Act for Wildlife

Butterfly-ThumbnailI came across a brilliant young blogger today. Georgia Locock is concerned about British wildlife in decline and she is doing her best to galvanise people to do something about it. She’s based in Staffordshire and certainly gets involved in activities in her local area.

Georgia writes about some of the issues affecting British wildlife and draws attention to some schemes and activities which help our wild creatures. On top of all that she’s a wildlife photographer, she takes photos, makes films and even records wildlife at night.

What’s more amazing is that Georgia is just 15 years old!

Big-Bee

Recently she has written about The RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts. They have joined forces to ask UK political parties to Act for Nature. In a nutshell they are asking for a  change in attitude towards nature. They’d like the government (which ever party that is) to protect our natural environment here in the UK and all the living things in it.
Surely that’s not too much to ask is it? 

White-Butterfly

Is it possible to protect existing wildlife habitats? Is it possible to create new sites for wildlife around the UK? The RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Butterfly Conservation Group, Wetlands Trust and other supporting bodies of Act for Wildlife certainly think so. They have proved that it can be done time after time at sites around the UK.
As a nation we should be able to take action to protect wildlife in and around our public spaces, especially if there is a simple law to abide by.

There’s also plenty we can do as individuals in our own gardens.

Here are five things simple things that mean less work for you and can really make a difference to the wildlife in your neck of the woods.

  1. Provide food and habitat for birds, insects and small mammals by leaving some seed heads on plants over winter, leaves under hedges and don’t being too tidy around the garden.
  2. Grow a variety of plants that flower and set seed in different seasons throughout the year so there is always a supply of pollen, nectar, berries and seeds.
  3. Don’t use chemicals. They are designed to kill. Why would you want to do that?
  4. Allow some plants to decay and die down naturally. Dead wood is food for lots of insects. Try not to disturb nesting creatures or hibernating insects.
  5. And perhaps my favourite tip of all…  Cut your grass less often and allow plants like daisies, dandelions and clover to flower.

Ladybird-Hibernating

To read more about the Act for Nature and lots of other interesting stuff about wildlife please have a look at Georgias Wildlife Watch

Thanks for reading and Happy Gardening. Gillian 🙂