Create a wildlife haven
Worried about insect decline? Tiffany Francis reveals the ways we can attract all kinds of wildlife to our gardens
wildlife gardening
Tiffany Francis is an author and artist. Her first book, Food You Can Forage, was published in 2018 by Bloomsbury. She also writes and illustrates her own vegan zine called Rabbit Food. tiffanyfrancis.com
Nothing says spring like a fat, fuzzy bumblebee balanced on a flower, absorbing the sunshine as it gathers nectar for the busy season ahead. A world without bees and butterflies seems impossible to imagine, but a recent study suggests that 40 per cent of global insect species are declining and a third are endangered. Insects are the cornerstone of our ecosystems, and responsible for 70% of the crops we eat – so what can we do to halt their decline?
As vegans we are already easing pressure on pollinators by reducing global demand for intensive meat and dairy farming, but one of the easiest ways to take further action starts in your own back garden. According to the Wildlife Trusts, private gardens in the UK cover an area bigger than all the nature reserves combined, estimated at over 10 million acres. Can you imagine how much healthier our ecosystems would be if we transformed our gardens into wildlife havens? The power is in our hands! This season, try spending a few hours outdoors to create your own wild garden sanctuary for nature.