Doing an environmental audit

Taking stock of how ‘green’ your garden is can reveal a great deal, says Tim Rumball

- Tim Rumball

I HAVE a pragmatic view of gardening in an environmentally friendly way. By gardening we control the natural environment, altering it to suit our needs and whims, and in doing so we damage it because we don’t let it do what nature intends. That said, I love plants, wildlife, and landscape in all their diversity and have no conscious wish to harm them. I only use chemicals in the garden where I feel I can’t protect or feed plants without them; my wife, Kathy, and I grow a wide range of plants and enjoy the insects that are attracted by them; we feed the birds, and I don’t swat wasps.

However, I became aware that my efforts are uncoordinated, sporadic, even careless, and a bit smug. An objective view was required to remind me of the things I do well, what I do badly, and highlight things I’ve never even thought of.

Paved areas block the growth

I started by looking at paved or covered areas where plants can’t grow, as a percentage of the total area. My front garden is about two-thirds block paving to provide paths and drive and one-third flower beds. The block paving allows little natural drainage to prevent rain runoff (though more than Tarmac), but the three flowerbeds compensate a bit. I award myself 4 out of 10 for that.

A drive down the left-hand side of the house and a path down the right are totally paved, so 0 out of 10. Gravel (which I dislike) or grow-through paving would allow rainwater to drain naturally, so would be better than the wall-to-wall paving slabs. I don’t even use the drive to the garage – cars don’t get put in garages any more as most are parked on people’s paved front gardens.