Let’s be honest, who doesn’t dream of saving the world? We certainly do! So we were all the more delighted when Hanser Literature Publishers got in touch to introduce us to one of their latest books: WILDLIFE GARDENING by Dave Goulson is about the art of saving the world in your own garden. A utopian idea? We wanted to find out more, so we asked them to send us a copy. Our colleague Lotta got to take a closer look at the book first.

Here’s her personal reading experience with "Wildlife Gardening - The Art of Saving the World in Your Own Garden."

“Can you really save the world in your own garden?

Now this does interest me after all, because to be completely honest, it sounds a little exaggerated to me. A title that makes a promise and appeals to me precisely for that reason. Because of course I’d love to believe in this utopia. If it’s really possible to save the world in my tranquil 15-square-meter garden, then count me in!

Each chapter starts with a delicious recipe

I already like the sound of that, because I enjoy cooking and especially love conjuring up something with freshly harvested vegetables and fruit. After quickly devouring the first few pages, I realize how easy the sentences are to read. The author Dave Goulson is a scientist through and through, but knows how to bring a breezy lightness to his writing that makes it a pleasure to read. Although he can bombard me with facts and figures (and certainly does ;-)), he also shares many personal impressions and funny anecdotes. In short: The book is a very enjoyable read, and I quickly get into a real reading flow.

But what exactly is “wildlife gardening”?

It’s a way of gardening that’s neither traditional nor super new. It’s the way I’ve always liked gardening in my own allotment, though my neighbors weren’t quite as keen. Wildlife gardening means sometimes letting nature do its thing. Not fighting every weed. Letting your garden grow as it will, creating a habitat for all kinds of insects, birds, reptiles, and other animals (perhaps ones I’ve never even heard of). It doesn’t sound all that difficult at first (at least to me), but in practice it probably isn’t that easy. Because wildlife gardening also means going against all the socially learned behaviors and simply switching off the urge to destroy weeds and pests (That has to go, that has to go, that has to go!).

Dave Goulson describes what you get when you manage to do just that so enchantingly and beautifully that I can already dream of being there. A world full of magic, color, and biodiversity. With every sentence, Goulson invites me more and more to enter this beautiful world, which is actually so close by. Lovely, slightly whimsical illustrations accompany his stories.

To sum it all up

I really like Wildlife Gardening, because it lets me dream, gives me courage, and makes me want to let my own garden get a little wilder too. Another thing I like: The book is for every reader - whether you have a garden, a balcony, a patio, or a raised bed - you can enjoy wildlife gardening even in the smallest flowerpot. So, what are you waiting for? By gardening “wildly,” in a wildlife-friendly and climate-conscious way in our gardens and on our balconies, we can all make the world a little better. So I wholeheartedly recommend this lovely, easy read, which makes you rethink your own gardening habits and is simply fun. I don’t think I can leave my garden entirely to its own devices, but I’ve already picked out two or three spots where I’ll try WILDLIFE GARDENING. I’m excited to see what new things I’ll discover there...