Brownfield site to be turned into nature reserve
Young people are taking a leading role in turning a brownfield site into a community nature reserve over the next three years.Grow Wilder is a five-acre urban nature reserve on the edge of Bristol and is part of Avon Wildlife Trust's Intergenerational Action for Climate and Nature programme.The programme recently received £870,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund and organisers hope that young people can help use that funding to transform the space.Youth office Connor Meadows said the group of 13 to 18 years olds creating the space were "really engaged with nature".
He added: "They're also going to be working with the local community to learn the history of the land and what it meant to people and wildlife in the past and use that information to decide what it's future looks like."The project is also a chance for young people to learn about growing their own food both on the new site and Grow Wilder's main site just next door."I think young people aren't often given the space to be able to do these things and connect with nature in an urban area," said Mr Meadows."It's really great to be able to bring out the enthusiasm and engagement from these young people and help them develop their personalities and skills."Grow Wilder is also keen for the local community to have a stake in the new site and have invited them in for tours and discussions through community open days.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Powys County Times
Newtown residents embrace circular economy at community events
The young boy's teddy was repaired at the event (Image: Benjamin Wolf) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Newtown residents are embracing the circular economy at community events. The latest success was Newtown's Summer ShareFest at Hope Church. The event, organised by the Open Energy project, featured a 'SwapShop' and repair café. Attendees exchanged books, clothes, and toys, all free of charge, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The event, part of the Open Energy project by Open Newtown, aims to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and strengthen the circular economy by promoting the reuse and repair of everyday items. A spokesperson said: "It has been a challenge to spread the word about these events and to help people understand what they are about. "But the response from those who attend is always so positive. "More and more people are realising that we can work together as a community to reduce waste, share resources and save money." The event also featured a repair café where residents could extend the life of their possessions. At the event, a young boy's soft toy, a gift from his late father, was repaired. The initiative also takes repair cafés 'on the road' to different parts of the community. The event at Hope Church included craft sessions, gardening activities, and free food and refreshments. A spokesperson said: "For many participants, our events are their first experience attending a clothes swap or repair café. "We're hoping that repair and reuse becomes the norm and there is certainly a growing appetite for it." To find out about future events, you can follow them on Facebook or email Openergy@
BBC News
01-05-2025
- BBC News
No Mow May - People urged to leave their grass to grow long
Wildlife trusts and environmental charities are joining calls for people to take part in No Mow campaign urges gardeners to avoid mowing their lawns to give pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, a boost by allowing wildflowers to Wildlife Trust and nature protection charity, Plantlife, are amongst the organisations supporting the annual McArthy-Thompson, from Avon Wildlife Trust, said: "We've got 23 million gardens in the UK so it's a really important habitat for insects and pollinators." "Over time the grasses will get longer and it will provide more of a habitat for insects that will in turn bring more things to the garden," he is an important time as it is when a lot of birds are looking for food and preparing to build nests. "It's not just bees, we're looking to host a whole variety of invertebrate that need our longer grass to sustain their lifecycles and feed our birds," said Mark Schofield, road verges adviser to Plantlife."By reducing mowing you could produce up to ten times more nectar for insects and the 270 types of bee in the UK," he are currently running a campaign aiming to educate people about the importance of some wildflowers which are commonly considered said dandelions are a prime example - with roughly six dandelions needed to support a bumblebee. No lawn needed Mr McArthy-Thompson said there are plenty of ways for those who do not have access to a lawn to help pollinators."Wildflowers in pots are a great way for pollinators to benefit and doesn't take much knowledge or skill," he also suggested planting Common Knapweed and Common Bird's-Foot-Trefoil, which, he said, will grow quickly and do not take up much decorative flowers such as roses and dahlias are also useful to pollinators, indigenous wildflowers are seen as the best for native pollinators, he added.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- BBC News
Brownfield site to be turned into nature reserve
Young people are taking a leading role in turning a brownfield site into a community nature reserve over the next three Wilder is a five-acre urban nature reserve on the edge of Bristol and is part of Avon Wildlife Trust's Intergenerational Action for Climate and Nature programme recently received £870,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund and organisers hope that young people can help use that funding to transform the office Connor Meadows said the group of 13 to 18 years olds creating the space were "really engaged with nature". He added: "They're also going to be working with the local community to learn the history of the land and what it meant to people and wildlife in the past and use that information to decide what it's future looks like."The project is also a chance for young people to learn about growing their own food both on the new site and Grow Wilder's main site just next door."I think young people aren't often given the space to be able to do these things and connect with nature in an urban area," said Mr Meadows."It's really great to be able to bring out the enthusiasm and engagement from these young people and help them develop their personalities and skills."Grow Wilder is also keen for the local community to have a stake in the new site and have invited them in for tours and discussions through community open days.
