The eco-concious gardeners...

Plant each plant in its rightful place; this might seem obvious, but it is tempting to try to push the boundaries – coaxing thirsty plants to grow with generous watering.

Here at St Brides Castle we have to choose plants carefully. Once the plants are established it should be possible to achieve a non-irrigation policy. With sea winds young plants are a worry – they will need watering while they settle, but when they are mature they should be fine.

Do not use peat. Peat bogs are an essential part of the ecosystem and once they have been harvested, they are gone forever. If the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Trust can both resist peat as a soil improver and mulch in their gardens, so can the rest of us.

Recycle your garden waste. Good composting is the key to successful garden management. There is nothing more satisfying than producing sweet-smelling, crumbly homemade compost simply by putting your unwanted vegetation onto the compost heap.

And finally, get the kids involved: children love to grow things. They love getting grubby, and they can then eat the fruits of their labour.

If we are really going to change habits in the future, we have to get our children outdoors and give them a genuine love of nature and respect for the world they live in."

"Taking a lead from nature is a sensible place to start. Being an eco-concious gardener is often based on common sense and working with your growing conditions.

Conserve as much water as possible and deploy it thoughtfully. Invest in water butts to collect run-off rainwater and water your plants only in the evening or early morning to mimimise evaporation – try to direct water to the roots rather than the leaves. A generous layer of mulch, be it organic material or gravel, will maximise the retention of moisture within the soil.