Island housebuilder, Barratt Homes, and the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) are calling for local people to join the wildlife-planting revolution.
A survey has revealed around 3 quarters of people are now doing at least something in their gardens to help wildlife.
The YouGov survey found that 30% of those asked were trying a fair amount to help their animal friends within their outside space, 19% were trying a lot, and 26% were trying a little.
What’s more, the wide range of ways that people are already gardening with wildlife in mind was highlighted. Over 2 in 5 of the people surveyed (43%) consider how a plant can benefit pollinators when choosing what to grow in their garden; just under a quarter (24%) leave areas of grass to grow long for nature; and nearly half of people feed birds (49%). With UK gardens and balconies covering over 4,000km2, twice the size of Greater London, all these actions put together create a vital network of refuges for wildlife.
With many previously familiar garden species in decline, planting for wildlife in gardens and outdoor spaces presents a fantastic opportunity to help these struggling creatures.
Starling numbers have fallen by 2/3s in Britain since the mid-1970s, for example, with populations of half of our bumblebee species falling, and hedgehog numbers crashing from 30 million to an estimated one million since the 1950s across England, Wales, and Scotland.
When asked in the survey to choose what one thing they would most like to do in a new empty outdoor space, half of people (50%) chose having more plants, having a wildflower meadow (16%), planting fruit trees (11%), other kinds of trees (6%), shrubs (7%), or space for more flowers (10%).
Adrian Thomas, the RSPB’s wildlife gardening expert, said:
“I’m thrilled to hear how many people are now taking steps to help wildlife in their gardens and outdoor spaces. It feels like a movement is underway in which people are recognising that our gardens can be wonderful, shared spaces for us and for wildlife, to the benefit of all.”
Jon Green, Barratt Homes Managing Director, Southampton Division, has said:
“It’s great to see more and more people taking the plunge and prioritising wildlife in their gardens. This is one of the reasons why we work with the RSPB to give homeowners guidance on how best to do this. Such simple things as leaving grass long and installing bird feeders can make a big difference to local wildlife.”
The RSPB and Barratt Developments have been working together since 2014 to show how new homes can help nature and support wildlife. Their support has allowed the RSPB to breathe new life into its wildlife-friendly gardening work through the creation of Nature on Your Doorstep.
There was plenty of bird life and wildlife in general before you got your hands on the habitat they USED to live on peacefully. How ironic your telling people to do more in their gardens. Just stop building more rabbit hutches for the masses then !!!
I think were all sick of being told to do more for the environment whilst our hypocritical council sells us out to the highest bidder, then has the audacity to waggle its finger at us for needing to drive, or creating waste etc.
ANY house builder banging on about the environment is two faced to say the least!
barrets are not an island builder just because they build houses on the island
Do more to help bird life and wildlife!! this must be a joke, what with all the green areas being built on. Stop building on green belt land thats the answer.
Stop using weed killer might help