In a city known for its tourism economy, one of the greatest difficulties is maintaining the environmental balance. Intentionally or unintentionally, people frequently leave behind remnants of their trip, and green spaces are often the areas that suffer the most. Here are ten things you can do to help protect your local green spaces:
1. Record local fauna in your area – Conservationists always need practical data about the behaviour of UK wildlife. By getting in touch with your Local Environmental Record Centre (LERC), you can help collate these records for the protection of animals.
2. Pick up your dog foul – Anyone who’s stepped in dog pooh can tell you how much it can ruin your day, but it also spreads bacteria and parasites, polluting waterways and even causing health issues in nearby populations.
3. Plant a community garden – Creating a biodiverse garden with local species of plants alongside home-grown fruits and vegetables is a great way to bring your community together, but also to encourage native fauna in your vicinity.
4. Get litter picking – Although it might seem tedious, organising with some friends to remove unwanted debris from a park or a forest can be an enjoyable way to remove harmful eyesores from what could otherwise make for a great ‘third space’ to hang out.
5. Write to your local MP – Political public figures in the UK often hold the most sway over the protection of wildlife in their constituencies. By writing to your MP and stating your concern for the problem, you are ensuring that environmental issues don’t become an afterthought.
6. Join a collective action group – Several groups in York are combatting the climate crisis on a regional level through fundraising. Running a marathon or climbing a mountain are common methods, but there are endless ways to participate…
7. Stop using pesticides! – While it might be tempting to keep slugs and snails from nibbling on your cabbages, horticultural experts generally agree that herbicides and pesticides can kill beneficial insects like bees and pollinators, whilst also risking contaminating local waterways and soil.
8. Donate to fundraising organisations – There are a litany of organisations around the UK doing amazing work to restore and conserve local environmental spaces. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is currently running a funding campaign to aid the maintenance of the recovering animal populations at Askham Bog.
9. Feed the ducks, but only with the right foodstuffs! – Heading down to a nearby duck pond with a tub of birdseed or berries is a fun way to maintain the health of these wetland birds. While bread isn’t inherently harmful to ducks, the large quantities they receive make it unoptimised for the balanced diet they require. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds recommends seeds, acorns, berries, plants, insects, and shellfish as appropriate alternatives.
10. Shop locally and organically – Buying produce from farmer stalls or shops (especially those that follow organic farming standards) supports the economic wellbeing of farmers, and usually avoids single-use plastics.
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