IT’S easy to get downhearted by all the reports of ecological collapse; everything from insects to hedgehogs, flowers to birds, are reducing in numbers as their habitat declines.
But Transition Town Wellington’s new project aims to show how every one of us can help reverse this, using even the smallest garden space, because if we all work together, we can make a real difference.
A series of Facebook posts called out to residents of Wellington, asking where they had seen bats, hedgehogs, slow worms, grass snakes, newts, kingfishers and much more, for a new wildlife map of the town.
The response was incredible, with around 300 sightings! Now these are marked on the map, you can see clusters of different species around our green spaces and rivers, highlighting how important these are for biodiversity.
More sightings of bats for example, around known roost sites, prove that putting up nest boxes can have a real impact. The map shows gaps too, where habitat could be improved.
The group hopes the visual impact of seeing your own garden as part of the bigger picture, forming a wildlife corridor with other gardens, will encourage more people to join in.
On the back of the map are 30 tips on how you can make your garden a wildlife haven, backed up with more detail in an accompanying booklet.
Wellington residents joining in will be awarded gold, silver or bronze stars, depending on how many habitats they can provide, and are encouraged to link up with their neighbours.
Wildflower seeds will be provided in the spring, to create around 2,500 square meters of new wildflower habitat in total, along with beautifully crafted wooden signs declaring this place is “left wild for wildlife”.
The map and “Gardening for Wildlife” booklet, will be available in print and on ttw.org.uk in a few weeks' time, plus upcoming “Transition Town Wellington” Facebook posts will guide you through many activities, including creating a pond, building habitat boxes and sowing wildflower seed, so the project can reach more gardens than just in Wellington.
Could you be inspired to create a wildlife map of your neighbourhood too?
HELEN GILLINGHAM
Transition Town Wellington
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