RSPB aims to tackle housing crisis with plans to build one million homes in the UK

RSPB aims to tackle housing crisis with plans to build one million homes in the UK

The RSPB has today (20 June 2013) launched a campaign to help tackle the housing crisis facing the UK’s threatened wildlife. Giving Nature a Home will urge the nation to provide a place for wildlife in their own gardens and outside spaces.

The charity hopes to inspire people in Greater Manchester to help towards creating a million new homes for nature across the UK.

The launch of the campaign comes a month after 25 wildlife organisations, including the RSPB, released the groundbreaking State of Nature report revealing 60 per cent of the wildlife species studied have declined over recent decades.

Many garden favourites in Greater Manchester were among the creatures shown to be in serious trouble including starlings, hedgehogs, some butterflies and ladybirds. All are in danger of further declines unless more is done to provide better habitats.

Getting individuals and families from Greater Manchester to act for nature in their own gardens is the first part of a package of actions that the RSPB is launching in response to the State of Nature. Over the course of the next few months, the charity will be outlining what businesses, communities and politicians in the county can do, as well as detailing the RSPB's own plans for saving nature.

Amanda Miller, RSPB Conservation Manager for Northern England, says: “Nature in the UK is in trouble and some of our more familiar garden species are amongst those suffering serious declines. Greater Manchester gardens provide a valuable lifeline for species like starlings, toads, hedgehogs and butterflies, which are struggling to find homes in the wider countryside.

“Although the overall problem is huge, the solution can start on a small scale, right on our doorsteps. It doesn’t matter what sort of garden you have, what size it is, or even if you have no garden at all, we need everyone to help by turning their outside space into a wildlife haven.

“The more people that get involved in our Giving Nature a Home campaign the better. Our aim is to provide one million homes for nature across the UK, because if there’s no home for nature, then there’s no nature – it really is that serious.”

TV homes expert, Linda Barker, is one of the famous faces supporting the campaign. She said: “I’m getting behind the RSPB’s campaign because, to me, having wildlife in your garden is the perfect finishing touch to any home. Planting wild flowers, digging a pond or creating a log pile for bugs is not just a good way of getting creative and making your garden more attractive, but it will also benefit threatened garden wildlife at the same time. Individual actions will make a difference and start to help tackle the lack of habitats for some of our wild creatures. In my garden I’ve put up a nest box for birds and planted nectar-rich flowers to attract bees. If everyone can do just one thing and gave nature a home in their outside space it would be amazing - together we can make a big difference.”

Over the coming months Dove Stone – managed by the RSPB and United Utilities - will be running a series of events and activities linked to Giving Nature a Home. For more information visit: www.rspb.org.uk/dovestone.

The Giving Nature a Home website will give everyone access to expert advice about helping nature in any outside space - whether it’s a huge garden or a small planting tub on balcony - at www.rspb.org.uk/homes

By visiting this website people can get their free Giving Nature a Home starter guide, help populate a map by telling the charity when and where they’ve given nature a home, and share pictures, tips and ideas with others. You can also find out more about what the RSPB is doing to give nature a home in the wider countryside.