Greetings from Peter from the Wild Bunch.
After a gloriously warm spring and a real summer bursting with fruit and berries, we’re now moving into a blaze of autumn colour — plenty of reasons to celebrate nature’s abundance and our good fortune! Yet, alongside the beauty, grain farmers have faced one of their worst years, and many who rely on a single crop have seen unpredictable results. In the garden, it’s been the same story: some plants thriving, others collapsing, and insects — along with the birds and mammals that depend on them — often struggling. So, what can we do to help in such uncertain times?
We’re lucky in Frome to have Chris Smaje and his wife Cordelia at Vallis Veg on the town’s edge. I’ve just finished Chris’s excellent new book, Finding Lights in a Dark Age. He reminds us that the so-called “Dark Ages” were not dark for everyone — some adapted and found opportunity amid change. The lesson for us is clear: when something significant happens — such as a prolonged dry spell in the garden — life needs something to hold on to as it adapts. Since we can’t predict the future, that means creating as much diversity of habitat and opportunity for wildlife as possible, while keeping soil conditions stable. Practically, that means maximise your water butts to prevent soils drying out, and pack the soil with organic matter to build structure and resilience.
My top seasonal tip for this would be to make your own leaf mould. Gather damp (not soggy) deciduous leaves into a wire mesh container, compost bin, or well-ventilated plastic sack, and leave them for a couple of years. Leaf mould breaks down through fungal activity (unlike faster, bacterial composting), so patience is key. It’s an excellent peat-free mulch that improves soil structure and moisture retention — helping the micro-organisms at the base of the ecological pyramid keep our gardens, and our planet, thriving even in darker times.
The next Wild Bunch meeting will be a talk about hedgehogs and how to help them thrive in our gardens, with Graham Gillions of Keyford Hedgehog Rescue, on Thursday 20th November at the town hall from 1.30pm to 3pm. Book free tickets .
