Trees and shrubs in the habitat hedges include hazel, hawthorn, hornbeam, holly, buckthorn, sea buckthorn and beech. Once an abundance of wild woods, hedgerows and flower meadows meant a good living for wildlife. The reduction of such habitats has turned ordinary gardens into refuges for birds, butterflies and other animals, giving private gardens a role more important than that of mere decoration. The survival of many of the birds now depend on food and shelter in man-made habitats. Having co-existed together over thousands of years indigenous plants are uniquely adapted to their local climate, soil and wildlife.
Insects are a vital food source for frogs, dragonflies, hedgehogs and birds.
The third edition of Scottish Plants for Scottish Gardens by Jill, Duchess of Hamilton has just been published by The Mercat Press, Edinburgh. It is a fascinating miscellany of articles about specific UK plants and habitats, as well as the history of botany and botanists, illustrated with both line drawings and excellent photogtraphy. Fauna has recently initiated compost trials to be run at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Chelsea Physic Garden and Battersea Park . The trials will investigate rates of breakdown and analyse nutrient content of composts made from a range of native and introduced tree species. Recent studies by the research group Linking Environment and Farming based at the National Agricultural Centre in Warwickshire, have shown that a system known as Integrated Farm Managemant or IFM , which uses a mixture of modern technology alongside more traditional methods, can improve profits.