Hedgehog house by Gillian Day
How to help wildlife where you live
Simple ways to get involved with helping local wildlife
-
At home and work, there are simple ways that you can take action for wildlife. Using less fossil fuel energy means fewer CO2 emissions, contributing less to the climate change that is affecting our habitats and wildlife. Using less water means more water is available for wildlife in our rivers and streams.
-
You can help to monitor wildlife by taking part in Opal's National Citizen Science Surveys and other regular bird, bug and butterfly counts. If you have an interest in a particular species consider going out with a local monitoring group, such as a bat or reptile group. Look out for Bioblitz dates in our events calendar.
- In your neighbourhood you can volunteer with BBOWT or other local environmental groups to look after local nature reserves and green spaces. You keep an eye out for damage in the natural environment and report it.
- You can check the habitat and species data for your area and that it's up to date on Defra's Magic Map. If you collect habitat or species records, submit them to your local environmental records centre.
- You can help us raise the profile of the local issues facing the natural world by campaigning for wildlife in your area. This could involve actively participating in our campaigns and/or as part of your Neighbourhood Planning team.
- You can also help to ensure that wildlife is taken into account in planning decisions in your area by responding to planning applications and consultations.
Find more simple actions you can take at home and at work to help the wildlife where you live.
How to check your bonfire for hedgehogs
We can all take steps to protect hedgehogs on bonfire night. Follow our 4 steps to make sure you keep hedgehogs safe.
Help wildlife in the hot weather
Lend a helping hand to wildlife in hot weather. Keep your watering stations topped up with water, and let some of your garden grow wild…
Keep wildlife safe this Halloween
Halloween is often a great time for spooky family fun, but unfortunately it is often full of plastic and waste. Here are some ways to…
How to make a coastal garden
Coastal gardening can be a challenge, but with the right plants in the right place, your garden and its wildlife visitors can thrive.…
Change what you eat
Eat more plant-based foods, reduce your food waste and buy local produce to shrink your environmental footprint.
How to build a hedgehog home
By providing safe places for hedgehogs to live, you’re much more likely to see these prickly creatures in your garden.
How to conserve water
If we all do our part in saving precious water supplies, we can make a huge difference for the environment.
What to feed hedgehogs and badgers
Putting out a bit of food can help see mammals like hedgehogs through colder spells.
How to do companion planting
Grow plants that help each other! Maximise your garden for you and for wildlife using this planting technique.
How to create a container garden for wildlife
Pots and containers are a great way of introducing wildlife features onto patios, or outside the front door. They are also perfect for…
How to create a mini pond
Even a small pond can be home to an interesting range of wildlife, including damsel and dragonflies, frogs and newts. Any pond can…
How to build a bird box
With natural nesting sites in decline, adding a nestbox to your garden can make all the difference to your local birds.
Find out more about planning and wildlife in our area
- Planning policy and the planning system (https://www.bbowt.org.uk/planning-policy-and-planning-system-england-and-wales)
- Responding to planning applications and consultations (https://www.bbowt.org.uk/responding-planning-applications-and-consultations)
- Development and wildlife (https://www.bbowt.org.uk/development-and-wildlife)
- Wildlife and the law (https://www.bbowt.org.uk/wildlife-and-law)
- Useful contacts and information (https://www.bbowt.org.uk/planning-and-development-useful-information)