Tidy desk, tidy mind. Many of us can’t focus on big tasks till the distracting little ones are dealt with. A good clear out in the garden is similarly satisfying. Judicious pruning gets light and air into plants and defends low growers from dominant neighbours. Minimalism is problematic though; garden mess is part of a diverse ecosystem, designed to keep coming back. Dead leaves on flowerbeds are a natural mulch, retaining moisture in the soil and providing winter protection for delicate plants and animals.

Wildlife reliant on bramble scrub has fallen foul of our tidying instincts. It’s one of the most useful but least valued habitats, due to a messy appearance and perceptions of easy replacement. Reinstating mature oaks takes 200 years, but any frustrated gardener knows brambles keep coming back. What returns is sparse however, and to be valuable as a habitat it needs to reach the thick, wide, undisturbed, waist-high levels that guarantee safety from predators such as cats and foxes. The meters deep stretch at the back of Grayshott cricket ground is such a home, as testified by the cats who patrol the exterior, pausing longingly into the depths. One ginger tom has such focus we’ve dubbed him ‘Psycho’, despite his delightful affection for humans.

Historically, thorny hedgerows deterred adventurous livestock from escape. The brambles loved the fields as they need light and don’t grow well in the woodland shade that covers nearly 50% of our local area. Since the 1940’s 50% of hedgerows have been lost and many garden varieties are now planted with easy-to-fill-gaps-with laurel instead of native-food-providing species. It’s a shame, because the humble blackberry is a valuable resource; treasured memories of my grandparents involved berry picking, followed by blackberry lollies, jams and apple & blackberry crumble. The 8-foot-high thorny stacks in which I inevitably got stuck reaching for the biggest, juiciest gems, are gone; the fields cleared.

The safety really big stacks offer allows hedgehogs, rabbits and field mice to shelter and feed, and birds, such as blackbirds and thrushes, to nest. Caterpillars, moths, and beetles thrive in the depths, in turn providing food for birds. The flowers attract bees and butterflies, while the abundant fruits are a critical food source for many, including the adorable but endangered hazel dormice – found nesting here in Grayshott late 2024. Dense thickets are ideal protection during hibernation, snuggled in nests woven from shredded plant material (often bramble and honeysuckle bark). While dormice also use hedgerows, scrub with a mix of bramble, hazel, and honeysuckle seems particularly beneficial, enabling them to nest close to ground (to stay cold and therefore asleep) through winter.

Underneath the layered vegetation is a microclimate, where leaf litter retains moisture and prevents erosion, contributing to soil fertility. The prickles play a significant role as nurse plants, allowing in light and keeping out the browsing deer who find saplings so delicious many do not reach tree-hood. At least two young English oaks at the recreation ground have survived due to this early protection.

Embracing conservation of native scrub has far-reaching benefits for wildlife and the soil on which we depend. To assess potential in your garden, our ecologists advise looking from a dormouse’s point of view. Rarely coming to ground level, they move through connected vegetation – do you have plants that link up, perhaps providing a route to nearby woodland or neighbouring hedges? Is there food? Gaps can be infilled with native nut, berry and flower producing species (e.g. hawthorn, hazel, honeysuckle) to provide a steady food supply throughout the year. Lawns can be broken up with the odd fruit or hazel tree, though we appreciate it takes a certain kind of mind to break free of lawn-norms! Could small areas be left wild, untidy, dense and undisturbed? Is there a space for a dormouse nest box? These go at least 1.5m above the ground, with the tiny access hole backed against a tree/shrub to stop marauding cats and birds reaching in for snacks. Finally, please, please avoid pesticides and herbicides, as these harm dormice and their food sources.

It all starts with a mooch around the garden, and if you’re interested in delving further into the world of local conservation, please do come along to one of our Wildlife Gardening events. Details will be posted on FaceBook so do follow our page or get in touch with our friendly team at info@haslemerebiodiversity.org.uk.