Nature charity Heal Rewilding is urging for a change in perspective towards weeds in gardens across the UK. The organization suggests rebranding these plants as ‘wins’ – Wildflowers Intruding on Neatness. This new term aims to shift the negative connotation associated with the word ‘weed’ and highlight the important role these plants play in supporting struggling wildlife.
According to Heal Rewilding, there is no precise data on the amount of weeds removed from UK gardens, but it is estimated that they make up 10-20% of total garden waste. Using 2023 figures, this could mean that up to 720,000 tonnes of weeds were removed from domestic gardens, resulting in a significant loss of food and habitat for wildlife.
Jan Stannard, CEO of Heal Rewilding, emphasizes the crucial role that weeds play in ecosystems. “Far from being villains in our gardens, they’re the unappreciated heroes helping combat wildlife declines,” says Stannard. While the charity does not advocate for letting weeds take over gardens entirely, they encourage people to tolerate a few more in their gardens for the benefit of wildlife.
Heal Rewilding also suggests new names for some commonly found weeds to highlight their positive impact on wildlife. Nettles, known for their sting, could be called ‘tingly greens’ and are a vital food source for caterpillars, butterflies, moths, and birds. Common knapweed, often seen as a nuisance, could be referred to as ‘crowned ambrosia’ for its ability to attract a wide variety of pollinators. Ragwort, labeled as toxic for livestock, could be known as ‘cinnabar delight’ for its role in sustaining over 200 invertebrate species.
By promoting the term ‘wins’, Heal Rewilding hopes to encourage a cultural shift in how people manage their gardens and wild spaces. This change in perspective could greatly benefit pollinators and other wildlife, helping to combat the climate and ecological crises.
Heal Rewilding is a registered charity that aims to raise money, buy land in England, and rewild it to support nature recovery, climate action, and wellbeing. Their first rewilding site, Heal Somerset, was purchased in December 2022 and is open for free public access for 50 weeks a year.
For further information, contact Jan Stannard at jan@healrewilding.org.uk or 07710 171704.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.