However, we know that biodiversity is in crisis. We have lost significant proportions of natural and semi-natural areas within recent memory. For example, 97% of our species-rich meadows have gone since the 1930s and with them, we have lost birds, butterflies, bees, and many other creatures. Around 94% of the UK’s lowland raised bogs have been destroyed or damaged in the past 100 years, resulting in large-scale carbon loss and further contributing to global warming. Almost half of Scottish species are declining significantly and over 1 in 10 may be threatened with extinction.
Despite the worrying picture for biodiversity, the good news is that we can all do something to help.
As individuals and communities, we can support nature by taking small, or not so small, steps.
Below are just a few examples of projects that you and your community can get involved in to enhance your locale for biodiversity.
Project Ideas
Woodland Creation
Creating woodland can provide multiple benefits, for people and for biodiversity. Planting the right trees in the right place can enhance habitat for a range of native wildlife including bats, birds, and invertebrates. It also has the potential to sequester carbon. Here are some examples of projects involved in woodland creation and management in North East Scotland:
Maryculter Woodland Trust is a group of community volunteers who purchased a commercial woodland and are working under a long term habitat restoration programme to return the site to a native woodland. A recent woodland habitat creation initiative example involves the young people of Banchory working with Deeside CAN on the development of a Wee Forest, a concept involving education, native forests and climate action that is spreading throughout the world. Birse Community Trust, a local charity, manages nearly 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of forests and woodlands on behalf of the community in Birse parish and Portlethen Moss Conservation Group have been active for almost twenty years undertaking a range of projects, including woodland creation and a new sensory garden.
Support for woodland creation includes the provision of trees through to funding for volunteer activities:
- Free Trees for Communities Across the UK (tcv.org.uk)
- Free Trees for Schools and Communities - Woodland Trust
- Action Earth – Volunteering Matters
- Scottish Forestry - Community Fund
- NESCAN Hub Seed Fund
- Just Transition Participatory Budgeting
In additional to these funding streams, a range of opportunities to help create/maintain community greenspace arise throughout the year. It is worth checking databases such as Funding Scotland on a periodic basis to see what is available. Also, feel free to contact our Funding Officer for help in sourcing funding for your project.
Wildlife Gardening
Wildlife gardening is an activity that everyone can take part in, whether you have a large garden or a compact space for some window boxes or small planters. It’s also something that can be incorporated into allotments, school grounds and community greenspaces. Wildlife gardening can include planting a variety of plants to support pollinators and other invertebrates throughout the various stages of their life cycle, managing the area without pesticides, creating a pond, or providing homes for nature. For links on various elements of wildlife gardening, see further resources at the bottom of this page.
Local initiatives involving/promoting wildlife gardening include:
North East Scotland Biodiversity - wildlife gardening group is a highly informative and inclusive Facebook group sharing information and experiences on all aspects of wildlife gardening.
A student-led community project, the University of Aberdeen Secret Garden, incorporates support for biodiversity and food-growing into their programme of activities.
Bonnymuir Green Community Trust, a greenspace owned by the local Aberdeen community delivers a range of educational and social activities, encouraging fun, good health, wellbeing, and sustainable living.
Keep Scotland Beautiful provides information on a range of education programmes and award schemes for communities involved in gardening for biodiversity to get involved in.
Funding support for wildlife gardening:
- The National Lottery Community Fund
- NESCAN Hub Seed Fund
- People’s Postcode Trust
- Just Transition Participatory Budgeting
Conservation volunteering
Helping support the nature on your doorstop doesn’t have to involve joining a local group. For some people, the opportunity to participate in a one-off event, or series of events, is a wonderful way of being proactive in tackling biodiversity and climate issues. Environmental threats such as marine litter can heavily impact the wildlife along our coasts, invasive non-native species is a growing problem having a detrimental effect on our native flora and fauna, and many organisations need year-round assistance to create and maintain suitable habitat for wildlife. Some local projects that offer conservation volunteering organisations include:
- Turning the Plastic Tide
- SISI | Scottish Invasive Species Initiative
- Bailies of Bennachie
- Aberdeen Countryside Rangers Service
- Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service
- Make Your Mark Scotland - Volunteering Hub
Environmental Education
Greenspace can provide an inspiring and inclusive setting for environmental education. Whether that is centred around outdoor learning for young people or community learning opportunities, the value of learning in nature is increasingly being recognised. Some local initiatives and projects incorporating this approach include:
- North East Scotland Outdoor Learning Group
- Outdoor and Woodland Learning North East Scotland
- Wild Things
- Friends of St Fittick’s Park
Funding sources for Environmental Education:
Further Information and Resources
Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy Scotland's Biodiversity Strategy 2022-2045 | NatureScot
An excellent place to start for ideas on how to support local wildlife, and other community climate ideas – Community Climate Adaptation Routemap
A good guide to all aspects of community tree planting NHS Forest Tree Planting Guidance Pack
Gardening for wildlife, including which species to plant to support pollinators Gardening Advice - Bumble Bee Conservation
Advice in creating and maintaining a pond Pond Creation Toolkit - Fresh Water Habitats
Recording and submitting wildlife sightings in North East Scotland NESBReC | North East Scotland Biological Records Centre
Learning in local greenspace | NatureScot highlights a range of projects and activities which can be incorporated into outdoor learning for young people.
Funding Scotland search engine to find funding for your specific project: Funding Scotland
