The garden was started in 1981, when TCV took over a derelict farmhouse with buildings and about half a hectare of land, on the outskirts of Leeds. The land had been used for many years for growing rhubarb, but had become a dumping ground for stone rubble. Much of the stone has been re-used on the site for dry stone walls and other features.
The garden has five roles to fulfil:
- to provide wildlife habitats
- to demonstrate TCV’s practical skills
- to interpret nature to visitors
- to provide a training resource
- to encourage schools to create their own nature gardens.
Most of the construction and maintenance of the garden has been done by TCV volunteers, with help from school children. The garden is open to visitors every day that there are staff on site. Groups are required to book in, so that a record of numbers can be kept. There is some vandalism, but by putting it right straight away this problem is kept under control.
To fulfil the aims listed above, the boundaries of the site are constructed and managed in a variety of ways, including a Devon hedge, an informal mixed hedge, and a laid hedge. The Devon hedge is a stone-faced bank, which is an interesting feature to build, and can be a good way of ‘using up’ spoil. The stone banks and the fill create valuable habitats for various organisms. The sunny side supports a different range of organisms from the shady side. In the Hollybush garden, the Devon hedge is planted with a clipped hawthorn hedge.
A Devon hedge can be built out of stone, lumps of concrete or other disused building materials. In general the width at the base should equal the height.
A spring meadow, summer meadow and corn meadow have been created, using the techniques described in Chapter 7 – Grasslands, and are linked by a mown grass path. The various areas of woodland give the site a very mature feel, and effectively shut out the sights and noises of the city. Clay spoil from the pond has been used to create a bank, planted with gorse and broom, and provides useful cover for young frogs when they emerge from the pond in early summer.
As well as the pond, two boggy areas have been created. These have been made by excavating two shallow pits, and lining them with protective matting and butyl. One has been backfilled with limey subsoil, and the other with peat, to create boggy areas with contrasting pH. Another useful habitat is provided by a simple ditch, about 20 metres long, dug into an area of clay soil. This fills with rain and ground water during the winter, and provides a habitat for frogspawn to develop. By the time the ditch dries in early summer, the froglets have emerged. This type of seasonal wetland habitat is also valuable for invertebrates, birds and other wildlife. A bridge which crosses the ditch helps reinforce the illusion of it being a natural, seasonal stream. A damp area is planted with osiers, which is regularly coppiced for basket making, heatherings for hedge-laying, stakes and other uses.
As much dead wood as possible has been retained on the site, for the valuable habitat it provides for invertebrates, fungi and birds. Standing dead trees have been kept where they are not a hazard to visitors. Other dead trees can be cut down leaving a tall stump. The ‘loggery’ is simply a pile of logs with some soil fill and a scattering of wildflower seeds. This has become an excellent habitat for fungi, invertebrates and small mammals. Log piles are wired together to prevent vandalism. Large logs, which double as seats and log habitats, are secured to the ground with posts or steel pins so they can’t be moved.
Nestboxes for birds and bats, a kestrel box supported on a disused pole from a rugby pitch, and a hedgehog hibernation box have been constructed (see Chapter 10 – Workshop for details). A favourite with visiting groups is the ‘trapdoor ’, which is a small wooden door laid on the ground. When lifted, it reveals a variety of ‘creepy-crawlies’ which rapidly scurry out of sight. The door is permanently hinged to a length of wood set in the ground, so that it is always replaced in exactly the same position to lessen the disturbance to the organisms beneath. An old cupboard door or similar is suitable, either of wood or other material. Fix trapdoors in both shady and sunny sites, to compare the type of organisms attracted. Flexible sheet material such as lino can also be used. Corrugated iron in a sunny position may attract adders, as well as lizards and slow- worms, so lift with caution.
Being attached to a busy conservation centre with a wildflower and tree nursery also on the site, the wildlife garden is well used for informal visits, guided tours, evening classes and demonstrations. There are good links with schools and an advert in the horticultural section of the Yellow Pages brings in customers to the nursery and garden.
