Urban Regeneration in the UK

Urban Regeneration in the UK

Written by Emma Kajiyama
Photos by Jools Abel

There are many towns and cities in the UK working hard to combine urban living with nature.  Thankfully, some councils deem it a necessity to work with nature, realising that without green pockets in built-up areas, the decline of pollinators and British wildlife in general is inevitable. As always, such decline will have a knock-on effect on our own lifestyle, from the food we eat to the air we breathe.

 

Initiatives such as the regeneration of Burnley, a town in Lancashire, have included the creation of wildflower meadows integrated into the urban landscape.  Burnley Council sought to improve the areas where houses had been demolished leaving behind large swathes of unused land, which had been initially covered over with grass and mowed regularly, a situation that had not been wildlife-friendly.

 

As well as being pleasing to the eye, this wildflower planting has had many benefits.  The natural habitats for the local flora and fauna has been improved by allowing the meadows to grow throughout the spring and summer periods.  This has also helped to attract the ever important pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds.

 

‘Proffitts Investing in Communities’ led the first wildflower planting event in Burnley, inviting the local community to help plant the first batch of seeds from wildflower seed packets.  This was vital in helping to raise awareness to families living in the area about the importance of wildlife.

 

 

 

 

 However, it must be noted that caution should be taken when planting wildflowers from packets. It is important to ensure native seed mixes are used to avoid invasive species taking over or destroying native species. An instance of this can be seen with the Daffodil, where cultivated ones have almost wiped out the truly wild Daffodil.

Projects such as ‘Grow Wild’, led by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, who appeared in Manchester Dig the City 2015, have been helping people and their communities to “transform unloved urban spaces… into wildlife friendly wild flower patches” (Growwilduk.com, 2015).  Their seed kits vary, with different mixes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

I am limited in my knowledge of identifying plants so I can only hope that projects like the urban regeneration of Burnley, have taken native wildflower planting into careful consideration. These projects are a very positive step towards understanding and learning more about wildlife conservation in our urban areas.

 

 

 

 

If you do wish to start a wildflower initiative in your local area, please visit https://www.growwilduk.com/faqs for further information on planting native plants.

References

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/11125434.Partners_unite_to_create_wildflower_meadow_in_Burnley/

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/11373482.Burnley_street_looking_blooming_marvelous/

http://www.plantlife.org.uk/about_us/faq/planting/

http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/letters/letter-pendle-wild-flowers-meadows-are-great-1-4929383

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

How Big is Your Carbon Footprint?

How Big is Your Carbon Footprint?

By Emma Kajiyama

Every time I post a new link or blog to The Urban Nurture page, I am acutely reminded of the saying “practice what you preach”.  As an advocate for caring for the environment, I am always trying to learn and research on how to be better at living sustainably to help reduce my personal carbon footprint on our planet.  At the present, there is so much more I could be doing.

Everything we do, be it driving a car or something as simple as acquiring more shopping bags, has an adverse effect on the environment.  The only problem is, usually, we don’t immediately see the results of our actions until we hear bad press about the climate, from the plastic waste found in the oceans to the ever-receding habitat of polar bears.  Even then, we sometimes don’t realise that the cause of it is us.  So how radically are we prepared to change our lifestyle? Taking action collaboratively is a progressive move so it is imperative to understand ways in which we can help.

In the UK the modern culture of consumerism has left us in a difficult position. Does an endless variety of clothes, food and technology create laziness and apathy towards caring about our environment? Do we blame a lack of time or money for our readiness to forget the implications of shopping in supermarkets, buying whatever is in front of us, no matter where it may come from? Do our modern lifestyles prevent us from questioning how environmentally sound the items we buy really are?

The answer for many is yes.  I know myself how easy it is to give in to the abundance of shopping. For me, it is the convenience of buying anything I want, as soon as I want.

Furthermore, eating sustainably also becomes an interesting debate, where we have to understand that all food products are interconnected, and that the issue is much more complex than just eating meat or being a vegan.  The use of pesticides and some fertilisers to grow our fruit and vegetables invariably kill insects, worms and pollinators who are incredibly vital to the production of our foods.  And we also find that most of the fruit and vegetables in our supermarkets is not grown in Britain. The carbon footprint of shipping them to the UK is huge.  This in turn has a destructive impact on the habitats of animals the world over, not forgetting the social problems importing from other countries can generate and the excess waste that is thus created.

Eating meat is also an intricate issue, depending on whether consumers are comfortable about eating meat of an unknown source and are content to be unaware of the quality of the welfare practiced.

Buying organic, local, Fairtrade and growing our own food can be seen as ideal. There is an element of trust that we can place in products which claim to be free of pesticides and GMOs. And by growing our own produce we have power over how we do so, and this helps to drastically reduce waste. However this way of living can be more expensive and rarely as convenient.

So, becoming ‘better at living’ as a modern consumer can be a challenge and it is a massive lifestyle change.  To do so, we must reduce our carbon footprint, carefully consider our product options and essentially research every single place we eat or shop. It’s great that more and more of us are starting to make these changes, especially in a world which is fast-paced and where we still compete for that better car or lust after a certain fashion craze. 

I will find it a difficult task but I hope to change my modern consumer-ways as much as I can.  There are certain brands I will not shop at, and re-using shopping bags has now become my norm. But of course I can and will do better.

I think as human beings we owe it to our planet to look after it as it has looked after us. We therefore should try to aim to work collaboratively to understand how to better our ways of living, rather than being complacent about our individual ways of life. We cannot truly know for certain how best to live, but we can encourage and inspire each other to live a little less selfishly and a lot more sustainably.

After note: I have coincidentally written this on ‘Earth Overshoot Day’.  This is the point at which humanity goes into ecological debt.

It has emerged that as of today, “humans have already used up 2015’s supply of Earth’s resources… we have exhausted a year’s supply of natural resources in less than eight months, according to an analysis of the demands the world’s population are placing on the planet.” (TheGuardian.com, 2015).  We have been using up the Earth’s yearly quota, earlier and earlier each year.
Let’s do something to change this, take action today and let’s make a move to become more sustainable together!

Photos and thoughts from a visit to: Dig the City Manchester

Dig the City Manchester

By Emma Kajiyama

This morning I watched a video about how planting trees now can help save the environment of future generations.  This is a positive message in a world which is inundated with dire news about the downward disintegration of species and habitats.  I think that sometimes it is easy to forget that we can be proactive today to help the planet's future.

Positive 'green' initiatives in urban areas take place all the time. Dig the City is one such project, highlighting the benefits of growing wildflowers, enticing our pollinators, encouraging our children to get passionate about nature and understanding that growing plants are not just for those with gardens.

Manchester city centre is, for me personally, the epitome of the grey urban city. A lot of concrete, a lot of buses and whole lot of people. They do, however, continually hold festivals, events and talks such as Dig the City - Manchester's summer garden festival.
I went along this morning to find out more about it. The organisers had transformed the paved streets into a hive of activity, where children made mud pies and people slowly meandered about, admiring the pop-up urban gardens despite the intermittent rain.

Fig. 1 This was beautifully laid out in St Ann's Square, complete with a tea table. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

 

     Fig. 2 I loved the detail and effort that had gone into decorating the sheds and stalls.

(Photo: Emma Kajiyama) 



Fig. 3 Grow Wild is a summer roadshow from Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. They "inspire communities, friends, neighbours and individuals... to transform local spaces by sowing, growing and enjoying native wild flowers." - Grow Wild. I was given a free pack of wildflower seeds to plant. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

Fig. 4 Grow Wild - their beautifully designed shed. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

Fig. 5 Spot the bee-man! Friends of the Earth were campaigning today. Mr Bee had been there all day in his bee outfit. They had lots of info packs on helping bees. I did my bit and signed a letter to my local MP against the Government's decision of using bee-killing pesticides. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

Fig. 6 Beautiful garden designs added a splash of colour to the otherwise concrete shopping street. This was a Gold Medal winner - 'Aurora Arbora' with Dreamscape Gardens. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

Fig. 7 I was very excited to see this as I had previously attended Reaseheath College to study a land-based Access Course. They won Silver Gilt for this piece of work called Aphid Attack!! Well done! (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

Fig. 8 Reaseheath's Aphid Attack! Beautiful creation, planted with lavender. Would love to know who worked on this. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

 

Fig. 9 A wonderful array of natural colours, forms and textures. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

Fig. 10 A garden waterfall with bridge, which cascaded over concrete steps as can be seen on the left. A beautiful idea, made by the Hulme Community Garden Centre. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

Fig. 11 The Hulme Community Garden Centre's natural 'waterfall' and pond. I love the juxtaposition of the concrete and steel background with the temporary plants. Which will stand the test of time? (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

I love seeing a green Manchester, and I realise that from the amount of visitors to the festival, many people feel the same. This gives me a sense of hope that all is not lost for urban green spaces. It would be wonderful to see more greenery, like the pop-up gardens today, take a permanent place in our city centres. It also makes me wonder what Manchester looked like before the settlement of people. Did the area on which Dig the City promotes urban gardening use to be covered in wildflower meadows? The return of nature to the city is a positive action. I'll be planting the wildflower seeds on the only space I have, my small balcony, and I'll help to grow Wild. Happy planting everyone :)



For more information about Dig the City, please visit their website.  The festival is on until the 6th August 2015:

http://www.digthecity.co.uk/

 

Find out more about Kew Garden's Grow Wild and enter their summer competition to win a family holiday:

https://www.growwilduk.com/

 

Sign a letter to your local MP to say NO to the previously banned pesticides by visiting Friends of the Earth UK website:

https://www.foe.co.uk/

 

An Urban Beekeeper Interview

An Urban Beekeeper Interview

By Emma Kajiyama

I live in the suburbs of Manchester, where there are still many pockets of green spaces. This can be seen as good news for the local bees.  Honeybees (Apis mellifera) can thrive and flourish in urban areas if an adequate amount of pollinator-friendly gardens and parks are present. 

Urban beekeeping has been spreading across cities such as London and Manchester, and with it has spread the love for bees.  I myself have developed a great fondness for these important little creatures, who, along with their gentle furry relatives, the bumblebee (Bombus), are hugely essential in pollinating and producing many of the foods we eat. 

I sat down to have a chat with an urban beekeeper in my hometown to talk about the ups and downs of beekeeping in an urban area.

Urban Nurture: Why did you decide to become a beekeeper?

Lorna Montrose: I have always loved gardening and so have been aware of honeybees, bumblebees and their role in gardens.  This developed into a keen interest and I just find them very appealing. It was actually by chance that I heard about a beekeeping course at Heaton Park.  They were offering two days training for £145.00.  It does seem a very expensive hobby but I became even more attracted to it after a few days of complex learning! 
I was also initially drawn to the idea of making local honey, but now I find the whole process so rewarding.  Not only does it contribute to their conservation and our own survival, but just sitting in the garden, watching them is very therapeutic.  They are always busy doing something!

UN: What kind of training did you have to do?

LM: I joined 'The Manchester District & Beekeepers Association' (mdbka) where they have a training course twice a month, between March and October when the bees are active, to work in an apiary for two hours with experienced beekeepers.  The courses they run are very busy and popular so if anyone is interested to start, keep your eyes peeled for vacancies. The mdbka run 3 to 4 courses a year, I think you can find more information on their website. http://www.mdbka.com/home.html

UN: Have you found there are many beekeepers in Manchester?

LM: Yes, I believe there are around 254 registered beekeepers in Manchester. You meet a lot of them through the mdbka. You can also find lots of beekeepers on allotments.  The more you find, the more you realise there are many beekeepers dotted around the city.

UN: Do you have any advice for people wanting to start beekeeping?

LM: I think the main advice I can give is that you have a responsibility to do it well.  It is not for the faint-hearted.  I currently have one hive which is dying, and which I have to let die. They have Nosema, which is a parasitic fungal disease, common in adult honeybees. I have to experiment ways in which to help my bees, as infections such as this one don't always follow the rulebook.
My other advice for would-be beekeepers is to join a beekeeper group, join an allotment or speak to private beekeepers. Everyone is always happy to help each other. Always watch, learn, talk, listen and ask questions! Find out about all areas and then, make an informed decision. There are lots of info to be found in books, videos and online.  It is an expensive hobby, as getting second hand equipment opens up the danger of infection. A new hive can cost £250.00 and it is advisable to have two, just in case one fails.
Even if you have a full-time job, it is possible to have beehives. It is a seasonal hobby so it can be very relaxing.  Between October - March, the hives are closed. So really, you are just busy for half a year. 

UN: What are your future hopes as a beekeeper?

LM: I have kept bees for 18 months now and am now a Deputy at the mdbka. They have been very supportive, offering benefits such as free tests for diseases.  I would like to continue to learn, be more proficient and be able to recognise problems at the root and all this comes with experience.  I can sum up my experience with beekeeping - 'when it's bad, it's very bad, but when it's good it's fantastic!' I absolutely love it. 

UN: Final question, are you happy for people to contact you to ask questions about bees?

LM: Absolutely! I'm very happy to help anyone interested in bees and welcome anyone who would like to have a look at the hives and ask questions.

If you do wish to learn more about our lovely little pollinators, please contact Lorna with any bee-related enquiries:

Lorna.montrose@gmail.com  /  Kajidoodles@hotmail.com

Further information about honeybees and bumblebees can be found:

http://www.bbka.org.uk/
http://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/

Chorlton Community Wildlife & Edible Garden Interview

Chorlton Community Wildlife & Edible Garden Interview

By Emma Kajiyama

 

Monday 20th June 2015

This morning I headed off to my first interview for The Urban Nurture Project and went to see the lovely folk at the Chorlton Community Wildlife & Edible Garden.  This initiative is headed by the minister of the adjacent Methodist Church, Deacon Dave Gallimore.

A few months back, I had volunteered at the Chorlton Methodist church garden, helping them to create a wildlife habitat haven. This was "in response to the recent 'state of nature report' which was launched by Sir David Attenborough, produced by 25 of the leading wildlife and conservation charities, which highlighted how much our wildlife is suffering and in decline". (Chorltoncommunitywildlifegarden.org.uk, not dated)

Fig. 2 the wildflower bed behind the church.

 (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 



It is wonderful to see the progress the garden has made, aided by the tireless energy and enthusiasm of those who have worked on it.  Today as I arrived, there were already volunteers digging and planting, all of whom were very willing to express their enjoyment about working on a wildlife garden.

 

Urban Nurture: What was the motivation to start up such a project?

 

Dave Gallimore: It was in response to the State of Nature report in May 2013, which declared that the condition of the British wildlife was far worse than previously thought. So I wondered, what can I do? We had an overgrown piece of land next to the church which was separated by a wire fence.  It was wild but a bit too wild and unmanageable, not fit for the wildlife habitats we had planned.  We decided to develop the side of the church for the community, the wildlife and to create an edible garden. We also aimed to set up habitats for various wildlife such as hedgehogs, bees and birds. 

 

Fig.3 the previously unused and overgrown piece of land has been transformed.

Wildlife cameras have been set up to help educate the public about the

importance of wildlife.

(Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

Derek (Volunteer): It was like a pebble in the pond, we hope it will inspire others. 

 

UN: It has definitely inspired me. How have you funded it?

 

Dave Gallimore: We initially received £500 from the church to get started. We then applied for two grants - one was a cash grant from Manchester City Council, which we secured and received £1700.  This really helped cover the costs for our wildlife cameras, soil and plants. We then got an environmental grant of £500 from Nikwax who specialise in waterproofing products. In all, the soil was very costly as we needed 32 tonnes of it!

 

Derek: We got the logs (which line the borders of the plant beds) from a wood co-operative, as we try to use recycled materials wherever possible. And our bug houses are made from recycled pallets from the conservative club across the road.

 

UN: For anyone starting out a wildlife garden, do you have any advice? Especially for people like me who are new to gardening?

 

Volunteers: There is such a large amount of help now from the internet and tv. It is a case of learning as you go along with wildlife gardening, but it's great to always learn something new. When you are creating something and are involved with something as a group, I think it inspires others. 

 

UN: You do all sound very motivated by this project.  What have you enjoyed the most?

 

Derek: It has been really great to design the bughouses.  I have never done it before but being creative with it has no right or wrong. I'm inspired to do more at home, there's a space in my garden which is getting a bit too wild! It has been really interesting to learn more about wildlife, as I started from the very beginning of the project. I saw it advertised in The Ramblers and from there I've been doing bug projects, creating habitats and helping the restoration of the area.

 

Kim (Volunteer): It helps to take the stress out of gardening. With wildlife gardens, you don't have to be precious about not letting things grow wild. Of course, you still need to trim the trees to let the light through and keep nettles in check, but it's very stress-free.

 

Derek: Anyone can just come into the garden to sit and relax. You come away with a different frame of mind.

 

Fig. 4 the wildlife garden has an abundance of

pollinator-friendly flowers and edible plants.

(Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

UN: So what are important/essential features of a wildlife garden?

 

All: It must have basic needs like food, water, shelter and places for wildlife to breed. Don't use pesticides and ensure there are enough berries for the birds and soft fruits for the animals (and humans!).

 

Fig. 5 a clean, shallow birdbath is not just aesthetically

pleasing but also provides fresh water for birds and

wild animals to drink, wash and play.

(Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

UN: Last question, are you on the lookout for volunteers still?

 

All: Yes! There is always so much to do. And volunteers really make it vibrant, it helps to spur us on and make progress with it. We are always looking for volunteers.

 

 

Fig. 6 some of the lovely people involved in

this initiative. (Photo: Emma Kajiyama, 2015)

 

 

If you do wish to work on this wonderful project, they are very welcoming bunch.  (They even have the very much needed tea and biscuit breaks!)

 

Please contact Kim with any volunteering enquiries:

 

kimski@btinternet.com

 

or pop into the garden to have a chat with someone, Monday 10am - 12pm or the 1st Saturday of every month 10am - 1pm at:

 

Chorlton Methodist Church,

Manchester Road

Chorlton

M21 9JG

 

Meanwhile, do feel free to have a look round the garden whenever you like, and follow them on Twitter - @WildlifeGarden2

and visit their website for more information: http://www.chorltoncommunitywildlifegarden.org.uk/

 

I wish them all the best on the future of this inspirational project!