Gardens for Wildlife : Notes from a London Wildlife Garden


Wildlife Gardening: Recommended Reading
This is grouped below into three lists : click on the links: Wildlife Gardening: General Gardens and Ecology Insects and Gardens The page for gardeners in North America also has its own booklist. Bibliography I have also written an extensive fully annotated bibliography to do with wild gardens, wildlife gardens and garden ecology (last updated February 2008). It is 29 pages long and can be dowloaded as a PDF file (330kb). To do that you will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader, which can be dowloaded free from the Adobe Acrobat site. Download bibliography (PDF: 330kb)		Home About Basics Fact sheets Make a Bee House Bumblebees and Gardens Gardens to Visit Links Contact North America Europe Our Garden
Where to get second-hand books Some of the books that I recommend are out of print, but many will be in your local public library, and most are available on-line from second hand booksellers. I recommend the following sources of second-hand books: www.abebooks.co.uk www.barterbooks.co.uk www.booksearch-at-hay.com www.alibris.com www.bookfinder.com If you are in the London area, remember that you can use the Lindley Library of the Royal Horticultural Society, Vincent Square, SW1 (near Victoria and St James Park stations). This is a free, open access reference library on plants and horticulture – I found most of the books on my bibliography there. You don't need to be a member of the RHS to use this library. Recommended Books There are many books on this subject; the following is my personal list of the best, with my own comments (which you are free to ignore!) For full reviews of all these books and many more, download my bibliography. Wildlife Gardening generally Thompson, Ken No Nettles Required : The Reassuring Truth about Wildlife Gardening Eden Project Books, 2006. 183pp. ISBN: 1903 919681 - Explains and discusses the results of the first BUGS project (see my 'links' page for a link to the BUGS website). For the first time, this project provides statistically valid evidence upon which to base our wildlife gardening practice, and the evidence does not support all the 'received wisdom' that is routinely repeated by wildlife gardening books and websites. A very significant small book that is likely to prove very influential in time, and may well cause controversy. It is chatty, interesting, and absolutely essential reading for wildlife gardeners, even if you don't agree with its findings. We need more debate and discussion in the world of wildlife gardening if we are to move forward. A main theme of this book is that wildlife gardening is cheaper and easier than most people believe, which has to be good news. Amos, Sharon Create a Wildlife Friendly Garden Collins & Brown 2005. 176pp. ISBN: 1 84340 127 4 If you want a straightforward, concise yet well-informed 'how to do it' book this is without doubt the best. If you are new to wildlife gardening this would be a very good place to start, suitable for all gardeners no matter what their background or what type of garden they have. Gibbons, Bob and Gibbons, Liz: Creating a Wildlife Garden Hamlyn 1988. 157 pp. ISBN 0 600 33384 1 - Out of print but easily obtainable, remains one of the best general works. Tait Malcolm, (ed) Wildlife Gardening for Everyone – your Questions Answered by the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts. Think Books 2006 . 288 pp. ISBN 10 1 84525 106 8 This is written by a whole host of people, both members of the public and representatives of county wildlife trusts and the Royal horticultural Society (RHS). This book is an excellent resource. Many of its topics are based around questions posed by visitors to the 'Wild About Gardens' website maintained jointly by the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts, or to Richard Burkmar's 'Space for Nature' site. The collective approach gives much that every gardener can identify with, no matter what their gardening background. I especially like the book's focus on invertebrates and other small creatures, with really detailed advice and information for gardeners about the role of invertebrates. The sections on plants to attract insects are particularly concise and explain the issues clearly Lewis, Pam Sticky Wicket – Gardening in Tune with Nature Frances Lincoln 2005. 208pp. ISBN: 0 7112 2480 3 Sticky Wicket is a garden in Dorset created from scratch over a period of 20 years.This is a discursive book in which the author tells the story of each part of the garden, but at the same time imparts masses of information about, for example, creating a garden for birds, habitat for amphibians, plants for nectar and pollen, and so on. This technical information is woven into the story of the garden. Bourne, Val: The Natural Gardener – The Way we all want to Garden Frances Lincoln 2004. 168pp. 0 7112 2263 0 - Val Bourne uses the term 'natural gardening' in the sense of ' wildlife-friendly gardening'. This is an attractive, very readable book which should appeal to (amongst others) keen gardeners who have a problem with wildlife gardening because they think its all about weeds and wilderness. Stickland, Sue The Small Ecological Garden. Search Press/HDRA 1996. 48 pp. 085532 7731 - An excellent book to start with, covers both the basics of organic gardening and encouraging wildlife, in a straightforward very approachable way. Probably the best book on this list for schools. Briggs, Josie Creating Small Habitats for Wildlife in your Garden. Guild of Master Craftsman Publications, 2000 186pp. 1 86108 188 X - Extremely well-illustrated, plenty of helpful and easy-to-understand diagrams. Another good book to start with if you are new to wildlife gardening, and good for schools. Huntington, Lucy The Wild Garden: everything you need to create a garden. Cassell, 2000. 113pp. 0304 362328 - Notwithstanding the name, this is really about wildlife-friendly gardening, with the emphasis on plants and garden design. Birds Johnson, Hazel & Johnson, Pamela The Birdwatcher's Gardener. Guild of Master Caftsmen Publications, 1999. 167pp. 1 86108135 9 - Well-written, well-organised, readable and just packed with useful information for the wildlife gardener. Has tables recommending plant species for nesting sites, nest materials, seeds, fruits and berries. This book is my favourite about garden birds, but there are several other good ones; more books about garden birds are discussed in my bibliography. Ponds Steel, Jenny Wildlife Ponds: How to create a natural looking pond and attract wildlife to your garden Webbs Barn Designs 2002. 31pp. 0 954 1116 1 3 Available through Jenny Steel's website: www.wildlife-gardening.co.uk Gardens and Ecology Buczacki, Stefan Garden Natural History (Collins New Naturalist Library) Harper Collins 2007 13-978-0-00-713993-4 326pp. - This is the long-awaited treatment of gardens in the iconic Collins ‘New Naturalist’ series. This is not a book about wildlife gardening per se. It is not a polemic; the author attempts to take an independent, scientific approach. This is refreshing and gives the book credibility. As a result he debunks some dearly held views. While its primarily aim is to discuss the natural history of gardens, it frequently casts a spotlight on the world of wildlife gardening (and gardening as a whole), giving us wildlife gardeners much food for thought and subject for debate. This can only be a good thing - the world of wildlife gardening needs thought-provoking texts like this to help it move forward. Thompson, Ken An Ear to The Ground – Garden Science for Ordinary Mortals Eden Project Books 2003. 192pp. ISBN: 1903 919193 - Gardeners who are ‘non-scientists’ will find this an easy and readable approach to subjects such as soil, climate, pruning, weeds, and pollinators. Includes a short but interesting chapter on gardens and wildlife, in which the author discusses the controversial area of native plants and what plants to grow for wildlife. Carroll, Steven and Salt, Steven Ecology for Gardeners Timber Press (Portland, Oregon) 2004. 328pp. ISBN: 0-88192-611-6 - Rather like a basic ecology textbook for gardeners, explaining important concepts from scratch, it then goes on to discuss 'interactions among garden organisms' and 'gardening as applied ecology'. Chinery Michael, Garden Wildlife of Britain and Europe Harper Collins 1997. 255pp. ISBN: 0 26 1674 08 0 - A fully and clearly illustrated identification guide to garden wildlife, including all kinds of animals, birds, mosses lichens and 'weeds'. A straightforward book that could be useful for school wildlife gardens. Owen, Jennifer Garden Life Chatto and Windus 1983. 212 pp. ISBN: 0-7011-2610-8 - An affordable precursor to Jennifer Owen's more detailed and academic 'Ecology of a Garden.' 'Garden Life' is easily readable for the non-scientist. It is based on a year of observations of wildlife of every kind in Owen's suburban back garden in Leicester. Dunnett, Nigel and Hitchmough, James (eds.) The Dynamic Landscape: Design, Ecology and Management of Naturalistic Urban Planting. Spon Press, 2004. 332pp. ISBN: 0415 25620 8 - This book contains contributions by a number of leading writers and researchers in this field. Contains much discussion of the social, historical and cultural context of 'ecological', 'natural', and 'sustainable' approaches to gardening, and much discussion of what these words actually mean. Very little about 'wildlife gardening' as such, but an enormous amount of relevant background and contextual material. Essential reading for serious students and professionals who are interested in garden ecology. Marinelli, Janet Stalking the Wild Amaranth: Gardening in the Age of Extinction. Henry Holt, 1998. 238pp. ISBN: 0 8050 4415 9 - So interesting it is hard to put down, it is a mixture of gardens, science, and history. The author covers ecological principles and controversies that affect gardens in North America, history of 'native' versus 'exotic' debates, and ideas of 'nature' and naturalism, and much more. Insects and Gardens Warren, E.J.M The Country Diary Book of Creating a Butterfly Garden. Webb and Bower Ltd, 1988. 144 pp 0 86350 203 2 - Ignore the cheesy title, this is one of the best books available on the subject of butterfly gardening, and essential reading for the serious butterfly gardener. Currently out of print, but worth getting from a library or purchasing second-hand. Grissell, Eric Insects and Gardens: In pursuit of a Garden Ecology Timber Press (Portland, Oregon) 2001. 345pp. ISBN: 0-88192-504-7 - Simply the best book about insects and their partnership with garden plants that there is. Very readable and yet manages to give a complete rundown of insect classification and biology. Contains much on diversity on the garden, and why more diversity = more complexity = more stability. Buchmann S, l and Nabhan G P The Forgotten Pollinators. Shearwater Books, 1997. ISBN 155963 353 0. - A serious, but very readable and informative book about pollinators (especially bees), their conservation, and the role of gardens. relevant both to North America and Europe. One of my favourite books. Crafer, Tim Foodplant List for the Caterpillars of Britain's Butterflies and Larger Moths. Atropos Publishing, 2005. 09551086 08 (available from www.atropos.info). - It is actually intended as an identification aid so it is organised according to the plant species and the caterpillars that are known to feed on them. Still a unique and useful resource. Crawford, Martin Bee Plants The Agroforestry Research Trust, 2000. 117pp. ISBN: 1 874275 22 X (available from www.agroforestry.co.uk). - A thorough, comprehensive and well-researched document that lists flower and tree species, indicates whether they provide nectar, pollen, or both, their months of flowering, and whether they are used by bumblebees (as well as honeybees). Preston-Mafham, Rod Spiders in the Garden. Osmia Publications Ltd. 2003. Distributed by the Oxford Bee Company, 28pp. ISBN: 1 904770 031 - Concise booklet about the beautiful and fascinating spiders that are common in gardens. (OK, I know they're not insects) Brackenbury, John Insects and Flowers: A Biological Partnership Blandford, 1995. 160pp. ISBN: 0 7137 2492 9 Fascinating close-up photography with informative text. A classic work. Out of print, get it from a library. Edwards, Mike, and Jenner, Martin Field Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland Ocelli, 2005.106pp. ISBN 1 9549713 0 2 Recently published well-illustrated and comprehensive small paperback. Includes a section on gardening for bumblebees and bumblebee plant lists for all seasons. Intenthron, Manfred, and Gerrard, John Making Nests for Bumblebees Published by the International Bee Research Organisation (IBRA) 1999, reprinted 2003. 36pp. No ISBN. Available on-line from www.ibra.org.uk Bumblebees are very particular about their nesting requirements and are reluctant to use the expensive nestboxes sold to wildlife gardeners. This small book explains their requirements and suggests how to make your own nest boxes that bumblebees are more likely to use. Feltwell, John Bumblebees Wildlife Matters, 2006. 60pp ISBN: 0 907970 03 6 This recent small book is the attractive, interesting, well-illustrated and totally accessible introduction to bumblebees that we have needed for years. It is really concise yet covers everything. If you are new to studying bumblebees, perhaps a passionate plantsperson who wants to know more about those little furry creatures that are also passionate about your plants, this small book is the place to start. If you are a teacher wanting a really attractive and straightforward book for your school library, this is the book for you. If neither of these, you will still enjoy this book. (Wildlife Matters is at Marlham, Henley's Down, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 9BN). Top © Marc Carlton 2008. You are welcome to print this page for personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes only. Re-publication without permission is prohibited.