Suschool

Buy different plants that flower and/or produce seeds in spring, summer, autumn and

winter, to give food all year round.

You could even plant native trees and shrubs if you have room!

Turn your streets into a wildlife haven! A rich assortment of native plants will encourage a rich variety of wildlife!
But remember -

Organic gardening looks after the whole growing system.

Organic gardening tries not to use chemicals to enrich the soil or kill pests. Instead organic gardeners try and encourage more wildlife into the garden to take care of the pests. (For example plant daisy-like flowers that attract hoverflies, who eat greenfly.)

Organic gardeners work with plants too – respecting how they like to grow – and where.
Different plants like to grow in various different conditions (sun, shade, bog, desert!). These flower and provide nectar for insects. The insects provide food for birds and animals. And so the food chain goes on.

If there is an equal balance of life no one species overtakes the others!

When plants die, or they lose their leaves, they fall onto the ground and eventually rot down and become part of the soil with the help of bacteria and small organisms like beetles, earthworms, and other minibeasts that feed on the decaying matter.

This rotting material provides food for the plants growing in them.

Plants produce seeds after they have flowered and the whole process starts again! By copying some of these natural methods, you can help to increase the biodiversity of

your patch of land.

Helpful tips

	Don’t be too tidy in the garden..
	Leave some weeds and long grass for insects to thrive.
	Build a habitat pile of old logs and branches..
	This attracts minibeasts, bacteria and fungus and provides plenty of places for creatures to hide e.g. slugs and snails and also frogs, toads and hedgehogs that eat them.
	Feed the birds!
	They always appreciate a helping hand – the RSPB has lots of information about how best to go about it.
	Put up a nesting box..
	You can make one yourself or buy one and put it up in a tree or on a building out of reach of cats.
	Do not use peat..
	Lots of composts have peat in them, but that has been dug out of our moors and heaths where it took thousands of years to be produced and will take thousands more to replace. Look for peat free compost.
	Make your own compost!
	Made from vegetable peelings and other kitchen waste, it isn’t just good for the plants – it helps the bin men too!
	Save water..
	Water barrels collect rain from your roof. This is far better for plants and doesn’t use tap water, which has been specially cleaned for us to drink.
	Build a pond..
	Wetlands are fantastic for wildlife! A pond will support lots of different species.
	Plant a native tree – plant two!
	(Only if you have the room, or plant small types of tree!) Trees can provide food as well as places to live for all sorts of animals, birds and insects.
	Create a special area for wildlife
	In your playground or in your garden, with plants that produce food for birds and insects.
	As a general rule don’t dig up or pick any wild plants you see growing!

You could volunteer to help on a nature reserve or join a local wildlife group – not only will you be helping to improve the habitat for the local wildlife, but you will see some great things as well as having fun!

Remember that litter not only looks horrid, but it can damage wild animals. Cans and bags can trap wildlife, and if a mammal eats a bit of plastic by mistake, it may die.

	Could your school work together with a local wildlife group and help to improve a wild area near you? Have a look around with your teacher or friends.
	What wild areas are there near you?
	Are they in good condition? Good condition means not full of rubbish.
	Are they home to many different species?
	How could they be improved for local wildlife?
	Remember that brambles and nettles are also wild areas and are great for wildlife to live in.