Biodiversity is essential to healthy ecosystems and to the natural processes that support all life on earth, including us as humans (Why is biodiversity important? | Royal Society). The word “biodiversity” refers to the variety of life on Earth and the abundance of different species of plants, animals and other organisms. We rely on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems to provide us with the air that we breathe, the food that we eat and clean water that we drink.
Doing what we can to support biodiversity is therefore critical to ensuring that we have a healthy planet and environment to live in. There is also increasing evidence pointing to the positive impact that getting out in nature can have on our wellbeing, including reducing stress, improving mood and building confidence as well as improving physical wellbeing by getting active.
This is why we have put together some tips on how you can support biodiversity in your local area and get active in your community:
1. Get together with your neighbours to support the biodiversity on your development and make use of the Heylo Together community fund to get your community project started
One way that you can give nature and your wellbeing a boost is by getting together with your neighbours to work together to support the biodiversity in your local green spaces. Do you have an idea to plant wildflowers, set up a bug hotel or create an organic vegetable garden near your home? You could make your idea come to life by getting together with your neighbours and applying for funding under the Heylo Together community fund to get your initiative off the ground. We would love to hear from you with your ideas and support you to give nature a boost in your community. Go to the Heylo Together page on our website to find out more about how you can apply for funding. You can also check out the Wildlife Trusts Community Hub and the Grow Wild websites for a range of resources to get you going with supporting nature near you.
2. Volunteer with a local conservation group
If you’re keen to get stuck in but don’t have time to start a new initiative on your own, there are plenty of wildlife groups and conservation groups around the country that you could volunteer with to get your fix of nature and do your bit to give back to the natural world. Joining a local group is a great way of meeting people in your community. You can go to The Wildlife Trusts and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) websites to find volunteering events and groups near you. TCV also run weekly Green Gym sessions where volunteers come together to get active and do conservation and/or gardening work in the local community.
3. Planting in your garden or on your balcony
If you have your own outside space, there are plenty of ways that you can support the biodiversity around your home. You could try planting wildflowers, adding a bug hotel, pond or log pile or starting a compost heap to create habitats and sustenance for the wildlife in your area. Check out our previous blog post for more ideas and resources to help you get going with supporting biodiversity in your home. If you’re pushed for space, you can even plant a window box with wildflowers to support pollinators in your area.
