cut is home to many little lives! Unlike birds and mammals, frogs and toads will often freeze when danger approaches so extra vigilence needs to be taken to avoid hurting these wonderful creatures, particularly as they are so well camoflagued. See here for an article about the horrendous damage strimmers can do.

Not only are bonfires antisocial, often causing rifts between neighbours, they can be devastating for wildlife and are a huge polluter. Hedgehogs build their homes in the kind of material bonfires are comprised of and many are burnt each year, causing severe injury and often death. Instead of burning garden waste, we could view it as a resource - why not add it to a compost heap, or even use it to create a natural habitat in a quiet spot? Who knows, not only will many little lives be saved, the environment will be cleaner (your neighbours happier!) and you may even be lucky enough to have a hedgehog or two come to visit... Find out more about Britains declining hedgehog population here

There has been a significant, and devastating, decline in hedges in the UK. Hedgelines are often ancient and are feeding areas for innumerable creatures, including bats, birds, mice, rats, shrews, amphibians, and invertebrates. Please do not remove hedges - instead view them as the valuable addition to our environment that they truly are. And of course, do not use any kind of pesticide/herbicide on them. To read more click here

There are a huge number of poisons legally for sale in the UK - at Garden Guardians we would NEVER, EVER advocate using any type of poison, pesticide, herbicide, weedkiller or toxin. In fact, our pledge asks you to agree to the same. The environmental impact of using these is absolutely massive and widespread recognition of this seems to be filtering through, with a ban of a certain type of slug poison implemented from April 2022. But changing the law takes a long time so the onus must be on the individual to do the right thing whilst legislation catches up! Once a poison has been used, it can not be taken out of the environment and will often travel through the food chain, the result being there is very often multiple victims. Poisons are also incredibly cruel, with death being lingering & very painful. Here's some more info on why poisons should never be used.

Nature is a wonderful and beauteous thing, and she is in a constant state of flux. Some times of year are more crucial than others in terms of new year life springing up - bird nesting season is one such example. At this time of year it is incredibly important not to disturb nesting sites, so any work to trees and hedges must be done outside of these times. Even outside of nesting season, great care must be exercised when doing anything that could disturb something that is home to other beings. Bird nesting season is between March - September. See here for more details

I have often heard people say things along the lines of, 'I understand why we have butterflies, but what is the point of wasps?'. Any number of animal, and indeed plant, has fallen foul of this way of thinking. The fault does not lie with the much maligned creature or plant, but rather with our way of perceiving life. The sophisticated and intricate ecosystems within the natural world are, for the most part, beyond our sight. And, perhaps more importantly, every living being is here for their own reasons, not simply to somehow serve humankind. When we poison, destroy, inhibit  or remove, our behaviour stretches way beyond our intended target, and this can have a hugely negative effect on the natural world around us and individuals who inhabit her. 

Much of our behaviour is learned from a very young age, but society is constantly evolving and even if something was taught as acceptable, this doesn't mean it is intrinsically right. In fact, the crisis we now face in terms of dstruction of rain forests, plastic pollution, species extinction & much more, comes from the same idea of domination many of us employ in our gardens and local spaces. In order to redress the balance and create a harmonious world once more we must be able to assess our actions and determine whether they are are truly compassionate. If it involves destroying habitats or killing there is inevitably a kinder, more gentle way. Click here for more information about how live compassionately alongside our wildlife.