Inviting Nature to Dinner, by Helen Schwencke & Dick Copeman

Inviting Nature to Dinner: The benefits of bringing biodiversity to our backyards, by Helen Schwencke & Dick Copeman. Brisbane: Earthling Enterprises, 2020.

Nature is at a crisis point. Land clearing, climate change, chemicals and invasive species are decimating the living creatures with whom we share the planet. We may feel powerless to challenge these global trends, but we are not. This book shows how, by starting in our own gardens, we can begin to make a difference, amply shown by Helen’s 33-year-old butterfly and wildlife garden.

Insects comprise the great majority of all animal species and play key roles in the ecology of our world, including converting plants into food for other creatures. Many insects depend on specific plants to feed their larvae. By planting these native host plants in our gardens, we can support healthy populations of insects that will not only support the whole complex web of life but will also help protect our plants from the very small percentage of insects that can adversely affect them. An added bonus is that some of these native host plants are also edible for us.

Helen Schwencke and Dick Copeman take the reader on an exciting journey into the world of small creatures. Based on both academic and citizen science, eminently readable and beautifully illustrated, their text also provides practical advice on designing your garden and sourcing plants for it, so that you too can join them in Inviting Nature to Dinner.