We know how important green spaces are to promote health, support wildlife, improve air quality, and help fight carbon emissions.
They are great places to enjoy with family or friends in the summer and while we are spending more leisure time outdoors, we also want our parks to be places where environment and wildlife can thrive.
Improving local biodiversity
As part of our climate emergency response, we want to create more opportunities for new habitats for wildlife and wildflower in our green spaces.
We regularly review our open spaces to identify potential areas for new mini-wildflower meadows or wildlife corridors to complement the ‘established’ meadows we manage across the borough.
Sustainable bedding plants and displays
We believe that planting more pollinator-friendly plants can make a significant difference in climate change and habitat loss.
Over the last year, we have been phasing out annual bedding displays in favour of perennial and hardy options that give a display over several years while requiring less watering.
We are increasingly looking at sustainable planting dependent on location to attract insects and provide habitats for wildlife. While supporting a greater number and range of pollinators in the warmer months, we want to ensure the displays provide year-round interest for the community with different foliage, textures, and colours.
Nurturing biodiversity in local allotments and community gardens
With National Allotments Week running from 12 to 18 August, we cannot talk about biodiversity in Elmbridge without mentioning the important role played by allotments sites and community gardens in promoting local biodiversity. They are not just for growing fruits and vegetables but are a haven for wildlife, plants, and pollinators.
Why not contact them to see how you can help them celebrate and increase local biodiversity while enjoying the social and health benefits of being part of their close-knit communities?
There are also community gardens in Elmbridge who are looking for volunteers to lend a hand to help these green spaces continue to thrive and provide for people and wildlife alike.
Find out about allotments and community gardens in Elmbridge and how to get in touch.
Help us build a more biodiverse Elmbridge
Do you want to get involved in making Elmbridge greener and a more biodiverse borough? Think about becoming one of Elmbridge’s sustainability champions.
Are there specific green spaces areas where you would like to see increased biodiversity? Get in touch with greenspaces@elmbridge.gov.uk and we will be happy to discuss ideas.
Elmbridge Community Climate Action Fund (ECCAF)
If you are a non-profit organisation or group with a project in mind to improve biodiversity and that will make a tangible difference to the community, get in touch with climatechange@elmbridge.gov.uk or consider applying online.
Councillor Ashley Tilling, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Environmental Services and Sustainability, said, “Climate change is causing more frequent heatwaves, drought, rainfall, and storms and while we want Elmbridge residents and visitors to enjoy our greenspaces, we have to find solutions to make them resilient for the future. It is up to all of us to protect the environment. There is help at hand for community groups who want to lead on biodiversity projects. If you are looking for funding, check out the Elmbridge Community Climate Action Fund (ECCAF) – open until 1 September”.
Councillor Simon Waugh, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Commercial Strategy, said, “Green Spaces play a significant role in habitat and biodiversity conservation. With your input, we can identify specific areas in our open spaces where we can help build the right habitats for a wide range of plant and wildlife. Get in touch if you want to get involved.”
More information about how we are working towards improving biodiversity in Elmbridge
Become a local green champion and help your local green communities.