SOME SMALL gardens have more biodiversity than some very large farms in the country, a press conference has been told.
Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland made the claim yesterday at the launch of a campaign to raise awareness of the value of gardens in halting the decline in biodiversity.
In association with Corrin Hill, an ice cream manufacturing company in north Cork, BirdWatch Ireland has devised the campaign, which will feature a competition to find Ireland's best biodiversity gardens.
One of the winners of last year's overall title, Joe Barry from Co Kildare, said that to encourage biodiversity, people should forget all the advice dished out on radio, TV and gardening books.
"They will tell you how to kill moss, pull down ivy and kill so- called weeds in your lawn," he said. The key to wildlife friendly gardening is more about not doing things than anything else."
It was about not spraying pesticides and not trying to be over tidy, but providing a range of plants and trees that would support all the wildlife.
"I think it was Oliver Rackman who said that tidiness is the enemy of biodiversity and I believe that is so true."
Mr Hatch said that even one family garden in a Dublin suburb could make a major contribution to biodiversity. "Our gardens are a wonderful resource where birds can be fed and ponds can be created and where wildlife is safe.
"There are 1½ million households in Ireland," he added, "and most have a garden. If even a small number of these made an effort to garden in a wildlife friendly way, it would make an incredible difference."
For instance, the number of swallows and housemartins coming here annually appeared to be in steady decline.
"We are not sure of the reasons, but we do know that a lot of nest sites have been lost. Housemartins may make noise and a fuss, but by allowing them to build, homeowners would help stem the decline," he said.
The same was true of the swallow population, Mr Hatch added, and, if people who had barns and garages left access to them by opening a door, this would help their numbers.
Mairéad Stack, biodiversity officer with Dublin City Council, gave details of a survey of biodiversity in Dublin city gardens carried out last year.
It found that the average Dublin garden contained six native or naturalised trees, while a wide variety of animals, birds and small creatures was also reported to be present.
Particular species such as the fox, the robin and the snail tended to dominate, while most gardens had fewer than 10 bird types on average.
Ms Stack said the survey showed that given the know-how, most respondents would switch to organic methods of weed and pest control in their gardens, they would plant more native plant species and would convert other parts of their gardens to wildlife friendly areas.
Details of the competition can be had from www.corrinhill.ieor www.birdwatchireland.ie
Promoting biodiversity: 10 gardening tips
1: Plant native or old-fashioned traditional plants, shrubs and trees to provide nectar and food for bird, butterflies and other wildlife.
2: Cut down on chemicals: use environmentally friendly weed and pest control.
3: Learn how to create a healthy eco-system in your garden.
4: Use organic plant food and compost.
5: Grow some organic fruit and vegetables.
6: Grow your own organic leaves and herbs in pots or a special patch.
7: Learn to enjoy a slightly wilder, natural garden and leave seedheads on flowers over the winter to feed birds and shelter insects.
8: Plant a wildflower bed.
9: Put up a raised nest box for birds.
10: Supply water in a pond or a birdbath - birds will reward you with song.