Climate optimism in the face of eco-anxiety
For the longest time now, I’ve felt hopeless in the face of climate change, and it turns out I’m not alone. Eco-anxiety is rife amongst people young and old. Is it any wonder?
My own sense of hopelessness stems from the realisation that there is realistically not much I can do on my own to hinder the seemingly inevitable advance of climate catastrophe. When I look around, I see (and contribute to) the incessant thrum of fossil-fuel-powered travel. I read about the endless erosions of ancient woodlands, and for each piece of non-recyclable rubbish I throw “away”, I can’t help but imagine its inevitable journey to landfill, or to choke the beach of some distant and far less culpable land.
And I’m but one microscopic cog in the vastly complex machine of global society! I could (and probably still should) join marches and demonstrations and lobby groups that will push the point home to those in positions of power and authority, but situations with lots of noise and people can be a bit overwhelming for me. I know life is meant to begin at the edge of our comfort zone; I only wish the edge of my comfort zone began just that little bit closer to my garden hedge.
Then the thought struck me – what if I could make a positive impact and become part of the climate change solution without ever needing to leave my own garden? What if I could help others do the same?
I did some digging (sorry Charles) and discovered that there are an estimated 24 million gardens in the UK, the combination of which amounts to a total area of more than half a million hectares - roughly 375,000 football fields. Alone, these 24 million gardens are insignificant drops in a vast ocean, but when viewed from above, they begin to morph into this rich and deeply symbiotic patchwork quilt of wildlife corridors and climate change opportunities.
Regardless of size or location, each of our gardens has the potential to harbour wildlife and boost net biodiversity. Even those overgrown, unsightly gardens in the neighbourhood where the local cat populations congregate in the early hours to discuss their plans for world domination. In fact, by simply being devoid of human interruption, these wild, unkempt spaces are possibly more ecologically beneficial than many of the more neatly manicured gardens we might see on our daily dog walks.
It was this line of thinking that eventually led me to where I am today with Beorn Wilde Eco Spaces. I’d fallen into a rabbit warren of topics such as permaculture, wildlife gardening, regenerative agriculture, rewilding, and soil health. In particular, it was the concept of regenerative gardening that struck a chord, as it felt like a positive action I could do on a small scale, that could go on to have a larger influence. I don’t presume to impact the world in one fell swoop, but by subscribing to the ethos of “…one garden at a time”, I at least hope to soothe my eco-anxiety and take both myself and my clients forward together in the pursuit of a brighter, healthier, and more intentional future.
Below, I’ve written a list of ten things we can all do, without leaving our gardens, to become part of the climate change solution and rid ourselves of (or at least mitigate) eco-anxiety once and for all.
The top ten ways that we can positively impact the world (without even leaving our garden)
1. Boost Biodiversity
Diverse ecosystems are more resilient to environmental changes – something we’re experiencing with far more regularity. By planting a wide variety of flowers, shrubs, and trees, we’re not only creating a visually stunning garden, but also a thriving microcosm of life. Remember, biodiversity is the bedrock of a healthy planet.
2. Rewild Your Garden
We should allow parts of our gardens to return to their natural state. By letting the grass grow taller in some areas and leaving deadwood and leaf litter as homes for insects, we can sit back and watch as our gardens become sanctuaries for local wildlife. The increased volume and variety of insects attract increased numbers of birds, and this surge of activity goes on to reverberate throughout the entire food web.
3. Create Habitats
Wildlife ponds, meadows, bird and bat boxes, beetle banks, hibernacula, and bee-friendly plants are all simple ways to encourage wildlife to make our gardens their home. By providing safe spaces for creatures to nest, feed, and thrive, we can help to create a local environment that contributes to biodiversity and resilience on a much wider scale.
4. Embrace Weeds with Purpose
Many so-called “weeds” have huge ecological value. Dandelions, for instance, provide near-year-round food for pollinators and their deep tap roots are fantastic for improving soil structure. It’s important to challenge our plant-based prejudices and seek out the underlying function and beauty of these seemingly undesirable wild plants.
5. Build Healthy Soil
Healthy soil is the cornerstone of any successful garden. By composting kitchen scraps and garden waste, we can build the resilience and nutritional value of our beds and borders, thereby eliminating all the usual costs associated with waste removal or bringing in supplementary fertilisers. It's a small act with a big planetary impact.
6. Practice Sustainable Water Management
We can capture rainwater in barrels and use it to water our gardens instead of using water from the mains. Not only does this alleviate pressures on the wider societal water resources, but plants actually prefer rainwater as it doesn’t contain the salts, minerals, and chemicals often found in other water sources. Drip irrigation systems are a brilliant example of how we can efficiently manage water use within the garden.
7. Choose Native Plants
For millennia, native plants have adapted to our region's climate, which means that they require far less maintenance and watering, as well as providing essential food and habitat for the local wildlife that they’ve evolved alongside. By incorporating these plants into our garden, or allowing them to thrive whenever they pop up unexpectedly, we can increase the overall resilience of our gardens.
8. Eliminate Chemical Usage
Besides controlling a very small number of invasive perennial plants (I’m looking at you, Japanese Knotweed), there is no good reason for us to be using any kind of synthetic herbicide, pesticide, or fungicide in our gardens. Instead, we should be opting for organic methods and placing our focus on building resilience and rebalancing the ecosystem, thus allowing natural problems to be solved by natural solutions.
9. Share Your Knowledge
Knowledge really is power, and it’s meant to be shared! Passion is infectious and we need to create a ripple effect through society until even the least green-fingered person knows the true value of the soil beneath their feet. Talk to your community about the benefits of organic gardening and the importance of climate optimism – see if you can inspire them to germinate their first seed!
10. Support Local Ecosystems
We should always keep the broader ecosystem in mind when considering what to plant in our gardens. By cultivating native plants and providing a habitat for local wildlife, we can play a small but vital role in protecting the delicate balance of our region's ecology.
Without even leaving our gardens, we each have the power to create a haven of climate optimism. For each seed we sow, each wild corner we nurture, and each creature we welcome, we collectively take one step closer to a brighter, more sustainable future. Our gardens aren’t just isolated pieces of land; they’re living testaments to the changes we want to see in the world. We need to stop waiting for top-down, governmental change, and instead start working from the soil up!
As you tend to your garden, remember that every leaf, petal, and blade of grass plays an intrinsic role in the intricate web of life. The power of change lies in the simplest of seeds and the deepest of roots. Rid yourself of eco-anxiety and embrace your garden as a hub for hope, action, and transformation. In the end, you're not just gardening; you're regenerating the world.