Why are we doing it?

We are all aware of the alarming decline in wildlife across the UK. We have lost a devastating number of insects, birds, small mammals and amphibians, and the main cause is the loss of suitable habitat, including places to forage, nest and breed.

Gardens are one of the keys to recovery. Around 87% of UK households have a garden and, according to The Wildlife Trusts, together these cover a larger area than all our nature reserves combined. But gardens alone are not enough. Wildlife needs to be able to move between them, which is why we also work on connecting green spaces, grasslands and waterways. By making small changes in our gardens, farmland and community spaces, we can give a vital boost to wildlife in our beautiful valley and beyond, while building resilience against our changing climate.

What are we doing?

• Connecting habitats: We seek to link gardens, community spaces and local landscapes to create corridors where wildlife can move, adapt and thrive.

• Summerground Nature Reserve: We helped establish Summerground, our first dedicated community nature reserve, providing a permanent sanctuary for local biodiversity.

• The Meadows Project: Working with the Cotswold National Landscape team, our meadows sub-group restores and manages local grasslands for native wildflowers and diverse wildlife.

• Riparian buffers: We are developing a strategic plan for buffer zones along the river to protect water quality, reduce erosion and create thriving riverside habitat.

• Tree propagation: This autumn we are collecting seed from local trees with the help of the local preschool and Scouts, and growing them on. Trees grown from local seed are well suited to our valley's soils and climate, and the young trees will be used to create new habitat and strengthen the links between existing green spaces.

Where are we doing it?

Across Limpley Stoke and Freshford and the wider area, in gardens, meadows, community spaces and along the river.

• Summerground Nature Reserve, our dedicated community reserve.

• Local meadows and grasslands, managed with the Cotswold National Landscape team.

• The river corridor, where we are planning riparian buffers.

• Our small tree nursery, below the Galleries shop, where a small area of land, kindly lent to us, will be home to our young trees until they are ready to be planted out.

• King George V playing field, our local park, where we helped the parish council put the plan in place to create mixed habitat: leaving some areas wilder and planting for pollinators, birds and other wildlife, while still letting children and adults enjoy the space.

Get involved

Whether you have a large acreage, a garden or a window box, there's a place for you in the chain. Get in touch to find out how to join us.