When I swapped gravel paths for bark chippings I found a softer step and a richer home for beetles
Eleanor Ashford
There is a particular music to the garden, a quiet symphony orchestrated by the wind teasing the trees, the birds' lyrical outbursts, and, less romantically, the crunch-crunch of gravel underfoot. Or at least there used to be. I must confess, after many seasons with gravel paths crisscrossing my cherished bit of Kingswood Green, I decided it was time for change. And what a change it was.
Paths in the garden are like the veins in a leaf, guiding us, whether on gentle ambles or purposeful strides, yet each step on those gravelled aisles came with a sound as sharp as a bite into a crisp apple. Idyllic perhaps, for some. But I longed for the soft imperceptible passage of footfall and, quite unintendedly, set upon a journey towards sustaining life below as well as the plants and people above.
The Delight of a Softer Step
Replacing gravel with bark chippings was akin to swapping high heels for woolly socks; a softening of the soundscape and sensation both. Bark chippings lend themselves to a hush hush path of serenity. With the lugging and shovelling done, I remember standing back after my morning's work, thrilling in the gentle comfort underfoot. The chore of moving the gravel had already planted seeds of satisfaction; each spadeful was the promise of the change I'd anticipated.
Bark itself is a humble hero, often overlooked. There's an earthiness in its texture, reminiscent of long walks through ancient woodlands, the ground soft beneath your feet, scented distinctly of humus and hidden life. It gives your foot a cushioned embrace, reducing the jarring feedback from one's heels to knees and onwards. The transformation was immediate, peeling away the austerity gravel enforced, welcoming instead a path that felt, for lack of a better word, alive.
Creating a Wildlife Haven
Unbeknown to me at the outset, this simple swap from gravel to bark would invite a buzzing exemplar of biodiversity into my garden. My newfound path was not just a route—it was a veritable refuge. As days unfurled into weeks, a small drama played out beneath my feet. The rich, moist sanctuary provided by the chippings became a home for beetles and below-ground crawlers alike. I watched as these industrious creatures went about their business, enriching the earth in their small, yet monumental, ways.
While in crafting these paths I had not notably set out to make a wildlife habitat, the natural tendency of bark to foster merriments of beetles and their ilk was a delight. These benign beetles, easy to overlook in an asphalt bound existence, are tireless workers for the gardener's cause. They break down mulch and contribute to a healthy soil network, indirectly nourishing my plants. Knowing each step might not only echo less but nurture more was a whisper of joy in my daily endeavours.
Aesthetic and Eco conscious Pleasures
One cannot debate that visuals hold an undeniable sway over us when we pore over gardens. What surprised me, during those early autumn mornings with pockets of mist lingering low, was how the earthiness of the bark paired so naturally with my established flora. The path took on an unassuming beauty, moulding with the borders of my flowerbeds, a rustic ribbon framing my plants with a modest elegance. Bark chippings don’t dominate; they complement.
There was an eco conscious grounding throughout the process. Bark is often a byproduct, a vestige of the forestry industry, given new purpose under our feet. Here lay an opportunity to embrace sustainability by seeing off virgin gravel quarried for specific purposes, to welcome instead, a material that had previously served another life. Simple choices, like that of path surfaces, hold the resonance of larger impacts. It's my humble contribution to a more mindful, resourceful way of engaging with the world.
Mindful Garden Contemplation
I often find myself walking these paths reflectively, a cup of tea warming my hand, especially during moments of floral pause between blooms. These walks become miraculously more intentional. Now, each step on the bark—subtle, almost secretive—acts as a gentle companion to my thoughts. The footfalls offer none of the echoed judgments that gravel paths had, allowing reflections to linger longer.
Mindfulness trickles down to our very soles when we allow it. By choosing materials that bring us closer to nature in action and philosophy, the connection with our gardens deepens. This soft soundscape encourages a broader listening to the garden—an invitation to pause more, observe more, and perhaps listen not just to the wind's lullabies, but to the bees tuning themselves among the blooms.
A Shared Journey
Perhaps this narrative is about more than a path. It's about choice—those small turns and decisions that shape our personal landscapes. In selecting to soften my garden's steps, I also unknowingly chose to extend the borders of life therein and to embrace a deeper connectedness with the quieter elements beneath.
We are all architects of our personal Edens, with each plant and each step building towards an ecosystem that reflects who we are and how we wish to coexist with nature. Whether you're enveloped by rolling acres or tending to a precious pocket of green, considering materials that give back to the earth as much as they take can transform both the space and our shared journey on this planet.
For those contemplating changes in their gardens, remember that our choices do ripple beyond the task at hand. When next you're pondering your garden's layout, I encourage you to look beyond conventional wisdom and consider what feels right not only for you but also for the unseen lives that share our spaces and the health of the soil that sustains us all. There might just be something wonderful awaiting at the end of your new path.
Paths in the garden are like the veins in a leaf, guiding us, whether on gentle ambles or purposeful strides, yet each step on those gravelled aisles came with a sound as sharp as a bite into a crisp apple. Idyllic perhaps, for some. But I longed for the soft imperceptible passage of footfall and, quite unintendedly, set upon a journey towards sustaining life below as well as the plants and people above.
The Delight of a Softer Step
Replacing gravel with bark chippings was akin to swapping high heels for woolly socks; a softening of the soundscape and sensation both. Bark chippings lend themselves to a hush hush path of serenity. With the lugging and shovelling done, I remember standing back after my morning's work, thrilling in the gentle comfort underfoot. The chore of moving the gravel had already planted seeds of satisfaction; each spadeful was the promise of the change I'd anticipated.
Bark itself is a humble hero, often overlooked. There's an earthiness in its texture, reminiscent of long walks through ancient woodlands, the ground soft beneath your feet, scented distinctly of humus and hidden life. It gives your foot a cushioned embrace, reducing the jarring feedback from one's heels to knees and onwards. The transformation was immediate, peeling away the austerity gravel enforced, welcoming instead a path that felt, for lack of a better word, alive.
Creating a Wildlife Haven
Unbeknown to me at the outset, this simple swap from gravel to bark would invite a buzzing exemplar of biodiversity into my garden. My newfound path was not just a route—it was a veritable refuge. As days unfurled into weeks, a small drama played out beneath my feet. The rich, moist sanctuary provided by the chippings became a home for beetles and below-ground crawlers alike. I watched as these industrious creatures went about their business, enriching the earth in their small, yet monumental, ways.
While in crafting these paths I had not notably set out to make a wildlife habitat, the natural tendency of bark to foster merriments of beetles and their ilk was a delight. These benign beetles, easy to overlook in an asphalt bound existence, are tireless workers for the gardener's cause. They break down mulch and contribute to a healthy soil network, indirectly nourishing my plants. Knowing each step might not only echo less but nurture more was a whisper of joy in my daily endeavours.
Aesthetic and Eco conscious Pleasures
One cannot debate that visuals hold an undeniable sway over us when we pore over gardens. What surprised me, during those early autumn mornings with pockets of mist lingering low, was how the earthiness of the bark paired so naturally with my established flora. The path took on an unassuming beauty, moulding with the borders of my flowerbeds, a rustic ribbon framing my plants with a modest elegance. Bark chippings don’t dominate; they complement.
There was an eco conscious grounding throughout the process. Bark is often a byproduct, a vestige of the forestry industry, given new purpose under our feet. Here lay an opportunity to embrace sustainability by seeing off virgin gravel quarried for specific purposes, to welcome instead, a material that had previously served another life. Simple choices, like that of path surfaces, hold the resonance of larger impacts. It's my humble contribution to a more mindful, resourceful way of engaging with the world.
Mindful Garden Contemplation
I often find myself walking these paths reflectively, a cup of tea warming my hand, especially during moments of floral pause between blooms. These walks become miraculously more intentional. Now, each step on the bark—subtle, almost secretive—acts as a gentle companion to my thoughts. The footfalls offer none of the echoed judgments that gravel paths had, allowing reflections to linger longer.
Mindfulness trickles down to our very soles when we allow it. By choosing materials that bring us closer to nature in action and philosophy, the connection with our gardens deepens. This soft soundscape encourages a broader listening to the garden—an invitation to pause more, observe more, and perhaps listen not just to the wind's lullabies, but to the bees tuning themselves among the blooms.
A Shared Journey
Perhaps this narrative is about more than a path. It's about choice—those small turns and decisions that shape our personal landscapes. In selecting to soften my garden's steps, I also unknowingly chose to extend the borders of life therein and to embrace a deeper connectedness with the quieter elements beneath.
We are all architects of our personal Edens, with each plant and each step building towards an ecosystem that reflects who we are and how we wish to coexist with nature. Whether you're enveloped by rolling acres or tending to a precious pocket of green, considering materials that give back to the earth as much as they take can transform both the space and our shared journey on this planet.
For those contemplating changes in their gardens, remember that our choices do ripple beyond the task at hand. When next you're pondering your garden's layout, I encourage you to look beyond conventional wisdom and consider what feels right not only for you but also for the unseen lives that share our spaces and the health of the soil that sustains us all. There might just be something wonderful awaiting at the end of your new path.