A year or two ago, myself and just one or two others were on the BBC gardening forum arguing for native gardening - for the benefit of native fauna, whose native habitat has been depleted; and for other "green" reasons. At that time, there was lots of hostility from the majority but, when I browsed earlier this year, attitudes have definitely changed, with folks posting lists of native plants, and Monty Don planning an all native garden, etc.

Here's that summary of my argument again (and it's not that far off-topic as the last WEEKLY WALKABOUT mentions Whalley Abbey's gardens) -
(Further to the gardening verses in walkaboutsverse.741.com)

Green gardening is native gardening, and vegetables, plus other consumables, should be the only exotic-flora we plant - as doing so can help limit food-miles, etc. By filling our other garden spaces with natives, we use less water and other resources, whilst aiding the native-fauna that, over the centuries, have evolved with them.
(Even high-nectar exotics, such as Buddleia, that are very attractive to SOME native-fauna, should be avoided, because they upset nature's/God's balance – God created evolution, too, that is.)

Our green gardens, with their vegies and natives, can be made still greener by the addition of compost heaps/bins; a wildlife pond – for native frogs, newts, etc, rather than exotic goldfish; bee- and bird-boxes, plus carefully selected feeders; rain- and grey-water vats; by growing everything organically, including thrifty home-popagation/species-swapping; and by leaving some lush untidy patches, decaying branches, etc.