“changes in land use arising from a push to increase yields as much as possible so as to maximise profit margins… capitalism is the cause of the Yellowhammer’s decline”

~ Jonathan Dean

Capitalism

Current system rewards concentration of capital

• Colonisation
• Industrialisation
• Automation at scale
• Expertise, siloed & unrestrained
• Monopolies
• Profit the only measure

“Scientists will attempt to create fruit without the parts that are normally discarded like the core of an apple”

~ Serena Solomon in The Guardian, Thu 7 Sep 2023

National action

• Degrowth
• System change
• Participatory democracy
  • Citizens Assembly
  • Community (People’s) Assemblies
• Universal Basic Income
• Universal Basic Services

Gardening

“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach”

~ Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Wildlife forest garden

• Resilient perennial crops
• Native plants for insects
• Habitat for animals

Forest garden definition

“Emulating woodland edge,
  layered, with edible perennials,
  self-sustaining nutrients & pest control”

Native plants

• Native plants co-evolved with wildlife
• Provide best food source for invertebrates
• Invertebrates foundation of ecosystem
• Use native plants where possible

Radical Horticulture Manifesto

1. Every garden can be a wildlife garden
2. Use native plants where possible
3. Create habitat where you can
4. Grow wild flowers & perennial crops for humans
5. Garden principles of mutual aid into community
6. Create edible ecosystems

Local action

1. Education
2. Engage community
3. More democracy

2. Engage community

• Wildlife allotments
• ‘Normal’ individual allotments
• Native plant infrastructure
• Built-in habitat
• Community orchard/forest garden

3. More democracy

• Hope Garden
• RHS Show Garden 2025
• Wildlife forest garden
• Community Assembly at its heart 💚

Garden questions

• Who owns the land?
• Who pays the money?
• Where does the water go?
• Provision for maintenance?

Garden action

• Paths define infrastructure
• Tree spacing ¼-½ avg canopy dia
• Gabions “units of habitat”
• Pond (water)
• Dead hedges
• Chop ‘n’ drop comfrey
• Native plants where possible

Appendix

Support the people

• Rachel Auckland, Ceredigion Nature Parnership
• Andrea Sanders, Yr Ardd
• David Hunter, The Coppice Plot
• Lindsey Jones, The Wildflower Nursery
• Barry & Sandra, Celtic Wild Flowers
• Keith Burgess, Hafan y Coed nursery
• Stephanie Hafferty, No Dig Gardening
• Kim Stoddart, Green Rocket courses
• Antonia Malchik, On The Commons

Gardening resources: natureworks.org.uk/resources