RHS Tree of Knowledge – nation’s greatest ideas for biodiversity in the garden at
RHS Chelsea
The RHS is calling on the nation to share ideas to support biodiversity in the
garden. The 50 best ideas will feature on The RHS Tree of Knowledge, in the Great
Pavilion, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Jeremy Irons, Greg Wise, Julian Fellowes
and Nicki Chapman first to share ideas.
The RHS Tree of Knowledge, a 5m tall woven willow tree created by willow artist
Tom Hare, supports the 2010 United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity
and aims to encourage people to help life in the garden.
Ideas should be emailed to biodiversity@rhs.org.uk and must be no longer than 50
words. Contributions can be viewed online at www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity. The most
inspiring idea for encouraging garden biodiversity will win two tickets to RHS Chelsea
on Saturday 29 May and a special tour of the show.
Actors Jeremy Irons, Greg Wise and Julian Fellowes were first to support the initiative
and TV presenter Nicki Chapman has created a list of tips for people with limited
spare time.
Jeremy Irons advised; “Every time you see a plant or tree you haven’t seen before,
ask permission, take a cutting and put it in your garden and don’t keep your garden
too tidy.” Whilst Greg Wise wrote a poem to feature on the tree:
“Be less Tidy!!
“Have a corner of your life that isn’t neat…
“Let things rot.
“Embrace decay…
“We’ll all be doing it one day.”
Greg’s own garden is a great example of supporting biodiversity. The actor says
it is a relatively small space, but includes; a pond, rotting pile of logs, dead
tree, compost heap, leaf-mould bin, wormery, tubes full of mason bees, water butt,
nest boxes for birds, insect boxers, feeders and a hedgehog house!
Nicki Chapman said; “It’s so important we all try and make a difference regarding
Biodiversity,” and provided the following tips:
- Grow trees that complement each other (helping to cross pollinate)
- Grow plants that would thrive in your local soil ( to attract the insects that would
naturally be there)
- Encourage Birds – by providing the right feed for ‘city birds’
- Hedgehogs - providing meal worms rather than milk and bread
- Sedum roofs (attracting wildlife, plus great insulation for your property)
- Not using pesticides on the beds or strong detergents to clean the tiled and hard
landscaping parts of the garden that might harm the bio-sphere.
Julian Fellowes is also a keen supporter of garden biodiversity and stated; “…An
odd anomaly of the modern, fast-changing world, is that private gardens have become
vital protection zones for a good deal of our natural wildlife... the shelter of
our animals, plants and insects has really become a duty, and will hopefully soon
be a tradition if it isn’t already, for British gardeners...”
The RHS Tree of Knowledge complements the Continuous Learning RHS Biodiversity Display,
which highlights the role gardens can play in slowing down the global decline of
biodiversity. The RHS gardening advice team will also be nearby to help visitors
with gardening, and especially wildlife gardening.
Guy Barter, Head of RHS Advisory, said: “The advice team find that gardeners are
often surprised at how valuable their garden already is for wildlife and how easy
it is to tweak their gardening to make it even more biodiverse without compromising
their own enjoyment of the garden. Of course many gardeners have long been doing
this, and our Tree of Knowledge seeks to gather all the little and not so little
ways that Britain’s creative and observant gardeners have found to make their gardens
wildlife paradises.”
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by M&G Investments, is the ultimate gardening
event. The show takes place between 25-29 May and tickets always sell out. Book
now to avoid disappointment - www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea