It is possible to manage our local green spaces in a way that both reduces emissions and draws down and stores carbon from the atmosphere. In addition to supporting a diversity of wildlife and providing us with healthy food.
Land use has a vital role to play in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere through natural “carbon capture”.
Our peatlands, woodlands and local grasslands are all ecosystems that store ‘green’ carbon. Healthy living soils, a varied countryside and clean rivers have the potential to draw down vast amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. Farming practices such as minimum tillage / no-dig gardening / regenerative agriculture / permaculture gardening all have the potential to soak up carbon from the atmosphere and simultaneously provide other benefits for people and wildlife.
The Centre for Alternative Technology has lots of guidance about Nature and Growing and the BBC Gardeners’ World website has ideas and tips about how to reduce your carbon footprint in the garden including their new Plant Britain initiative to help combat climate change and boost our wellbeing and wildlife.
Efforts to tackle the dramatic loss of wildlife and biodiversity that is being seen all across the world. These are central to tackling the climate emergency. The two problems are inseparable. Ensuring local biodiversity and the abundance of natural habitats is essential for our future. While the recovery of nature is valuable in its own right, our green spaces also provide a balance for some of the effects of climate change. Effects such as flooding and drought.
Gardening can help us to regulate the Earth’s climate as well as providing sanctuary for pollinators, insects and birds.
Over the past 10 years, 44% of species have decreased in the UK. As well as being ecologically vital, green spaces contribute to our own health and wellbeing. By growing our own fruit and veg we are consuming organic, highly nutritious food. Above all, by spending time with nature we are connecting to the land in a way that gives us much needed relief from daily life.
No matter how small your garden – or windowsill – taking action will make a difference. For instance, with allotment space, community gardens or sharing excess produce, our green spaces also provide many opportunities to foster community resilience and connection.
In Herefordshire we are lucky to live in such a beautiful green county with so much potential for carbon capture. With so many properties situated in rural areas – there are gardens aplenty! Although we have the best tree cover in the West Midlands, this is still only 15%. Therefore there is plenty of scope to regenerate our green spaces to benefit wildlife and store carbon.
The Herefordshire Wildlife Trust has information about tree planting for gardens and green spaces of various sizes.
Growing Local encourages people and communities to grow and eat local food. Their website offers an exciting GROW-COOK-EAT programme of activities as well as a vegetable bag scheme.
Local seed swaps are a great way of finding organic, heritage or heirloom varieties of seeds. Herefordshire Community Recycling and Refuse Group also run a garden pot swap. This is preferable to recycling old pots.
(Re)-wild & beautiful
I will leave 20% of my green space at home, workplace or community space to nature, and let my lawn grow longer so that flowers have time to set seed.
Avoid fertilisers
I will stop using at least 50% of the chemical fertilisers I currently use at home and in my workplace / community space.
Ditch the diesel
I will avoid using petrol equipment for at least half of my garden / workplace / community space.
Don’t dig it
I will use a no-dig approach to successful growing when starting to cultivate the green space around me.
Make your own compost
I will stop at least 50% of my food waste going to landfill by putting it into a compost or the council food waste bin.
Plant a tree
I will plant at least 1 tree at home or in my community space / workplace following the ‘Right Tree in the Right Place’ guidance and make sure that it is looked after.
Water water everywhere
I will install a water butt to collect rainwater for watering the garden and find out who to talk to about water waste at my workplace / community space.