Category: Wildlife Habitat: Wildlife Friendly Gardens

1. World Wetlands Day is 2 February

   Posted on 5:00pm Tuesday 28th Jan 2025

   The 2nd February is World Wetlands Day.  The day aims to raise awareness about wetlands, and it marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty back in 1971.  Back in 1971 on 2 February, the Convention on Wetlands was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar which sits on the shores of the Caspian Sea. What are wetlands? Wetlands cover areas such as shores, estuaries, mudflats, floodplains, coastal marshes, local ponds, the bog and pond in your garden, mangrove swamps, seagrass beds, and rivers.  They cover a very small of the earth’s surface – and yet they are one of the most important habitats on our planet.  WWT has lots of information about these areas - you can click to see it here. "If rainforests are the lungs of the planet, then wetlands are the lifeblood.  As much as we need air to breathe, we need water to live.   The conservation of our wetlands is essential to all life on earth.”   Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) In 2025, the theme is Wetlands for our Common Future.  Value.  Protect.  Inspire.  #WetlandsForOurCommonFuture Raising awareness is critical – most people have heard of forests and rainforests, but fewer have heard of wetlands.  Yet they are vital ecosystems.  Despite this, the World Wetlands Day website explains that, since the 1700s, almost 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s.   And we’re losing wetlands 3x faster than forests.   A recent global IPBES assessment identified wetlands as the most threatened ecosystem. This impacts 40% of the world’s plant and animal species that live or breed in wetlands. What are the threats to wetlands? Habitat loss:  many thousands of hectares have been drained for land  by humans for their purposes of housing, industry and agriculture Pollution:  WWT says that 80% of global wastewater gets released into wetlands without being treated.  Wetlands are under threat from pollution, fertilisers, pesticides – and yet wetlands can act as natural filters, removing pollutants from the water. Invasive species such as the common water hyacinth and animals (e.g. the killer shrimp) devastate wetlands. Unfortunately, water provides easy pathways for them to spread and grow. Our changing climate can cause wetlands to dry out – and this can have a terrible impact on amphibians, migratory birds and corals  for instance. But wetlands are carbon sinks – when we destroy wetlands, carbon gets released into the atmosphere.  Development, such as dams, and draining Why wetlands matter to people: They provide us with drinking water They store a third of the world’s carbon emissions They buffer us from floods and droughts They are important for our health and wellbeing Why do wetlands matter to wildlife? 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed here. They are vital breeding and feeding grounds for migratory birds – stopover points, if you like. Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania) is one of the most important zones in the world for nesting birds and Palearctic migratory waders, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) (China).  These birds use wetlands such as our coastlines to stop, moult, rest, winter or nest.   Pantanal Conservation Area (Brazil) is one of the world's largest freshwater wetland ecosystems. Sundarbans National Park (India) is formed of tidal rivers, creeks and canals and supports species such as the single largest population of tiger, and aquatic mammals such as the Irrawaddy and Ganges River dolphins, all under threat. Mud, mud, glorious mud The power of mud....Preventing climate change Watch this video from WWT on You Tube  to find out what mud can do to combat climate change So what can we all do to help wetland conservation?  WWT can create new wetlands in a few months and years – so your support can really make a difference quickly.  But there’s something we can all do to help and you’ll find more links and further resources further down.  Find out why they matter to people and wildlife. See what you can do at home to help wildlife.  Create a (mini) pond in your garden, local area or school - WWT or the RSPB can show you how Visit a wetland close to you if there is one, and spend time there.   Use your senses while you visit.  Listen to the sounds you can hear; look at the sights, smell the scents.  Connect with them. Find out which of your local conservation charities are working to protect and restore wetlands.  How can you get involved and support them?  Many of them will be working on projects which you may be able to get involved with. This could be by volunteering, donating, buying something from their online shop, becoming a member, spreading the word about them - there are lots of ways to help.  #WetlandBiodiversityMatters to see what’s happening Support an appeal for wetlands somewhere in the world Make a pledge to act for wetlands  You can create your own wetland in your garden... Here's how... Will you make a pledge to protect wetlands? See pledges already made here -  and make your own pledge here! There are a lot of efforts being made to help protect and restore and create wetlands.  For instance, the International Crane Foundation has been working to protect Africa’s wetlands for 30 years.  Find out about their work here. On this World Wetland Day, they are advocating for: Protection of wetlands The reduction of human impact to minimise habitat destruction caused by human activity  Supporting crane conservation efforts Promoting awareness and education Encouraging sustainabity Advocating for climate change Getting involved in citizen science such as birdwatching or local conservation projects to help monitor populations and track their movements - this all helps contribute important details to build up a picture of the status of cranes and other animals Further Resources World Wetland Network – a collection of NGOs and Civil Society Groups all working for wetland conservation Wetland Link International – a support network for wetland education centres which deliver engagement activities on site.  The WWT in the UK lead it; it has 350 members over 6 continents! RAMSAR –  The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.  World Wetlands Day – held every year on 2 February to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands and how we can all help WWT – the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the UK.   Visit one of their 10 sites around the UK and/or visit their website to see how you can get involved. The MedWet mission is "to ensure and support the effective conservation of the functions and values of Mediterranean wetlands and the sustainable use of their resources and services".  Visit their website here.  The Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative brings together 27 Mediterranean and peri-Mediterranean countries, all of which are Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971). Palestine and several organizations and wetland centres are also part of the MedWet Initiative. The Global Wetland Outlook – take a look, it’s fascinating reading

    

2. The British Garden: Life and Death on your Lawn on BBC4 is back!

   Posted on 3:00pm Sunday 11th Apr 2021

   On BBC4 on Sunday evening 11 April 2021  “The British Garden:  Life and Death on your Lawn.” will be on air again. Chris Packham and a team of wildlife experts spent a year exploring every inch of a series of back gardens in Welwyn Garden City.  The gardens are all interlinked, and Packham and the team want to find out how much wildlife lives beyond our back doors, and how good is wildlife for the British garden? Amongst other things, Chris meets a family of foxes and a ball of frisky frogs. By the end of the year, Chris will find out how well our gardens support wildlife and how many different species call our gardens home. A team from London’s Natural History Museum are among those who are involved in the programme. Find out more from the programme’s website here.

    

3. Please see this video from Gravitas - how nature is reclaiming its spaces due to the Coronavirus

   Posted on 2:00pm Friday 10th Apr 2020

   Sometimes you see something on the internet or on television that really hits you hard and makes a point extremely well. I saw this video, this afternoon, and I wanted to share it with you.  Please share it with everyone you can. The ultimate message is that we SHARE this planet.  It demonstrates how dominant the human race has become - and how selfish.   I am not going to tell you anymore about it - please just watch it for yourself.   Here it is: Thank you, Gravitas. Please vow to make a difference today.  Find out how to reduce your impact on the earth's resources here.

4. Road verges - a silver lining? says Plantlife

   Posted on 5:00pm Thursday 9th Apr 2020

   If I’m driving along in my car, I always find the wildlife flowers on our verges to be very uplifting to see. And whilst I’ve been having my daily one walk during the lockdown because of the coronavirus, I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the wild flowers which are about. Please give Plantlife your support with their Road Verge Campaign Plantlife is a charity that works nationally and internationally to raise the profile of our wild flowers, plants and our fungi.  They support our wildlife and they are vital.  Their colour and character give us cheer and brighten up our day and journeys. It’s really important to protect our wild flowers, our plants and our fungi.  And our roadsides have been much quieter of late, as lockdown is observed.  The drone of many councils’ mowers have also fall silent as councils may have reduced grass cutting down to the minimum required to maintain visibility and make sure our roads are safe. Plantlife hope that reduced cutting frequencies may help verge wildflowers to grow, flower and set seed.  Flowers such as the white campion, betony, greater knapweed and harebell, the chance to grow, flower and set seed.  The good news is that a more wildlife-friendly management regime will help tackle climate change. Over 300 local authorities have now declared a climate emergency.   Reducing their cutting regimes, as recommended in Plantlife’s management guidelines, will also help councils bring down carbon emissions.  Hopefully it won’t be long before we can all get outside and enjoy the wild flowers along our roadside.  Meantime, please visit Plantlife’s website to see how you can support their “Support the road verge campaign.”

    

5. Will you Pledge a Patch for wildlife?

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 16th Aug 2018

   Worcestershire Wildlife Trust have come up with a great initiative, asking people to Pledge a Patch for wildlife.  Although they are asking people in Worcestershire to do this, I thought, what a brilliant idea - and so I wanted to let everyone know about it in the hope more people would follow suit wherever they are and pledge a patch for wildlife! There are 46 Wildlife Trusts around the UK - you can find your local here. The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is celebrating its 50th birthday and it now has 75+ nature reserves across Worcestershire.  They describe them as "stepping stones in the landscape" - I love that description.  And they are asking people to join the dogs so that wildlife can move through safely.  Wildlife all over the world need wildlife corridors to help them move from one place to another and these are vital to help them reach everything they need to survive and thrive.  Ideas of how you can pledge a patch are... (and no, you don't need a garden)... Fill a window box with nectar and pollen rich plants Attach a bug box to the wall of your house Leave a 1m by 1m square of grass longer so that daisies can grow for the bees Put up a nest box for birds Plant a pollinator patch in an area of land - businesses could easily do that Bring your neighbours together and ensure that hedgehogs can get from one garden to another easily Join up with locals to turn an unused patch of land into an areas for butterflies Create a small pond for frogs and toads Offer to manage a local verge and fill it with wild flowers - just sow wildflowers around it and don't mow it so often So there's plenty everyone can do wherever you are.  80 peole have already signed up to the Pledge a Patch initiative and you can find out more from their website here.