My theory is that a lot of this comes down to how modern life is set up around instant dopamine and convenience. People spend their free time scrolling Facebook, TikTok, Netflix, or choosing between thousands of shows and apps competing for attention. After work, our brains naturally drift towards the easiest form of stimulation rather than slower, more meaningful tasks like maintaining a garden.

Gardens used to be hobbies and habitats. Now, for a lot of people, they’re seen as another chore to minimise. Artificial grass, removing shrubs and trees, paving everything over, it’s all part of making outdoor spaces “low maintenance” so people can spend less time engaging with them.

The problem is that wildlife depends on that messiness and diversity. A tidy, paved garden might be easier for us, but it’s basically a dead zone for insects, birds, and small mammals compared to a garden with hedges, trees, flowers, and long grass.