To think people can make more of an effort with their gardens

I have zero interest in gardening and wouldn’t have a clue where to start and it doesn’t interest me. Luckily dp does have an interest and I have a gardener but left to my own devices I just wouldn’t bother

Also, gardening is the eorst thing in the world. It’s worse than housework.

There could be all sorts of reasons people haven't planted the gardens.

They may not know anything about gardening - not everyone is brought up being taught what to do in the garden, what plants are suitable for specific conditions, how to look after them.

They may not have the money to spend - seeds don't cost much, but for most you can't just scatter them on the earth and hope for the best. It takes some preparation, and looking after - preparation requires tools, which cost money.

People may be using the space as a children's play area and either not have space for plants too, or think that plants would get damaged.

People may not have time - they may have other commitments - work, family to look after, caring for an ill relative etc.

People may not be physically able to do the work - you can't tell by looking at someone what conditions they have.

I enjoy gardening and have some level of knowledge (no way an expert). I have previously taken a lot more care of the garden then I do now. Although I may look fine, and have spent time doing some jobs in the garden , over the last few years, circumstances have stopped me doing what i would like. I have been unwell myself, so whilst i may want to do the garden finding a time when I have the energy, it is not too wet, and I am not working/elsewhere has meant it hasn't always happened.

Even when I have spent time in the garden, there has been a limit to what I can do - either due to time, energy or physical ability due to an injury. Add in helping to care for other family members, means it is even less likely to happen. I do what I can, but need to be realistic in what i can achieve. Have tried getting someone to do some bigger jobs in the garden for me, and am looking to have some of it changed to make it easier to maintain, but finding someone that will even come and quote to do the job isn't as easy as it sounds.

Whilst I agree to a point with what you have said, you may not be taking the reality that some take into account. Also you only said you have tried potato plants, but not what else you have planted, so it is unclear what effort you have put in.

Easy to say, difficult to do for a great many people.

Have you never seen Maslow’s hierarchy?

I know, it makes me feel I'm from the 19th century or something 😂

Really? 🥺 Do you find this approach - telling people that something is simple and wondering why they don't do it, without offering advice, encouragement or exhibiting any knowledge of the subject yourself - often encourages others?

Can you explain how people had more time please? There was the same number of hours in the day.

By criticising people who find it harder than you do?

No chance of that lovey 😭 let them enjoy their concrete I guess.

I don't know anything about gardening. I dont particularly enjoy it on the odd occasion I do it. My garden is mostly concrete and as I rent I'm not spending out to change that. I can't afford to anyway. It takes all my mental energy to do things like eat an do some minimal housework most days thanks to various physical and mental health issues.

Is that enough reasons for you?

Really? Without listening to the real reason why real people don't currently make their garden a priority?

If you are genuine why don't you start in your local community, make an example for people that see your garden, offer to teach people how to do it, offer real help to people who have real barriers.

Edited for awful spelling and grumpy, tired attitude.

✨🌟⭐💫 I don't want to 💫⭐🌟✨

I'm 55, it wasn't that long ago. I was also working shifts and had two ND kids to juggle as well as housework, shopping etc.

@Asvoria I was a single mum with 3 kids in a godawful area (for multiple reasons) that’s just where we ended up after a really horrible time and I had no control over it.The area was as described by the OP, and so depressing. Me and my kids walked past one garden every morning that was beautiful and blooming and honestly was often the only bright spot in my day. Please know that there will be some locals who feel the same about yours x

Im in a much better position now, and an avid gardener, I love it but it’s not hard to understand that many people don’t have the time, money, inclination or personal physical/mental health to plant and maintain a garden. It’s a luxury in many ways. I do wish we had some sort of incentives for people to connect more with nature and be more mindful of the environment, it would be hugely beneficial for mental health and a good form of exercise. We’re not built to live as we do surrounded by concrete and no greenery or wildlife but it’s the way things seem to be, which is sad but seemingly inescapable.

@Lovelybitofsquirrel3 possibly due to cost. I garden. It will be on my epitaph.

Shears, mowers, secateurs, brooms, jetwashing, hoes, spades, forks, rakes, small tools, bug spray, plant food, gardening gloves, brown bin rental, watering cans, hoses, sprinklers.

Notwithstanding bedding plants, replacing shrubs, topsoil, bulbs, etc.

Understanding what grows on acid or alkaline soil, what tolerates slugs, shade, what is poisonous to pets, etc.

Trees that need pollarding, tall shrubs and hedges that need professionals in to trim them.

All of the above does not include the bloody weeding.

DH and I were brought up gardening and have an innate interest. It's a lot to learn.

A fiver on a dozen marigolds and three delphiniums for eight quid from the market must be heartbreaking when £13 quid is hard to find and they all get eaten by slugs, as they do.

Maybe they should prioritize the planet over their own personal concerns.

If you want bees in your garden, plant lavender. My garden is full of bees all summer because of it.

Missing the point because presumably when you were younger it was when people did have more time because that was the case

Prepping the space can take time, and solid periods because leave a few weeks and weeds overtake again. Finding time then to plant. To maintain. It can be extremely time consuming actually.

I like calling them seagulls and shall continue to do so thanks.

When we moved here 30 years ago, everyone had lovely gardens filled with shrubs and trees. Over the last 10 years, most of the houses have been bought up and renovated and the gardens have been ripped out and paved over. Everything is completely sterile. There's only a few houses on the street that have a garden with plants in. Ours is filled with trees, we feed the birds but it's still noticeable that the area only seems to have about 50% of the species it had before. We never see woodpeckers, nuthatches or treecreepers any more for a start. There's hardly any butterflies by comparison with 15 or 20 years ago.

Most people here seem to think it's unimportant and claim that they don't have time for gardening It never seems to occur to them that their kids will grow up deprived of seeing birds, insects and animals that were once numerous.

It's just really sad that nobody takes pride in their environment any more, they think they have more important things to do. They all claim to care about climate change but at the same time they're ripping out trees and plants and paving their gardens. It's madness.

I kind of agree, but i do much prefer a wild, overgrown garden to some low maintenance artificial grass monstrosity. At least a messy wild garden is good for various kinds of wildlife, even if it doesn't look pretty.

I did vote YABU at first, because the people on council estates are likely making very tough choices about how to cut £5 out of the food budget because their child has already outgrown the school shoes they bought in September, or that the recent cold snap has completely fucked their heating bill and now they are in arrears and panicking over bus fare or energy bill. So seeds, turf, gardening tools are a luxury that isn’t even in reach,

However, upon reflection, I changed to YANBU because I think everyone benefits from being able to garden, have a nice space outdoors, and it does improve a neighbourhood alot to have green and flowers in it.

So, you have noticed something your community needs! Would you want to see if you can get a few neighbours together and find a way to set up a community gardening group that will try and source plants, share plants and help neighbours plant gardens? Run free gardening activities for local children where they go home with a plant and instructions on how to care for it and put it in the ground? Are there allotments in your town or a garden centre where people may be willing to donate seeds or plants or basic tools/gloves? A group that can lend each other the more expensive gardening tools? A group that can gather seeds from their gardens and start off plants that can then colonise other gardens in the neighbourhood?

Seagulls can't be on the decline. They don't exist.

I'd worry about many many other bird species like curlews and snipe before I would worry about gulls.