Use ‘No-Dig’ practices on an allotment or garden
No-dig gardening avoids disturbing the soil, helping to lock in carbon, protect soil structure, and promote biodiversity underground. It’s a method that mimics natural ecosystems and reduces weeding too.
How to take part:
- Create a no-dig bed by laying cardboard over grass or weedy ground, then piling compost or well-rotted manure on top.
- Don’t dig or turn the soil - worms and soil organisms will do the work of mixing layers naturally.
- Mulch beds with organic matter like compost or leaf mould once or twice a year to keep feeding the soil.
- Plant directly into the surface using a dibber or trowel to make space for seeds and young plants.
Why it matters:
Digging can release carbon stored in the soil and damage the delicate fungal and microbial networks that support plant health. No-dig gardening helps retain soil carbon, reduce erosion, and support underground biodiversity, while also cutting back on physical effort.
Grow/tend plants with fruits for wildlife (e.g. apples or berries)
Fruits like apples, blackberries, and currants are as valuable to wildlife as they are to us. Their flowers feed pollinators, and their fruit provides natural food through the seasons, especially important for birds and insects in late summer and autumn.
How to take part:
- Plant shrubs and trees such as apples, pears, blackberries, elder, or hawthorn.
- Let some fruit fall or remain unpicked in autumn to support birds, insects and mammals.
- Choose native or wildlife-friendly varieties that flower and fruit at different times to provide food over a longer season.
- Avoid using chemical sprays which can harm pollinators and soil life.
Why it matters:
Fruit-bearing plants provide nectar for bees and butterflies, shelter for small animals, and nutritious food for birds through the colder months. Even a few pots or a small bed of berries can make a difference in a wildlife-friendly garden.
Start or Join a Food Growing Collective
Not everyone has time, space, or confidence to grow food on their own. Joining or forming a group to grow food together spreads the responsibility and opens up learning and social connections.
How to take part:
- Look for local community garden projects or allotment associations and see if they’re accepting members or volunteers.
- Start a mini collective with neighbours, friends, or family members and share growing space, tools, and harvests.
- Split tasks and share knowledge - some people might focus on composting, while others enjoy sowing or harvesting.
- Swap seeds, seedlings, and produce to increase variety and reduce waste.
Why it matters:
Community growing reduces pressure on individuals, builds resilience, and fosters a sense of connection to nature and neighbours alike. It can also reduce food miles and increase access to fresh, seasonal produce, all while making space for wildlife-friendly practices.
Start or tend to an eco-friendly allotment
Allotments offer a brilliant opportunity to grow your own — especially if your home garden is too shady, paved, or compact. Managing an allotment in harmony with nature means avoiding harmful chemicals and supporting biodiversity wherever possible.
How to take part:
- Grow organically - avoid pesticides and synthetic fertilisers.
- Go peat-free by using peat-free compost and making your own with food and garden waste.
- Plant a mix of crops and wildlife-friendly plants, including a healthy mix of annuals, perennials, herbs, flowers, and fruit trees.
- Leave some ‘wild corners’, with nettles, log piles, or long grass to shelter wildlife.
- Add a water source, like a buried bucket pond or small trough, to support frogs, birds, and insects.
- Rotate crops and add compost to maintain healthy soil and discourage pests naturally.
Why it matters:
Eco-friendly allotments don’t just grow food, they grow ecosystems. By avoiding chemicals and making space for nature, you help sustain pollinators, soil organisms, and local wildlife that benefit everyone in the allotment community.