Nature Recovery

If you have a small area of land, you might already have a good idea about the habitats and species that could flourish. Talk to your neighbours to share local knowledge and if you have a larger area you may need to do some metaphorical ‘digging’. Rewilding Britain has some wonderful information about how to go about this. Hertfordshire State of Nature report has details of priority habitats and species in the area and local wildlife groups such as the Hertfordshire Nature Recovery Partnership are currently working on a new Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is also an excellent resource. For larger rewilding projects you might want to work with an ecologist.

Bees and butterflies love pollinating plants and need these to thrive. Actively choose and plant pollinator-friendly species within your green spaces. If you have more space you might consider seeding a small wild meadow. You can buy ‘seed bombs’ with an array of beautiful flowers and grasses. Look out for the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Plants for Pollinators symbol. The RHS also has a list of pollinator plants on its website. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust also has useful resources.

Diversifying the habitats and structures available to wildlife in your green space is crucial. You can do this in many ways – it could be as simple as creating and leaving a log pile in a corner of your garden or you might like to go further and build a larger bug hotel (or a bug mansion!) to give shelter for insects and small mammals.

Consider how you can incorporate ponds within your green space. These give wildlife access to water and provide habitats for many different species.

Leaving grass and weeds to grow has huge benefits for biodiversity – it also saves you time and can look stunning too. Leave it for a year and see what appears. Share your decision with your guests too so that they understand why you have chosen to take this approach. Place benches for contemplation or unusual seating structures such as willow pods, DIY pallet benches, chunky logs, swing seats etc for visitors to take it all in.

Nature doesn’t respond well to the unnatural. Our soils need to flourish healthily. Try and eliminate or at least reduce the amount of chemical-related products i.e. pesticides you use and never spray open flowers.

Keep your bird table and feeders well-stocked with a wide range of bird-friendly foods such as nuts, dried fruits and seeds. It provides a focal point for visitors too and will be enjoyed by all ages. Don’t forget birds also need water so pop a bird bath in your garden. Lastly, if you have trees, add a nestbox or two to your green space. Bat boxes for bats are a great additional feature too.

Trees pull down or sequester carbon and are therefore essential for us to tackle the climate crisis. Quite simply, we need more trees. Hertfordshire County Council can provide support for woodland creation or hedgerow planting on any scale across Hertfordshire until 2025.

Join in, alongside your staff, in a local nature-based volunteering activity such as a local litter pick. Find out more from the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

Locally there are some incredible nature-based projects. Share your stories, collaborate with other local people to hear their ideas and don’t forget to inspire your visitors too – ultimately the more people we can reconnect with nature, the better!