Marmalade Hoverfly in a white Bindweed flower

Waste Ground to Wild Garden 23

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This is the 23rd post about the transition of a piece of waste ground, with an assemblage of mostly wild native plants, into a designated wild garden. I have been merely an observer of the activities on this site and an admirer of the results. All the hard work in developing this site for wildlife is being undertaken by the Charlton Down Cricket Club in the Dorset village where I live.

The planting is designed not only to look attractive, colourful, and varied, but also to provide a resource for wildlife, such as food for insects. While photographing the plants I noticed some insects as well, surprisingly few in the early summer when it seemed as if the blooming was out of sync with the hatching of the flying species. Bees were the most frequent visitors but hoverflies, beetles, shieldbugs and butterflies were there too.

19 Replies to “Waste Ground to Wild Garden 23”

  1. Jessica, I live in Poole and wondered if you/they allow people from outside to see all this wonderful work? I know Charlton Down and often drive our into Dorset to take photographs and draw. Best wishes, Jane O’Connor

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  2. My route two days ago took me through the village for the first time. Sadly I didn’t have time to come and look. It has occurred to me, and may have occurred to you too, that perhaps there could be an Open Day for Charity, maybe part of the National Garden Scheme where you (would require quite a bit of input I think) could do a “tour” showing the pictures of how the “garden” has transformed and the impact it has had on local well being both health, and mental well-being, the variety of plants that have arrived and insects! I would be happy to help with the insect side of things….just a thought 😉

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  3. Hello, Jane. The wild garden which is being developed by the Charlton Down Cricket Club is open to view for anyone passing by. At the moment, the garden is not looking its most aesthetically pleasing because of the natural autumn die-back of the vegetation. It is important not to cut-back or clear away dead plants if possible because very often there are insect pupae and larvae hoping to overwinter in it, and it provides shelter for so much more. Still, there is new growth coming through and, for those with the eyes to see, so much to observe from a natural history perspective. If you would like to see the garden next time you are in the vicinity, park by the village hall, and walk round to the back of the hall, and you will see the cricket pitch in front of you. The club pavilion is over to the right. The wild garden area is between the clubhouse and the red brick wall that surrounds the private land around imposing Redwood House. I believe that the wild garden land is also the property of Redwood House but the wild garden is there for everyone to enjoy. The CD Cricket Club has also been developing other wild areas around their ground. It is an ongoing project. I am not connected with the Cricket Club – I am just enjoying what they are doing.

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  4. That is a great idea. I am not certain how one would go about it. I am just a villager who really appreciates what the Charlton Down Cricket Club are doing to increase biodiversity around them. It might be an idea if you were to contact the Club directly (Peter Tucker is the man in charge) and make your suggestion. I have supplied the Club with a plant species list and photographs but I do not know whether they have any plans to use them, although there was some mention of a possibility of a presentation of some kind. They are aware that I have been blogging about their wild garden project but I haven’t had any feedback as yet. Thank you for showing an interest and the offer of help.

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  5. Ah! I thought it was something connected to the Housing Development. If you happen to be in contact with the Club again, feel free to put my suggestion to them. I would still be involved but having followed your blogs, I thought it was totally a project of your own. I don’t want to start something myself as I have quite a full schedule sometimes too x

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  6. Thank you for getting back to me so quickly Jessica. I understand about the natural die-back now. I’m in Brittany at the moment, and missing many of the flowers and insects I’ve been photographing over the summer. Still, we have autumn to enjoy and spring to look forward to! I’ll go and have a look anyway. Best wishes.

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  7. The garden is entirely the work of the Cricket Club as part of their overall wish to ‘wild’ areas around their ground. I have just been blowing the trumpet for them. I too have other projects ongoing and consuming most of my free time. The village has a Nature Area which needs a bit of attention and improvement. In the absence of any real interest by villagers over the past decade or so, I thought I would step up and try to do something myself to make it better for wildlife, and increase visitors’ enjoyment of the place. The starting point has been an attempt to list everything that lives there – as far as possible without specialist collection equipment – a baseline survey and development of nature trails and so forth. Our local councillor has just obtained funding to replace the almost derelict pond; and I am looking at ways in which we might cost-effectively enhance the planting schemes to encourage more birds and insects. So quite busy really.

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  13. The people at the Cricket Club have worked really hard at developing the garden and have certainly increased the biodiversity. Next year should be even better from Spring onwards. Every thing is past its best right now with much that has died back but some new growth has started and also some new species making an appearance. May onwards would definitely be the best time to see it in its glory.

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  17. Thank you, Linda. I have in fact been out taking pictures of the seeds and the way the vegetation is dying back but thought I would give the series a break for the moment. I expect I will post updates later.

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  18. Those macros are absolutely gorgeous, Jessica. The variety of plants and insects is really amazing; your posts prove that little things can have a big impact.

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