Community Action Plan
| Volunteer Monmouthshire has many local community groups and conservation charities which offer volunteering opportunities to take practical action for wildlife. There may be opportunities to work with your local church or chapel to manage areas of cemeteries for wildlife. Some public parks and green spaces have friends groups which support management of those areas. Join local conservation groups which target species recovery in your area, such as swift groups | Volunteer Monmouthshire Volunteer | The Wildlife Trusts Swifts of Usk | Facebook Chepstow Swifts | Facebook |
| Record Recording wildlife is a wonderful way to connect with your local nature and is also really important for nature conservation. It helps us understand how wildlife is faring in our region, when it needs our help and when it might be affected by things like pollution and climate change. By submitting your records to your local record centre, they can then be used to inform decision-making, educate the community, carry out research and even inform local planning. Everyone can contribute to wildlife recording, if you’re not confident in your ID skills, there’s lots of information available in books, guides, in apps, and online to help you get started. Organisations such as SEWBReC and the Wildlife Trusts also host training events to help improve your identification skills. Our local wildlife record centre is South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre (SEWBReC) and you can submit records via SEWBReCORD or via the LERC Wales App. | SEWBReC SEWBReC Online Recording Database LERC Wales App |
| Citizen Science Much like recording, citizen science projects provide conservationists with much needed data. Surveys ran by conservation organisations provide you with all the information you need to get started with identifying and recording wildlife. Some citizen science projects require specialist equipment which will be provided by organisation. Citizen science projects range from huge nationwide events such as RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, to more local schemes such as water quality monitoring. | Friends of the River Wye Save the River Usk Big Garden Birdwatch Projects | BTO Citizen science projects | The Wildlife Trusts Citizen science apps and projects | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology NPMS National Plant Monitoring Scheme – Plantlife |
| Litter Pick Litter isn’t just ugly, it’s also a hazard to wildlife. Picking up litter on your street can help save wildlife from your local hedgehog to turtles in the sea. Some community groups organise regular litter picking days. Some organisations have days where groups across the country pick litter on the same day. Litter picking equipment can be loaned from Keep Wales Tidy. They can also advise on how to set up your own community group. | Surfers Against Sewage Keep Wales Tidy |
| Remove Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) such as Himalayan balsam are a threat to our native wildlife. By removing them, we can help our ecosystems to flourish. Make sure you know how to identify it, record any sightings on the INNS Mapper, or even take part in volunteer days to remove INNS in your area. Always follow proper procedure to avoid spreading seeds elsewhere. | Himalayan balsam |
| Bat Boxes Bat boxes are more likely to be used if they are located where bats are known to feed. Ideally, several boxes should be put up facing in different directions on sunny aspects to provide a range of warm conditions. Boxes should be put as high as possible to try and avoid predation from cats on the ground or nearby structures. Bats use dark tree lines or hedgerows for navigation, so putting boxes near these features could help bats find the box. In summary, locate boxes: – Where bats are known to feed and navigate (close to hedges and tree lines) – Ideally at least 4m above the ground (where safe installation is possible) – Away from artificial light sources (to protect them from predation) – Sheltered from strong winds and exposed to the sun for part of the day (usually south, south-east or south-west). Bats need time to find and explore new homes, and it may be several months or even years before boxes have residents – be patient! Once bats find a place they want to live they can return over and over again. Droppings on the landing area, urine stains around the lower parts of the box and chittering noises from inside on warm afternoons and evenings are signs of occupation. Please note, as bats are vulnerable to disturbance and fully protected under UK law, boxes must only be opened by a licensed bat worker. | Putting up your box | Bat Conservation Trust |
| Bat Access Points Creating bat access gaps when carrying out work is one of the simplest ways to protect existing bat roosts in the long-term. This is often a requirement for carrying out work within the strict legislation that protects bats and you should always get personalised advice for your project from a specialist before going ahead. An easy way to create access under a roof tile is to raise the tile slightly with a timber batten or small piece of tile. Roof access points for bats should avoid breathable roofing membranes, the long fibres in these materials can be pulled out by roosting bats and cause an entanglement threat to the bats. Bituminous roofing felt is recommended for use instead, as it is dark-coloured, with a rough surface that bats can grip onto and will help maintain a suitable and safe environment for bats within the roof void/structure | Creating access for bats | Bat Conservation Trust |
| Bird Boxes Bird boxes are an easy and effective way of providing habitat for a variety of bird species. – Nest boxes for tits, sparrows or starlings should be fixed two to four metres up a tree or a wall.U – Unless there are trees or buildings which shade the box during the day, face the box between north and east, thus avoiding strong sunlight and the wettest winds. – Make sure that the birds have a clear flight path to the nest without any clutter directly in front of the entrance. Tilt the box forward slightly so that any driving rain will hit the roof and bounce clear. Fixing your nestbox with nails may damage a tree. It is better to attach it either with a nylon bolt or with wire around the trunk or branch. Use a piece of hose or section of car tyre around the wire to prevent damage to the tree. Remember that trees grow in girth as well as height, so check the fixing every two or three years. Open-fronted boxes for robins and wrens need to be low down, below 2m, well hidden in vegetation. Those for spotted flycatchers need to be 2-4m high, sheltered by vegetation but with a clear outlook. Woodpecker boxes need to be 3-5m high on a tree trunk with a clear flight path and away from disturbance. Nest boxes are best put up during the autumn. Many birds will enter nest boxes during the autumn and winter, looking for a suitable place to roost or perhaps to feed. They often use the same boxes for nesting the following spring. Tits will not seriously investigate nesting sites until February or March. Swift nest bricks and swallow and house martin nest cups can be fitted under the eaves of a building to provide shelter for these species. A swift nest brick could be integrated into the walls of your house and must be at least 5m above ground. You can also make your own swift box. Swift boxes are better used when they are near existing colonies and a recording of swift calls is played to encourage birds to investigate the box. | Where To Put A Bird Box | The RSPB Nest cups | House Martin Conservation UK & Ireland Swift Conservation Homepage |
| Hedgehog Access Hedgehogs can travel around one mile each night in search of food and shelter. A hedgehog highway is a series of holes in fences and walls that allow hedgehogs to pass freely between gardens, parks and allotments. Hedgehog highways allow hogs to move around without having to use human roads and risk being hurt or killed by cars. | How to create a hedgehog hole | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Hedgerow Planting Planting a new hedgerow containing native shrub and small tree species provides a valuable food and shelter resource for a variety of species including birds, insects and small mammals. | Hedgerow Planting | Hedgelink |
| Tree Planting Trees can provide food, shelter and nesting sites for a whole range of animals- from insects that make their home inside the tree, to the woodpeckers that hammer their way inside to eat them. If you have the space, you might decide to manage trees in a small group, otherwise you may choose to stick with a single tree in a border, hedge or lawn. Coniferous and deciduous trees can bring different features to your garden and if it’s possible having both can be a great benefit. Coniferous trees will give foliage and greenery all year round, whilst deciduous ones will give a huge variety of leaf shape and colours and well as a seasonal bounty of fruits and seeds. Plant trees around 2-3 m apart (6-9 ft). Avoid planting within 4m (12 ft) of houses. | Planting Garden Trees | The RSPB |
| Pond Creation A shallow freshwater pond creates habitat for a wide variety of species including insects, amphibians and plants; as well as providing an important water resource for birds and mammals. | How to build a pond | The Wildlife Trusts Garden Ponds for Wildlife | Pond Conservation |
| Refugia creation Use old, dead, logs to create an inviting home and feeding ground for insects, toads, newts and bees. All the rotting wood, flaking bark and maze of little gaps between the logs is heaven for a wide range of wildlife. | Create a log pile for wildlife | The RSPB |
| Bug Hotels Insects and other minibeasts need safe spaces to shelter, hide from predators and raise their young. You can help them by building a bug hotel in your garden or outside area. | How to Build a Bug Hotel | Woodland Trust |
| Green Roof If you don’t have much space you can still create space for nature, for example install a green roof on a bin shelter, shed or balcony. | Green roofs | RHS Gardening |
| Wildflower & Pollinator Planting As well as providing shelter and access to your garden for wildlife, using the right plants can provide benefits for biodiversity too. Plant native shrubs for their flowers and berries – these will attract butterflies, moths, bees, and birds. Evergreen shrubs provide winter foliage and shelter during colder months. Encourage bats into your garden by planting flowers that attract insects, for example, night-scented stock, evening primrose and lavender. One bat can consume up to 3000 midges a night! For smaller gardens, planting climbers such as honeysuckle, clematis, sweet peas and roses provide resources for pollinators without the need for large spaces. | Nature Isn’t Neat | Monmouthshire Lists of Ornamental Garden plants perfect for pollinators | Monmouthshire |
| Change Mowing Practices Creating a meadow by reducing mowing to just once or twice a year provides more flowers for pollinators, allows plants to set seed and creates better habitats for other animals. You can augment your meadow by using wildflower seeds or plug plants. However, creating a meadow isn’t the only way you can manage your lawn to improve it for biodiversity. Raising the cutting height, reducing frequency and rotating which bits you mow can all allow flowers to grow in your lawn. | Nature Isn’t Neat | Monmouthshire |
| Look for opportunities to be less neat and tidy Nature isn’t neat, meaning that well-kept hedgerows and gardens provide little support to wildlife. Can you create any wild areas in your garden? Ensure some areas are left unmanaged over winter for hibernating pollinators. | Actions | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Switch to peat-free compost Peatland is an important habitat for wildlife and its conservation and restoration is vital in tackling climate change. However, peat from peatlands is still regularly used in the garden as compost. During the last 70 years, extensive areas of peatland habitat has been lost as it’s been drained and planted for forestry and agriculture. Many peatland restoration projects are now happening across the UK, but you can also help by switching to peat-free compost. | How to go peat free at home | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Stop using pesticides Pesticides have been linked to declines in bees and other pollinators, beneficial insects, birds, mammals, aquatic animals and plant species. For example, products like slug pellets can kill or seriously harm hedgehogs, birds and other animals which feed on slugs. Other possibilities are available, including changing management practices, using biocontrol or natural alternatives. For example, coffee grounds or egg shells can deter slugs and are also a great way to reuse kitchen waste | Managing pests and diseases without chemicals / RHS Gardening |
| Get a water butt Water butts save water and also slow the rate that rainwater reaches the drains, reducing flood risk and the risk of sewage being released. You could also create a rain garden to slow water flow. | Water: collecting, storing and re-using / RHS Gardening Rain gardens / RHS Gardening |
| Hedge Management Hedgerows are important corridors for wildlife. By improving management we can make them even more valuable. No cutting should take place during peak bird nesting season, which runs from March to September. Where possible, delay any maintenance work until January or February, as hedgerow berries provide a valuable autumn and winter food source for birds. Hedges should not be cut every year, as flower buds often form on second-year growth. Trimming hedges on a two or three year rotation, targeting different sections each year, will make sure there are always flowers for pollinators in spring and berries for birds in autumn. | How to manage a hedgerow for wildlife | The Wildlife Trusts |
| The Three Rs Reduce, reuse, and recycle in that order and as much as you can. Think about the products you use in your home; are you able to switch to more environmentally friendly options? For example, using a shampoo bar instead of liquid shampoo in a single-use plastic bottle | Reuse Shops & Trees – Monmouthshire |
| The Three Ps! Toilets are not rubbish bins. Remember the 3 Ps when using the loo – only flush down pee, poo and paper, nothing else! | Stop the block | Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water |
| Don’t drop litter and always bag and bin dog poo Litter is hazardous to wildlife, if you can’t find a bin take it home with you. Dog poo is harmful to human health and wildlife. Always bag and bin your dog waste. | MCC host Dog Fouling Awareness Day – Monmouthshire |
| Don’t tip chemicals down the drain! Household chemicals, oil and paint are all accepted at Monmouthshire’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres. They also take other items not accepted in kerbside collections. | Recycling Centre accepted items – Monmouthshire |
| Watch what you eat If you eat meat, try choosing meat with lower carbon footprints, such as pasture/grass fed meat rather than grain fed meat. Especially those from local and/or regenerative farms which employ more nature friendly methods to grow crops and farm livestock. Around one-third of food is lost or wasted during the journey from field to table, some simple changes to your shopping such as buying loose vegetables over bagged can save energy, plastic waste and result in less waste. Eating seasonally will also help reduce the environmental footprint from your diet as it avoids foods grown in energy intensive greenhouses. If you eat seafood, look out for the Marine Stewardship Council blue tick fish logo on seafood, so you know that is sustainable and from healthy, wild fish populations. | What is regenerative farming? | The Wildlife Trusts Preventing food waste | Love Food Hate Waste What does the MSC label mean | Marine Stewardship Council |
| Fight climate change Everything you do to fight climate change will also help nature recovery. Consider switching to a green energy provider, minimising wasted electricity and water use, and walking and cycling where possible. | Green energy: stats, guides and deals | Uswitch |
| Manage green space Do your place of work have any green spaces that you can manage differently? See tips under Make Space for Nature and Garden for Nature for some ideas. Even if you don’t have a green space you can still provide home for nature; bird or bat boxes can be installed on any suitable wall. Even plant pots can be helpful for pollinators. | Make Space for Nature |
| Fund Nature Projects Can your business support local nature recovery projects financially? Even the smallest donation can help grass roots conservation groups. | Act for Nature |
| Get involved with nature recovery Volunteer days with local conservation groups will not only help nature but it’s also great for team building and spending time outside benefits staff well-being too. | Act for Nature |
| Consider how your business operates Look for changes which benefit climate and nature recover, for example, reducing waste through thoughtful procurement, increasing recycling, and making use of reusable alternatives. Work towards making your business net zero as soon as is practicable. Also ensure that your company pension schemes do not support planet harming practices. | Live for Nature |
| Manage and/or create space for wildlife in your school grounds This can include creating wildflower areas, building bug hotels, putting up nest boxes, planting trees and hedgerows or creating a wildlife pond. See our sections on making space for nature and gardening for nature for tips. | Make Space for Nature Garden for Nature |
| Become an eco-school Eco-Schools is a global programme designed to empower and inspire young people to make positive environmental changes to their school and wider community, which includes action for biodiversity as part of its assessment. | Eco Schools |
| Carry out a school wildlife survey Identify and count the wildlife that live in your school grounds by undertaking a BioBlitz. These activities can be incorporated into maths lessons by counting the species you find or in science lessons by learning about the different species you discover. It could also be incorporated into geography lessons as you could create maps of the school grounds and highlight the various habitats or other features present (e.g., trees, planters, bug hotels) that benefit wildlife. | Run your own BioBlitz | The Natural History Consortium |
| Include nature in schools’ curricula Take the classroom outside wherever possible or on school trip to a nature reserve. There are many direct links to science and geography in studying nature and natural processes, as well as art and literature. Conservation charities such as the Wildlife Trusts, the National Trust, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and the RSPB have free educational resources available online. | Children & Nature Programme | Natural England |
| Join in with nature-related activities Many organisations run engagement activities throughout the year to raise awareness of nature recovery, such as 30 Days Wild, Wales Nature Week, the Big Schools Birdwatch. | 30 Days Wild Schools | The Wildlife Trusts Big Schools’ Birdwatch | The RSPB |
| Consider using an INSET day for training in nature education This could include training on how to manage school grounds for nature, how to incorporate nature into day-to-day activities in schools, or how to identify wildlife. | Teacher Training | Gwent Wildlife Trust |
| Demonstrate good practice for the environment in schools This includes reducing and recycling waste, using eco-friendly products, saving water and energy | Live for Nature |
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