Natural Gardens was formed by the husband and wife team of ecologist Ian Wilson and garden designer Barley Wilson in order to bring a fresh approach to garden design and care. By working with nature rather than against it, we can produce a natural form to a garden which is pleasing and beautiful to people and provides much-needed living space for wildlife.
| A well-designed garden can be a green oasis both for people suffering from the stresses of modern life and for wildlife under pressure from the ravages of present-day farming. Not only do people love to retreat to a peaceful and beautiful garden but many birds, animals, and insects make their homes there too, because a garden’s basic structure of trees, shrubs, borders, and open areas of grass resembles that of one of nature’s richest habitats, a sunny woodland edge or clearing. |  |
Consider that gardens comprise 12% of Britain’s cultivated land - an area larger than all of our nature reserves put together – and their potential for wildlife becomes obvious.
To achieve this, we ensure that the right plants are used in the design (many garden cultivars are suitable for a variety of wildlife, whereas a wide range of native species make exceptional garden plants), and that careful attention is paid to vital ecological principles such as vegetation structure, continuity of flowering, and the variety and patterns of features and habitats.
We believe that the beauty of any garden is enhanced by the presence of wildlife. Yet for those with families the benefits can be even greater, as children delight in seeing wildlife coming closer to their own doorstep.
