Team Wilder Green corridors

Connectivity is key

As cities like Bristol continue to dramatically grow, with increasing pressure on housing, development and economic growth, Avon Wildlife Trust strongly believes that nature and green spaces should not pay the consequences. Landscapes are changing with ever expanding concrete, brick and man-made structures with the need for more infrastructure. This makes our green spaces more fragmented, sparse and absolutely crucial to a functioning society. The need to connect green spaces of all sizes is essential and urgent.

What are green corridors?

Green corridors are linear green spaces that link natural habitats, allowing wildlife to move freely and for ecosystems to thrive. These corridors, also known as ‘wildlife corridors’ or ‘urban green pathways’, link up large green areas such as our reserves, parks, woodland, other green common land, wildlife friendly agricultural land and other large green spaces. 

Within urban areas, large green spaces are fragmented into smaller areas of habitats. Gardens, community spaces, allotments make up a significant part of green space, especially here is Bristol. When habitats are split, this leads to issues such as fewer species within each fragment with limited access to food, water, shelter, mates and less opportunity to disperse in extreme weather events. Climate change is increasing the likelihood of flooding, drought and storms.

If we connect up these areas, they will be less isolated and able to function more like a larger habitat area, bringing more resources and greater support for more wildlife. From dormice in hedgerows to butterflies crossing urban meadows, connectivity is key.

‘Nature stepping stones’ are small patches of habitat that allow wildlife to move between larger green spaces, such as reserves, parks and common green spaces. They help wildlife to survive by safely moving, feeding, finding mates and adapting to environmental changes and development.

The Lockleaze sports centre outdoor space, village greens and individual gardens form a green corridor with nature stepping stones for the common blue butterfly and other wildlife between the railway line and Stoke Park. 

Wildlife corridors can be large or small. Examples include rivers and streams, road verges, hedgerows, ponds of all sizes, containers and pots, wildflower meadows, woodlands, climber plants/ vertical gardening and hedgehog highways. 

Tree-mendous

Trees provide essential food, shelter, and navigation for species such as birds, insects, and mammals. For bats, especially species like the common pipistrelle, trees are essential. Native species of trees bring tailored benefits to help wildlife. Birch attracts invertebrates and birds, holly provides shelter and berries during the winter, rowan trees produce berries that supports birds and invertebrates and fruit trees, such as crab apple, feed birds with the fruit and attract bees with the flowers. 

Street trees are essential for cooling high temperatures during heat waves (urban heat islands), managing stormwater to help reduce flooding, improving the air quality and storing carbon. Plus wellbeing and community pride benefits, make streets an obvious choice for resilient and sustainable city planning, bringing enjoyment, economic and environmental benefits. 

Friends of Brislington Brook successfully applied for a Woodland Trust Tree Pack, which will bring 420 native saplings to Nightingale Valley. As well as the afore mentioned tree species, there will also be pedunculate oak, field maple, wild cherry, grey and goat willow, hazel, hawthorn and blackthorn. 

Nightingale Valley is a good example of an urban green corridor in Bristol. The brook runs through  the area to St Anne’s Woods, forming an important green corridor of woodland in an otherwise build-up residential area. This helps link patches of habitat and allows bats (and other mobile wildlife) to move between roosting, feeding and breeding sites. Trees and linear features reduce risk and provide waystations.

Within the corridor there is water (the brook), woodlands, native wildflowers including wild orchids, steep valley slopes, scrub and hedgerows. This mix of habitats support a variety of species. Although it is in an urban setting, the natural cover cools down the temperature during the summer and heat waves and provides shelter from noise, light and human disturbance.

Taking action

Nature needs to be connected to survive, which is why all actions for nature make a difference collectively. 

• Planting wildflowers in pots and containers
• Hedgehog highways
• Protecting trees
• Wildlife ponds of all sizes
• Green roofs
• Greening up front gardens
• Community Nature Reserves

In Bedminster, Bristol, Tom and his family have transformed their urban garden into a wildlife haven, by making small, thoughtful changes. They worked with nature and reimagined their front and back garden space from the perspective of the wildlife they hoped to attract.

The family introduced a variety of features to encourage biodiversity: mini ponds, a larger wildlife pond, dead hedges, bee hotels and bird boxes. They carefully considered how hedgehogs, birds, bees and invertebrates would find food, shelter, water and access to their garden. Planting for pollinators, hedgehog holes in fences and the addition of green roofs helped create even more valuable habitat.

Their garden has two green roofs - one above their home extension and the other nestled beside the pond, giving a picturesque backdrop. In urban areas, green roofs are an excellent way to extend wildlife-friendly spaces, whether on large or small surfaces.

Tip: When growing wildflowers, avoid using fertile soil—most native wildflowers thrive in nutrient-poor conditions.

Climbers and vertical gardening. Even small areas can be green corridors. Nice examples of climber plants are honeysuckle, ivy, climbing rose, hops, passion flower and jasmine.

Princess Victoria Street: Turning a small patch of land into a beautiful haven for wildlife

What was once a small overgrown community garden, has now been transformed into a vibrant flower haven - thanks to the dedication and vision of local residents. By coming together, local residents on the street are turning this space into a green stepping stone for pollinators and other wildlife, creating a beautiful symbol of community action and environmental care.

Keen to make a meaningful impact, one resident, reached out to Team Wilder and visited Grow Wilder for advice. It is important to plant native wildflowers to support the full life cycle of vital pollinating insects. The dedicated group intend to plant a carefully chosen mix that will buzz with life and colour.

The result will be more than just a visual transformation. This small community garden now plays a vital role in connecting private gardens and green spaces across the neighbourhood, acting as a stepping stone for pollinators to move safely through the urban landscape. It’s a powerful example of how even modest green spaces can support biodiversity, improve climate resilience and bring people closer to nature.

True beauty lies not only in the flowers themselves but in the life they sustain. And this is just the beginning—if more communities followed suit, choosing native plants and avoiding chemicals, we could weave a rich network of pollinator-friendly spaces across our towns and cities, no matter how small the starting point.

Community power

Social connections make a difference, especially in green spaces. Community strength and neighbourhood pride go a long way to encourage green corridors locally and viewing the area a one large ‘Community Nature Reserve.

You don’t have to be a city planner to help build green corridors, but this would certainly make a huge difference! There are meaningful actions individuals and communities can take to attract and support wildlife, even in small spaces. By prioritising green corridors and connectivity, cities can become more resilient, sustainable and enjoyable places to live.