DIY conservation

6.0.1) Green deserts

Many housing estates have large areas of short mown grass that are costly to maintain and poor in wildlife. By leaving areas of grassland to grow, plants which were previously prevented from flowering due to constant mowing will not only be visually attractive but will attract seed feeding birds and butterflies, other insects like grasshoppers and even amphibians such as frogs and toads back into the area. Although water is required to allow amphibians to breed, they need the cover provided by long grass for protection from predators. Insects, which live among grasses provide food, and the moisture that grasses retain will stop amphibians from drying out.

These areas need not be unkempt looking. Neatly trimmed paths can allow access through areas so that children can chase after grasshoppers as they ‘click’  to one another and adults can savour the sweet smell of grasses and wildflowers. By leaving the grasses to produce seed heads, insects are attracted to the area, as are larger creatures such as blue tits, which will also feed on insects and their larvae.

It is worth remembering that grasslands are not a natural habitat in Sheffield and that to maintain the area as grassland it will require a late spring or late summer cut otherwise the area will become scrubby and overgrown with rank grass. For more information on creating a wildflower meadow see section 8.1 on meadow creation, in this handbook. Alternatively you can phone the Sheffield Wildlife Trust for advice on 0114 2310120.

You may think recycling has nothing to do with green space… think again. Recycling and re-using items that you would otherwise throw away will cut pollution, reduce waste and preserve the planet’s resources. As you develop your site and add wildflowers and trees, consider the containers they are growing in. If you buy plants from a garden centre, ask if you can return the containers. If buying plants in polystyrene or plastic pots, try to re-use them. If you are growing from seed, save the expense of buying pots by using yoghurt and cream cartons.

Get children to help. They can make pots from newspaper, which can then be planted straight into the garden because the roots can grow through the container. These pots are easy to make: wrap 7 sheets of damp newspaper around a jam jar and glue with organic glue. When the paper is dry, slide the jar out and fold one end to make a base. Simple! For expert advice on community recycling contact:

Going organic in your garden and your green space site will help reduce the amount of pesticides and herbicides that are currently killing Sheffield’s wildlife. A harsh example of this is the song thrush whose numbers have declined by 65% over the last 20 years. One of the main reasons for this is the increased use of chemical pest control in farms and gardens, which target the thrush’s favourite food, slugs and snails. Find out more about natural methods of weed and pest control and help save our urban wildlife.

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When putting plants in pots and shrubs on site DO NOT use peat. Already more than 94% of Britain’s lowland bogs have been destroyed. These peatlands are host to many specially adapted species and are fascinating records of our past. Bogs also act as giant water filters and store carbon dioxide. The destruction and drainage of these areas leads to a rapid release of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. The most simple way to protect these bogs is not to buy plants grown in peat compost or bags of peat compost.

There is a range of peat-free products, including from those derived from composted bark or wood fibres and coir (dust or brown fibre pith from coconut husks). You could try to make your own compost. This will also cut down on household waste going to landfill sites, so there is a knock-on effect on a regional scale, as well as saving peatlands nationally. You can also visit Heeley City Farm for examples of different composting techniques or alternatively contact them for composting information sheets and details about training days.

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6.0.5) Small ways to improve your area

There are many other ways to improve your area for people and wildlife. Swift boxes can be inserted in suitable house eaves as can bat boxes and even bat bricks. Remember these creatures will thrive on the insects that are attracted to street lights. Log piles can be strategically placed in gardens to encourage hedgehogs to stay a while and take their fill of slugs, or you might even attract a slow worm (which looks like a snake but is really a lizard with no legs) in your compost heap. Planting a hawthorn hedge is not only visually attractive and a good habitat for a large variety of creatures, but can also form a defensive barrier against unwelcome visitors.