Novel Eco Gardens
‘Novel Ecosystems’ is a catch all phrase to encompass the changes in an environment created in part by human contact.
From an ecological stand point the free movement of ‘life’ forms that integrate with the new surroundings creates a localised eco-sytem. Consider this from the point of view of a garden that contains many imported plants, non-native species and even crops grown out of season. We gardeners intervene in ‘New Ecological World Order’ either consciously or otherwise.
Eco Changes in the Garden
- Conversion of greenbelt and pasture to housing or building on new sites can set up a domino of changes.
- The commercialisation of the horticultural industry since the Tulip Mania of 17th century has seen a growth in imported plants.
- Plant explorers seeking new, exotic or different species brought diversity back to the UK.
- The quest by gardeners for something new, better or different encourages change.
- Cross breeding has created may hybrids between native and invasive plants.
- New intentional and unintentional ecosystems created in areas of urbanization