Encouraging a biodiverse parish
After a visit to the Molescroft Grange Community Allotments this week by MWN, it was only fitting that the daughter of one of our founding members released a wonderful book “This Allotment” edited by Sarah Rigby.
This Allotment brings together thirteen brilliant contemporary writers in a glorious celebration of these entirely unique spaces: plots that mean so much more than the soil upon which they sit.
We know that not everyone wants to talk about politics, or the election, but one of the best ways to campaign for change that impacts biodiversity, and our local wildlife landscape, is to let those who are keen to secure your vote, what your expectations are for them.
The Yorkshire Rewilding Network has a great piece about how to engage over the election cycle!
YRN would like your help to tell every political candidate in Yorkshire:
Read the full article here. And don’t forget your photo ID on polling day!
If environmental concerns feel overwhelming, engaging in personal eco-action can be a constructive approach. Springwatch and the Open University are interested in a piece of citizen science research with people their sharing experiences of eco-anxiety and eco-action. Volunteers are invited to explore, participate, and contribute to making a difference.
This initiative aims to foster a deeper connection with nature through various transformative actions. From hands-on activities to mindful moments in nature, discover practical ways to manage eco-anxiety while contributing to environmental protection and enhancement.
Check out the Springwatch page, or download the Mindful Moments booklet online.
Tophill Low Nature Reserve is having its annual open day on Sunday 9th June.
Admission to the reserve is FREE for this event. The day will start at 10am and finish at 4pm with a whole range of conservation organisations taking part. There are twenty five organisations that will be setting out their stalls and be able to tell visitors all about the work that they do in the area and further afield. Organisations such as Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, East Riding countryside service, In Focus optics and Experience Community highlight the range of information available.
For more information see the Tophill Low Nature Reserve website.
30 Days Wild is The Wildlife Trusts’ annual challenge event, where everyone involved does one wild thing a day throughout the month of June.
For more information check The Wildlife Trusts website.
Did you complete No Mow May? Your wildflowers and pollinators appreciate your effort in transforming your lawn and local green spaces.
But the work doesn’t have to stop here. Consider dedicating a part of your garden to let nature thrive in June as well. Whether you decide to maintain different grass lengths, watch out for wildlife, or mow selectively, you can continue to make an impact for wildlife and biodiversity.
Check out Plantlife’s guide to keeping the garden a wildlife haven: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/let-it-bloom-june-no-mow-may-is-over-whats-next/
Gardens hold huge potential to address the climate and biodiversity crisis, yet they are increasingly being covered with plastic, paving, and other materials that reduce their ecological value. Urban areas are witnessing a decline in biodiversity due to habitat destruction.
Across the UK a shift from green spaces to concrete and plastic has led to the disappearance of hedgehogs, pollinators and other key species, highlighting the consequences of such changes. Urban gardens, parks, and balconies can mitigate these effects by offering habitats for wildlife, linking ecosystems, and helping regulate urban temperatures. They can also act as carbon sinks, absorbing pollution and providing a buffer against climate impacts.
Efforts to preserve and enhance urban green spaces can make a significant difference. Planting pollinator-friendly flowers, maintaining wild gardens, and creating specific habitats for wildlife can transform gardens into biodiversity havens. This not only supports wildlife but also connects people with nature, fostering a greater appreciation and awareness of the environment.
Protecting and nurturing our green spaces is crucial in combating the climate and biodiversity crises. By prioritizing gardens and natural habitats over concrete and plastic, we can create a more sustainable and resilient urban environment for both wildlife and humans.
These themes are explored in an excellent article in The Guardian, where author of One Garden Against the World: In Search of Hope in a Changing Climate, Kate Bradbury, has a “Long read” summary of her new book.
The world of bioacoustics is booming in professional ecology surveys, however it is a complex endeavour with recording devices, and artificial intelligence (AI) to identify sounds. You may have used Merlin to identify birds, if so, you’ve done some bioacoustic surveys of your own, Cornell Lab have done an amazing job of turning bioacoustics into an app that everyone can use.
The Natural History Museum is running a bioacoustics project of its own Nature Overheard: Tune in to Your Streets.
Insects are important for a healthy environment, but noise can make it hard for them to communicate with each other. They may have to change their sounds to be heard in noisy places.
Join the NHM on the Nature Overheard survey, collecting data to better understand how road noise affect insects. Or take part in other activities to support their research while you build your own scientific skills and knowledge.
You can join the Nature Overhead survey here. Make recordings of your local streets and submit them, alongside a biodiversity survey to help researchers.
If you want to work directly with the audio recordings you can volunteer here. This effort will help build better models for bioacoustics, leading to better biodiversity data for the UK.
Are you a local business owner? Are you interested in how you can integrate natural capital to improve your ESG stance?
What: Unlocking Nature’s Assets: How natural capital can help businesses become more economically and environmentally resilient
When: 9am – 11am, Thursday 6th June 2024
Where: Blake Conference Room, Canham Turner, University of Hull Campus, Cottingham Rd, Hull, HU6 7RX
Booking details: Humber Business Week
The aim of the event is to draw local businesses into the dialogue surrounding natural capital by demonstrating its inherent benefits. We will be using the example of the Blue Green Lab and how this can be replicated elsewhere to support flood resilience, improve water quality, promote biodiversity and increase wellbeing. Dr Robert Thomas, Senior Research Fellow at the EEI, will present on the university’s research in this area, joined by speakers from the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership (HEY LNP), who will set the scene with local examples of natural capital as well as a broader overview of the concept itself. The presentation will then be followed by a tour of university’s Blue Green Lab which will be led by Technology Transfer Assistant, Dr Josh Johnson.
It’s No Mow May! Plantlife’s #NoMowMay is back this year.
It’s a great chance to save some money, create a feast for pollinators, tackle pollution, reduce urban heat extremes, and lock away atmospheric carbon below ground.
If you want to commit be sure to sign up to Plantlife’s initiative and register your participation.
You can also see how many people across the UK have comitted to No Mow May on this interactive map!
