Our vision for the future of the natural environment
Nature reserves on their own will not be enough to protect our wildlife for the future
Preserving species in tiny pockets of the landscape, on our nature reserves, will not ensure wildlife's future survival. Our vision must be wider than that. By creating spaces for wildlife to live in amongst houses, businesses, roads, railway lines and fields we can move closer to our vision of an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.
We must start to restore nature across the landscape, not just on nature reserves, and we need to act now. Habitats continue to be lost and many UK species are in long term decline.
Our guide How to build a Living Landscape shows how different places in Hertfordshire and Middlesex can contribute and provides practical solutions in our towns and cities, on farmland, across our transport networks and on golf courses.
A Living Landscape in action
Blooming marvellous results
Our Wild Stevenage project has seen fantastic success in bringing wildlife back to roadside verges. Local resident Steve Kershaw explains:
"The scheme set up by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Stevenage Borough Council is so simple and inspired and yielded positive results almost immediately. I was delighted to find a colony of bee orchids that were a feast to the eye and proof that sympathetic management of roadside verges really works."
Farming and wildlife in balance
The Easneye Estate, farmed by Nicholas Buxton, won the Cambs and Herts FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) Farm Conservation competition in 2012.
From restoring hedgerows and managing woodlands to improving the state of the River Ash, local farmer Nicholas Buxton is working with the Wildlife Trust and a whole host of other conservation charities and partners to try and achieve the best results, both for the farm and for wildlife.
Wildlife to the fore!
Golf course manager Terry Crump makes his golf course on Harpenden Common work for wildlife.
Cutting the rough just once a year in July or August means wildflowers have time to set seed and longer grass provides cover for birds, small mammals and insects. Terry says: “This creates a tougher golf course, for a period. It’s obviously cheaper too as we’re only cutting it once. Sometimes you get complaints as the rough gets too long, but over the years people have got used to it. We always play our club championships prior to the long rough being cut, so it’s as tough as possible!”
Our work with other partners
Rivers are wonderful links for wildlife through the landscape, if the water quality is good. Our Living Rivers project is working to protect, restore and raise awareness of these vital ecosystems.
Woodlands which are joined up to other landscape features including hedgerows, meadows and wooded corridors create a connected network for wildlife to move through. We are working to protect these special habitats through our Woodlands for People and Wildlife project - and encouraging others to help us!
Habitat variety will support the most wildlife. We are helping people to discover the extraordinary diversity of the landscape and its wildlife in the Colne Valley, through events and volunteering.
Start building your Living Landscape
Everyone can contribute to a Living Landscape. Take action today to help us achieve our vision.
Downloads
| Filename | File size |
|---|---|
| How to build a Living Landscape | 6.64 MB |