It’s quite sobering to understand the extent of unquestioned freedom that owning a garden provides. One can virtually do anything on this small patch of the world. ‘The Accidental Garden’ illustrates how Richard Mabey and his partner, Polly, nurtured both flora and fauna on their two acres in Norfolk, co-existing peacefully with nature’s quirks and cultivating the quintessentially human penchant for casual puttering.
Unlike other human-made environments, gardens embody an interesting crossroads. They are claimed, designed and managed by humans, yet countless other species call them home. This unique aspect makes this comprehensive book both enlightening and thrilling. Scenes of goldfinches taking shelter in a lavender shrub, eating their fill of seeds inside a snow igloo, is just one of such extraordinarily evocative moments captured by Mabey.
Mabey, a leading figure in nature writing, delivers profound thoughts on nature poetry. Although several poets figure in the narrative, it’s John Clare who resonates with Mabey’s philosophy. Mabey appreciates Clare’s resentment toward those who remove nature from its rightful place to study it, instead grafting admiration for those who value wildlife in its rightful setting.
Inspired by Clare’s innate “taste”, Mabey marvels at an intense scent rush from a gorse bush, perceptible not just by his nose, but seemingly affecting his eyes and cheeks. He debates whether it was his mind playing tricks, or whether the gorse was purposefully exuding potent bursts of scent to attract insects. Curiously, he wonders if, perhaps, the gorse was somehow sensing his own presence.
This slim volume, despite its size, is brimming with wisdom, perceptive observations and keen “taste”. Mabey confronts the reality that small triumphs in his garden can’t mitigate the global loss of biodiversity. Mankind firmly adheres to notions of dominion over and dependence of nature. Yet, despite this serious undertone, ‘The Accidental Garden’ is also heartening and enjoyable. Mabey encourages a willingness to learn from the resilience and resourcefulness of life systems, which have been dealing with hardships for billions of years.