As part of our environmental programme, Orbit Earth, we have made a commitment to enhancing our outdoor spaces to improve their quality, as well as the diversity of plants and animals that make them their home. By improving these spaces, we aim to have a positive impact on customers’ health and wellbeing, as well as the environment.
Our partnership with the Wildlife Trusts gives us the expertise to create a practical approach to enhancing biodiversity on the communal outdoor areas of our estates whilst balancing the needs of our customers. The Wildlife Trusts have a ‘30by30’ campaign which aims to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. We are testing this approach on four of our estates in Coventry and Warwickshire to see if and how we can achieve this in our communities.
Ian Jelley, Director of Landscape Recovery at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said of the project: ‘These projects in Warwickshire have shown the massive potential for improving residential sites by planting native shrubs, establishing wildflower areas, and creating rich and varied habitats for wildlife. In some instances, it’s about changing how areas are managed, by reducing mowing of grass on verges or cutting of hedges. This kind of approach can save money, reduces carbon footprints, and allows resources to be focused elsewhere to support nature’s recovery. The projects have reinforced the importance of planning and assessing sites individually to see how to make the best improvements for wildlife.’
Some of the changes we are looking at are: changing the way we maintain areas (like leaving the grass to grow longer and creating wildflower meadows), providing shelter for insects, butterflies and birds and removing unnecessary manmade surfaces which could also reduce flood risk.
Free booklet to help you improve the wildlife outside your window
There are small steps we can all take as individuals to welcome more wildlife into our outdoor spaces and provide an environment for nature to thrive. Spending time outdoors has also been scientifically proven to help us feel better, both mentally and physically, something most of us have experienced particularly during the pandemic.
We’ve created a handy booklet full of easy ideas and tips to try in your own outdoor space - whether it be a garden or window ledge, to improve the wildlife outside your window.
For more on all things green, check out our eco-hub where you will find out how you can become more green, energy efficient and more about Orbit Earth, our environmental programme.
