Gardens serve many purposes. They can be cultivated for flowers or growing food; used as spaces for exercise, relaxation, solace and recovery; used as places to play, meet and volunteer. Gardens and green spaces are associated with better physical, social and mental health!
More of us are moving into urban areas and this puts a lot of pressure on our existing green spaces which are crucial for supporting wildlife. Disrupting or damaging local green spaces can prevent wildlife from absorbing carbon effectively, making our fight against climate change even harder. It's time to give our gardens some love.
Give It A Grow
Not a green bone in your body? Not to worry, growing is all about trowel and error. Here’s some simple tips to get you started.
Allotments, gardens, balconies, windows, greenhouses, urban farms, community spaces and innovative systems can all be used to grow your own for the ultimate seasonal and local food.
Keep Your Garden Green
More and more of us are choosing to pave over our front gardens or swap natural grass for plastic grass (artificial turf). Let nature be nature by sticking to natural grass and avoid cutting down trees and hedges. Not only will wildlife love you for it, but you’ll also reduce your risk of flash flooding. Check out our tips for designing gardens in a more wildlife-friendly and flood resilient way.
Why not start a mini wildflower meadow and create a home for insects, birds and small animals that will look gorgeous too? Here’s a simple guide to get you started.
A Home For Wildlife
Loss of habitat is the number one threat to wildlife. Welcome wildlife to your garden by adding a bird box, woodpile, pond or bug hotel. Fancy making your own? Here’s a simple guide with various articles on how to get your garden growing wild and free!
Not sure what to grow? See this handy overview for flowers that bees love.
Stay Natural
Avoid using herbicides, pesticides or slug pellets, and limit the use of weed killer wherever you can. These tend to kill both the bad guys (pests) and good guys (insects) so it’s better to use a natural option. Click here to read more about natural ways to protect your plants.
Volunteer Your Time
As well as volunteering to support Rhondda Cynon Taf’s natural biodiversity and green spaces, you can also volunteer your time for various other community projects here in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Take a look at Connect RCT for all the volunteering available near you.
If it’s strictly growing and gardening you’re interested in whether it’s pruning, planting, or maintaining paths – there’s lots of things you can do to help. Zoom in to RCT on this UK map to see what you can get involved in!
Turn Off The Lights
Artificial light can be distracting for nocturnal insects (insects that are active during the night), so if you have external lighting make sure this is on a motion sensor and only lights up the area it needs to.