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architects who smother and pollute those remaining bits of well-drained soil with the likes of cherry laurel and plush mown lawn.The new housing developments in south-east England remind me of Anville, the uniform town that is the home of The Cat in the Hat

must offer an environment where the local ecology can feel at home. It's likely to include some grasses (beyond a neatly mown lawn) to provide seeds and pollen. It should also include a selection of umbellifers, such as angelica, fennel, chervil or dill

attacking children to get at their ice-creams, or raiding hand-held fish and chips, the main bone of contention (and it is very often a bone they’re contending), is that they rip open bin-bags and scatter the contents over the front lawn. It’s all very

The vigorous growth of many herbaceous perennials and climbers often needs a helping hand to prevent them flopping onto neighbouring plants or over the edges of lawns and paths. Putting plant supports in place early means they even the most obvious

The New Zealand flatworm was first introduced to the UK in the 1960s, although it has never become as great a problem as was originally feared. It's purple-brown on top, and flat and pointed at both ends. When resting it coils up, is covered in mucus, and is about 1cm wide by 6cm...

eradication requires determination over a number of years. Where horsetail is growing in grass, regular close mowing will cause it to die off, although it may persist in borders at the edge of lawns.Spray shoots with glyphosate in summer. Tread down the shoots

observation and we had a short discussion on the significance of contrasting coloration, the myths surrounding hoarded jewels and foil sweet wrappers and the distinctions between other sorts of pie.As it fluttered down to the lawn I was just about to slip

of the lawn, then zoomed up and away. Several holly blues were skipping about over the ivy-covered fence at the weekend, all probably freshly emerged form chrysalides buried deep inside the tangled thatch.But what really caught my eye was the pas de deux dance

the washing. Whatever, suddenly there it was, hopping sedately up the lawn.Frogs always cause a hullabaloo in our garden and this one was soon surrounded by curious children, wondering where it had come from, and what they were to do about it. Leave it alone

of wildlife. The back garden is just 30 square metres of close-mown lawn and the front garden has just a few neat beds of geraniums and some small decorative cypresses. It's a holiday bungalow, so the garden is kept to a maintenance-free minimum