GREEN spaces should be more biodiverse says a town councillor who met with an expert for advise on how to boost wildlife in Bradford on Avon.

As Bradford on Avon town council has taken on more green spaces, discussions have been held on implementing schemes which encourage biodiversity, through consideration of planting, conservation and re-wilding projects.

Councillor Alex Kay met with Fergus Beeley, a former BBC producer of wildlife films including Planet Earth to further discuss what changes could be made in the town, as well as what individuals can do to boost wildlife and pollinators in their own gardens.

Mr Beeley explained that if everyone put aside 10 per cent of their garden and let it regenerate itself naturally, it would have a huge positive impact on increasing both the numbers and the range of wildlife species, who’s natural ecosystem has been severely impacted by traditional gardening methods.

He said: "It’s very encouraging to see some councils taking an immediate initiative on this matter.

"The State of Nature report published two years ago highlighted the loss of biodiversity in Britain as a real crisis.”

Cllr Kay said: "Visiting Fergus was very inspiring in showing just how much you can do to increase biodiversity in your own garden, even if it is very small.

"He showed how keeping piles of garden waste but not compost, in a hidden corner makes a safe haven for hedgehogs, toads and all kinds of other creatures, many of which will come out to eat up slugs and snails.

"Leaving areas un-mowed and un-sowed and letting nature take its course is a very useful message too.

"For me, personally, I felt encouraged to leave some corners of my garden that I previously thought of as untidy.

"The different links in the food chain are so complex, that preferring one plant or animal over another may have a huge and negative impact. Even stinging nettles provide important food for many caterpillars and hence butterflies.

"As a town council, I hope we can embrace many of the concepts of enhancing biodiversity in our green spaces and encourage others to do so too.”

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If you want some inspiration… a walk along the Bradford on Avon stretch of the Kennet and Avon canal, where wild plants are thriving, will show you very quickly just how many insects are enjoying the bounty as compared to more ‘controlled’ areas.