RESTORING THE BALANCE

The phrase regenerative gardening is often heard in gardening circles, but what is it? Can it help you to grow better veg? Ecologist Becky Searle thinks so, and tells us why

- Becky Searle

Regenerative gardening has become a trend in recent years, with many garden designers, influencers and businesses getting behind it, eager to show off their regenerative credentials. It reflects a shift in the mentality of gardeners, showing that biodiversity and care for the environment are becoming more important in our society. But what is regenerative gardening? Why is it important, and most of all, how can we do it ourselves?

WHAT IS REGENERATIVE GARDENING?

Regenerative gardening is the practice of caring for your garden in a way that encourages biodiversity, builds soil health and restores balance. The ultimate aim is to improve your garden's ecological health over time.

For many years, gardening has concentrated on creating dazzling displays of flowers, neatly tending to our beds and borders, and manipulating our spaces to meet our own needs. But now that we understand so much more about how our gardens work, we are armed with the tools to work with our gardens and create something truly special.

Much of the focus over the past few decades has been to make our gardens more sustainable. We, fellow Kitchen Garden readers, all do a marvellous job of this simply by growing our own food. We are a conscientious bunch striving to do well with our gardens and allotments. Regenerative gardening can be seen as the next step. Unfortunately, it is no longer enough to sustain the planet as it is. We now need to repair and regenerate. As custodians of our small patches of earth, it's up to us as individuals to take the initiative to make these amends, and this is where regenerative gardening comes in. The best thing is that gardening, in any way, almost always has a domino effect. Neighbours become curious, and before you know it, small gardening communities are springing up like weeds. They share tips, seeds and cuttings with one another to make their worlds a better place.