Our current social climate has us thinking crucially about how we can best preserve our planet. Nowadays we have to adopt alternative lifestyle choices to make sure we keep the world thriving.
The good news is that each and every one of us has the power to change things, to make a difference... and it all starts at home! Below you'll find five ways to create a unique eco-friendly outdoor space, not only beneficial for you but for the planet also.
Happy reading!
We are seeing a decline in butterflies, bees, and other insects paying a visit to our gardens. This is mainly due to the loss of habitat. An effective way to bring them back to continue with pollination is to start including a wider variety of plants, making sure to have native (which are in particular easy to grow and maintain), near-native and exotic plants. By having different types of plants, you are helping to provide pollinator diversity, as well as ensuring we continue to have access to important food crops made possible through pollination.
We are always encouraged to switch to more environmentally friendly products, be that for when we're at home or work, for example, and this certainly extends to the garden! Biodegradable products do wonders for the planet. Biodegradable plastics, for example, significantly reduce carbon emissions during the manufacturing process because they use fewer amounts of energy, and they do not need fossil fuels to be recycled. Overall, this means there is less pollution damaging the environment.
Biodegradable wood products are hugely beneficial for the environment as well. Wood is a renewable energy source and can naturally decompose and break down into the earth. Because it lasts a long time too, this means there is less energy used on the production of new items. Interestingly too, using natural alternatives like wood can lower stress and anxiety levels when you are at home. Wood, according to research, has a calming effect as it offers a 'positive emotional experience' because it reminds people of 'nature, warmth, homeliness' (this is based on research conducted by Marjut Wallenius, a doctor of psychology at the University of Tampere).
You can reduce greenhouse gas emissions when you start to buy more locally sourced produce. It is also never too late to test out your own skills with growing fruit and vegetables. For every pound of fruit and vegetables, you grow, you save around two pounds of carbon dioxide. When generating mass amounts of commercial produce farmers have to resort to fossil fuel burning tractors, etc to get it done. By growing fruit and vegetables at home, you reduce the use of fossil fuels and are also given the choice not to use pesticides which can be very hazardous for the planet, something which farmers also rely on for mass commercial production.
It's a win-win for both you and wildlife when you include a water feature as part of your outdoor décor. Adding a pond in particular means you can provide a home for amphibians and insects. Not only this, but you are creating a space accessible for birds and mammals for when they need to freshen up and have a drink. Granted a pond might not be possible for smaller gardens therefore, it is perfectly fine to use a birdbath instead (birds and all aren't that fussy).
Make room for a tree
Planting trees is a great way to remove carbon dioxide from the air, and so stop the increase of global warming. RHS suggests that 'If all 30 million UK gardeners planted a medium-sized tree in their community, school, workplace or garden and nurtured it to maturity, they would store enough carbon equivalent to drive you more than 11 million times around our planet'. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a lot! Because trees have extensive biomass, root structures, and longevity, they are more capable than smaller plants at removing bigger quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees also attract more wildlife to your garden and reduce noise pollution. So why not plant a few if you can!
And that's our five ways for helping you go green this year in your garden.
Watch this space for more content. Bye for now!