OK, I don’t usually include ‘four-letter’ words in my blogs, but here goes – pest. You might read this and think, “Yep, they’re the annoying critters that eat and damage the plants I’ve lovingly tended!”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I’m coming at this from a different perspective. It’s a real bugbear of mine (pardon the pun), but the ‘P’ word implies that just because a creature is annoying to us, it therefore has no value and should be eradicated at all costs.

I’m a keen gardener and allotment holder, so I do understand the disappointment when your favourite flowers or tasty vegetables get nibbled. It is, however, really important to remember that what we may perceive as a ‘pest’ is invariably food for something else or plays another key role in the garden ecosystem.

Apple-burrowing codling moth caterpillars can be a problem in orchards and on garden trees — bats, however, have been shown to offer valuable protection by feeding on the adult moths. Winter moth caterpillars are frequently the cause of holey leaves on many ornamental and fruit trees; they are, however, an important source of food for nesting birds.

Using pesticides on these caterpillars will reduce the food available to wildlife, is unsustainable, can cause long-term harm to the environment, and upsets the natural balance of predator and prey.

Some animals just get bad press — take slugs, for instance. There are 44 UK species, but only nine nibble on our plants. I know you’re probably thinking, “Yeah, but it’s those nine that are all in my garden!” However, many slugs (and snails) are busy breaking down organic matter and are part of the process that releases nutrients back into the soil to help our plants grow. In fact, the lovely leopard slug is a ‘cannibal’ and will happily munch on other slugs.

I’m not saying we should all go ‘feral’ and let nature take its course — our small spaces often need some ‘editing’ or intervention — but we don’t need to use chemicals. Pesticides can have unintended impacts on non-target species — the effects of neonicotinoids on bees, for example, are well known. Herbicides, meanwhile, can leach into the ground, where they may impact worms, fungi, and microorganisms — the building blocks of healthy soil.

There are other ways of keeping so called ‘pests’ in check – physical barriers, companion planting, and encouraging a natural balance of predators and prey will all help. Log piles provide shelter for a range of predators including beetles, ground-hunting spiders and centipedes. While an area of longer grass is good cover for slug snacking slow worms, hedgehogs and frogs. Please check out our webpages for tips on how to create a wildlife-friendly space, you might even feel like applying for one of our awards. The Coronation Gardens and Garden Organic webpages have great guidance on how to become chemical free. 

Ultimately, we should all become a little more tolerant of a few damaged leaves – a healthy plant can tolerate a bit of nibbling! Encourage ladybirds, ground beetles, lacewing larvae, hoverfly grubs, spiders, blue tits and hedgehogs, and you’ll have an army of aphid, caterpillar and slug munchers. Look after the soil and your garden, allotment or community space will be alive will the sights and sounds of nature – a great environment for wildlife and good for the soul. 

More wildlife-friendly gardening tips