We have just returned from southern Sweden having been over-whelmed by the lushness of their countryside and the relaxed attitude home-owners seem to have towards gardening. Neat houses with neat patches for flowers and veg, a small close cut lawn surrounded by natural growth provides all the habitat required for a wealth of birds and insects. After long dark winters everything has a chance to live and thrive without the constant threat of strimmer and slasher invading every corner. Even in town parks large areas of uncut grass are allowed to flourish with attendant orchids,cowslips and more.
At this time of year it is tempting to tidy up stingers and fear the strident growth of bramble but they are still providing nest sites for 2nd and 3rd broods of warblers and our thrushes/robins/blackbirds/dunnocks.
At Denmark Farm, near Lampeter, their regular surveys proved that the bramble/nettle patch behind the main building held the highest number of breeding birds even given the marvellous habitats on the whole farm.
Nothing terrible will happen if cutting and clearing are left until September.