Kate Bradbury is an award-winning writer specialising in wildlife gardening. She is the author of One Garden Against the World and The Bumblebee Flies Anyway, edits the wildlife pages for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, and writes for the Country Diary column in The Guardian. Beyond her writing, Kate has also appeared on TV, with her garden and work featured on BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Gardeners’ World.
With the release of a fresh new edition of Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything – an inspiring and practical guide to making the most of your wildlife gardening projects – we had the perfect excuse to catch up with Kate.
What triggered your passion for wildlife gardening?
I think it was always there… I have always been a gardener, but in 2005 a bumblebee made a nest in an old duvet in my ex’s back yard, and the neighbours complained, and we had to move it. I got in touch with Bumblebee Conservation Trust and learned how to do so safely, and my journey to grow plants for wildlife began!
What inspired you to release a new edition of Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything? Could you highlight the most important updates or changes since its previous edition in 2019?
The thing about wildlife gardening is that it’s based on science and ecology, so any updates in what scientists and ecologists know about wildlife and the habitats we create for them, must be reflected in the advice on how to go about creating habitats – we want the best for wildlife after all!
Two important differences include what we feed to hedgehogs, as mealworms, peanuts and sunflower seeds are now thought to be bad for them, and the new debate about whether we should be feeding birds at all: I explore the pros and cons in the book.
What are the key tricks to get people excited about wildlife gardening?
Passion is the only way in, and it’s not a trick! It will make you happy and lead to a lifetime of loving, and being fulfilled by wildlife. But, if you need convincing that creating homes for bugs etc. is important, focus on hedgehogs or birds, or butterflies – something that you really connect with. Cater for that one species or group and see where it takes you.
What key advice would you give to a beginner wildlife gardener?
Just enjoy it! Don’t make too many compromises, remember it’s your garden too. That way you can create wildlife habitats while still caring for a garden that works for you, too – that’s the key to long term relationships with the species you share your garden with.
From your experience, what are the main challenges people face when creating a wildlife-friendly garden, and how can they overcome these challenges?
A lot of people worry about having a messy garden, or that they will attract rats, or that they just won’t do it right and will somehow harm the wildlife they’re hoping to attract. But, really, if you focus on relaxing, having fun and perhaps concentrating on one or two species, you can’t go wrong. Wildlife gardening is a journey, see what works for you!
Since you began promoting wildlife gardening, what changes have you observed in the public’s attitude towards it?
It’s been huge, actually. When I first started writing about bees and creating habitats, there was a lot of pushback, especially on elements like letting areas of grass grow long or growing native plants. Now there’s a much greater awareness of the needs of our wildlife and a greater desire to help the cause. It’s been really lovely to witness.
What are some of the biggest misunderstandings about wildlife gardening? Additionally, could you share some of the most common mistakes you’ve seen people make?
There’s a thing about messy gardens that irritates me – first the idea that wildlife gardens have to be messy but then the concept of messiness in itself. The best wildlife gardens mimic the natural processes of the woodland edge, so feature habitat piles including log and leaf piles, open compost heaps, native plants and a source of water, and aren’t pruned or cut back too much. Is that messy? I don’t think so!
How concerned should we be about invasive plants and animals in our gardens? What criteria can we use to tell which species help our wildlife gardens and which might cause harm?
I wouldn’t get too caught up in fear over invasive plants and animals (usually insects). Just avoid buying invasive plants (There are lists to browse online.) and get in with creating habitats! That’s the main thing.
Are there any memorable success stories you can share where wildlife gardening has made a real difference to local ecosystems?
Every habitat you create is a success story, but I’m especially happy to have the Garden Tiger moth, which has declined by around 96% in the south-east in the last 40 years, breeding in my garden. That feels like a big win.
Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything can be ordered here.