Embracing nature

I've visited Great Dixter through the years and am always inspired by my visits; borders rich in colour, shape and form, the looseness of the planting spilling over the paths, meadows rich in insects. I love the meadow; it’s such a rare thing to see in our modern, chemical-polluted world, the not-too-tidy look with piles of wood and twigs, home to minibeasts. A real feel of another time in the past. A garden with the ethos to garden sympathetically and in harmony – one I endorse 100 per cent. It breaks my heart to see so many grass verges cut along the roads where I previously admired beautiful wildflowers with buzzing insects, bees and butterflies. I think if we all made an effort in our gardens to be more nature friendly, we can halt the decline in wild plants and insects. We owe this to the next generation.

John Seaman, by email

Simon says: I couldn’t agree more, John, anything we can do to help our pollinating friends while gardening in tune with nature can only be a good thing.