It'd be wrong to say that there was nothing on the site before we started making the meadow. That's not true. There are trees, mown grass, and the odd patch of other greenery.
But what it doesn't really have are places for bugs and worms to hide and thrive. And as they're the things that will attract birds and help make the area much more ecologically healthy, we need to do everything we can to encourage them to live there.
But as it turns out, the best thing we can do is do nothing.
By that, I don't mean not do the meadow. Because doing that will definitely make living spaces for butterflies and other insects. What I'm talking about are the big piles of leaves that the trees drop in autumn. Usually, these are meticulously collected and taken away in a big truck. But because we're doing the meadow, the council have agreed that this year, they're going to leave them just where they are. Which will create a rich, useful habitat for all kinds of creepie crawlies. So while sometimes it takes a lot of work to make something better, this time, the best thing to do is leave it to nature. Which sort of makes you wonder, with good bugs in short supply, why don't we just stop collecting the leaves?
If you want to your leaves left alone too, get in touch with the parks department at Hackney Council by calling 020 8356 3000 or emailing info@hackney.gov.uk
They might say no. They might say yes. Either way, the bugs will appreciate you for it.
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