Flowers for Free
What?
Not all wildlife value comes from what you plant — much of it arrives by itself. Spontaneous vegetation such as mosses, lichens, ivy, brambles, nettles, and even plants growing through cracks in paving all play a vital role in supporting biodiversity. These “volunteer” plants provide nectar, seed, shelter, and soil health — all for free!
Where?
Everywhere: in weedy corners, along fence lines, at the base of walls, around car parks, or on roofs and pavements. On the Isle of Wight, coastal walls, chalky verges, and sunny tracksides often host valuable plant communities that support insects year-round.
How?
Welcome the wild. Resist the urge to spray or scrape — many small plants are part of ancient, resilient ecosystems.
Leave patches of moss and lichen. These microhabitats retain moisture, host insects, and act as nurseries for new plants.
Mix managed and natural areas. Keep some lawn or verge short and others long; the variety of heights attracts different wildlife.
Plan your cutting schedule carefully. Avoid cutting tall grass, brambles, scrub, and hedges from March to September to protect nesting birds, bumblebees, and small mammals.
Encourage ivy on walls and trees where it’s safe — it flowers late, fruits in winter, and provides roosting shelter.
Reduce soil disturbance and avoid unnecessary tidying to allow seed banks and fungi to thrive.
You can combine these natural arrivals with sowing or planting native wildflowers suited to your site — chalk grassland species inland, salt-tolerant plants near the coast, and shade-lovers in wooded areas.
When?
All year round! Spontaneous flora changes with the seasons. Try to time any tidying or cutting to late autumn or early winter, once seeds have fallen and wildlife has moved on.
Why?
These “free flowers” are the foundation of local ecosystems. They support pollinators, birds, and amphibians, stabilise soil, and hold moisture. Letting nature take the lead reduces costs, improves resilience to drought and flooding, and enhances the natural beauty of your site.
On the Isle of Wight, where the climate is mild and sunny, these spontaneous plant communities thrive almost everywhere — a gift to both wildlife and people.
Actions for Isle of Wight Species
Red-tailed and buff-tailed bumblebees use bramble and nettle patches for nesting and foraging.
Wall lizards, common along the Island’s southern coast, bask among wall-top plants and ivy.
Speckled wood butterflies rely on shady, mossy corners to complete their life cycle.
Birds, including dunnocks and wrens, nest in thick ivy and bramble cover — leave these intact through summer.
Hoverflies and solitary bees depend on late-flowering ivy and dandelions for autumn nectar.
Resources
Plantlife – Wild Plants and “Weeds” for Wildlife
RHS – Gardening with Wildflowers
Buglife – Pollinator Planting Advice