The land and wildlife around us is the most important asset we have and we can all play a part in helping to protect it. We’ve put together the following tips that are important for protecting land and wildlife:
- Attract wildlife to your garden. Methods for doing this include leaving an undisturbed area of your garden, putting in feeders, baths and nesting boxes, and drilling holes in pruned branches and logs to provide insects with shelter and nesting space. If you want to find out more the RSPB have lots of tips: www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/wildlife-friendly_garden.asp
- Buy FSC certified paper and wood. FSC certification is one of the most robust certification schemes for ensuring responsible forest management and protecting wildlife, but beware that there are different levels of FSC certification and to go for the best. For more information, visit: www.fsc.org
- Volunteer with a local wildlife or conservation group. This is also a great way to keep fit and make friends. BCTV and the Wildlife Trusts have loads of volunteering opportunities.
- Local flowers. If you are buying flowers as a gift, why not ask the florist if they have any UK grown flowers rather than imported ones.
- Peat free compost. Buying garden products containing peat contributes to the destruction of previous peat bogs, so it is important to use a peat-free compost. Defra estimate that by using peat, British gardeners release almost half a million tonnes of locked up CO2 into the atmosphere every year. You can buy peat-free compost from B&Q.
- Garden with native plants to attract wildlife. Using plants that grow naturally in your area is the best option for wildlife-friendly gardening and will help attract all kinds of creatures. Find out more from the Natural History Museum and use their special Postcode Plants Database.
- Use organic composts, fertilisers and pest-control methods. There are lots of guides online to help you, for example, visit: BBC Gardening Pages.
- Get composting. Turning your food and garden waste into compost helps to return important nutrients back to the soil and is better for the environment than landfill. There are lots of guides online to help you compost. If you live in rented or communal accommodation, talk to the waste team at Sutton Council to find out how to put in a communal compost bin. The compost can then be used on any green areas around your building.
- Green your walls using climbing plants such as grape vines; a haven for birds and moths.
- Collar the cat! A correctly fitted collar and bell can reduce the number of birds killed by cats by a third. Make sure it’s a quick release collar though. Click here for more information.
