Planting with nature : a guide to sustainable gardening

The living garden -- Creating a nectar border -- Planting a wildflower meadow -- Creating a native hedgerow or wildlife fence -- Planting trees and shrubs for wildlife -- Bug houses, bird boxes and feeders -- Wildlife and container ponds -- Creating a rain garden and water management -- Combining nature with fruit and vegetable production -- Creating green roofs and living walls -- Producing valuable compost -- Creating new plants for free -- propagation -- Attracting specific species with planting -- List of specialist nurseries.

By re-imagining how we plan and use our gardens, we can all do our bit to support local wildlife, improve our health and help tackle the climate crisis. Positive steps, no matter how small, can really make a difference. This is a practical, easy-to-use guide for anyone who wants to boost nature in their patch and make the world a little greener. Illustrated with specially commissioned drawings, it contains essential information on many topics, from planting nectar-rich borders, native hedgerows, trees and wildflower meadows to creating rain gardens, green roofs and ponds. These activities, together with providing homes and feeders for birds, mammals, amphibians, bees and other insects, will encourage many kinds of native wildlife to thrive in your garden, whatever its size. Expert advice is also provided on sustainable gardening approaches to fruit and vegetable production, making compost and the propagation of new plants.