Micro-Rewilding: A Big Impact in a Small Space
Micro-rewilding is all about restoring, supporting and sustaining wildlife, and creating a more balanced ecosystem whatever the size of your outside space.
Transforming just one metre of the garden will help boost biodiversity providing shelter, food and water for wildlife.
Plant Native and Indigenous Flora
Planting native trees, shrubs and perennials such as the small/medium sized Pecan Nut tree (Ukalinga) or the Halleria Lucida (Tree Fuschia), and shrubs like Tecomaria (Honeysuckle), Buddleja (Sage), Buchu (Agathosma), or any variety of Aloes, also Vygies and Plumbago and Grasses.
Plant flowering perennials that will attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, vital for plant reproduction and a healthy ecosystem.
Indigenous plants local to your area are well-adapted to local drought conditions and need less maintenance.
Encourage Natural Habitats and Organic Practices
If you have a lawn, don’t mow too often and allow an area of grass to grow undisturbed to encourage natural diversity.
Create shelter for wildlife with log piles and rockeries. Bug hotels will provide shelter for various insects and invertebrates and bird boxes make safe alternative nesting sites for birds.
Don’t be too tidy around the garden, a pile of leaves or a few weeds can also provide valuable food and shelter for wildlife.
All gardens and wildlife need water and conserving rainwater is important. Install plenty of rain barrels fitted to downpipes, or an irrigation system that uses rain water.
A wildlife pond will attract a host of wildlife, including frogs and insects as well as providing somewhere safe for birds to drink and bathe.
Ditch chemicals! Gardening organically is vital to the health of the ecosystem. Chemicals are counterproductive. Re-establish the natural balance in your garden by using home-made organic remedies, and sprays. All pests are part of the food chain and a natural balance will soon be established.
Make a compost heap to recycle garden waste for use as compost around plants, providing essential natural nutrients.