Herald - Issue 387

2nd April 2020 • The HERALD • Page 55 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v SPADEWORK Family Landscaping & Fencing Team ] Decking & Natural Sandstone Paving ] Patios ] Driveways ] Block Paving ] Turfing ] All Types of Domestic & Commercial Fencing ] Security Fencing Supplied & Fitted Tel: (023) 8089 4909 Mobile: 07703 566814 u F ree E stimates u F ully I nsured | DOWN THE GARDEN PATH | Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH or email editor@herald-publishing.co.uk Rewilding (Gardening with Weeds) On 10th March the Black eld Gardening Club enjoyed a fascinating presentation from Martin Perry Mhort (RHS), Mcihort, on how to rewild your garden, and the bene ts of various‘weeds‘. e UK has very few natural wild owers. Many that you see are imports from other countries. e traditional beautiful wild ower meadow is one of the hardest e ects to achieve as it requires very poor soil with few nutrients within it and a wild ower seed mix will not be successful if planted on a rich or nurtured soil. However there are various ways to rewild an area within your garden which will look beautiful, and thrive by being le alone. Naturalising the smaller types of narcissus bulbs in the spring, or planting ground ivy to cover bare ground under trees. All weeds serve a purpose, whether it be tap rooted to penetrate the compacted soil, brous rooted to prevent soil erosion, produces seeds at various times of the year to feed birds, insects and butter ies, or has prickles, such as brambles, which provide both fruit and nest protection against predators. Moss is used by the birds to line their nests, nettles for red admiral butter ies to lay their eggs on, plus the nettles when soaked in 50/50 water to leaves, and le for a month, produces an excellent nitrogen fertiliser, as does comfrey which is rich in potassium. Foxgloves and cow parsley produce wonderful colour, clover provides nitrogen on its root nodules, teasels produce winter seeds for birds and structure in a winter garden, groundsel puts iron back into the soil. Climbing ivy is not recommended to be planted next to brick walls, is fantastic for winter nectar and food, and provides a good evergreen nesting opportunity for birds. Di erent soil types support di erent weeds, many of which can be dug back into the soil to provide nutrition. Grey- green leaved plants survive well on very dry soil. is was just a little of the knowledgeable information presented to the club by Martin. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and Government advice, Blackfield Gardening Club is suspending its meetings for the foreseeable future and until they are advised that is safe to resume. At this stage it is hoped that the meeting scheduled for Tuesday 8th September will go ahead when Rosina Brandham will be talking about ‘Plants which changed the world and the way we live’. However this will be subject to very careful consideration of the circumstances nearer the time. Club members and the Herald will be kept advised of the situation For further information e-mail black eldgardenclub@outlook.com