The International Year of Biodiversity

Biodiversity Pledges - June

Companion Planting
This works on the principle that one plant species benefits another either by chemical means; attracting beneficial insects and birds that prey on pests; or repelling pests.  There can be some great results for what is still considered by many as a rather unscientific method of gardening, for instance the vibrant coloured flowers of the pot marigold, calendula officinalis, placed under plants plagued by whitefly can tempt the pests away from your crops while attracting beneficial insects such as lacewings, hoverflies and ladybirds.  They also emit a root secretion that is believed to help reduce incidences of potato eel worm. Similarly parsley planted under roses deter greenfly attracted to the rose by emitting chemicals taken up by the rose plant and it can also work well with chives and garlic.  Try also planting Basil in the glasshouse next to your tomatoes to help combat whitefly.  Many gardeners do see that pest damage is lessened by trying some of these combinations so there isn’t anything to be lost by trying it and in some cases yields or crop health and flavour can be improved with Strawberries benefiting from Borage being grown close by.

Allow grass to grow  

It may be possible to hear hum of mowers across the land, scalping acres of lawns to within an inch of life but have you ever considered the results of not getting the mower out.  Allow peace to descend and leave the grass untrimmed, even in a small area, for just a few weeks at this time of the year and it is surprising what plants emerge.  Stop mowing now and expect the delightful Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris; Daisy Bellis perennis and Clover, Trifolium repens to thrive, all rich in nectar for insects from bees to lacewings.  Keep the mower in the shed till late September and Knapweed, Centaurea, scabiosa; Yarrow, Achillea millefolium and Ox eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare will all prosper attracting yet more insects and in turn balletic insect feeding birds such as swifts and swallows

The IYB Launch
On the evening of 25th November 2009 I attended the launch of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity UK at the Natural History Museum. It was a beautiful night-time setting for a powerful message – which is tasked to:

‘help people discover the connections between themselves and the world around them and to realise the consequences of biodiversity loss, as well as the huge benefits that are shared if we conserve and use life on Earth in a sustainable way’.

Hundreds of organisations and groups across the UK are joining together to play a part in the global awareness campaign and we as gardeners have a lot to offer, and much that we engage with.

My Pledges
I have pledged to give my gardening hints and tips to encourage biodiversity in our gardens and outside spaces each month throughout the year starting from January 2010. Please do visit the site each month or put them on your RSS feed to receive these.

I have also set the challenge of creating a garden to celebrate Biodiversity to my scholar Paul Hervey-Brookes who will be building this garden for sponsor Bradstone at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show May 2010 – please do keep up to date on his progress by visiting www.gardenersclick.com

What is Biodiversity?
It is interesting to note that in a survey by the UK government carried out earlier this year half of those interviewed did not know or could not explain what Biodiversity meant.

Biodiversity simply means the diversity of species (plants and animals) on earth and the habitats they depend on.

To me it means that we as gardeners appreciate that the wealth of life in our gardens and environment is of absolute importance and necessity. To see what it means to others who attended the launch event visit www.nhm.ac.uk

Why IYB 2010?
The International Year of Biodiversity has been set up by the United National General Assembly in response to a worldwide failure to meet agreed targets to stem biodiversity loss, which were set out at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. IYB2010 gives people an opportunity to take time throughout 2010 and beyond to appreciate the natural world around them and join in the world-wide action on a local level.

The celebrations and events across the world will act to highlight the loss of biodiversity, which, as a result of human activities, is estimated to be as high as 1,000 times the natural rate, and is expected to rise further as a result of the impacts of climate change. The impact of biodiversity loss to the essential services that sustain human life is on a scale similar to the impact of climate change, an order of magnitude greater than the current global financial crisis.

In October 2010, governments will set new targets for the decade ahead.

What you can do
To learn more about what you can do or to find out about events and activities visit: www.biodiversityislife.net
International Biodiversity Day is on the 22nd May 2010