A Year in the Life: Our Community Garden's Wild Journey by Clare Hutchinson
What began as a bramble-covered plot in October 2023 has blossomed into a thriving sanctuary for wildlife and community alike. Our journey started with the simple clearing of thorny vegetation, but we had a vision: to create a space where native species could flourish alongside productive growing areas.
Through the winter months, we laid the foundations. The erection of our polytunnel in November marked our first major milestone, though we hadn't anticipated it would become such a point of interest for our local gulls! By January, with the holes in the polytunnel repaired, paths carved out and our first no-dig bed experiment underway, we began to see the garden's skeleton emerge.
March brought our first glimpse of the garden's potential. The sight of our first bee, busy investigating the newly-turned earth, felt like nature's seal of approval. Our Irish heritage orchard took root, and our first community volunteering day saw trees planted with enthusiasm despite the seasonal chill.
As April unfurled, so did our ambitions. Joining the Grow Wild community connected us to a broader network of wildlife gardeners. Our twice-weekly garden sessions became a regular rhythm, matching the steady emergence of pioneer plants and the first orchard blooms. The installation of our fence didn't just define our boundaries—it created new opportunities for
climbing plants and wildlife corridors.
By June, our garden was alive with colour and movement. Cornflowers, marigolds, and poppies created waves of colour, while currants ripened in the summer sun. The installation of our wildlife pond, complete with native yellow iris, yellow waterlily, brooklime, and creeping jenny, quickly became a focal point for garden biodiversity.
The height of summer brought remarkable diversity to our wildflower patches. Rather than fighting against naturally occurring plants, we embraced them all. What others might call weeds, we recognised as vital components of our garden's ecosystem. Hedge mustard provided vertical interest, while corn spurrey created delicate white carpets beneath. Even unexpected visitors like bread wheat among the common vetch were welcomed as part of our garden's story.
Our wildlife monitoring revealed the true success of our approach. With over 156 species recorded, including:
● 13 bird species, from the majestic Eurasian curlew to soaring common buzzards ● 15 butterfly and moth species, including the striking Peacock Butterfly and delicate Holly Blue
● A rich variety of other wildlife, from red foxes to bronze beetles
As we planted our autumn bulbs and welcomed local schoolchildren to the garden, we reflected on how far we'd come. Our "no such thing as a weed" philosophy has created a space where every plant has purpose and every creature has a home. From our hibernaculum for hedgehogs and frogs to our carefully labelled seed bank plants, we've shown that community gardens can be both productive and wildlife-rich.
The garden has become more than just a growing space—it's a living classroom where visitors can learn about the value of native plants, from the humble nettle (a crucial butterfly habitat) to the surprising diversity of our wildflower meadow. As we look towards another year, we're excited to see what new species will make their home in our evolving ecosystem.
Wildlife Highlights
Our dedication to native species has attracted an impressive array of wildlife:
Notable Residents
● Birds: Regular visits from Eurasian curlews and common buzzards, along with our resident robin and song thrushes.
● Mammals: Red foxes and badgers (and those mischievous Eastern grey squirrels!) ● Insects: 15+ butterfly and moth species, including the beautiful Peacock Butterfly and White Ermine, and a huge number of other invertebrates such as the downlooker snipefly, mining bees, rough-haired lagria beetle and the two-banded longhorn beetle. ● Aquatic Life: Water beetles have already colonised our pond and frogs have been spotted nearby
● Plants: Native trees including Oak, Rowan, Elder and Alder, alongside wildflowers like common vetch, yarrow, forget-me-nots, fumitory, sow’s thistle and creeping thistle. ● Fungi: Special appearances by parrot waxcap and hare's foot inkcap
This community garden stands as testament to what can be achieved when we work with nature rather than against it. Every wild plant, every visiting insect, and every nesting bird adds another chapter to our story.
