Wilder communities hard at work

Wilder Communities Officer Anona Dawson highlights how, despite global challenges, people across Dorset are coming together to improve local green spaces for wildlife and wellbeing. From wildlife-rich gardens in Upton to a restored community pond in Charlton Down, a reclaimed field in Pimperne, and greener urban spaces in Poole and local libraries, communities are creating havens for nature in both expected and unexpected places. These small but meaningful actions show how collective effort can inspire hope and help Dorset’s wildlife thrive.

As environmentalists, we know the world is changing fast and that communities need to come together, rethink how we live, and share resources if we’re to build a sustainable future in the face of escalating challenges. As Sir David Attenborough reminds us, “We now have a few short years during which we can still make a choice. Where just enough remains of the natural world for it to recover. This starts and ends with us.”

Our Wilder Communities team are undeterred, encouraging people all over Dorset to join together within their communities, singly or collaboratively and make a difference by improving their local green spaces for wildlife and for themselves.

Sarah-Jane is a gardener in Upton, Dorset who opened her garden over the summer as part of Wild Upton event. She has worked tirelessly creating habitats for dragonflies, bees, butterflies and other insects as well as creating much needed habitats and accessways for hedgehogs, by providing them with safe and accessible foraging.

Also in Upton, Sue and Paul have created a haven for wildlife, starting from an ordinary patch of lawn supporting minimal wildlife. Their garden is now teaming with ponds, pollinator plants, bird and bat boxes and wildflower patches.

A community in Charlton Down has completely re-sculpted a pond in their nature area which had become silted and unloved. It is now safer, with a more wildlife-friendly profile and a new butyl liner and boggy area. The pond is still settling in, and it is hoped that people will keep their dogs away from the water to prevent contamination from insecticides.

Chaser and emerald dragonflies, shield bugs, ringlet butterflies and metallic green swollen-thighed beetles fill the air around the pond and amongst the vegetation which has been allowed to grow tall for the first time around the edge of the pond.

Pimperne Parish Council were given a field under covenant on a 50-year lease. The field, once part of the former village school, is now saved from development. We helped them with their open event, welcoming ideas from the community who wanted to make space for wildlife and for them to enjoy the peace that nature can bring to us all. Cllr Strange, Pimperne Parish Council, said: “Our vision is to provide a space for our villagers to enjoy for years to come and increase the provision for nature and wildlife." The community have already started creating small pocket woodlands in the field, with saplings gifted by The Woodland Trust.

Positive actions for nature are taking place in areas where you least expect it. A grass verge between a busy main road in the centre of Poole and a popular local restaurant is a haven for wildlife. The restaurant owners planted the garden themselves and take pride in tending it and keeping it clear of litter in this busy urban environment. Their spirits are undeterred in the face of occasional random acts of vandalism, replanting and repairing in a space that brings them and passersby so much joy.

We have been working with Poole BID to make their three tier planters more sustainable, replacing bedding plants with perennials. Three cluster groups were planted along Poole Quay, with the help of Bournemouth and Poole College students in the spring and came into full bloom throughout the summer, proudly showing off our wildlife-friendly spaces award.

Green Library Week, held every October, is a national event where libraries lead climate and sustainability initiatives for their communities. Many libraries throughout Dorset take part in this hugely positive initiative and we were excited to support six of them with our wildlife-friendly space exhibition during this week long celebration. We attended a morning event for young people at Corfe Mullen Library and were able to award this and five other libraries one of our Wildlife-Friendly Space awards.

Perhaps in some ways, all we can do in these difficult times are the small things for nature that make us individually happy and then voice these actions, inspiring others to do the same. Nature needs us to be vocal, brave and to speak up on its behalf. Find out more here.