Neighbours and Wildlife

[Wild-Woman]

I read Bill Oddies Wild at Heart article in the BBC Wildlife magazine and had to chuckle. He was so accurate when describing details of his neighbours dislike for certain creatures visiting the garden. I had to make comparisons with my own neighbour.
Bob (not his real name but I'll refer to him as this) is Mr Neat personified! The garden is immaculate, the pond is for goldfish, the borders are for 'his' flowers. Now I really don't have a problem with this, after all it is his piece of England and he loves it. Fine.
But Bob is just SO wildlife selective! The bird-feeder is for goldfinches and birds that are 'colourful'. The pond is sterile and must be cleansed of other wildlife. He panicked when the most beautiful grass snake turned up (I knew it was around because I found the sloughed skin from it in the long grass in my garden) and asked me what he should do. I just said leave it there- isn't it wonderful. But in the end I had to help the poor thing get untangled from the pea-net he had stretched over the pond so it couldn't go back in!!
The foxes- oh dear. I nearly split my sides laughing when I see him in the spring, tearing off down the garden path, screaming like a banshee and wielding a garden cane like a spear in order to scare off a fox that has popped in the garden for the toast crusts that have been laid out uniformly on the bird table for 'the pretty collared doves'. It's a sight to behold, truly.
And weeds (the same wild-flowers that are in my garden) are in for a massive shock. They are hoisted out with diggers and scrapers, poisoned and burned!
I suggested to him once that he left a wildlife patch with a nettle or two for the butterflies and myriad of other insects that rely on them. If only you could've seen his face! Total horror!
Probably worse of all is those 'awful' sparrowhawks that pick-off 'his' goldfinches and leave the feathers behind. I don't want my poor wife seeing that sort of thing going on in my garden, he claims! Why don't they go somewhere else!!!
I don't select my wildlife, as you can tell. I'm happy to see what turns up. Ok, I wouldn't want rat taking up residence in the kitchen but if it's just passing through and probably becoming a meal for something else in anycase- that's fine by me.
Just thought of a new term 'neighboural selection'. I can't imagine what Darwin would have made of Bob. Oh well- each to their own, at least he feeds 'his' birds AND I have swayed his opinion on slug-pellets at last, so he's not all that bad in truth.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I laughed so hard a little wee came out! Unfortunately Jules you've just described so many 'wildlife lovers' that I know of. Neighboural Selection, love it. Survival of the .......?


Cheers,

Adam

[pressld2]

Brilliant post Jules!

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Neighboural Selection, love it. Survival of the .......?

Neighboural selection: Survival of the cutest.

Dave P.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

I laughed so hard a little wee came out!

Oh dear. Perhaps a wee bit too much information.

[King Edward]

Unfortunately, your neighbour sounds all too familiar. Probably most of us know people like this.

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I suggested to him once that he left a wildlife patch with a nettle or two for the butterflies and myriad of other insects that rely on them. If only you could've seen his face! Total horror!

I think this is the wrong approach to try. Such a person is never going to be very receptive to the idea of growing nettles (or weeds in general, or long grass). And in any case, the common idea that nettles are required for 'wildlife gardening' has little basis in fact.

Why not try to find out more about what wildlife is on his 'approved' list, and suggest improvements that (1) can be justified as benefitting the 'desirable' species, and (2) don't conflict with his neat & tidy ethos.

For instance, you could try suggesting he plants up his borders more densely with flowering plants leaving less bare soil for weeds to grow in, and looks for plants that look good standing (dead) over winter (e.g. Sedum spectabile, Miscanthus), and in so doing provide food for his approved birds.

Or you try getting him to compost his garden waste more (or just pile it up out of the way) instead of burning it, with the justification that hibernating ladybirds will reduce aphids on his roses etc. (and shelter predatory beetles to eat his slugs/snails) and provide winter food for his Robins (are they colourful enough?).

[RoyW]

A great opening story Jules!

It's unfortunate, but an obvious disregard for anything that is not considered cute/pretty does seem to be a very common thing among those who claim to "love wildlife".
Insects (other than butterflies), anything seen killing (or know to occassionally kill) "cuter" wildlife, and any plants that won't stay "where they are meant to be" are frequently considered something that needs to be "controlled".

[Madmills]

Hear, hear, Roy.

[bigdave60dog]

I have been a conservationist since the 50s. Before it even had a name -other than "nutcase"-, Before "Silent Spring". Before wildlife records etc. etc.
Most people were like "Bob" in those days. I was the one being laughed at for my views on conserving wildlife, planting "weeds" etc. Just be pleased that we have come so far in one lifetime. A good old fashioned "Bob" is never useless. He can always be used as bad example.
Dave

[Cordaline]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

I laughed so hard a little wee came out!

You'd better ask Santa for some 'Tena Men'!

[Cordaline]

Great story Jules!
Thanks for sharing about 'Bob'.
I shall have to spy on my new neighbours.