Avon Wildlife Trust (AWT) are launching a new project in Warmley, South Gloucestershire, in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council, to support local people to make a difference for wildlife – the Warmley Nature Action Zone!

 The nature action zone is where we come together to create a village where both people and wildlife can flourish. AWT are supporting local people to make space for nature in their own way – whether that's planting for pollinators in front gardens, creating an orchard along a whole street, building a hedgehog highway, or encouraging our neighbours to delight in the wild creatures we share our neighbourhoods with.

Compared to a vast forest or a flower-filled meadow, a garden or community green space might not seem all that wild. After all, how much life could a patch of grass, a few flowers and maybe the odd shrub or pond support? The answer is actually quite a lot! In one famous example, ecologist and keen gardener Jennifer Owen recorded all the wildlife found in her suburban Leicester garden over a 30-year period. In that time, Owen identified 2,673 different species! This impressive total included seven mammals, 23 butterflies, 54 birds, and 442 beetles. And this was just one garden...

Just think how much wildlife can be found across a village of gardens and green spaces when we work together for nature. The Warmley Nature Action Zone presents a big opportunity to make more space for wildlife and connect people to the magic of nature on their doorstep.

Ian Barrett, CEO, Avon Wildlife Trust says

“Our wildlife is under pressure as never before and needs space, not just to survive in dwindling numbers and ever-shrinking habitats, but to really thrive in our neighbourhoods. Thanks to support from South Gloucestershire Council, we can make a real difference in Warmley and the surrounding areas. The Warmley Nature Action Zone will help us all realise the potential of our garden’s and green spaces for nature’s recovery and join up important wildlife sites locally.”

Matthew Liption, Biodiversity Assets Manager, from South Gloucestershire Council says:

“South Gloucestershire Council is excited to be working in partnership with AWT to develop a new Community Nature Reserve (CNR) in Warmley. The council has been developing CNRs in other areas of South Gloucestershire and this is the first one with a Wildlife Trust leading the way. We are pleased to see AWT working closely with the community to educate and enthuse residents about restoring nature through improvements to their local green spaces and opening up their gardens to wildlife. CNRs are based around the idea that if we improve our garden spaces for nature along with key public open spaces there will be more space for nature to thrive in our urban areas.”

So, what does nature need in our neighbourhoods? There are four essential features for wildlife: food, shelter, water, and connectivity.

Food is the obvious way to attract wildlife – who can resist a free buffet? But it’s not just about putting up bird feeders or leaving out snacks for hedgehogs. It’s important to cultivate natural food sources, like berry-bearing bushes and nectar-rich flowers.

Shelter can range from a nest box to a patch of ivy climbing a trellis, or from a bee hotel to a rock pile. It’s all about providing safe places for animals to live and hibernate.

Water is another easy win – it does wonders for wildlife. Adding a pond is one of the best things you can do for wildlife in your garden, but a bird bath, bog, or other watery feature will draw a host of animals looking to drink or bathe.

Connectivity is a little harder to visualise, but it’s probably the most important aspect. Gardens need to connect with each other and the wider landscape, helping wildlife move freely.

And it’s not just wildlife who benefit - spending time connecting with nature is proven to reduce stress and improve both our mental and physical health, and the green oases of our community green spaces and gardens offer the perfect opportunity to do this.

What species might you see?

Birds

Numbers of house sparrows, song thrushes, dunnocks and starlings have all declined in the countryside, and are now considered endangered. But you can help them, by providing food and places for them to breed in your garden.

Mammals

Many mammals that would have once lived in the countryside, have learnt to adapt to our towns, villages, and gardens; keep a look out for hedgehogs, foxes and house mice. There are lots of ways you can help mammals in your back garden by creating habitat and food sources.

Insects

Insect numbers are difficult to quantify, however recent research suggests that flying insects in the UK have declined by 60% in the past 20 years. We can do something about it, leaving patches of lawn to grow long, planting native wildflowers, and stopping use of pesticides/herbicides can all help bees, butterflies, beetles and more!

Amphibians and Reptiles

Many populations of our once common amphibian species are in decline. Recent research has shown that common toad populations have declined across the UK by 68% over the past 30 years. We can make a difference by providing more space for nature.

Find out more about how you can get involved with the Warmley Nature Action Zone and how to take action for nature in your own patch.