Southwark Nature Neighbourhoods

• Putting up a nest box or a bird feeder can make a big difference. Sparrows are the second most common bird in Southwark (RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch 2014), but they’ve suffered from significant habitat loss. RSPB has great advice on how to choose the right nestbox and what to consider when feeding birds.
• Sign up to take part in the Southwark Spring Sunflower Challenge (watch this space!) to get a growing kit - They'll brighten up your balcony and be a seed snack for sparrows.

For more bird hacks, sign up to the campaign.

• Plant moth and insect friendly flowers – pale night blooming varieties such as night blooming tobacco are a winner.
• If you have a garden, creating a pond is one of the best things you can do for local wildlife. Froglife has great guides to getting started.
• Try planting single flowers rather than double varieties as they tend to have more nectar.
• Put up bat boxes on trees or buildings, you can buy or build them yourself! Bat Conservation Trust has a helpful explainer.

For more bat hacks sign up to the campaign.

Bugs can get an unfair rap as pests but they’re crucial to our eco-system.

• Plant a wildflower mini meadow. This is a small action that helps a huge range of wildlife. You don’t need a large space to have a big impact: try scattering seeds in a window box to get started.
• Building a bug hotel in the colder months is family friendly fun.
• Leaving leaf litter and grass to grow helps ensure habitats are undisturbed – so sit back and relax.
• The Wildlife Trusts have great ideas how to take action for insects.

For more bug friendly tips sign up to the campaign.

Try and have something for all stages of a butterfly lifecycle – from foodplants for caterpillars to nectar for butterflies and moths.

• A small patch of native grass left to grow is the perfect place for many butterflies to lay their eggs – if you don’t have a garden you can grow some in a pot, with other plants for added colour!
• Plant single flowers rather than double varieties, the shape of the flower will impact which types of butterflies and moths can enjoy its nectar. A mix of plants like honeysuckle alongside buddleia and open headed flowers like Michaelmas daisies is best.
• Meet the locals - If you’ve been out in the garden lately, you’ve probably seen some Cabbage White butterflies - one of Britain’s most widespread species. As caterpillars, they can feed on cabbages and other plants in your garden like turnip, swede and horseradish. Come summer, they turn into beautiful butterflies. Butterfly Conservation has great information about their lifecycle!

For more flutter friendly tips sign up to the campaign.

• Planting a wildflower mini meadow is an easy way to bring colour to your home and help out wildlife – plant the seeds and nature will take care of the rest.
• Planting lavender with help out bumblebees, along with leafcutter bees, flower bees and mason bees – Butterflies will love it too!
• Have a balcony or garden? Plant honeysuckle up a trellis and Long-tongued bees such as Garden bumblebee and Carder bumblebee will be grateful.

Ready to get Southwark buzzing? Sign up to the campaign to get tips on what to plant to give bees a boost.