Gardens across England, large or small, can be havens for wildlife and are great places to get children interested in the natural environment, said Natural England today (Saturday 21 June) as it hosts the 2008 Wildlife Gardening Conference at the Zoological Society in London. Whether you want to have more wildflowers in your garden, make your pond a friendly place for wildlife or create a ‘living’ roof, this event has everything you need to set your garden on the road to becoming a haven for wildlife. Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England said: “Gardens are a great way for everyone to get involved in protecting wildlife in England. Any green space - urban or rural - that can provide a place for wildlife is important. Gardening can also help plant the seed of outdoor enjoyment in children’s minds. “We know that the gardens of England are under threat. As we highlighted last year, in London alone front gardens with an area 22 times the size of Hyde Park has already been paved over and lost. This reduces havens for wildlife, increases the impact of flash flooding and contributes to climate change. But, it’s not all bad news. People can help by just doing a few easy things in their garden or surrounding green space,” concluded Sir Martin.

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20 June 2008
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