BIODIVERSITY GROUP
Biodiversity: the huge variety of life within our environment. This group realise that plants and animals do amazing things. Plants capture carbon from the atmosphere, helping in the fight against increased carbon emissions. Established trees in woodland can communicate via fungal networks so that in their fight against drought and other extreme weather conditions they respond together by producing masses of seed when threatened. Animals help in the breakdown of dead plant material to improve the structure of the soil. Wilding greatly helps to accelerate this process.
In the biodiversity group we help to support plant and animal life. We plant hedges, trees and encourage and support others to do the same e.g. schools. We maintain our own planting through our own workshops or via the Conservation Group in Barton Farm Country Park. The group contributes towards the protection of areas of wildlife under threat through letter writing and protest. There is a monthly workshop to make owl and other bird nest boxes. If you have hedgehogs in your garden please protect them. They are a species under threat in Bradford-on-Avon.
For articles and information about Swifts see our Swifts Group page
If you feel you would like to help the group in any way please email us
THINGS TO DO
- Please support us making a film, we are a Coop Local Cause this year!
- Say no to neonics being used, they kill bees
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Strengthening our existing environment laws, take action with FoE
- Join Project Climate Vote and pledge to vote for climate action at the next general election
- Do the Earthworm Challenge!
- “Of all the habitats … to aid nature a pond is best” A pond for wildlife
- Peat-free compost in the garden, see more at Plantlife
- See our guide for A Better Life for a Safer Planet
BIODIVERSITY GROUP ARTICLES
March 2024 update
Results of the DEFRA hedgerow survey, which this group was involved in, show that legislation is due to be taken to Parliament as soon as time allows
Feb 2024 update
Mon 12th February: Biodiversity Net Gain enforcement starts. Most developers in England are expected to produce a 10% net gain
Jan 2024 update
Happy New Year! A great chance to volunteer: to help the Environment Group at St Laurence to create a wildflower meadow and a pond
Dec 2023 update
Wildlife that is to be found in Bradford-on-Avon: 38 people came to the talk by Chris Wardell, a wildlife enthusiast and photographer on Dec 12th
Nov 2023 update
What are you doing in your garden to help in carbon storage? The world’s agricultural soils have the potential to store an additional 5 gigatons of CO2 per year
Oct 2023 update
The State of Nature Report 2023 indicates a continuing decline, with 16% of the 10,000 species assessed being at risk from being lost
Sep 2023 update
Next steps for Poulton Park, your views welcomed – Extraordinary Earth Day in Bath September 30th – Biodiversity group are responding to the Hedgerow consultation
Aug 2023 update
Bearfield Community Orchard plums and damson, apples soon + Find out which wildflowers attract the most insects + Hedgerow consultation till 20th September
July 2023 update
Local nature recovery strategies: A policy paper published June 30th 2023 explains what they are and why they are needed
June 2023 update
The river Avon at Keynsham scores very high on the chemical pollution test for Per- and Polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). These are known as ‘forever’ chemicals