Restoring ecosystems through rewilding

THE Westville Conservancy is encouraging the community to embark on rewilding with the aim to restore the ecosystem. Explaining the rewilding concept, the organisation said it is about returning the landscapes to a wilder state.

“The aim is to eventually let nature take care of itself, resulting in a healthier, more resilient natural world that is going to increase biodiversity, help combat climate change and make us feel better, too,” they said.

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The conservancy said this came as an inspiration as one of their members was in England and witnessed the movement there.

“There are a number of large-scale habitat-restoration and species-conservation projects currently underway in Britain, but at the same time, rewilding is happening in the concrete world of villages, towns and cities, as well as along road reserves, roundabouts, parks, verges and gardens.

“An area has been set aside in Wandsworth Park in South London for the creation of a meadow. The section has been temporarily fenced off to prevent it from being trampled, giving the grasses and wildflowers an opportunity to become established. In Romsey’s Memorial Park in Hampshire, wildflowers have been allowed to flourish along the riverbanks,” they said.

“Further to this, ‘No Mow May’ was a movement that started in the UK in 2019, and it urged people to keep their mowers locked up for a month to allow spring plants a chance to set seed before the first cutting, making for healthier, more diverse lawns. It also gives a boost of much-needed nectar to pollinators across gardens, parklands and verges. “What was really encouraging was to compare what is happening in the UK with what we, as Westville Conservancy, are aiming to achieve in our suburb. We have, for many years, been managing the M13 road reserves, removing invasive species and allowing the natural grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees to flourish, thus creating important corridors for nature.”

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The conservancy explained that rewilding also includes the implementation of more nature-friendly agricultural methods, such as regenerative farming, which aims to minimise soil disturbance, maximise soil health and minimise the need for chemical inputs. Strips of wildflowers can also be seen between fields and alongside hedgerows.

“Rewilding is also happening in the parks where we have been active – Jubilee, Westville, Portman, Woodland, Fyfe, Sunnybrae and Duncan – where we have reduced the amount of mowing and removed invasive alien plants (IAPs), thus allowing natural ecosystems to thrive.”

The conservancy encouraged the public to start rewilding on their verges.

“There are many wide verges in our suburb. Some are mown short, while others are left to grow wild with invasive alien plants. But we can all take control of our verges and start rewilding. Perhaps there is an opportunity in your garden to reduce the amount of mown lawn, sow a few indigenous grass seeds and plant some wildflowers and shrubs. The insects and bees will love you for it, and you will be rewarded with all the colourful butterflies and birds that will visit to enjoy the bounty,” they said.

The conservancy said, going forward, they will be giving more tips on how to rewild verges and gardens.

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