𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Around Whittlesey, there are small and large green spaces; the problem is that they are not all linked together. Nature works best when creatures can move quickly between one area and another. This includes those that live on land and those that fly between them, for example, birds and pollinators.

The biodiversity in one area may suit some for feeding and others for habitat and of course, vice versa. If only we could facilitate easy movement between the areas, our neighbourhood could improve significantly, and our gardens could also benefit.

As our climate changes, we will be grateful for more shade and the provision of water. We need to build these aspects into our environment, and biodiversity will reward us by reducing the emission of greenhouse gasses. This is important in an area that is most at risk from flood.

In recent years, we have grown accustomed to closely cut grass verges and green areas in general. The improvements in commercial and domestic mowers have conditioned us to enjoy flat grass areas that provide almost nothing for nature. Water is not arrested, so drought quickly becomes an issue. When grass cuttings are not collected, the soil becomes too fertile for wildflowers that require less nutrients. Fewer flower diversification restricts biodiversity, and we are all the poorer for it.

St Ives (Cambridgeshire) was awarded a commendation for including plants such as millet in their deliberate efforts to encourage wildflowers and food for birds and animals along verges and in planted green areas. St Neots Priory Park is an excellent example of looking after nature.

Anglian Ruskin University produces ecologists who provide community-based biodiversity plans that will sequester carbon and provide valuable habitats for insects, mammals, fungi, pollinators, and invertebrates while putting on a show for us to enjoy.

If suitable species are planted in the right areas within easy reach of each other (hedgerows could link some), if the trees, shrubs and flowers are carefully selected, maybe they could be identified so that property owners could replicate some of them in their gardens and those tending the other green spaces could facilitate the linking of green areas.

Maybe pollinators could be provided with feeding opportunities early in the year and through to late Autumn. We all know that bees are not the only pollinators, but looking after honeybees could be a good starting point until we get even better at ensuring pollination can take place as the ecology of the fens continues to evolve.

Green areas could have groups that consider the most appropriate way to care for that area, mindful of what lives there or could become regular visitors. Rivers and other waterways need to be allowed to benefit from natural development, and grass verges need to have areas with long grass. Other plants, flowers, and wildflowers ought to be perennials rather than annuals so that regeneration does not require re-seeding every year.

If you agree with this logic, get involved by doing your own thing in your own gardens and linking up with like-minded people in your area. Some volunteer groups enjoy making your neighbourhood better – let’s do it for nature and our environment so that climate change does not dictate to our community the need for shade and water – we can build it in before it is too late.