Alan Titchmarsh has warned that fashionable ‘rewilded’ gardens are ‘catastrophic’ for wildlife.
Titchmarsh, 74, informed a Home of Lords investigation the craze for rewilding – leaving areas uncultivated to revive nature – will make Britain’s gardens much less biodiverse.
The broadcaster stated a two-acre space he had put aside as a wildflower meadow attracts fewer bugs and birds than the remainder of his Hampshire backyard.
The previous Gardeners World presenter, who urged Chelsea Flower Present judges to weed out wild gardens, gave proof to a friends’ horticultural sector committee inquiry.
The committee is contemplating dangers to Britain’s horticultural trade, which is value billions and helps 1000’s of jobs.
Titchmarsh (pictured), 74, informed a Home of Lords investigation the craze for rewilding – leaving areas uncultivated to revive nature – will make Britain’s gardens much less biodiverse
Titchmarsh informed the friends: ‘Home gardens and well-planted parks provide a possibility to all types of wildlife – be they birds looking for nesting websites in hedges, berried vegetation that present winter meals, or shrubs that provide shelter to mammals.
‘Home gardens with their better plant variety provide sustenance and shelter to wildlife from March via to November. 9 months of nourishment.
‘A rewilded backyard will provide nothing however straw and hay from August to March. A four-month flowering season is the norm.’
Titchmarsh accepted it was important to guard the countryside and its native bushes, shrubs, vegetation and flowers, however warned house owners shouldn’t be badgered into turning their gardens right into a wilderness.
He added: ‘I discover it worrying that deceptive propaganda suggests solely native vegetation are of any worth to wildlife and the atmosphere. That is at odds with my expertise because the custodian of a two-acre wildflower meadow and backyard.
‘The backyard is patently richer – and for longer – within the number of insect and chicken species it sustains. Home gardeners have an obligation to make sure the survival of this unparalleled useful resource.
‘Ought to a present modern and ill-considered pattern deplete our gardens of their botanical riches then we have now presided over a diminution in biodiversity of catastrophic proportions.’
In a written submission to the Lords, Titchmarsh stated vegetation collected overseas over the previous 500 years had helped make British gardens and public parks the envy of the world.
He stated: ‘No different nation sustains such all kinds of flowers on a home and native amenity stage. Whereas this might sound at odds with preserving our native flora, it has elevated the biodiversity in our gardens and parks to an unlimited diploma.
‘Wildlife is adaptable and can rapidly study which vegetation are of worth, no matter their nation of origin. Add to this that such a variety of plant species and varieties extends our gene pool – providing advantages resembling pest and illness resistance, adaptability to local weather change and international warming – and much from our parks and gardens being polluted by such introductions they’re enriched.’
Nevertheless, international vegetation can improve the chance of illnesses. Analysis funded by the Division for Atmosphere, Meals and Rural Affairs discovered invasive non-native vegetation and fungi that might damage crops and injury buildings value the financial system £4billion a yr – up from £1.7billion in 2020.