Body, soul and soil - the sounds of nature

When you’re in your garden, balcony or patio and you stop to sit down for a few minutes, what can you hear? Is your garden a peaceful place?  Perhaps it’s a little too quiet and you’d like to enjoy more of the sounds of nature.  Or is there noise pollution?  Are you bothered by passing traffic, barking dogs, rowdy neighbours?

We may not be able to change the location of our outside spaces, or mute the less desirable sounds around us, but there are ways to influence the soundscape of your garden so that it’s an enjoyable place to be.

One of the most noticeable and welcome things to hear when you’re outdoors is birdsong.  You can encourage more songbirds to your garden by installing bird feeders during the colder months, as well as providing plenty of trees and shrubs for them to perch, nest or hide.

Another happy sound of summer is the buzzing of bees.  If you aren’t seeing many bees or other pollinators in your patch, consider adding more nectar-rich, insect friendly plants which will attract them.  In turn, your crops will thrive, as pollinated flowers will produce good crops of fruit and vegetables.

The gentle trickle of a stream or babbling brook is commonly considered a very relaxing noise which helps us feel calm.  We can recreate this effect in the garden by adding a small pond with a fountain which will be effective at keeping the water clean and oxygenated, as well as providing a pleasant background soundtrack for a morning cuppa or evening glass of wine.

If too much noise is the issue, adding leafy trees, shrubs or hedges is a good way to help muffle those less desirable sounds which may drift your way when you’re outdoors. Conifers, beech, bamboo and holly are all good choices as they have dense growth and thick foliage which will rustle gently in the breeze and reflect and diffuse sound, reducing its impact on your garden space.