Supporting the natural environement

There is an active Greening Ashwell https://greeningashwell.org.uk/ group working in the village to improve our local environment.  We will always looking for more volunteers for our monthly working parties and occasional ad hoc meetings.  For more information please see monthly reports in the Ashwell Village News or visit the website https://greeningashwell.org.uk/about/index.html#contact_us   

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• Herts County Council are repeating the offer of free trees for planting with upto five trees chosen from eight species on offer https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/news/news-archive/your-tree-our-future-returns-year-3?dm_i=5ESZ%2C129FM%2C1M6ZGC%2C4BL2C%2C1

• Remarkably the UK is reported to have three quarters of the worlds chalk streams.  However they are under great pressure from water extraction and pollution.  We are privileged in Ashwell to have multiple springs feeding chalk streams but with that privilege we are beholden to reduce our water usage as much as we can to help preserve these unique assets. Many tips on saving energy and changing gardening practice can save water. Cambridgeshire has been busy surveying rivers within the county and include discussion of our very own River Rhee https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/media/9067/greater-cambridge-chalk-streams-project-report.pdf   Highlight importance of chalk streams  https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/chalk-streams/ 

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In the garden​ grow and water

• If you are lucky enough to have a garden the Royal Horticultural Society has plenty of useful information on creating a wildlife friendly garden , biodiversity and wildlife  https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardening-for-the-environment 

• The Centre for Alternative Technology offers some excellent advice on amongst other things, saving water in the garden, extending the growing season for vegetables and composting to recycle waste https://cat.org.uk/info-resources/free-information-service/.

• Please do use peat-free compost or make your own - see for example https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/composting. This also helps to reduce your food waste. Peat is an irreplaceable carbon sink with its own unique, fragile environment. There are many excellent peat free alternatives – including peat free ericaceous composts for your acid loving plants.

• If you are thinking about redesign of your garden the RHS again has some excellent information on design sustainability. https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-design 

• Thinking about growing your own vegetables? Ashwell is well supplied with allotments at both Small Gains and Forresters convenient for both ends of the village please contact the Parish Council https://www.ashwell.gov.uk/contact/ if you are interested in renting one. For some advice on managing your allotment The National Allotment Society - How to plan an allotment https://thenas.org.uk/ and the “Allotment Garden” https://www.allotment-garden.org/ provide plenty of ideas

 

Wildlife in the Garden

• RSPB – Gardening for Wildlife https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities 

• National Trust - Nine ways to build a wildlife friendly garden https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/gardening-tips 

• Buglife - Invertebrate identification and advice https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/gardening-for-bugs/ 

• The Wild Life Trust has some excellent advice about encouraging wildlife into your gardens – bird boxes bee hotels, encouraging hedgehogs, managing without agrochemicals and more helping nature at home

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Anglian Water – Water conservation for home and garden https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/help-and-advice/save-water/water-saving-tips/