Wildlife & Eco Gardens

Bringing Nature to Life

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Hanami

From the sprouting of seeds to the blooming of flowers or the falling of leaves, many of us are in such a rush through life that we seldom stop and smell the roses, as the saying goes.

The beauty of plum blossoms up close

Whether you live in an area of the world that has noticeable seasonal changes or not, it can be very easy to take for granted the beautiful plants that surround us and the various changes they undergo throughout the year. From the sprouting of seeds to the blooming of flowers or the falling of leaves, many of us are in such a rush through life that we seldom…

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Spring Renewal

It’s been quite some time since we last posted and we apologise for that. It’s been a long winter on the blog but much like all of the beautiful plants now emerging at the start of spring, what better time for our blog to spring to life.

You can expect a range of blog posts about specific plants, environmental issues, seasonal activities and more.

Keep an eye out for an upcoming blog post about…

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Plant of the Week ~ Crambe maritima (Sea Kale)

Plant of the Week ~ Crambe maritima (Sea Kale)

Botanical art of Crambe maritima

It’s time for our plant of the week and this time we are taking a look at Crambe maritima (sea kale). This member of the Brassica family (Brassicaceae) is a perennial that can grow to 0.6 metres in height and spread. Though in the wild it grows in coastal habitats, it does not require these conditions in order to thrive.

Cultivation & Care

Crambe maritimain full…

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Plant of the Week ~ Alnus glutinosa (Alder)

Plant of the Week ~ Alnus glutinosa (Alder)

Beautiful botanical artwork illustrating the intricate details of Alnus glutinosa

This week we take a look at another invaluable native tree species ~ Alnus glutinosa (Alder). This deciduous species is a member of the same family as silver birch (Betulaceae) and can grow to 25 metres in height at quite a fast rate. Flowering in spring, with seed ripening in autumn, alder is a common sight in…

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Plant of the Week ~ Rheum rhabarbarum (Common Rhubarb)

Plant of the Week ~ Rheum rhabarbarum (Common Rhubarb)

Botanical illustration of Rheum rhabarbarum by Hillary Parker. Source: Botanical Artistry

This week we take a look at plant many may be familiar with ~ Rheum rhabarbarum(Common Rhubarb). Rhubarb is a herbaceous perennial and very easy to identify when in leaf with its huge leaves and reddish leaf stalks. Flowering in summer, rhubarb can easily grow over 1.5 metres in height and spread, and even…

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Plant of the Week ~ Trifolium pratense (Red Clover)

Plant of the Week ~ Trifolium pratense (Red Clover)

Botanical illustration showing the delicate details of Trifolium pratense.

It’s time for another plant of the week and this time we are taking a look at the charming perennial, Trifolium pratense(Red Clover). Growing to 0.6 by 0.6 metres in height and spread, red clover typically flowers from late spring to early autumn. Commonly found growing in grassy areas, pastures, meadows and lawns, many…

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Plant of the Week ~ Plantago (Plantain)

Plant of the Week ~ Plantago (Plantain)

Plantago major growing in a meadow

This week we take a look at what many people may consider a weed, Plantago sp. (Plantain). Most ‘weeds’ have a use for humans and wildlife and play a key role in natures cycle. The word weed really just means an unwanted plant. A herbaceous perennial, plantain does most of its growth during spring and summer with it’s flowering taking place from early summer to…

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Plant of the Week ~ Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)

Plant of the Week ~ Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)

Botanical print depicting the details of Rosmarinus officinalis

This week we take a look at a plant that should be familiar to many, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary). Rosemary is an evergreen shrub which can grow to 1.5 metres in height and spread and flowers from spring to early autumn with seeds ripening from late summer to autumn. Let’s take a closer look at this wonderful plant.

Cultivation &…

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Plant of the Week ~ Rumex acetosa (Common Sorrel)

Plant of the Week ~ Rumex acetosa (Common Sorrel)

Botanical print detailing the separate parts of Rumex acetosa

Welcome to another plant of the week post. This week we are taking a look at the delightful herbaceous perennial, Rumex acetosa (Sorrel). Easily mistaken and mistreated as a weed due to its resemblance to dock plants (which are valuable plants in their own right), sorrel is a plant you definitely want to make the most of in your garden.

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Plant of the week ~ Salix (Willow)

Plant of the week ~ Salix (Willow)

Botanical art illustrating the separate parts of Salix alba

This week we are taking a look at one of my favourite trees ~ Salix (Willow). Blossoming in spring, willow is a great plant both aesthetically, for human use and as part of a wildlife garden. Let’s take a closer look below.

Cultivation & Care

Salix babylonica is often grown as an ornamental tree in parks

Willow enjoys a sunny position…

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Plant of the Week ~ Symphytum officinale (Comfrey)

Plant of the Week ~ Symphytum officinale (Comfrey)

Botanical art depicting the separate parts of Symphytum officinale

It’s time for another plant of the week and this time we are taking a look at the wonderful Symphytum officinale(Comfrey). This herbaceous perennial can grow up to 1.2 metres in height and flowers from late spring to early summer. Great for wildlife and human use, comfrey is definitely a plant you should consider growing. Let’s…

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Plant of the Week ~ Cichorium intybus (Chicory)

Plant of the Week ~ Cichorium intybus (Chicory)

Botanical art illustrating the separate parts of Cichorium intybus

This week we are learning about a plant with plentiful uses for humans and wildlife alike, the herbaceous perennial Cichorium intybus (Chicory).

Producing it’s pretty blue blooms from late spring to early autumn, chicory is a lovely addition to the garden, whether it be for the visual appeal, its benefits on the soil or the…

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Plant of the Week ~ Sambucus nigra (Elder)

Plant of the Week ~ Sambucus nigra (Elder)

Botanical art of Sambucus nigra detailing the separate parts of the plant

It’s time for another plant of the week and this time we are taking a look at the wonderful Sambucus nigra(Elder).  Growing to a maximum of 15 metres tall, elder grows as a small deciduous tree or shrub and is one of our delightful natives. With highly scented umbels of white flowers blooming in early summer with dark…

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August/September at Wildlife & Eco Gardens - talks, events and stalls!

August/September at Wildlife & Eco Gardens – talks, events and stalls!

August has already been a busy month for us at Wildlife & Eco gardens, attending numerous events such as the Northern Green Gathering (You can read more about the talk we gave, or watch the full talk on our blog post “Day out at Northern green gathering“). We have more events coming up in September and the end of august such as Skylarks festival, Project Wildthing, Nottingham Green festival and…

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Day out at Northern green gathering

Day out at Northern green gathering

On a rather windy day with sporadic rain we set out into the Derby countryside looking for Bradley Nook farm, the home of Jay, a delightfully friendly farmer who was recently in the news and on Country file for rescuing his herd of “beef” cows by giving them away to Hillside animal sanctuary. This year the Northern green gathering was being held at Jays farm, a 3 day event filled with music,…

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Plant of the Week ~ Oxalis tuberosa (Oca)

Plant of the Week ~ Oxalis tuberosa (Oca)

A selection of Oxalis tuberosa tubers in different colours

This week we take a look at an unusual but very underrated herbaceous perennial ~ Oxalis tuberosa (Oca).  Sprouting distinctive, clover-like leaves in spring, with crimson stems, oca makes for an attractive plant even when not in flower.  Warm yellow flowers will bloom from mid to late summer, inspiring joy for anyone who notices them.

His…

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Seed: The Untold Story

Seed: The Untold Story

Many seeds are just as endangered as the most endangered animals on this planet, and in the last one hundred years over 94% of our vegetable seed varieties have been lost, replaced with mass marketed “resistant” varieties controlled by large seed companies such as Monsanto and Bayer seeds. This loss of genetic diversity is a catastrophe waiting to happen, as genetic diversity is the key to…

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