The Great Fen was one of 5 UK Pilot areas selected to trial the IUCN’s Global Standard for Nature based Solutions methodology and self-assessment tool. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are innovative approaches that regenerate areas affected by human activities, restoring key ecological functions that improve people’s quality of life. In the Great Fen, this means rewetting the peatlands and trialling new methodologies in farming. But NbS don’t have to be landscape-scale. We can all take individual actions to help our own gardens and local wildlife adapt to climate change. 

With more unpredictable weather patterns, our region will face increased surface water flooding in winter and greater drought and wildfire risks in summer. As average temperatures rise, wildlife needs routes to reach cooler areas. The climate will continue to shift for a long time to come, and we need to find a way to live with these changes. Taking adaptation actions can help limit or avoid the negative effects of climate change. Many options in this blog are NbS: simply meaning actions that harness the power of nature to help us adapt.

Plenty of adaptation actions are simple to carry out, giving you some quick wins. Other options require more time, planning or resources, but can make a big difference and benefit wellbeing and nature. Many of these ideas have been drawn from the excellent Climate Adaptation Toolkit created by the Adapting the Levels partnership project. Our thanks for their permission to reproduce parts. Do download the full guide for even more ideas. 

1. Let grass grow long – this creates a cooler layer near to the ground, shading insects and protecting the soil from drying out. Grass lawns do soak up carbon dioxide, but the energy expended by mowing, fertiliser use and watering can mean lawns produce more carbon than they soak up. So, wait longer between cuts, ditch the fertiliser, leaving grass clippings to rot into the soil as a natural alternative, and hands off the hose in summer!  For more ideas for a wildlife-friendly lawn, download the new Wild About Lawns guide from The Wildlife Trusts and RHS.

2. Install water butts - Maintaining a source of water for gardens during hotter, drier summers will be important to keep plants healthy and support wildlife. Installing water butts under drainpipes on buildings will collect and store water year-round. This can be used to water gardens during dry spells, reducing pressure on mains supplies, and to fill shallow dishes for wildlife to drink from.

3. Create a rain garden - Water butt overspills can be connected to rain gardens. A rain garden is a shallow depression with absorbent yet free draining soil and is planted with vegetation that can withstand occasional temporary flooding. This takes pressure off drainage networks and reduces surface runoff. It also filters and cleans runoff water. Learn more about rain gardens: www.raingardens.info

4. Grow peat-free – Peat is a popular growing medium but digging it up for compost is releasing huge quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Peat should be in bogs not bags! Play your part by choosing peat-free compost, coir, making your own compost or bagging the local council’s soil improver. Get more advice at How to go peat free at home

5. Choose drought-resistant planting – not only will these plants require less watering in summer, but they can often cope with a heavy downpour so the wetter winters we are experiencing shouldn’t trouble them too much. They’ll provide food and shelter for wildlife year-round. Consider clover or chamomile instead of grass for a lawn.

6. Plant native trees and hedges in your garden - Hedges can reduce pollution and improve air quality, slow the flow of rainwater which can help with flood management, provide shelter for wildlife, and help regulate temperature through shading and cooling. Encourage native shrubs such as hawthorn, blackthorn and holly, which provide habitat and food for insects and birds throughout the year. Your garden is an important stop on the wildlife highway, enabling animals to migrate to new areas as climate change forces them to seek new homes.

7. Create ‘green walls’ to insulate and cool buildings. Training climbing plants up external walls, particularly those that are south facing, can help to insulate properties. This will help keep them cool during hot weather and prevent heat loss in the winter. In addition, this can provide important habitat and food sources for wildlife and can act as a refuge during heatwaves. More information: Ivy-clad walls keep homes cool during summer, RHS research shows

8. Reduce your food waste – the largest amount of food waste comes from our homes. This means a lot of energy was wasted and thus unnecessary carbon was emitted in growing, feeding, harvesting and transporting that food. Try meal planning, freezing leftovers and learning how to store food for longevity. You may even like to start growing your own to really reduce food miles! Get some top tips from our own Becca Badger: Wildlife Gardening for Beginners: Growing Your Own

9. Air dry your laundry – get some solar and wind power in on the action and ditch the tumble dryer on bright days. Line drying your clothing means that you’re saving the energy the machine would have used and air drying is gentler on our garments, helping them last longer.

10. Go on a litter pick - Litter can increase the risk of wildfires. Glass bottles left in the sun can act like a magnifying glass, setting fire to dry grass. To reduce this risk, combine litter picking with a local information campaign to raise awareness of wildfires and their causes.

11. Don’t use disposable BBQs - People are responsible for almost all wildfires, and disposable BBQs are one of the worst offenders. In addition to the fire risk they pose, they create waste and are not reusable. To reduce the likelihood of disposable BBQs starting fires, and to prevent the waste they create, communities could ask local shops to remove these products from sale, or campaign for a ban on their use. Read more about: The Danger of Peatland Fires

1. Public greenspaces can be redesigned to capture stormwater whilst still providing space for recreation and nature. Water storage, rain gardens and drought-resistant planting can all be upscaled from the quick wins above.

2. Install a heat pump in your home or community buildings. Heat pump technology is becoming more popular for heating buildings. But, unlike traditional boilers, some heat pumps can also cool buildings during hot weather. As well as making living spaces more comfortable and reducing the risk of heat-related illness, heat pumps are more environmentally friendly and could reduce your energy bills. More information about heat pumps: which.co.uk/reviews/ground-and-air-source-heat-pumps/

3. Plant street trees. Trees reduce temperatures in towns and cities, providing shade and refuge for people and wildlife. They can minimise the effects of heatwaves on vulnerable residents, businesses and infrastructure. Trees also reduce flooding risk by taking up water through their roots, as well as capturing and holding rainwater in their leaves and boughs. Planting trees around a community has also been shown to slow down drivers and increase the time people spend in local businesses. Remember to contact the landowner and ask for permission. There’s lots more information about planting street trees and their benefits at www.cityoftrees.org.uk   

4. Install external shuttering on windows - Windows let in a lot of warmth from the sun and covering them during extreme heat helps prevent buildings from overheating. Shutting curtains helps, but only reduces temperatures slightly. Fitting windows with external shutters that can be closed during heatwaves is a much more effective way to keep homes cooler. Shutters are common in areas with hotter weather, such as the Mediterranean.

We hope these ideas have inspired you to make some changes to benefit you and local wildlife. Even if you’re starting small, let us know how you’re adapting your home and garden in the face of climate change, and what’s working for you.