As Gardens & Greenspaces membership grows, it is wonderful to witness how our individual outdoor spaces, whatever their size, fulfil so many of our day-to-day needs. While the simple acts of gardening, children and dogs playing, growing fruit and veg, or just relaxing with family and friends are all important to us, our gardens and greenspaces are increasingly providing us with that much needed closer connection to nature. Over two-thirds of our members say that they use their outdoor spaces, several times a week or more, to watch wildlife and explore the nature that shares it with them. This brings our job as responsible custodians of these spaces ever more into focus.

As I visit more and more of our pledged spaces across Sussex, I am heartened by so many positive actions being taken to support local wildlife. From mature established gardens to blank canvas new builds, our members are taking small actions that can make a big difference. How wonderful to see froglets hopping through a new build lawn after the owner has tucked a tiny shallow pond in a corner by the garden shed; a dense hedgerow of native trees replacing hard boundaries and offering food and shelter for birds and mammals; and honeysuckle and ivy growing up walls and fences revealing remnants of nests tucked inside, now empty following recent fledging. And all this I’m seeing in spaces that owners tell me were, just a few years ago, mostly ‘traditional’ with tightly mown lawns, weeded borders and bare fence panels all around.

The Weald to Waves message of connecting our spaces for wildlife is running through more and more conversations and I hope there will be opportunities across the summer, particularly with the children home from school, to find more opportunities to put these chats into practical action. If you have a garden, could you plant a new climber or shrub against a boundary? How about a weekend project with the family – build a minipond, or a bug hotel from old wood, stems and bricks you find tucked away around the garden? Are you a community or residents group looking to get more people involved in your efforts to support local nature? How about holding a mini BioBlitz on a local greenspace? Invite local residents and families to join you and try to ID the wildlife you see. Just a bug collecting pot and an ID chart or app on your phone, it’s simple, fun and guaranteed to engage everyone, young and old!

Behind the scenes, the Weald to Waves team is working to bring the resources and opportunities to support us all to take these important actions, including a new members area on the website coming soon. As always, we love to hear about your efforts for nature recovery in your own spaces, so get in touch at gardens@wealdtowaves.co.uk

Amy Hurn, Gardens & Greenspaces Coordinator, Weald to Waves