There is a new planning requirement that seeks to preserve and increase our country's wildlife. Builders must create a Biodiversity Net Gain and show how they will do this to secure planning approval. We can also make a difference.
- Throughout the UK our native plants and animals have been in a state of decline
- Pollinators including bees and moths have declined by 18%
- Species that feed on pests such as Ladybirds have declined by up to 34%
- Since 1970, 54% of all flowering plant species have been lost
- Hedgehog populations have dropped from 30 million in 1950 to just over 800,000
What we can do to stop this decline
Emma Hardy MP declared Hull a Butterfly City in 2019. You can find out more on the Butterfly City Facebook page. We have information sheets about what it means to be a Butterfly City along with information on butterflies which are common in our City.
We are exploring ways to encourage wildlife in our public spaces by cutting grass less often so that wild flowers get a chance to grow and provide food for insects. Taking away the grass cuttings encourages wildflowers in the poorer soil.
Your garden or outdoor space could make a real difference to improve biodiversity. If you are a tenant you will need to check your tenancy agreement before making any changes as you may need the permission of your landlord. Within Hull there are over 1500 hectares of private gardens, making up the largest area of land, ahead of playing fields and almost 14 times larger than natural areas.
Just do one of these simple steps to help -
- create a wildlife corner
- build a bughouse
- create a nature pond
- a pile of leaves or sticks for insects, reptiles, and amphibians to shelter over winter
- make 13cm x 13cm holes at the bottom of fences, so Hedgehogs can roam for food
- put up bat or bird boxes
- sow wildflower seed into your lawns
- allow the grass to grow for longer before cutting
- help supply food and shelter for our native birds, mammals, and insects by planting native species, such as -
- Hawthorn
- Blackthorn
- Buckthorn
- Holly
- Yarrow
- Chamomile
- Common valerian
- Selfheal
- Honeysuckle
- Common comfrey
- instead of feeding birds, plant fruit bearing trees and shrubs which can reduce the risk of spreading avian diseases
- put cat collars with bells on your cats, annually they kill over 55 million birds and are the largest threat to our bird population
- make your own compost and comfrey or banana fertilizer
- collect water for use in droughts and to fill ponds
- cut hedges every 3 years between December and February so that nesting birds are not disturbed and flowers and fruit are produced
- plant flowers - most simple single petalled flowers like daisies and red valerian provide food for insects
- use downward facing, movement sensitive, outside LED lights to save money and reduce the effect of bright light on bats and insects
More information on wildlife gardening.