Authur Thumbnail Matthew
Matthew Resident Sustainability Champion

My back garden is my personal green sanctuary. I'm passionate about creating a vibrant ecosystem that thrives without heavy reliance on chemical pesticides. 

My aim is to cultivate a beautiful space that not only brings me joy but also actively supports local wildlife, particularly pollinators like bees and butterflies, and natural pest predators.

By focusing on biodiversity and natural pest control, I'm working towards a healthier, more sustainable environment right outside my back door. It's a place for me to connect with nature, experiment with eco-friendly gardening techniques, and enjoy the benefits of a naturally balanced garden.

My Plant choices for natural pest control and pollinator attraction.

Here are some of the specific plants I've chosen for my back garden and why they're so effective in encouraging beneficial insects and reducing the need for chemical interventions:

Apple Tree

Apple Tree (or Fruit Trees in General)

My apple tree (or any fruit tree you might have, like plum or cherry) is a fantastic asset to the garden. In spring, its abundant blossoms are a magnet for bees and hoverflies. Hoverflies are particularly valuable because their larvae are predators of aphids, helping to keep common garden pests in check naturally. Beyond pest control, the tree provides a beautiful focal point, shade, and delicious seasonal fruit for my family.

Lavender

Lavender

Lavender is an absolute superstar for attracting pollinators to my garden. Its strong, beautiful scent makes it a magnet for bees and other vital pollinators like butterflies. Simultaneously, this scent acts as a natural repellent for certain common garden pests like fleas and mosquitoes, reducing the need for sprays. Its presence helps support a diverse and healthy insect population, including beneficial insects like ladybirds, which are key in controlling aphids.

Marigolds

Marigolds

I strategically plant marigolds in my flowerbeds and around my vegetable patches. They're well-known for their ability to deter nuisance pests like aphids and whiteflies from my more vulnerable plants. Crucially, they also actively attract beneficial insects such as lacewings and ladybirds. These natural predators are my allies in keeping pest populations under control without resorting to chemical solutions.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

I've dedicated a patch of my garden to wildflowers; I have planted wildflower seeds to attract bees and other beneficial things such as ladybirds. This is a highly effective way to attract a broad range of beneficial insects. Bees are drawn to the blue, violet, and purple hues common in wildflowers. These areas create the perfect habitat and food source for ladybirds to feed and find prey, making them an essential part of my natural pest control strategy. I've also noticed a significant increase in butterflies visiting my garden since introducing wildflowers, further boosting its ecological balance and beauty.

Don’t have a garden? Planting wildflowers and other plants in pots to increase biodiversity and natural pesticides on your balcony works just as well.

Our news

All Articles
IMG 5736
  • 03 October 2025
  • Sustainability

Building for the future: Samuel Lewis Trust Dwellings

Bob Fowler Community Allotment Green Flag Photo 2 (3)
  • 02 October 2025
  • Sustainability

Community Roots: Second Green Flag Award for Community Allotment

Untitled 2 2
  • 18 August 2025
  • Sustainability

Resident Blog: Planting a Brighter Future

IMG 1303
  • 23 July 2025
  • Sustainability

Resident Blog: Plastic Free July

Image (3)
  • 23 May 2025
  • Sustainability

New nest sites give Hastings birds a boost

A Big Green Thank You Thumbail
  • 30 April 2025
  • Sustainability

A big green thank you!

Earth Month Social Post 1
  • 07 April 2025
  • Sustainability

Protecting 30 key species

Earth Month Beth 1
  • 01 April 2025
  • Sustainability

Blog: Our Power, Our Planet

Bethany Austin Post2
  • 24 March 2025
  • Sustainability

Blog: Working towards a more sustainable supply chain

SHIFT Gold 2025 Thumbnail
  • 23 January 2025
  • Sustainability

SHIFT Gold for the sixth year in a row!

Recycle Week 2024 V2
  • 14 October 2024
  • Sustainability

14-20 October is Recycling Week 

Small Tortoiseshell
  • 29 July 2024
  • Sustainability

Help Our Butterflies and Moths! Join the Big Butterfly Count

Sustainability 3
  • 19 June 2024
  • Sustainability

Our commitment to biodiversity - pathway to 2030 revealed

Water
  • 08 April 2024
  • Sustainability

Earth Month Week 2 - Every drop counts: water usage

Markus Spiske Teyrhlv0jba Unsplash
  • 02 April 2024
  • Sustainability

It's Earth Month - Waste Reduction: Small Changes, Big Impact

Photo 2 Sheds & Polytunnel Sustainable
  • 28 March 2024
  • Sustainability

Community allotment celebrates its ten year anniversary

1705325404399 (1)
  • 12 January 2024
  • Sustainability

Southern Housing Shines with SHIFT Gold

Image00009 Flipped
  • 18 December 2023
  • Sustainability

Our new Environmental Sustainability Strategy

Climate Champion Shortlist Banner
  • 02 November 2023
  • Sustainability

Our Climate Champions Shine Bright on the 2023 Climate Champion shortlist

Heat Networks Resized
  • 13 October 2023
  • Sustainability

Southern Housing Awarded Funds to Improve Heat Networks

Rosemary House
  • 18 July 2023
  • Sustainability

Topping out at The Green Quarter

The Mannings
  • 11 July 2023
  • Sustainability

Topping out at new low carbon housing project

Image00007
  • 11 July 2023
  • Sustainability

Narrowing the retrofit skills gap