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

Generally people favour low maintenance and just trying to keep it looking tidy.
If renting they may be concerned they need landlord permission.
Seeds spread not always where you want, need weeding. Flower beds can attract cats who use as a toilet etc.

I'm a single parent and barely have any free time. I have no time for the garden. I will mow the lawn but I haven't got a clue about gardening and flowers so I don't have much going on. My garden is a place for my kids to run around and have fun in. I don't have the time or headspace to make it anything else. HTH

If you want to hit the crap and pay someone to do it and maintain it, my garden is yours op.

I can't afford it
I have no will to do
I hate gardening.

The wildness is good for the bugs... 👍🏻

Potatoes don't need pollinating, and I've never seen a bee show any interest in them.

If you want insects, plant flowers that attract and feed them.

I’m not looking for excuses as to why people don’t plant but surely it’s simple to buy a few packets of seeds and turn over some turf.

No one needs an excuse, and no it's not simple. Like many people I'm at capacity a lot of the time. I do the things I have to do, then the things I want to do in any leftover time. I'm not doing things I don't have to do or want to do, and I neither have to nor want to plant seeds and turn over turf.

My garden was filled with wildflowers last year, spread from a small section around my pond and as I was going to do some landscaping this s Spring I left it to its own devices. I'm talking hip height and taller with Ox eye daisies, poppies, teasels, thistles, sorrel through the entirety of my garden.

I still had very few bees or butterflies, plenty of other critters and beetles but bees and butterflies in particular I had very few. But it was cooler and wetter than normal and that will have impacted their lifecycle.

I've lived here 8 years and I'm still working on my garden because I'm money and time poor, and my physical ability to do it is limited.
I haven't bought anything plant wise to save money, I used wild grass seed from the fields and grass verges and grew cuttings from bushes and plants taken on walks and verges and from other people's gardens (with permission) and repurposed a lot of things as pots and containers.
It's fairly boring to be honest and wasn't and still isn't my priority. I do it when I can be arsed and that's not very often. It's clean and tidy now which is all I'm really bothered about.

"You're not looking for excuses" so you're looking for an echo chamber of snobbery then?

Most people would probably love a garden with flowers and plants but time is precious commodity which we never have enough of

Plus the whole COL crisis. People can't afford to eat. I'm sure a few packets of seeds are a huge priority

I agree, it doesn't take much effort to plant a small tree and a few flowering shrubs. I'm one of a very few people on our estate who has planted a garden. We have lots of birds visiting as well as a toad last year. Loads of bumble bees too. Our estate looks like a barren landscape and it's embarrassing how much my front garden actually stands out as I have lots going on in it.

No, it's not actually simple.
But glad you've got time for this, must be nice!

I have a busy life and a lot on my plate. I will do weeding and basic tidying, but no I don't have the time or inclination to be out planting seeds, having to water plants frequently etc. I'm busy enough as it is, that time would mean stopping doing something else. If you find it depressing then perhaps focus on your own garden.

People are working, raising kids, doing housework. Life is busy and time to garden is a luxury. I’m sure a lot of people would love to have a nice garden, but just don’t have the time, energy, or money to spare to make it happen.