Go Green for World Environment Day
02 June 2009
Green gardeners have a carbon footprint a third smaller than regular gardeners, which is why Carrickfergus Borough Council is urging more of us to ‘go green’ in the garden for UN World Environment Day (Friday 5 June).
Adopting a ‘Green approach’ to the way we garden could massively contribute to protecting the planet for generations to come. On Friday 5th June, the Council hopes more of us will look at how we can be greener in our gardens, for the sake of the environment and the biodiversity of plants and animals.
Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer with Carrickfergus Borough Council said "On UN World Environment Day, we hope to inspire people to go green in the garden and in doing so, we hope to raise awareness of how growing and gardening in a green way can help to protect our planet.”
This year’s Carrickfergus in Bloom theme is ‘Blooming Wild’. Blooming Wild! is a campaign to encourage people ‘to go green and do one more thing for wildlife’ in their gardens. The campaign recognises that our local wildlife habitats are increasingly under threat and that every garden, big or small, is a potential mini nature reserve. From small simple changes such as putting up a nest box to larger projects such as building a wildlife pond - any action taken will benefit local garden wildlife. The Blooming Wild! Campaign wants to increase local knowledge of the issues relating to biodiversity and sustainability within the Borough and we have a number of initiatives that will help individual householders to ‘do one more thing’ for wildlife.
Top ten tips to ‘go green’ in the garden for UN World Environment Day:
1. Don't just go green in the garden, go organic. If you really want to reduce your garden footprint then manage your green space in an organically sustainable way.
2. Grow your own food. Plots, to pots to planters - anything will do, just have a go at growing something edible! Lettuce, radish and runner beans are good for beginners.
3. Ditch the weed killer. Weed Killer is made of chemicals harmful to humans, animals and aquatic life. Once sprayed it enters the water table and can take years to disappear. Pull weeds out by hand instead - it may take longer, but at least your conscience will be clean.
4. Don't be too tidy. It may seem odd, but by tidying up every nook and cranny you can deprive insects, such as bumblebees, of valuable habitats, meaning they won't work for your garden the way you want them to. Leave a few areas of the garden to their own devices and your plants will be healthier for it.
5. Build a pond. Not one with goldfish, but just a small body of water will invite frogs, newts and all sorts of other useful aquatic life that will contribute to the diversity of your garden.
6. Fill your garden with insect friendly plants. The more your garden buzzes, the greener it is. So bring the buzz back by ensuring you have a good variety of plants and flowers that appeal to beneficial insects such as bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Scabious, chives, poached egg plant and fox gloves work a treat and are beautiful too.
7. Reuse and recycle. Before going out to buy new tools and accessories for the garden, have a look to see what you've already got lurking around. Gardening tools haven't changed much in the last 100 years, so the old ones you've already got will more than likely do the job .You can also pick up old tools in house clearances.
8. Get a water butt. Reduce the drain on tap water by feeding your plants with rainwater collected in a water butt instead. It's a great way to avoid the hosepipe during the hottest summer spells and rainwater is better for plants.
9. Save your seed. A great way to save money and to cut your carbon footprint is to save seed rather than buying it. If you've a variety of wonderful plants and vegetables that you'd be happy to welcome back next year then let them go to seed, collect the seed in September and sow it again next year.
10. Get composting. One of the best ways to be greener in the garden is to make your own compost. Not only does composting reduce the waste sent to landfill, but also the number of trips you make to the garden centre to pick up bags of compost! Home compost is rich and nutritious and far better than anything you can buy in bags. By making your own compost rather than buying the peat-based commercial version you are helping to conserve peatlands - a very rare habitat in Northern Ireland. Carrickfergus Borough Council sells Composting Bins for £15 each, for further information contact our Sullatober Depot on 93351192.
For further information and loads of ‘Blooming Wild’ tips visit the Carrickfergus in Bloom website at www.carrickfergusinbloom.org
For further information please contact:
Stephen Daye, Parks & Countryside Development Officer.
Telephone: 02893358039
E-Mail: greenspace@carrickfergus.org
Web: http://www.carrickfergusinbloom.org/bloomingwild.htm
