Re-wild your wellies!

Spring has sprung! Everything is starting to get greener and more colourful which always puts a big smile on my face. It also means that we might start to see more wildlife appearing in parks, our gardens and even unlikely urban places. We may not realise but this wildlife, even the smallest creatures, have such an important role to play; they are going to pollinate our food and flowers, create and improve our soil, provide food and habitat for larger creatures and more! We really do need them and there is lots we can do to support and encourage wildlife in the city.

So I am very happy to be working with RSPB Cymru this month on their Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff project. Everyone can get involved in the events and activities or even take part at home so find out what’s going on here…

To celebrate the launch of Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff schools and community groups across the city are being invited to Re-wild their Wellies! and plant-out record numbers of old wellingtons for wildlife. Re-wild your Wellies! events will be taking place across Cardiff 11 - 12 April. All you need to do is bring along an old welly! You can also find us on the Millenium walk, near Bute Park on Thursday 16th April from 1pm planting out wellies and making wildflower seed bombs with Green City!

For anyone re-wilding their wellies independently find tips on how to attract bees and birds to your wellies with our Welly Wisdoms @rspbcymru and facebook.com/rspbcymru and tweet your Welfies (images of you re-wilding your wellies!) to @rspbcymru, using #wildcardiff

Celebratory activities will continue at the RHS Flower Show Cardiff in Bute Park from 17 – 19 April where we’ll be building a Giant Bug Hotel for a school or community group to win. To win the bug hotel, schools and community groups can simply tweet a photo of them ‘Giving Nature a Home’ to @rspbcymru using #wildcardiff. The most inspiring entry will win the bug home for their school ground or community space, including delivery.

By taking small steps for nature, people across Cardiff can make a huge difference. The ground-breaking State of Nature Report, produced by the RSPB and 25 wildlife organisations revealed that much of the UK’s urban wildlife is in trouble and needs our help – with around 60% of bees, birds, bugs and mammals in decline. This alongside findings that children are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature; notably in Wales where only 1 in 8 children have a meaningful connection with nature.

For more information about Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff and the launch of this exciting new project follow @rspbcymru, facebook.com/rspbcymru or www.rspb.org.uk/community.