By Bob Ball, Climate Change Coordinator at GCVS
Planting for biodiversity
Now that we are in the main planting season, here are some ideas on plants you can grow for biodiversity. There are thousands of species and varieties of domestic plant available to us, but not everything you can buy is helpful. Many of the garden plants we’re familiar with are from other continents, and aren’t used by local pollinators.
Pollinators
You can find all sorts of guides on pollinator-friendly planting online, like this general pollinator-friendly gardening guide from NatureScot and this guide from Royal Parks. Biodiversity guides for within the UK will generally apply throughout it. The only difference with Glasgow is planting species tolerant of colder weather and heavy rain.
Small urban gardens are important for pollinators, and many more than just honeybees and bumblebees. Scotland is home to 115 species of bee, from 6 families, and there are a myriad varieties of other animals like beetles, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, and even bats you will help this way as well.
Bats are ecologically helpful, and devour garden pests like nobody’s business. They often take some nectar for a pick-me-up when they’re about at night. They’re especially fond of lavender. Read Devon Wildlife Trust’s guide for more species that will help bats in particular, and if you’re really keen, consider a bat box.
Soil
Many of our soils are polluted with heavy metals and other pollutants, making them unsuitable to grow food in. It’s not totally known which soils in Glasgow can be used this way, but plants like poplar trees and sunflowers can remove heavy metals from the soil, among other things (this is called “phytoremediation”).
We have only recently come to realise that 9 out of 10 land plants use fungal symbiosis. Countless species of fungus grow with and inside them, and further into the soil, like a second set of roots. This gets food and water for the plant, protects it from disease, and performs many other functions.
These fungi are often killed by fertilisers, leaving the plant less able to feed and vulnerable to disease, as well as harming the soil. You can get some fungal starter packs commercially, but check what works for what before you plant. If you see mushrooms on your soil or raised bed, it’s often a good sign.
Two projects in the city are working on soil and biodiversity. Glasgow University’s GALLANT project is wide-reaching, and has access to data on this. You can get involved with them here – other goals include an app where you can report plant and animal species you see around the city.
The ECHO soil project will analyse soil samples for you – email info@gcah.scot to get a kit.
Raised beds
For most of us, there won’t be soil, or usable soil, immediately available. Raised beds resolve this – essentially a big box of soil. Some groups in the city grow food this way.
The use of raised beds is not just good for bringing some life to our paved-over streets. They are an accessibility issue. Scots are entitled to grow their own food – and for people with mobility issues, who cannot crouch or lean down, raised beds are their only means of growing.
Green walls
Growing climbing plants, especially ivy, is extremely useful for life. Green walls purify the air, provide shelter for minibeasts over Winter, and (as a result) food for birds and bats at the same time.
Ivy grows its roots into whatever it climbs, or tries to. It is adapted to get some of its water from trees. Be sure to grow them on a frame instead of directly onto a wall, or it could damage the building.
Green walls are sometimes subject to the buzz phrase “nature-based solution” – something alive that does something useful. If you’re interested in taking carbon out of the atmosphere, it’s usually a good idea to make sure your plan is to manage the land your plants are on, and that there are other uses as well.
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