Space for Nature

Why do we need to do this?

Locally we have a lot of green space and footpaths. However we have already lost many fields and hedgerows so we need to protect and enhance what we have.

We cannot be complacent as the loss of plant diversity and animal life in the UK is shocking. The Staffs Wildlife Trust says that over the last 50 years 56% of all species have declined and the UK is ranked as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. For more details check out the State of Nature report.

There is hope as nature can bounce back, if given the chance and support. Across the UK people are working together to tackle this challenge.

SinCH is proud to be helping the Parish Council deliver its Space for Nature project in order to give nature a helping hand.

So what can we do?

1. Garden at home with nature in mind

We can all find ways to improve biodiversity in our own backyards and some good advice with an extensive guide of actions to take is published by the Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB here.

Lists of plants to support pollinators can be found here & here and creating wild patches here or here or even make your own nature reserve.

You can also encourage bats and amphibians or make bird boxes or a bee hotel. Alternatively, you could buy these locally here.

We do have hedgehogs in the villages and we are keen to help them. Check out sightings on the Big Hedgehog Map and if you see one please report it on that website so we can build up a fuller picture.

More advice here and here and please look out for more information about our local campaign.

Also check out SinCH’s Green Fingers newsletters for ideas and tips on gardening for nature and growing your own.

2. Make your street greener and more wildlife-friendly

Join up with your neighbours to take a look at your local area and think about what you can do together to enhance nature.

We already have some great examples within the villages at:

• Friends of Crossheads
• Mill Lane and Mill Court
• The Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee Orchard (Cliff Road)
• Shugborough Terrace

Thinking of setting up a group? For more info and advice please see the Colwich In Bloom website here.

3. Help us map the wildlife we already have

It’s important to know what flora and fauna we currently have. We can then see what we can do to support nature by enhancing the biodiversity in the surrounding area.

We want to build up detailed maps showing what species we have and we are using a phone App called iNaturalist to help us. To take part in this you need to:

• Download the App on to your phone
• Sign up to iNaturalist
• Enable data and location on your phone before taking a photo of a species
• Check what the software suggests as an identification
• Before selecting it, do a common sense check – is this really what I am seeing?
• Upload your sighting

Please see the quick tutorial here.

We are particularly interested in:

• Wildflowers and plants
• Trees and hedgerows
• Birds
• Mammals
• Insects

Look out for events associated with this here and on Facebook.

4. Join us in planting and sowing

We are currently defining the sites we want to enhance including:

• Back Lane
• Coley Lane
• St Mary’s Estate
• Pollinator friendly flower beds (Colwich In Bloom)

Look out for more details here and on Facebook as the projects progress.

5. Help look after our nature-friendly sites

Finally, it takes time and work to maintain sites which are developing biodiversity so there will always be jobs to do throughout the year.

Why not sign up with us to help out at a site near you.

What else is going on locally?

For many years local groups such as Colwich Parish in Bloom have been doing some great work by helping community-based planting initiatives and some of these can be seen here.

There are a range of initiatives underway:

• Parish Council Green Infrastructure Plan
• River of Flowers
• Colwich Parish In Bloom
• Great Haywood Mini-bloomers
• Colwich Allotments
• Staffordshire Hardy Plants Society
• Shugborough
• Staffordshire Nature Recovery Networks
• SinCH’s Green Fingers project and its Green Walks