Boost your BUGS

Gardens that are alive with bugs – whether beetles or bees – are healthy, beautiful places to be. They’re also more productive. Benedict Vanheems shares some simple tips to give bugs a boost this autumn and beyond

- Benedict Vanheems

Where would we be without the wonderful world of bugs? Only a generation ago the default setting for gardens was manicured and sterile. An arsenal of artificial sprays, overzealous trimming and vigorous thwacking back helped us get there, but at what cost?

Attitudes have changed and the realisation has dawned that – hey – why don’t we just work with nature instead? It’s a lot less effort and makes for a far more interesting outlook.

Our patches of green and pleasant land should contribute opportunities for wildlife, not aggravate it. Nature is in crisis, yet the power is in our hands to do something about it, right here in our gardens and allotments. We all stand to benefit, and so do our crops.

Gardeners could do with a being a little less obsessive, so every year I do my best to let go just a little bit more. The lawn is mown less often, more patches of nettles are let be, and nectar-rich wildflowers are left to sow freer. Then when the season’s over, the secateurs are wielded with restraint. The result of all this is a noticeable increase in bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and a host of other insects, along with the birds that feed on them. It turns out leaving areas to run a little wilder brings a real sense of joy – it’s a beautiful place to be on every level.

If you’re curious to boost the bugs in your garden and fuel the cascade of benefits that come with it, these tips may help. Support the little guys and everything else follows.

LEAF IT OUT!