No Nettles Required - Tapa dura

In 2003, a Mori poll for the Royal Horticultural Society revealed that an extraordinary number of us are interested in attracting wildlife into our gardens. It also indicated, however, that many of us have no idea how to go about it. Information is sparse, and public opinion seems to suggest that gardens that are plentiful in wildlife are unattractive, expensive to upkeep and hard work to maintain. This, in fact, couldn't be further from the truth. In this illuminating book, Ken Thompson explains that encouraging wildlife is actually entirely compatible with ordinary gardening, costs next to nothing, and is almost completely effortless. Packed with helpful hints and tips, the book shows us how easy it is to fill our gardens with everything from foxes, frogs and mice to butterflies, ladybirds and literally thousands of fascinating creepy-crawlies. Why should we? Because we'll be promoting the biodiversity of the UK, we'll be reconnecting with nature, getting more from our gardens, and we'll be doing our plants a favour.

KEN THOMPSON is a plant ecologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield. Having been a keen gardener for many years, he has become increasingly interested in the ecology of gardens and the promotion of science to the general public. He writes a regular column on the science of gardening for ORGANIC GARDENING magazine and is author of the equally charming AN EAR TO THE GROUND: GARDEN SCIENCE FOR ORDINARY MORTALS.