Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – Gardens have been an integral part of British homes for centuries, serving not only as a source of food and medicinal herbs but also as a place for relaxation, contemplation, and social gatherings. Home gardens can play an important role in supporting local wildlife populations and promoting biodiversity. By incorporating wildlife-friendly features into our gardens, we can help create a more sustainable and ecologically healthy environment for ourselves and the wildlife around us. Gardens can provide important habitat for wildlife, including nesting sites for birds, hiding places for small mammals, and breeding sites for insects.
A new study however, has indicated that British gardens may not be the habitats they used to be for wildlife.
The utilization of pesticides by British gardeners is a key factor in smaller populations for songbirds, according to the findings of the 1st study of its kind, that appeared in Science of The Total Environment. Research conducted at the University of Sussex, reveals that gardeners who use pesticides will end up with lesser birds. This is particularly the case for house sparrows, whose numbers were 25% less in gardens where commonly-available glyphosate was used, which had brand names like Roundup or Gallup according to researchers. However, the study confirms some positive news that making bird-friendly habitats in gardens elevated the number of species noted, and the profusion of individual species.
Information on pesticide utilization and garden management of 615 garden owners was evaluated for the study. The participants noted which brands or products they utilized, showing that 32% of gardens utilized pesticides, and that glyphosate-based herbicides made up more than half of those applications. For gardens where metaldehyde slug pellets had been utilized, house sparrows declined by almost 40%.
“It’s encouraging to find that simple measures, such as planting native shrubs and trees and creating a pond, together with avoiding the use of pesticides, really make a measurable difference to the number of birds you will see in your garden,” said study author, Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu, a PhD researcher in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex.
