‘Biodiversity’ refers to all the variety of life that can be found on Earth (plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms) as well as to the communities that they form and the habitats in which they live. Making your own Biodiversity Area can be a way of increasing the biodiversity around you.
Pick your area
Identify a space that you can plant wild flower and wild grass seeds in. This could be plant pots (or recycled yogurt pots) to put on your window sill at home, or a planter or bed in your garden, allotment or maybe an area in a park or piece of unused land.
Identify your species
Do some research online to identify the best species for your area and find some seeds. Think about whether they will be in sun or shade, how much water they will get and what insects or other animals they might attract. You can buy seeds at plant shops and online, or if you see the plants growing nearby you could ask people for cuttings or seeds.You can find advice on choosing and sourcing wildflower seeds from Grow Wild, a project run by Kew Gardens.
Make your biodiversity area
Plant out your seeds and think about the benefits of the different species and the conditions they like while you plant them.
You could make seedbombs to make your biodiversity area – especially f you are using a piece of waste land or a neglected area of a park.
Take it further
Post photos as your biodiversity area grows and blooms on social media with the hashtag #DreamBigAtHome.
You might also like to try and make you own Compost Cake to help feed your plants. Or you could make a bug hotel to give a home to insects in your biodiversity area.
