Garden Makeover for Wildlife - Before and After - 4K
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Gardening For Wildlife - In this video, I transform a barren new build garden into a haven for wildlife in 3 weeks. I explain the habitats that have been introduced and show you some of the ways in which you can encourage wildlife into your own garden.
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Wild Your Garden - "Create a sanctuary for nature" - My latest book on how you can help wildlife in your own garden and how to install all the habitats that your local wildlife will need to thrive. Complete how to's and step by step guides. Buy your copy through any reputable book shop or online here:
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Hazelwood Landscapes - Where you will find photographs and case studies of some of the projects I have undertaken over the last 15 years and how you can enquire if you would like any advice / help with your own garden:
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Many thanks,
Joel Ashton
#GardenMakeover #GardenTransformation #WildlifeGarden #GardenRenovation #BeforeandAfter #LandscapeGardening #EnglishGarden #Pond #ButterflyBrothers #GardenRestoration #GardenDesign #GardenProject #Garden #Gardening #Transformation #Hedgehog #BirdBoxes #ClimbingPlants #Shrubs #Trees #HedgehogHighway #Bats #Bees #Insects #Plantsforwildlife #WildflowerMeadow #WildlifePond #Wildflowers #NectarBorder #PlantsforBees #CuckooFlower #Holly #SilverBirch #Native #Decking #WildlifeGardening
I work for a gardening company and this is very refreshing to see. All our clients basically want neat and tidy i.e. cut lawn with nice stripes, trimmed hedges, all beds constantly weeded with the soil constantly being turned over and all leaves out of the beds. Their choice of plants are not good either as they're mostly Laurels, Choisya, Red Robin and Euonymus. Nice to look at but not wildlife friendly. Iv always been interested in nature and wildlife and iv started to get into more and more arguments with my colleges about it. They say wild gardens look ugly and messy but that's why I like them as they look natural.
Hi James. Don’t lose faith - not everyone sees the potential for wildlife and it takes a while to convert people sometimes, but it’s worth trying 😊👍 Keep up the good work. Here if you have any questions 👍
I am starting to turn my back garden into a wildlife woodland meadow. I am so tired of the boring tidy garden. I want something more natural, although a little landscaped. I am looking forward to mowing just a little path and the rest will be natural
And this is why there is a biodiversity crisis, why does everyone wabnt fake grass and clean cuts edges etc. wild is best and most pretty.
@@slashingbison2503 Most people want their gardens to become another room in the house. But that goes against the whole purpose of having an outdoor space.
Shows just how much you can do for wildlife in a new build garden. Love the fencing trellis.
Clare Evans Time Management Coach thank you. It will look amazing in a couple of years once all the climbers have grown up the trellis
Would love to see how it looks now!
Spectacular, absolutely love it.
It warms my heart to do things in the garden to give nature a helping hand. x
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind words and support - I feel the same, there are so many rewards for considering wildlife when gardening :) Best wishes, Joel
Lovely to sit at that table and have a coffee in the company of bees and birds. Well done.
Hey Mollie - I hope to go back to this garden again and show everyone how it has improved, regular updates and photos from the client, but not enough content for a video - thanks so much for your support and encouragement, so many more videos to come. Best wishes, Joel
Wow, how thoughtful of you to create a place for the bats and the bee hotel, you’re an Angel 🥰🥰🥰🍀 thank you
Thank you so much Monica, I really appreciate your encouragement and support - it makes a difference :) I hope you find the channel helpful and that it inspires you - I'm always here if there are any questions - best wishes to you and yours, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton are you kidding me? This is a dream!! Thank you 🙏
Love this wildlife habitat you have created. I am so happy to see that you have incorporated hedgehog highways, these are vital for our prickly friends to be able to access gardens to find enough food.
Hi Jill. Thank you for commenting - I’m looking forward to getting back and seeing how the garden has progressed. Yes - hedgehog highways are essential and no doubt a main reason for their decline, when they struggle to access a variety of gardens for food.
What a difference in just four weeks! Good to see. Thanks for your efforts.
Thank you Norman :) I hope to return to the garden when I'm back in that area so I can film an update to show what one year's difference can make, the clients keep me updated but I'm determined to get there in person again real soon - hope you have a wonderful weekend, best wishes - Joel
Many wonderful ideas!
Thank you Jody - I really appreciate it. Glad this is helpful to you, there are lots of videos on the channel on how to create the perfect garden for wildlife :) Best wishes, Joel
How I love meaningful, informed eco-gardens!
How I love like-minded people! ;) Thank you, so much for your support and your comment, it means a lot. I hope you enjoy the channel, there are many other videos that may be of interest. Best wishes to you and yours - Joel
Can’t wait to see the update!
Me too! I just need to get myself back to the Birmingham area to be able to see it in person, so much work on at the moment but I'm determined to bring an update :) There should be a better updated video or two for the London transformation shortly :) Best wishes to you Tim - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton too much business is a great problem to have. Well done.
@@timcarrington5977 I do have to keep reminding myself of that Tim ;) Thanks for your support, it does make a difference - Joel
Nice video; great music!
Thank you very much! Really appreciate your kind words and support - best wishes, Joel
Many new builds do not have such a space for this kind of design. They are so often picket handkerchief spaces. So perhaps Joel you might be able to do a vidio for these types of small gardens so that everyone can have a go at wilding our country and planet.
Hi Helen - the smaller spaces are usually my favourite as they seem to make the most impact in the shortest time. There are a couple of videos about smaller gardens but I will certainly upload some more, I have years of footage now and something happens nearly every day that I am on site so even more footage, I just need to find time to upload them all - when works dies down a bit in winter I'll certainly have time then, and hopefully the many videos will be available by the time we're getting itchy green fingers to get outside again early next year :) In the meantime though, lots planned for early autumn which is always a good time to plan for the following year - best wishes, Joel
great job 👍fantastic for the wildlife!!!
I really appreciate 🤩
Like hedgehog access 👍 I’m planting a hedge to replace a wall as I don’t want to cut down a beautiful holly tree, brings so much into the garden
Brilliant, I couldn't agree more :) In fact, I uploaded a short video about the holly tree and it's benefits to so much wildlife, you can find it here:
ua-cam.com/video/FXEfaisBU3g/v-deo.html
I hope you find the channel helpful - I'm here if you need any advice at all - good luck with the hedge - best wishes to you - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks, will look now ... the border in front of wall is enough for one row, bought enough for 10metres, Hawthorn, Dog Rose, Field Maple, Hazel, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn... tbh I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, once established the wall will come down if the holly starts to affect wall ... it makes sense as a good hedge can be an effective deterrent, feed, house and look pretty ... can one row of trees be ok ? Can make a UA-cam video of it for encouragement if you want to. I have recently been motivated as I have a few bumblebees flying around in summer and seems like a race to keep it going.
Good video 👍 ... I think a UA-cam video showing an alternative to cutting down a tree planting too near a wall would be a hedge and a little forward planning. If it wasn’t for the holly I wouldn’t have thought of a hedge
Absolutely - a wall is a lot easier to clamber over than a row of trees/shrubs including holly! ;) Sounds like you have the perfect mix - yes please do a video if you get time, we have such a great community on this channel that is growing, everything we can do to encourage others is helpful to all wildlife - the bees will love the holly flowers too :) Thanks for all your positive support - best wishes, Joel
Agreed re the alternative - not much can live or find sustenance from a wall ;) Holly is a great small tree - wishing you all the luck - Joel
Very nice
Thank you 😊👍
So many ideas I can "borrow" for my garden. Love the fencing!
It's really good for climbers of course, and in turn refuge and nesting opportunities for birds :) Best wishes, Joel
So inspirational ❤. You do the most important job. What a difference you make . So positive .
Hi Rebecca, I really appreciate this, comments like yours can make so much difference, and I'm really grateful. I hope you find the channel useful, best wishes - Joel
An amazing transformation in just a few weeks. Loving the videos.
Thanks so much! I’m hoping to get back there this year to film a follow up 😊
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton looking forward to seeing how it's matured over time.
Perfect
Thank you Tracey, for taking the time to give me further encouragement - here if you need any tips at all, best wishes, Joel
Wild Your Garden with Joel Ashton that’s very kind, thank you.
Alternative title:
"How To Start A Neighbour War".
Semi-jokes aside it looks lovely!!.
I'd love a garden like that!!.
Hi, why would it start a neighbour war?
New subscriber from middle sized garden
Welcome!! Thank you so much, I really appreciate your support and hope the channel is useful for you :) Best wishes to you and yours, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I already watched few videos of yours , they will be useful. Following from West Virginia. Best wishes as well .
Need an update on this garden bud , looks great .
Cheers D :) Absolutely we do - this was created last year - I'm due to go back this year and see how everything's progressed - in fact I have more than several gardens to return to and will then upload the videos as complete "before and afters" so people don't have to wait - thanks for the kind comment, it really is appreciated - stay tuned and this "after" will be up before you know it :) Best wishes to you - Joel
This video will give me insperation Joel. Lol thanks
Great stuff - you might enjoy this one too then! ;)
ua-cam.com/video/Ubu3BbkACoY/v-deo.html
Take good care - Joel
Beautifull Garden, I cant await spring. And this garden shows, that you can do A LOT even in a smaller place. In regard to the bee-house: I have read that the holes have to be very clean sanded, what is not the case in the shown house. When the holes show splinters the insects might refuse to use it because they are in danger to damage their wings.
Hello there - I can't wait to get back to this garden and share it again with everyone, showing the established trees and shrubs and the wildflowers growing up alongside the pond, hopefully I will be that way again soon :) Yes, it helps to have more smooth sanded, this was a shop-bought bee box by the client, although to be fair the bees are so tiny they see things as a lot bigger than us - a splinter to them would be like a log to us :) Same with bird houses, they do not need to be fancy and colourful, just practical like birds would find in the wild. In the UK here I am sure the RSPB said that magpies and other predators were starting to recognise colourful painted boxes and know that there were eggs and chicks inside, so they are best hidden as much as possible. Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Oh no, I was going to paint my new bird boxes tomorrow, I was already angry with myself for being so lazy having not done it already. Now I wont paint them, thanks Joel. But do you recomment to glaze them against mould through rain?
@@wildhealth5030 You can still paint them, if you have a natural (ish) colour of course, I think the RSPB were speaking about the "novelty" boxes, like mini-caravans, brightly coloured teapots etc! You can glaze them of course, ensure it's a water-based varnish where you can and safe for the environment - hope this is helpful, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Yes its helpful, thanks a lot, Joel. Best wishes to you too, astrid
Wow great job!
Thanks so much. I’m hoping to get back there this year to make a follow up video 😊👍
Lovely, thank you.
Thank you, Carol. I’m hoping to get back and make a follow up video this year.
the bees were loving the lamb's ear in my garden today
j pugh great to hear. It’s a good source of nectar. Wool carder bees use the leaves also
Love this garden, inspirational vid 🙌🙌
So glad you enjoyed this James, I really appreciate your kind words and support :) Best wishes, Joel
Great video
Thank you Steph
quite nice ❤️
Thank you - appreciated :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you fr. Northern Ireland
Lovely - do you add a route for hedgehogs etc to come and go?
Yea
Good music 😀
Haha! Hope the makeover gave some hints too - this garden was featured on Gardener's World, you might want to keep the sound down on this ;) :
ua-cam.com/video/2LJ66esN-SQ/v-deo.html
It's still available on bbc iplayer :
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000kcjs/gardeners-world-2020-episode-15
It's about 40 mins into the episode - Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks !!!!!
It would be really useful to list the plants (flowers, shrubs, trees etc) that you have planted
Hi Marina. There’s quite a few! To give you a sample: Trees - Silver Birch, Rowan. Shrubs - Hazel, Hawthorn and Guelder Rose. Plants - Sedum, Salvias and Red Campion are some good ones for bees 😊 Hope that helps
Thanks. I re-watched until I captured all of the plants you mentioned in the video. There’s big debate on twitter at the moment about “wildflower” mixes & meadows, cut & collect, natives vs non-natives & colourful “wild flowers” for pollinators that look great when in bloom but aren’t as helpful as more native, perhaps less colourful & more “grassy” but support insects (& consequentially their predators) throughout the year. What’s your advice for us gardeners?
I’d always go for natives in a wildflower meadow as that’s what our insects are used to and I would feel confident planting them on a job, but it’s a bit different for me as I’m doing it professionally, so have to deliver in terms of quality! 😁
I would love to do something like this in my garden! We have a new build and it’s very barren! How long did the trellis on the edges take and how expensive were they?
Hi David. The trellis took around a day on my own and I can’t honestly remember the cost as it was a couple of years ago now. If you do manage to do it, it will certainly be a green oasis in time 😊👍
Would like to see this garden established and grown after a year or so.
I will be going back Claudia - just finding the time but when I am in the area I am certainly going to see the clients again and I'll no doubt bring an update to you for this :)
Looks so simple but such effective use of the space. Why no conifers?
Hi. I didn’t plant any conifers as I didn’t want to shade out any of the main features. Although they are good roosts for starlings and other birds when they get bigger 👍
Thank you also for commenting 😊 I’ll be going back to see the garden and do a follow up video at some point.
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton great idea. I have a lot of wild life already but making a push for more this year. There are limits with birds as there’s clearly competition and the sneaky squirrels like eggs.
@@CR-di1lg yes - the squirrels took my blackbird and Robin eggs last year! All the best for this year 😊
I was waiting for the hedgehog highway! 🦔❤️ unfortunately all those fences around will be unlikely to get any 😰
Hi there, don't worry - there are hedgehog highways - here they are being made, separate earlier video, same garden :)
ua-cam.com/video/XZQM_2TAMiQ/v-deo.html
Best wishes - Joel
How much space did you give the plants you put in the grass area? I imagine grass would quickly overgrow any new plantings if I didn’t prep the ground first.
Hi. The plants that went in were in 9cm pots, so had a good root structure that would help them establish quickly. They went straight into the lawn and only had a space the size of the pot cleared of the turf before being planted. I’ll be going back to do an update video hopefully later this year, so keep an eye on the channel 😊 All the best for the year ahead. Joel.
Wild Your Garden with Joel Ashton thanks so much for your reply! Great info-I will have to give this a try in our garden! Happy New Year to you!
@@jackiea8274 excellent! I really hope it helps and thanks so much for the support. All the best for this year, Jackie 😊👍
What about cleaning the pond? Fallen leaves and such. Is it raked out or left to rot?
Hi Brian, definitely not left to rot :) This would increase nutrients and in turn increase the likelihood of algae in the warmer months. The leaves are best removed in the Autumn, once they fall and a relatively easy job as this only happens once a year :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks so much!!
Following your videos and creating a meadow and wildlife habitat in Georgia, USA.
Hi Joel! Love your work! :) question? do you simply spread the wildflower seed over the lawn? TY
Hi. I would recommend planting plants I to the lawn firstly, as they will have better success in establishing. If seed is the only option, I would cut and collect on a low setting, then raking quite hard, remove the cuttings to expose as much bare earth as possible. Hope that helps. 😊
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you!! :)
@@katmarcoux5332 you’re very welcome. Thanks for the support 👍
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 😎
I’m creating a garden using only native flowers and trees . I would like a tree that grows to maybe 6/7m to provide some shade for hens and myself. What tree would you recommend? The tree in this video looks ideal however I’m unsure as to wha it is . Thanks
Hi there, sorry for the delay. The obvious tree in this garden at the back in the middle is a Lombardi Poplar which will grow a lot bigger than 6 metres. However, if you are looking for a tree that will reach 5/6 metres I would recommend Cherry, White Beam or Field Maple - I hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Great ideas and results. My only criticism is that it all starts with the enormous amount of wood that has been used to fence in a relatively small plot. If everyone would garden this way there will soon be no forests anymore. Wildlife friendly, but not at all sustainable.
Hi there Henk - thank you. I should point out that this is a new-build housing estate and the fencing was put around all the houses by the builder and not allowed to be removed. The trellis that was affixed to this is to allow climbing plants to grow vertically and provide further habitat, but I agree that there are alternatives to this standard-issue fencing, like hedgerows in between gardens that would be way better :) Best wishes, Joel
You can see my point in this short video here where I put in some access points for the hedgehogs that had been denied their usual access to the area before the houses were built and the horrible fencing erected, it shows the extent of it:
ua-cam.com/video/XZQM_2TAMiQ/v-deo.html
Great work, any chance of an update.
Thank you - absolutely there is - I plan to go back early this summer and show how the garden has changed - there was little point before then due to either weather or of course winter :) Stay tuned, best wishes - Joel
Hey Joel do you have a bee hotel diy video really loving that idea 💚🐝🌿 thanks again for another awesome video!
There are a few more bug hotels to install this year - similar to the one in the Urban Garden makeover and I have plans this Spring - if time allows! - to make another one for my garden here so will do an instructional on that, and it will include places for bees of course :) Thank you for your support - Joel :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton awesome really looking forward to it, can I ask are those reeds?
@@SereneSoakingSounds I should be going back around end of Spring early Summer - do you mean reeds in the pond? :)
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton no sorry I meant in the bee homes are they bamboo?
@@SereneSoakingSounds Yes :) Sorry, I should have guessed that's what you meant - bamboo poles or canes can come in different diameter but 5-10mm on these ones - hope that helps :)
Hi Joel, would you be interested in helping me convert back garden lawn to a wildlife meadow ? From South Wales, no problem if you dont have time, might make a good video thats all ... can see a lot of birds in garden as I one of the only ones with trees in garden, makes a difference for sure
Hi Jason - so sorry for the delay - I was actually in North Wales last week, started in Nantwich, then over to Ruthin, then down to Bala and Llanarmon - all client visits about upcoming works. Send a few photos across to me at hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com and we can speak further - thanks for thinking of the wildlife in your space - best wishes, Joel
Do you have a video of this grown up?
Doesnt planting wildflowers as plugs directly into a normal lawn mean they will get swamped by the stronger lawn grass and die or grow poorly?
Hi there, yes absolutely that, which is why I use 9cm potted plants - if plugs are bought then it is much better to grow them on before planting directly into a lawn :) Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks very much for the reply! I have started growing loads of wildflowers such as bird foot trefoil and oxeye daisy after watching your videos. I've put them in loads of pots but if they dont get consumed by metre high lawn grasses I can plant them into the lawn next year😇
I don't understand how the hedgehogs can access the garden from the field or even foxes, where are the holes?
Hi there - they're certainly there for hedgehogs (foxes can scale 6ft fences easily and also squeeze through hedgehog holes) and amphibians too - they're featured in detail for this garden on the video here:
ua-cam.com/video/XZQM_2TAMiQ/v-deo.html
Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel
Hi, what wildflowers can I plant/sow on my north facing grassy bank please?
Hi there Michelle, I'd suggest cowslip, primrose, red campion, pulmonaria, nettle-leaved bellflower and foxglove, just to name a few - hope that helps :) Best wishes, Joel
Thankyou Joel, will they be ok on clay soil?
Absolutely 😁👍
Thankyou Joel🙂
Is there any way to get the plants needs in the lawn cheaply or perhaps grow form seed?
Hi Stephen, send me an email at hazelwoodlandscapes@hotmail.com and I'll be able to give you details :) Best wishes, Joel
How does it look today?
Hi there, it's looking really good but I've not been able to return and see it for myself, the client does keep me updated with photos etc but not enough to do a good video of course. I have lots of gardens and ponds/clients to revisit this year - I work all over the country so it's real difficult for me to get back to every project of course, but as the years progress I will find myself in the same areas again and make update videos of all these projects. Best wishes, Joel
How can you wall up such a view with a fence?
why not remove or shorten the fence
Hi Inga - utmost apologies for the delay in responding, I don't seem to be getting all the notifications re comments and am having to trawl the videos to ensure I'm acknowledging everyone. These are new-build houses and the fences are put in as standard by the developer - the house owners could well make a more open fence in time but were keen to get as many trees and habitat planted as soon as possible. Best wishes, Joel
Is it possible to get similar wildlife benefits from using one or two pot/barrel ponds without having to dig a natural one?
Absolutely Philip - I am not sure if you have seen the video on the channel re the barrel pond for wildlife, but it might be helpful - just remember to make sufficient "steps" for access and exit outside of the barrel, like rocks, stones, wood etc - the video is here:
ua-cam.com/video/xhyUW1p4Rdw/v-deo.html
Hope this helps - any questions just shout :) Best wishes, Joel
Thanks! Off to find a barrel!
@@philipgordon7 Great - have a look on line for reclaimed whisky barrels - they're the best and of course already "charred" on the inside to ensure water retention - you probably already know but the ones in DIY stores and the like are usually made for planting and are not designed to hold water well - best wishes, and let me know how you get on! Joel
Is that pond lined Joel or not. Been thinking about doing a natural one in my garden. Clay soil would hold the water I think.
It’s lined David. Clay ones can work, but must be well compacted and the right sort of clay, otherwise you may have a few issues with water loss.
You are SOO handsome
Thank you (blush!) :) Best wishes, Joel
Yea