REWILD YOUR WORLD

We’ve already lost nearly 25% of our wildlife in Scotland and it’s health is inextricably linked to our own and that of the planet. Boosting the wellbeing of wildlife helps us stay healthy and builds greater resilience in the way our environment can respond to change, including climate change. Trees and other plants suck up carbon dioxide from the air, connected habitats allow creatures to move to new places as temperatures and conditions change in their usual homes. We can create homes for wildlife in our own spaces, those around where we live and bigger spaces, through action, collaboration and support. Make space for wildlife in your life, you won’t regret it

Some ideas for action:

ENCOURAGE EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL AND OTHER LANDOWNERS TO PLANT MORE TREES

Trees benefit ecosystems and society by absorbing carbon, supporting biodiversity and providing protection from floods. Oh and they also produce a shed load of oxygen, which is kinda handy too!

Scottish Forestry has woodland creation grants for site preparation, planting and 5 years maintenance. Find out more here

https://forestry.gov.scot/support-regulations/woodland-creation

Speak to your local Councillors and landowners about the grants. If they haven’t already applied for the grants, encourage them to do so.

GET YOU LOCAL SCHOOL AND COMMUNTY PLANTING

 Free tree packs are available for schools and community groups via The Woodland Trust so if there is space local to you why not get together with your community and the landowner and plant a wildlife- corridor in the form of a hedgerow, a fruit orchard or a copse for cover and shelter? Find out more about the Woodland Trusts tree packs here

VOLUNTEER FOR ACTION

There are plenty of organisations (eg Woodland Trust, Green Teams, ELC Conservation Volunteers) and community groups out there cleaning up and planting. Join a Facebook Group like The Big Beach Clean, Rewilding East Lothian or Street Clean Scotland to find opportunities near you. Come and talk to Lil about how you can help.

If you’re a member of an organisation or community group (or would like to be) involved in Climate Action you can contact East Lothian Climate Hub (and join East Lothian Climate Action Network, ELCAN). Contact hello@eastlothianclilmatehub.org or join the Facebook group.  This Network of over 60 members is being grown to enable greater collaboration and effective action across the county supported by the Climate Hub. The Hub is a collaborative project between ELCAN & Lil.

CREATE YOUR OWN NATURE RESERVE

If you have a garden or yard or a local community space turn some or all of it over to nature. Help out by creating habitats, routes through fenced for hedgehogs, planting plants for pollinators and birds, keeping a deadwood pile in a quiet corner or creating a pond. Check out our previous blog here for more ideas and for seasonal tips head to Nature Scot’s website

CONNECT THE DOTS

If you and others in your community are keen to support wildlife why not team together to create a network of wildlife friendly spaces and easy corridors between them. This helps create a habitat greater than the sum of its parts and enables mobile species such as hedgehogs move through a residential area to forage and breed. Climate Action East Linton has set one up, check it out here and Sustaining Dunbar’s Pledgehog Project is inspirational. Lil has applied for funding to develop a nature network in spaces across Haddington - get in touch if you would like to get involved.

Tell us about what you have done to rewild your world in the comments below or tag us @dolilthings on your social posts. Let’s fill the world with positive stories of action and inspire others.