Do This To Benefit WILDLIFE In YOUR GARDEN

[@Debbie-henri]

I am so glad you described the principle of 'mowing' as a way to keep us towing the line. The landed gentry of old employed poor people on terrible wages to maintain their lawns, while keeping the impoverished on their best behaviour if theyvwant to keep their jobs. And later on - the lesser classes are encouraged, even bullied, into mowing their lawns. Essentially, at least one member of your household spends around a few hours per week, every week, even twice a week, all summer long - walking back and forth in zombie fashion, not thinking, not doing, just 'behaving,' and often breathing in foul, brain-damaging fumes. I look upon 'mowing' as a conventional form of 'social control' enforced on the masses. Time we fought back, stood side by side with Nature, dumped convention and the mower forever, and made our gardens into strongholds for wildlife. The rate we're going, our gardens will be all many forms of wildlife have left. We've all seen the latest news about climate change. It has, without any doubt, stepped up more than a degree in intensity. We're no longer seeing just one climate driven crisis at a time. Every single day, we're now seeing 'hundreds, even thousands' of examples of climate driven crises all around the world, dozens of them serious enough to reach national and world news attention. Ordinary people of conventional mindsets will just go about their lives as usual, worrying about nothing and no one except themselves, able to turn off all thoughts of climate change as easily as they turn off the tv set. And they will continue to consume at the same old toxifying rate - until governments realise they have to step in at long, long last. So it takes us to always be an inspiration to others if we can. If you can suggest to the inscrutably houseproud to add just one wild flower such as the beautiful blue Scabious or the Cowslip or Lungwort to their border, it's the start of a breakthrough into that convention mind.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Perfect message Debbie, as always - as such I am going to pin your comment to the top of the page! Thank you, so much - very best wishes, Joel

[@adrickherregodts4194]

You wanted input? I live in Sweden, we moved to our own property 4 years ago with a garden that can be described as big, certainly compared to most suburban gardens in Europe. I am an avid gardener and had a blank canvas with only a big lawn, 3 apple trees and hedges all around to create my dream garden. I started digging, planting and all related stuff in August. Come next spring and most of my precious plants had become slug food. Instead of grabbing poison, I did the opposite and started focusing on creating a working ecosystem. I dug a big natural pond, made a small meadow, several borders with a nice quantity of native plants. Low and behold, slug damage slowly started to diminish and instead I see hedgehogs, hares, foxes, badgers, European polecats, woodpeckers and even deer all use the pond to drink in early morning. It has costed a lot of effort and countless manhours, but totally worth it!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

This is my favourite type of input! 🤣Just fantastic to read this, I hope so many more people get to read your comment - particularly our traditional gardeners, whom I think we are reaching slowly but surely. But just brilliant to read this, it really is and I appreciate you taking the time to leave this comment, it will help make such a difference - best wishes, and thanks again - Joel

[@adrickherregodts4194]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I just want to add that your channel is a much needed inspiration in times where it is still very difficult to draw people away from "traditional gardening". Even here, where people in the countryside have wilder gardens due to lack of time to maintain bigger plots, those traditional ideas are very difficult to contest. So thank you for that!

[@blue2mato312]

I’m in Norway, just wondering Adrick if you have easy access to buy native plants in Sweden? We really don’t here and it’s so annoying! I have found one gardener in the next town from Oslo who does make plugplants for dry and wet meadows with native seeds. I’m trying to hurry up and by up some of them now for this summer before they are all gone. If nobody carries on after him, there will be absolutely no places for me to buy wildflowers. And I can’t find native shrubs that I really want like geitved for the brimstones (sitronsommerfugl) or native hawthorn, blackthorn and more.

[@adrickherregodts4194]

@@blue2mato312 I sow all my natives from seed I order online. Impecta has a nice assortment, rest comes from sällskapet svenska trädgårdsamatörerna. It's almost impossible to find native plants for sale. But if you're not that far from Oslo, than just hopp over the border as I live a one hour drive from Halden.😉

[@judithhope8970]

Your garden sounds fabulous, well done for creating such a wonderful place.

[@KasiaSzatkowska]

I do not even own a mower. I am considered a weird anti-social person in my neighbourhood, because I do not have a lawn and I do not make a horrific noise with a mower every saturday. Everybody around points fingers at me calling my garden slug-hatchery. I am so happy somebody actually does speak up for wildlife and natural habitat. Thank you .

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Kasia, so sorry that I missed your comment - 300 videos now mean I am searching for so many messages when I get notifications - but I really appreciate your kind words and am so glad that you do the same. I think attitudes are changing, although it is slow of course, and one day people will raise eyebrows at short bare barren areas the same as they do at wild ones at the moment - keep fighting for the wildlife! Best wishes, and thank you again - Joel

[@roterfrosch5808]

😂 There is a german song by Reinhard Mey "Irgendein Depp mäht irgendwo immer". (Some Idiot is always mowing somewhere)

[@KasiaSzatkowska]

@@roterfrosch5808 WOW I need to find it and play it loud every day from my balcony as an anthem :-D

[@KasiaSzatkowska]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank YOU :-) I am actually digging my first pond. My garden is 1000 meters (with a house in the middle, so...), and largely planted, so nothing big or fancy here, just a bigger sort of puddle. BUT if you could give me your advise, it would be more than welcome and helpful: could you please point me, because amongst your videos, I slowly watch through witch, there is surely lots of material which I have yet to find - could please point me to information about 1. small ponds (I mean really small, 1-2 square meters) 2. slugs. And I mean huge slugs problem. Like a bucket full of them every single evening, and two buckets on rainy days. Thank you again :-) and best wishes to you and all the community! Kate

[@LouciferFlump]

I used to have 2 lawns. Many years ago I dug them up entirely and replaced them with perennials & shrubs….and more recently, with a pond that I made using your tips! I’ve got pond snails, caddis fly larvae, newts, damsel flies, occasional frog…we have tawny owls, heron (we’re near a river) and even sparrow hawks and I’ve pipistrelle bats in my loft! My home is like a David Attenborough documentary. I love it so much!! My house and garden is built on a sloping embankment, supported structurally by a large stone retaining wall. Where the embankment meets the driveway, it’s ornamentally edged with some dry stone wall I did with my grandad years ago. The embankment is grass. I used to mow it and have it flawless. I stopped mowing it completely and now never touch it at all. It’s been feral for about 15 years maybe. There’s 4 conifers planted on it, under each one birds foot trefoil has spontaneously popped up along with forget me nots and a bit of clover. I never planted any of these. Also, in the last year, 2 massive burrow entrances have just appeared. The openings are quite wide, maybe half a foot across. I keep going out at night trying to catch whatever it is living in there, without success. I am close to woodland and there are badgers and foxes and rabbits. I’d love to see what’s living there!! Anyway, I’ll cut the waffle! My point is, there was really no reason to ever mow this grass, it was purely cosmetic, and I think it actually blends in with the surrounding wood and farmland much better now that I’ve just left it long and wild! It’s constantly frequented by pheasants and all the butterflies that like grassy areas! 👍🏻

[@sallydavies2563]

Sounds lovely!

[@LouciferFlump]

@@sallydavies2563Thanks, it is. I’ve worked very hard to get a house in some fabulous countryside but I realise I’m very fortunate. “Build it and they will come” is so true though, anyone can attract lovely creatures to their doorstep with a little bit of thought and effort ❤

[@danyoutube7491]

@@sallydavies2563 It certainly does. If Loucifer can afford it I would suggest getting one of those camera traps that one sees on TV wildlife programmes; the sort that you strap to a tree and detects movement, it might show you what is living in those burrows.

[@Debbie-henri]

Great to hear of a fellow long term non-mower. I used to be a professional gardener and it soon began to sicken me, mowing 2, 3 or more days a week. I saw colleagues cut through families of baby hedgehogs. I myself once killed a frog and a baby bird. You never forget these things. When I moved to my present home, 21 years ago, I forbid anyone to cut the 2 acres of grass. The mower was thrown away a year later. The strimmer is rusting under a pile of shed junk. Only the chainsaw remains, for the purpose of managing our little coppiced woodland. I actually get to enjoy a garden now, instead of being a mower-slave... What a waste of a weekend, IMO. A few of the trees I planted upon moving here are now large enough for Buzzards and Owls to sit in. Red Kites often soar overhead. There are frogs, toads and newts everywhere. Last year, lizards moved in, and now they are to be glimpsed all around the garden. (All I have left on my 'wants' list is Slow worms). I recorded a sighting of an unusual Dragonfly species, recorded only once before in this county. And yes, Mother Nature just keeps gifting the uncut grass with more and more presents of wild flowers, bulbs, even shrubs and trees. It's amazing where they all come from, but the best of the wild flowers is a Hemp Agrimony. Huge plant, beloved of Red Admirals.

[@Debbie-henri]

​@@danyoutube7491That's what I did. It led to some of the funniest pictures and gave us hours of entertainment. Every time it captured a picture of an animal passing by, the next photo would be a close up of the same animal staring perplexedly into the lens.

[@bigmama2135]

Eye opening to know the origin of neat lawns and the huge money making business involved in cleaning up our lawns..I say..."NO MORE LAWNdering, go wild". Thanks Joel, you're a nature super hero. All the best from over here in Dublin.

[@CrazySexyDutchYessss]

They did research at I think Trinity college in Dublin that shows a wildflower lawn means more moths visiting, so you can show people that if they have doubts :) Greetings from Belfast.

[@novarafan6423]

Dont let a few occassional moaners impact your mood. You are doing amazing for wildlife!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, I really appreciate it - you've always been there encouraging and supporting me. I have a day job and they're usually very long days, I am not sure how many other people out there would do what I do, also take time out during lunch breaks to share important info, then spend their evenings and weekends editing videos for people to have this information for free. I know you know already that I've been doing my job for 20 years and trying to encourage others, I'm fully aware that "wildlife gardening" has become fashionable in the last few years and there's people now making money off the info I provide for free, starting their own businesses, changing the way they landscape etc - but I started this channel to help people help wildlife in their own gardens, I could well have just kept all this to myself and been relatively exclusive and available only to clients that could afford me - but again I wrote a book and started this channel for the wildlife and creatures desperately in need of our help right now :) Sincerely, thank you for your kind words, they do make a difference, but I assure you those that come here to moan and expect me to provide an unpaid service for them certainly don't thwart me in what I do, nor will they change the way I do it. I certainly don't rely on YT to make a living, it really isn't worth it. Very best wishes, and thank you again - Joel

[@LouciferFlump]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshtonI can’t believe you get cheeky sponging moaners like that! That’s terrible. Some people! 🙄

[@Sarah-ft8jr]

I have a smallish garden that I’ve kept relatively wild. I’ve managed to turn some of the bushes into trees and I now have literally hundreds of birds, frogs, hedgehogs etc. I left our front garden to grow and I think I got what’s called speedwell? It looked beautiful but then as usual our neighbours complained I hadn’t cut my grass. So I had to mow it and now regret that decision. I love the wild look. None of my neighbours have any wildlife they have immaculately preened boring gardens.

[@LouciferFlump]

Oh what a bore your neighbours sound! It’s a shame you felt the pressure from them. Are you friends with them? It’s a question of whether or not you value their opinion…? 🤔 I certainly don’t value mine! Some of them are idiots who think I’m a devil worshipper or something anyway coz I’m a Goth😉😆I guess my nickname doesn’t help…🤪The others are into the wild look, I’ve been working on them👍🏻

[@CheshireCat6639]

I have a sign in my little garden, my weeds are my wild flowers🎉🌾🌿🍀🌻🌱🪻

[@SisterDogmata]

Love this!

[@CheshireCat6639]

@@SisterDogmata ha me too..my old brother is NOT for turning..he says my wild gardenis a " b" mess...I say its beautiful to me and more so our🦔🐾🐾🐌🦋🐛🦎🐸🐜🐝🐞🦗🕷🕸..hey ho I will keep battling on with our sibling rivalry 😉😁

[@SisterDogmata]

@@CheshireCat6639 I feel your pain! Not everyone gets it, but aren't we the lucky ones reaping the rewards of our wild gardens!

[@CheshireCat6639]

@@SisterDogmata oh absolutely true💯...ive commented to Joel that i shared with my local housing trust (open spaces dept) the no mow may vlog and they watched it and ive got a supervisor calling to see what they can do ,as at the front of my bungalow its common grass land which they do manage...im so chuffed, i didnt even think that they would respond? Once i get a 🐝in my bonnet..im on it ! 😁🦋🐛🐌🕷🦗🐞🐝🐜🕸🐸🦔🐾

[@SisterDogmata]

@@CheshireCat6639 Well done you! Anything we can to make a difference will be beneficial. A lot of our verges are privately owned and they do love their stripes! Luckily a few seem to love the dandelions and wild flowers as much as I do. Keep us all posted on what happens. I love hearing what other people are doing, it's really inspirational!

[@peaseblossom4252]

I did it! I finally had the talk this morning with my hubs about not mowing our lawn this summer. I’ve been gearing up for it since I saw an earlier video of yours this spring, corresponding with his riding mower breaking and he hasn’t been able to mow our lawn yet (so many dandelions this year! 🎉🌼). I watched this video last night, took screen shots of some of the beautiful gardens with mowed edges to show him, and then sat him down in our outside chairs to discuss “my vision” of our lawn going forward and explain the concept of a NoMowSummer. I was a bit worried-he’s owned this house for over 20 years and babied his bluegrass lawn, even though he’s allergic to bluegrass. I married him 5 years ago and moved in-slowly been weaning him off using Round Up, letting clover creep in in places, letting parts of the backyard go wild. This morning’s talk went better than expected-I think he’s resigned at this point. I did point out he knew I’m a “tree-hugger” when he married me. 😂. So we’re officially going to be doing a #NoMowSummer this year. I’m so excited! Thank you so much for helping me learn more about creating wild spaces. All your hard work is truly making a difference. 🌿🌻🐞🌼🌸🐛🕷️🦋🐝

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wow, after a pretty rough two days (involving a hit-and-run on my car and all that goes with it!) it's so refreshing to read this and I'm so very grateful for your message, it's certainly made this weekend more bearable. Just reading your message once has changed my weekend, and I'm going to read it again just to be sure! I'm just thrilled that you will now not only be able to have a #nomowsummer but that your hubs will be able to sit back, do less and see the rewards and.... hopefully.... be able to think that the mower breaking down wasn't such a bad thing after all and he certainly married the right woman :) Hope you've both had a wonderful weekend, give him my regards - best wishes, Joel

[@peaseblossom4252]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Oh wow, I’m so sorry to hear you’re having such a rough weekend. I hope those things sort out for you (and no one is hurt!). You really, really are making a difference with these videos. One mind at a time, one garden/lawn at a time-it adds up. I personally am so grateful your videos give me easy, inspirational, beautiful ideas I can adopt transforming our front & back yards. I hope you take time to relax and recharge. Wishing you a bit of ease, and some joyful sunny days enjoying this beautiful world. You matter so much.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@peaseblossom4252 Thank you, and thankfully with Ring Door bell and CCTV we have already managed to establish the driver and the vehicle registration, not going to be a pleasant weekend for him when the police visit but the last few days has been marred by everything - insurance, recovery, the leg-work in establishing who the culprit was etc - but no one hurt, no one in the vehicle at the time but how he didn't kill himself is still beyond me, travelling at such a high speed. It really is comments like yours though that can make all this pain go away! I'll be finishing editing a rather epic video for tomorrow, around 6pm our time here in UK, and it's a fantastic tour of a 250 year old garden that certainly accommodates a lot of wildlife. Just waiting for clips to upload and checking comments at the same time. Thanks for being such a brilliant distraction to all this, I really do appreciate it 🥰

[@SebR-FR]

hi :) 29:30 We have a neighbor who own a piece of lawn (~1000m²) with some fruit trees next to our land, he has only a barn with tool storage on it near the road. When we bought our house in 2020, the first year he was mowing and mowing, to keep his lawn very short (1-2cm). Then I guess he decides he could mow less as his terrain would always looks more "clean" than ours. They have understood I think that my land is not abandonned and that's not lazyness that drives me, they sould have seen me mowing path or scything this or that... anyway I don't care what they think of me, what matters is that now they also let their lawn grow more and some flowers can thrive.

[@31Blaize]

For anyone new to this: when I moved into my house with a medium sized garden the lawn was tidy(ish) and all we ever got were chafers. The last few years I've been progressively increasing the amount of lawn I leave to the point that I just mow paths through it now, and the amount of life in it has gone through the roof. So many bees, butterflies, damselflies, ladybirds and other beetles, lots of birds and even hedgehogs and bats. I added a pond last year and was over the moon to find a smooth newt in it this spring! It is by far the best thing I ever did and there's always something fun to look at out there now! 😁

[@LouciferFlump]

Sounds delightful 👍🏻

[@lukenukem1976]

For those that also follow Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't, your criticism of the "lawn mindset" is quite diplomatic. Keep spreading the word brother.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Haha! Thanks Luke, very much - I really appreciate the encouragement and support, it goes a long way believe me :) Hope you've had a good weekend so far - best wishes, Joel

[@ppetal1]

Dandelion don't tell no lies, Dandelion will make you wise

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

One of my favorite things is hearing an orchestra of crickets & katydids outside my window in the summer. Best lullaby one could ask for.

[@eywasdaughter]

Joel! Messaging you live, my very favourite butterfly has just flown past me in the garden - a Brimstone! 😃🤩😁🦋👍 I can't believe it, only ever seen one once before years ago! Just had to share it, I feel like yelling in excitement but that might give the neighbours a heart attack! 😃 THAT is the pure magic of a wildlife garden folks! You honestly will never regret the happiness it brings you.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

We're living in a parallel universe for sure!! Just seen a Brimstone in the front garden, laying eggs! Took some film of it and hope to upload as a Short later, if I get time - but so glad you got to see one too. Thanks ever so much for your message and sharing this with others too, it means a lot - hope you continue to have a great weekend! Oh, and one of the roses you kindly donated is budding up all over, will mention it and show it in the next garden update. Best wishes, Joel

[@eywasdaughter]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 😁👍🦋🌸

[@shoshanahcrookes4406]

I had one on my allotment yesterday too!!! ❤

[@coolstertothecore]

A few weeks ago I got to watch a pair of goldfinches eating Dandelion seeds and we've had a few visits from what I think is a Chiffchaff, so definitely worth leaving the grass to grow. I like how there's always more to do to attract more nature. This year we've added some more planters to the patio and tomorrow I'm going to start work on digging over a section of lawn to make a new bed.

[@shoshanahcrookes4406]

I saw the very same yesterday. 2 goldfinches having a feast on dandelion seeds. Never seen that before ❤

[@CheshireCat6639]

Love the no mow may and or summer vlogs Joel keep em coming until the sterile stripey lawn gang get it😂😂

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Jules, I really appreciate it - it really helps to have such wonderful and consistent supporters, very best wishes and hope you're having a great weekend - Joel

[@tracyvernon9467]

You have answered the one question I really wanted to know, I can leave a space and not mow at all which is great news! thankyou 😊

[@dankeener3307]

I reduced my lawn mowing time from 50 minutes to less than 20 and mowing less times in a year. With that extra time I prune, plant and harvest. With mostly native plants we enjoy the increased number of desirable birds, butterflies and moths. This past year we enjoyed seeing for the first time in our garden a Zebra Swallowtail (host plant is Pawpaw), Cecropia moth (Host plant is Buttonbush) and a Screech owl feeding its young. A couple of neighbors are doing the same thing and it’s beautiful to watch our community in transformation.

[@dmnos6824]

15:40 "We can't do a lot about what goes on in the wider landscape................" I like this because I do get concerned about what is going on and this was telling people to worry about what is under our control which is correct and a nice thing to do.

[@kerryfirehorse]

A plant based diet is the best thing we can do for the wider landscape. If the demand for animal products is less, the land presently used for animal agriculture, and growing animal food, can be rewilded.

[@tracyfrost]

Thank you, I have a wonderful meadow in my garden thanks to your videos and a wildlife pond.

[@SisterDogmata]

Hey Joel! Great to finally understand why people love their manicured lawns! Personally I much prefer seeing the wild flowers and long grass and all the creatures it attracts. Can't wait for the garden tour, I will enjoy that! Great video, if you can't persuade people to stop mowing then I don't know who can! Enjoy the bank hol, hope you get to enjoy it with your family. Best wishes.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, so much. Still got to get to the vast footage for the garden tour, but it'll be nice to re-live it, will be up on Monday hopefully. I really do appreciate your support and sharing with others what a wonderful #mowsaic can bring. Best wishes, enjoy the long weekend - Joel

[@kimwatts5750]

Thank you for sharing Joel😀🌼

[@janiedunn637]

❤ the video. The areas in my back garden are taking there time due to the wet April plus cooler temperatures

[@SisterDogmata]

@@janiedunn637 Same here, everything is delayed but as it's starting to warm up the plants are starting to grow.

[@janiedunn637]

@@SisterDogmata 4yrs ago areas around where I live was full of wild flowers 🌺. The council where I live are useless. I phoned a few days ago to complain about grassy areas near my back garden where cut twice in the last 4wks. Nobody walks around these small areas. Hopefully I’ll get somewhere this year. Last year it was cut in May & July. The head of the streetscene department said that it’s got to get cut so no rats 🐀 will get there. I’ve never had 🐀 in the 28yrs I’ve lived here.

[@simoncordingley3122]

Thanks again, Joel. I’m going to attempt to pressure our local Council, here in Finland to change some of our mowing practices. Obviously many people are concerned about ticks in longer grass, but if we closely mowed a 2-3m strip alongside paths it might allay many fears (even though mowing doesn’t totally eradicate the risk). All the same, I agree, a “mowsaic” approach is ideal, and beautiful.

[@stratosphericozone2645]

Great video. I think it is great to simultaneously promote meadow areas and nectar lawns. I think nectar lawns have a greater chance to appealing more widely for the reasons you give and I think it is something that the garden sector can sell to people. Premium nectar rich lawn seed, premium nectar rich lawn turf and nectar lawn plug plants are all things that more commercial than plain grass only. I think having the expertise for how to manage a great nectar lawn will be something gardeners will widely take pride in. At work we have left most of the area uncut but have a nectar rich area by the office. It frustratingly kept getting cut until I discovered it was because the grass cutters thought the dock in it looked bad so I took out most of the dock and they now leave it. I love it and it brings me a lot of happiness through the summer. I find it so depressing when I see vast areas of green desert. I’m eager to hear what comes from your meeting with Plant Life.

[@keithroberts42]

Thanks Joel, knowing what to do (or not to do) in your wildlife space is important. Just because I can’t see much activity in the long grass I’ve left doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Yes, having dogs and children in the garden are factors, the challenge of making a small garden work in an area you can’t leave completely for nature, although fencing off an area was an obvious solution for me. I look forward to your garden tour video on Monday. Regards Keith

[@LouciferFlump]

You can often *hear* the activity if you spend some quiet time just listening, I find ☺️

[@markthompson180]

From the US - thank you for fighting the good fight in terms of arguing for maintaining habitats for wildlife.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Mark, so sorry for the delay in acknowledging you, there are over 300 videos on the channel now and I get so many notifications - but I didn't want you thinking I was ignoring you, as I really appreciate your message and am very grateful. Best wishes, Joel

[@teddyhansen9178]

I wish your wids would be a lecture in school. thanks a lot

[@stanleystone49]

I love wild flowers over a lawn any day I get lots of butterflies and bees and birds hi from ft Lauderdale FL.

[@kathycowan2294]

A more natural garden with a bit of whimsy has always been my style, whether small or large, pots or not! It has been my experience throughout the years to garden with nature wherever I am. Nothing else gives me such an earthly welcome ! Sometimes it takes time to catch up with our beautiful planet of plenty ! Thank you so very much for your videos.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Kathy, so much - this sounds wonderful and I'm so glad that so many more habitats are being made and already in existence in gardens like yours, there are so many rewards. Hope you've had a good weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@geo.m1639]

Video on a Saturday! Great video

[@geo.m1639]

4:55 Little blooper too! Lol

[@malouhodnyisad_Olja]

Hello! I began to change my views after Sepp Holzer, Akira Miyawaki, Mark Shepard, Ernst Götsch, Geoff Lawton, Andrew Millison. I took a lot of useful information from everyone. Now it has reached you, great! If earlier I was tormented by my conscience that I left cut trees and branches lying among the grass, now I am glad that they remained there, providing habitats for wildlife. I have a shallow pond and I often see birds there. Last year I created a larger pond and now frogs live in it. I have 10800 m2, but I only mow 6000-7000 m2 low. Now I’m going to reduce the mowing area and mow some much higher, leaving taller grass. In your videos, I first saw about creating a pond in such a way that after polyethylene you again lay geotextiles and lay not only stones on it, but also the soil and clay itself. This was a revelation for me. For my large pond, I made islands and foam boards and stuck willow branches through them. Over time, the willow will take root and clean the water.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Glad this helped, thank you - I've been creating wildlife gardens and habitat in larger areas for over 20 years now, but I have of course heard of Miyawaki, a great influencer. Really pleased the pond instructions helped, I know the method has become very popular now :) Best wishes, Joel

[@andyb4820]

Hey Joel been in garden today, bank holiday Monday with the family and out of nowhere an orange tip passed through,i recently asked you if they are around in Lincolnshire and you was definitely right! 3 days ago I planted my garlic mustard plugs that I bought from your shop, can't wait now for them to grow bigger since seeing that orange tip

[@CheshireCat6639]

My shiney new book has arrived 👍,it will be going to Barmouth🦈 with me on Saturday...with a 🥂on the decking weather permitting😎,one happy lady. Thankyou so much for signing it too ,I could tell you were (keg) left handed' like me ✍

[@muddyboots2531]

Great video Joel. An area of long grass next to a lovely old hedge should be made compulsory for anyone who has a garden IMHO. 🦗🦋

[@MadamVino]

And a ban on effing AstroTurf!

[@Knit333]

I use two small mortar tubs as "ponds". Packed with plants. Put down some bricks down the sides for frogs to climb in. Some ferns and plants for shelter. Two weeks ago I counted 10 frogs in one pond😂. Sunbathing during the day. And in the evening (and on wetter and colder days) they leave the pond to go on the hunt for insects I guess. A lot of water evaporates in the summer... so I fill it up with fresh rainwater.

[@janestringer7225]

Another great video Joel. You are inspiring many of us to change our way of gardening.

[@judithhope8970]

We have two mini meadows in our back garden and the birds are always dipping in and out of it. The foxes and hedgehogs poke around in there too. The hedgehog also roots about in the greenhouses and little paths we've run through the flower beds. We have voles and newts but no frogs yet.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Sounds like paradise to me Judith, so good to read this. In a lot of ponds etc you will find newts OR frogs, they will eat each other's spawn and young unfortunately - I had a huge amount of frogspawn in my front garden pond and overnight it quite literally disappeared, it could have been a combination of newts and birds of course but the next batch of frogspawn I spotted was moved to the back garden pond and the tadpoles all hatched well. Best wishes, Joel

[@AmirsAllotment]

Hi Joel, there is so much going on right now. The birds are also in and out of the tall grasses feeding their young. Agree every small space counts. Looking forward to tomorrow’s video too. 😊🌱

[@NaturePondAdventure]

I wish I had more time! The bank holiday is gone... New soak away done and wheelbarrow carting soil and sand around the garden. Planted a small amount of Brooklime, Longus and flowering rush this week at least. You'll be happy to know we have decided to leave around an acre of grass we are leaving to meadow. We mowed a pathway through it to get to the other side of the garden but the rest will grow long and we'll cut it after summer finishes.

[@kellihillebrand8341]

Lovely video with such an important message🙏🌾☺️

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Kelli, I really appreciate this - best wishes, and have a wonderful weekend - Joel

[@cerridwencottagediary9194]

Another cracking video. I don't have a lawn but I have an area on my land that has naturally grassed over and I leave that to do its own thing. I have also left huge swathes of bramble and bracken. If there is a dandelion growing where myself or a client doesn't want it I just dig it up and put it somewhere I want it to be. I often come home from work with dandelions and ragwort!

[@jedidiah5131]

No Mow May has really caught on here in Nova Scotia Canada. Many of my neighbours are doing the mowsaic yards, my neighbourhood the properties are all 1 acre or more and some are not mowing their yards at all. I see more and more gardens every year as veggies are getting so expensive. Thanks for the video.

[@DeiseRebel]

Tks Joel, some very good info. I was planning on splitting my small back garden into two different styles and this video has helped me understand why. Wild one side and the other more "maintained", the idea of a mown path to get to your flowers/plants is a great idea.

[@UkAmphibians]

Best advice ever Joel thanks for sharing 🐸💚🐸

[@ChopsyMiche]

Loved this. Fantastic and wise words to put out there. It is absolutely the best way forward. It's such a wonderful thing to do. It looks amazing and brings in so much wonderful wildlife. It never fails to make you smile and warm your soul. Always something beautiful to look at. It feels so good to just wander around your garden and look at the life you are helping to sustain. I just love talking to the flowers and the insects, and watching the pollinators do their magical thing. Nature really does provide the very best medicine. It never fails to brighten a difficult day, or to make a good day so much better. I agree, it's time to move away from the conditioning of the past. I'm glad not to be part of the 'hoover your garden club' I hope your words plant seeds all over the world💚 Thank you for sharing and for continuing to speak up for our wildlife🌻

[@davidcobb8422]

Hi Joel once again great info video can't believe it's four years you started the channel I advise people to check out some of the early one's & conversations you have had and two years you installed my pond plus native hedging. It's because of your channel I took stock of my garden & change my garden over to the existing wildlife around me keep them coming mate.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you David, there will always be people out there that somehow, and for some unknown reason, think that I am "employed" (on a voluntary basis!) by them to impart info! ha. But thank you, there is certainly enough information on the channel already, and I absolutely loved working for you and will return to your beautiful garden again at some point this year. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, and thanks once more for all your support and encouragement - best wishes, Joel

[@livingwithosteoarthritis.]

Congratulations for 70 thousand subscribers

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you, so much :)

[@waynejones1054]

Excellent video. I've often notice how much more often bees and butterfly's go to the 'wild'' plants in the garden than the cultivated plants. I'll certainly be following this philosophy.👍👍

[@george-1961]

The banks banks of meadows I’ve left as is. On the east facing meadow, the south facing side of it was left and for the first time ever I’ve seen tawny mining bees . They were in their 100’s. So clearly taking on board, your methods are clearly working Joel. Thank you 😊👌👏

[@samcummings9895]

Thank you , right on all the way boss,

[@PaulOutdoors]

Great video Joel with an essential message. Undisturbed areas as a part of a #mowsaic of habitats are crucial in enabling wildlife to thrive. I thought of you earlier today whilst watching a beautiful Brimstone in the sunshine nectaring on Red Campion 👍😊

[@sandiemilthorpe8542]

Keep going Joel I’m with you all the way I’m learning such a lot from you I’m still working on my wild life pond it seems determined to be a bog garden but I’m not giving up I’ve also stopped mowing my small patch of lawn. Everything I introduce has to be with wildlife in mind. I’m planting fruit trees and trees in general wherever I can. I don’t have the support of neighbours so your channel is important for me thank you.

[@barbarawynn1660]

Hi, I've been managing my lawn as a chemical free meadow for five years now. It has led to a massive increase in the diversity of plant, insect, avian, mammal and amphibian species visiting my garden. I have been doing an autumn mow each year. If I leave some grass long over winter, should I then mow it in Spring to prevent it devolving into scrub?

[@wildlifegardener-tracey6206]

Such great advice Joel. It will be great to see mosaics in lawns becoming the norm. It's definitely beginning to happen I'm seeing it more and more.

[@asbjorgvanderveer5050]

The design of your front landscape really accomplishes all one could wish for. An engaging, welcoming site for people and wildlife to enjoy, and learn from. Lovelier as time goes by Joel!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate this. Best wishes, Joel

[@lynnecheetham4946]

Thanks Joel I have learnt so much from watching your videos and reading your book. I spread the message too.my sister telling me today that they are allowing one area of their lawn to grow longer, and planting wild flowers. I have different areas of cut and longer areas in the front garden, as well as a wildflower area, and want to build a pond there too, so will be watching your videos for that. We have a small back garden, but am creating a wildlife patch there too,, my whole approach is how I can create habitats and spaces for wildlife, its not just about the pretty flowers anymore...

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Just brilliant to read these comments, and I'm so grateful to everyone for taking the time out to let me know. The fact you've been spreading the message and that it's working is just fantastic, thank you so much. Hope you've had a fantastic weekend so far, I'll be completing editing of that garden visit so I can bring it to you all for tomorrow early evening, fingers crossed - best wishes, and thank you again - Joel

[@ludicer122]

I do a hybrid approach, Have a mowed grass area and a wild area in a shady border, Find it works best like this!

[@Iveyogini]

Following you from Pennsylvania.... thank you for the inspiration. My organic veg garden is fast incorporating all wildlife friendly practices. Thank you!

[@Iveyogini]

I should mention that it's an uphill battle for me. Most of my neighbors (not all) but many pay to have the evil lawn treatment companies to come out and spray their lawns. I have given up on beekeeping; having lost the colonies time and again. My mentor said it's probably that they are landing on treated areas (all around me) and bringing the lethal poison back to the colony. So sad....

[@ritahobbs5256]

I so agree … my garden is beautiful and diverse

[@hazelrudland1643]

I love this idea, but is mowing in September difficult for most mowers? What would you advise?

[@phfen]

Hi, I am discovering your channel and it is great. I am aware of the concepts you promoting and like them very much, trying to apply them in our quite large piece of land. One thing I don’t get though, and I am sorry if you talked about it in one or more of your videos but : whenever you spare some meadow areas unmowned, do you occasionally still cut the long grass at least once a year for example. If not wouldn’t it overgrow and be impossible to manage (that’s my experience)? And if yes, what tool you use because the mower won’t be able to do it, and if you have large meadow areas, the trimmer is so exhausting to operate (I am not so young!). Thank you from France.

[@troyperry1231]

Great video

[@claudia_ese8788]

leaving grasses grow all year (what we do) always makes me question whether it’s preventing beneficial seeds from growing. We don’t see a lot of wild flowers maybe due the the sandy soil in our area. Would mowing once a year encourage more plant diversity?

[@calmdymon]

I watched so many of your videos and still don't know how to manage my grass, ideally I would want to leave the edges uncut forever , but in the winter grass falling and rotting, and when spring comes, my lawn looks really bad . So I have to cut it , once or twice a year to avoid bare patches and rotting. When shall I do it ?(My lawnmower only goes 7cm high)

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there - there will be vegetation that comes up in it's place, so I would still leave some unmown throughout the winter - if you think about the wider countryside where we have no human intervention (well, in most cases!) these areas do regenerate and it's how nature intended. The rest of the lawn can obviously be cut in Sept/October time, 7cm on the lawn mower should be absolutely fine. I hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

[@Shelley-hu6zv]

I live in South Australia which has a Mediterranean climate. I am trying to make my garden wildlife friendly along with an unmowed area. But I have a question, what about introduced weeds. In many parts of southern Australia Oxalis pes-caprae or soursob is a very invasive weed. It was introduced into Adelaide botanic gardens from South Africa in the mid 1800s and became rampant and spread rapidly throughout the country. It’s very pretty but how do plants like that have a place in a no mow area. I’m really enjoying your channel. Thank you.

[@shoshanahcrookes4406]

Hi Joel. I would actually love to book you to come and look at what I could do and ask questions. I have a small garden which has become a little neglected due to getting an allotment 3 years ago. I did email your company and a lady got back to me as I was asking about having you come do a pond on my allotment but I think a visit would be wiser first. I worked for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for 18 years and so get your message. Thank you for all you do and hope to hear from 😊 Shoshanah

[@thaojuli]

Thanks Joel so much for the wonderful videos. There are many cool things I learned from this video about nature there. In HCMC we have only dry season and rain season 😅, not have 4 seasons like in UK. I'm really enjoyed watching your channel 😊 #nomowsummer 🐛🦋🐝🐞🪴🪻🌿🍀💚

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Thao, although there are differences in where we live, I really do appreciate the support and encouragement you show me. It's very generous of you to take time out to let me know that you are enjoying seeing the wildlife elsewhere, and learning that wherever we are, wildlife really needs our help - very best wishes, as always - Joel

[@thaojuli]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I'm a big fan of you 😆. You are now my idol haha.

[@SharonBentley-z8c]

Love your videos Joel😊we’re about to split the bottom half of our garden into 3 areas, one for shrubs and flowers, one for veg and one as a mini meadow and I wondered if you had a couple of recommendations for wild flowers that would be the most beneficial 🌼

[@mattfox72]

I have a lot of rushes growing in the grass, can you recommend a natural way of controlling them so I can do no mow summer or should the longer grass compete with them?

[@kingfisher3011]

I thought Nomowmay was the new Chinese President Every fb site I see no Mow May I put a link to your video Keep up the excellent work !!!

[@D-H-D]

#mowsaic good idea Joel 👍

[@EL1T3Scran]

Hello, I just have a quick question. I have alot of moss(around 50%) and ground elder along my shady parts in my garden, what's the best way to remove it to start making a wildlife garden?

[@LouciferFlump]

I have this too and I’ve just left it. Plenty of things that like shade will simply grow through it regardless, such as vincas and geraniums. I find it adds to the rich tapestry. Don’t fight it😉

[@Jimmyandtony]

Adding more plants to my pond and rushing to finish seeding! My yard is really starting to transform. We are also redoing our home-made stream in the backyard. We have a bit of a slope and seeded wildflowers, hopefully that will prevent runoff! Can wildflowers coexist with native grasses? Thanks for another video! Jimmy and Tony

[@dannylayzell2130]

Hi Joel Great video we spoke about two years ago about me making my front garden in to a meadow it is my third year and i can't wait to see what turns up. Keep doing the video they are great.

[@slashingbison2503]

I have half of my quite large front garden as meadow with a pond, a veg area and one area of mown grass along with native hedging all around the garden. I also mow the main section the back garden twice a year, and leave 3 corners wild and all the edges wild, its really difficult to balance long grass and practicality in main areas of the garden.

[@livingwithosteoarthritis.]

Another great video Joel. What is your view on bindweed?

[@novarafan6423]

The bees certainly like mine

[@moomin1632]

I find one way to convince people who enjoy a more manicured garden, to leave a wildlife patch is to tell them how much it will reduce the need to buy pest control products. Or reduce time spent manually removing them. Get the predictors in your garden and they will eat the less desirable insects for you. Some people need to hear a personal benefit to enact change.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Absolutely this - and I'm really grateful for your comment, hope you are having a good weekend - best wishes, and thanks again - Joel

[@neilstoddart2959]

Joel I'm fully on board with your messaging but I could grow a nature reserve from scratch waiting for you to get to the point in your videos. Other than that I love your content.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Neil, do let me know when you achieve a nature reserve from scratch in 30 minutes - it'd certainly make my work a lot easier and I'd probably be sitting somewhere on a remote island with millions in the bank. But, as I said many times in the video, this is mainly for traditional gardeners to learn from, to get away from this learned "neat and tidy means you're better than your neighbour" etc - I did state at the beginning that the usual viewers would be doing this anyway. I think it important that everyone is enlightened about gardening for wildlife. One thing I don't think people quite appreciate is that I have a day job, and at this time of year it's a long day job due to being dependent on our British weather - this means that the videos I take time out of my day to relay to people aren't scripted, I am not making a living out of YT videos etc like some. Not having scripts or the time means that my videos might turn out longer than most but sometimes I really am unsure what people expect of me, after all this information I have worked for at least 20 years to glean is now available to others (including other professionals) for free - something I certainly didn't have.

[@neilstoddart2959]

Social media makes it hard to know the emotions behind comments so if it came across as harsh rather than a friendly dig, I apologise. It's important to me that conservationists with your obvious knowledge and sincerity succeed in getting the message across. I just think that a slightly punchier and concise delivery would help you achieve that with people who aren't already converts. I know it's hard because I'm a retired teacher. Best of luck.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@neilstoddart2959 Thank you Neil, I really appreciate this, my apologies too if your intention was misconstrued. Not your fault at all, but waking up this morning and seeing the usual raft of negative or spiteful comments (not necessarily on this video and which I usually choose to ignore!) makes me wonder if they really do think that I'm here solely for their purpose and gain - I could of course have kept all this info to myself, continued to be rather "exclusive" in what I do for a living, but the more I can help others the more wildlife benefits, and that's what I try to remember. I just wish people would think that maybe they're not the only ones having a bad day already, or things going on in their life that mean something trivial can be a last straw. This has been one of those weekends! But again I do appreciate you responding. Best wishes, Joel

[@evalindell2757]

I agree almost! With one exception. When you have, like I do, an old meadow with endangered spieces like native orchids then invasive plants needs to be removed. I have navelwort as one of my enemies it grows in huge carpets and other plants don’t have a chance to survive! If I got dandelines in there I would remove them as they are a bit too invasiv too. If we let the invasiv spieces take over everywere then we would loose preciuos things, don’t you think??? But swiching grass for flowers that’s good that’s brilliant! 👌

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Eva, absolutely, as I said in the video meadows are man-made, left to their own devices meadows would soon end up scrubland and then woodland anyway. I'm not against managing meadow areas for maximum diversity at all, in fact that's a huge part of my job. But with lawns that are produced (turf companies etc) to just be grass then a few wildflowers in them only improves them in my mind - but I'm certainly not dictating how people have their green spaces, I mention dogs, children etc being a factor but I'm just sharing the info that you and I know about diverse habitat being the best if people want to help wildlife and have it visit their gardens :) Hope you're having a fantastic weekend, best wishes, Joel

[@andreworli4117]

We have started forest gardening however I want that bike mower 😃😃

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Me too Andrew! It's just great isn't it, so clever. Hope you're having a great weekend (whilst thinking "where can I pick up an old cylinder mower and a bike no-one wants...") - best wishes, Joel

[@andreworli4117]

Hahaha😄👍

[@patriciusministries615]

I have lots of 'Docs' plants in my meadow. Is that a big problem?

[@ppetal1]

Seeing you're in Essex. How about a mention of all those concrete and bricked over front "gardens". Ilford to Hornchurch is appalling.

[@TimeTravelReads]

I wish I'd known about all this before we redid the lawn in the back. Of course, I'm sure my dad would not have been open to a mix of native grasses instead of Kentucky bluegrass.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

I'm sure it will still benefit some wildlife, it's all about not creating a habitat for a few weeks and then cutting it down, along with the creatures that have made it "home". You've done nothing wrong, but there's so much scope moving forward. Hope you've had a fantastic weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@patcampton7163]

Does creeping buttercup have much use to wildlife as its taking over my garden. If I don't do any mowing my garden will revert to brambles and bindweed. I do allow wild areas in my garden. It's been like it for years and I was constantly asked if I wanted to sell part of the garden as I wasn't using it. I do struggle with creeping buttercup which seems to stop all other plants growing, including grass. I like to have some areas to grow roses , perennials but the buttercup creeps into the beds. I'm.sure the flowers are useful for some wildlife but it looks like it will take over the whole garden if left. Any ideas as to control it a bit.

[@patcampton7163]

I might add, I have planted native trees, hawthorn, spindle, blackthorn and Hazel. I have pear, cherry , apple trees. I also now have a pond which is being used by common newts, but no frog spawn yet.

[@archiediggins641]

Did it not used to be the case that certain housing areas required their tenants to maintain tidy gardens particularly the grass being kept neat and tidy. And yet with a little clever maintenance and management a front garden can be a haven for wildlife and still have kerb appeal!

[@kathycowan2294]

Doesn’t the long grass promote ticks ?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

It depends on where you are in the country, ticks can be spread by mammals, deer in particular and that's why it's always good to check your dog after a walk in longer grassy areas in the wider countryside - but in all the years I've been creating wildlife meadows in smaller urban settings, not once has a client said they had ticks in it - ticks in particular love to sit in wait on bracken and for a host animal to brush past it, but it's not their only means of "transport" - hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

[@NormSpecial]

Mowsaic 🤟🏼❤️👍🏼🧠🔥!

[@joanweightman2275]

History got us here! BUT the real argument now is not about the length of grass, it's about the space taken by concrete!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thanks Joan, there is indeed a LOT of concrete AND fake grass and fake buxus balls (and don't they look just great after a few months in the sun and turning blue) but I'm not arguing about lengths of grass, I clearly say that there is no need to HAVE to have long grass or indeed short grass, I'm not arguing with anyone, I'm relaying what I know and have learned over the last 20 years about habitat and diversity being the best way forward. Best wishes, Joel

[@roterfrosch5808]

Half of the summers here are drought. Neigbors, who mow in the summer, have a dry desert in their garden.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Absolutely this - longer grass provides so much more than shelter and habitat, it helps keep everything so much cooler and it can keep the water near the roots without all the evaporation from exposed shorter grass. Thank you, best wishes - Joel

[@roterfrosch5808]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton but this year (SW-Germany) everything looks so green. 😳👍 But: be careful in the woods, some branches may break.

[@paulp1802]

How can I attract dragon flies to my wildlife pond?

[@novarafan6423]

❤

[@alanthecat59]

😻

[@emtronea1]

Think we need to get the councils to stop mowing everything, they go on about being skint but they always got money to destroy the wildlife lol I ain't got any grass it's all flowers 🤪

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Yep, good point! Hope you're having a fab weekend - best wishes, Joel

[@emtronea1]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I've also created a natural run off pond too, as my loamy soil was getting to boggy, hopefully it will attract some interest after heavy rains 🤪

[@arnorrian1]

Fake plastic lawns for fake plastic people.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Radiohead... absolutely brilliant song :)

[@sallydavies2563]

They should be banned!

[@wemuk5170]

WARNING: a word of warning. Every year I have my grasses cut from September until November. Then except for the curved walk pathways, they are pretty much left alone all year unless they had popped up voluntarily in the edibles raised beds. Blue tits love to feed in the long grasses and robins prefer to hunt worms in short or moderate length grass. However, if you have bird feeders, you are asking for trouble. A combination of bird feeders and long grasses will attract rats into your garden to nest. Better to stick with just long grasses unless you love rats as ‘wildlife’ in your garden?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

That's the best time to have grasses cut if you want to provide for wildlife, definitely better than temporary habitats. The perfect wildlife garden wouldn't need feeders at all, if a garden is attracting the right insects then the birds will have everything they need, just as they did before we started feeding them, because of course we also started destroying habitat which has meant a huge loss of insects/caterpillars etc.

[@kerryfirehorse]

It’s not true that we can’t make a difference to what farmers are doing with the land and the destruction that is happening to our wildlife. They grow what we consume. Every time we spend a pound we are voting for the future of wildlife. If we eat an organic whole food plant based diet, that will free up 70% of agricultural land for rewilding. It’s our responsibility, and that is the one biggest, most instant changes we can make. I know that this comment will ruffle some feathers, and if it does, please question why as a culture we are just as addicted to eating the flesh and secretions of animals as we are to lawns? The science is out there to back what I’m saying. Of all the mammals living on this planet, 36% are humans, 60% are domesticated animals, and 4% is wildlife. The unbalance is scary and not sustainable.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Whilst this definitely isn't the place for a debate on this, there's insufficient space etc - but what I will say is that as long as we're alive we're consuming in some way or another, we're having an impact just by being here, whatever we wear, whatever we eat etc - that's not to say we can't make differences of course (that's why I started this channel) - but one thing is for sure when it comes to consumerism, if there's money to be made from it we'll be told we need it. Best wishes, Joel

[@robinbennett3531]

short turf is great to lie on. Don't need much for that so the rest can be left

[@lotus.b.lazuli2020]

We are such a tiny country, 70% for farmland shows how lost modern humans got along the way doesn't it?! Even if we were still 'jungle farmers' and 'nomadic pastoralists' the earth would be in a much better state than it is now. There's one thing planting a climbable tree next to a spiky one to get the fruit in time, and make it easier for the next generation, but wiping out acres of a multi-diverse ecology for a single strain DNA of wheat for example, seems like the most unintellectual thing a human being could ever have done...in my humble opinion!

[@rb9580]

Love what you are doing and completely on board, with the message, but, cheesh! 25 minutes to get to the point! Far too many loops away before getting back to the topic.

[@joanweightman2275]

"I don't care what my neighbours think!" Really?? I care about nature and my neighbours

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Yes, really.. absolutely really I "don't care about what my neighbours *think* " - I really don't. I don't tell them what to do in their own gardens, and I really don't care about what they *think* about mine. Think being the operative word here.

[@dans2492]

I like a wild meadow in the right place but arent gardens supposed to be a place for the people who live in the house do stuff in and for kids to play. Cant really kick a football around in foot long grass can you? The government need to set more land aside for wild meadows.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Dan, kids can still play on a nectar lawn and I do talk about this, about children, dogs etc and nectar lawns. Yes, proper meadows need to be in larger acre sites, whether that be private or public but again they need the right management to be successful. I'm certainly not advocating for meadows replacing playing fields, and am in agreement that more are needed to help biodiversity, but even original meadows were manmade to provide winter fodder for animals, hence the old saying "make hay while the sun shines" as cutting in July time was good to keep it dry while cutting and then storing for the winter. Nature, left to it's own devices would soon replace meadows with trees and scrub. Best wishes, Joel

[@dans2492]

​@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you for your reply. You need to have a go at all the people putting artificial grass all over their gardens. That's alot worse than short grass and will end up in landfill so alot worse for the environment as a whole.