Boosting Biodiversity in your Garden

Gardening for wildlife not only boosts biodiversity but can save you time, money and provide endless hours of enjoyment.  

In this course we will investigate features of natural ecosystems that support a diversity of wildlife.  We will explore the importance of ponds, log piles and glades as well as investigate how different soils support different habitats, learning firsthand how to analyse soil.  We will then consider how we can incorporate more natural features into our gardens without sacrificing the aesthetics and functionality we want from our gardens.  

In this course we will cover:

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1. Creatively using the plants best suited to our local wildlife with a view to maintaining beauty throughout the seasons.
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2. Incorporating water features into your garden that are essential for birds, insects and mammals.
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3. Turning habitats into features and creating microhabitats that can be tucked into borders and beds.
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4. Avoiding chemicals, using natural pest control methods instead.
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5. Reducing waste, enriching the soil and maintaining moisture through composting and mulching.
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Finally, we will consider how we can contribute to the wider movement of restoring nature through species recording and community action.

Tutor Details - Louise Shorthose:

Louise began her career working in the environmental consultancy sector for over 10 years.  During this time, she was involved in various projects based in the UK and SE Asia. These comprised of everything from mapping habitats along rivers to advising on major infrastructure projects to monitoring marine life in contaminated sediments.    

Louise found her true calling when she started volunteering with the Surrey Wildlife Trust over 20 years ago, which lead her to a position within the education team. She is now the Outdoor Learning Manager based at Nower Wood.  Passionate about connecting people to nature, Louise enjoys inspiring the next generation to stand up for nature. 

At home she is a keen wildlife gardener using her own garden as a place to experiment and learn while gently encouraging her neighbours to also make changes that benefit wildlife.