Using your garden to mitigate climate change
Private gardens are the third largest UK land use sector, and in urban areas they form 25% of the landscape. Together, gardens have the potential to help mitigate climate change impacts, and also to enrich our increasingly threatened wildlife. With over 20 million people identifying as gardeners, our choices of plants, cultivation techniques, composts, watering, wild areas, and many other details, can make an important difference, locally and nationally.
Click on the topics below to see how you can help your garden to mitigate climate change, and also enable it to become more resilient, productive and enjoyable. You don't have to do everything all at once - even small changes can bring big benefits....
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Soils naturally contain massive amounts of carbon. However, since the mid 20th century, about half of this carbon has been lost to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. We can help remove carbon from the air and return it to the soil, by minimising digging and maximising vegetation cover of the soil throughout the year. This process can be accelerated by composting and mulching our gardens.
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Climate change is putting more pressure on mains water supplies. By increasing our rain-water storage capacity, and by adopting measures to keep moisture in the ground, we can keep our plants adequately watered, and reduce demand on mains supplies, especially during dry periods.
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Hard paving makes useful paths and terraces. However, cement production is very carbon intensive, paved areas contribute to flash flooding, prevent carbon capture, and contribute to local temperature rises in hot weather.
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British gardens cover nearly 2500 square miles, a tremendous opportunity to provide a home to wildlife. Nature-friendly gardens act as islands, bridges and corridors connecting your garden to the wider environment and the countryside beyond.
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Since the mid-20th century, we have lost over 95% of our wildflower meadows, together with the rich diversity of plants and animals they contained. Fortunately, many gardeners are now managing part of their lawn as a wildflower meadow, so providing vital habitat for grassland plants and animals.
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Ponds and other wetland features are naturally very rich in wildlife. However, in recent decades, a large proportion of such habitats have been degraded or lost across the UK. Creating a wildlife pond or other wetland in your own garden, is one of the most effective ways of attracting and enriching local wildlife.