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BIODIVERSITY DIARY: urban oasis challenge

<<Sustainable gardening and supporting biodiversity feature high in many of our members' priorities. Climate Action Newcastle member Chris is sharing his personal project through this new regular blog - he’ll welcome your tips, ideas and questions to help him along the way!>>


My Urban Oasis



There are myriad ways for each of us to improve our ecological impacts – cutting out animal products; reducing consumption (especially plastics); ethical banking; being mindful about how we commute. Although they’re all extremely important, a downside is that most of us see only the downside: the hassle of changing banks, extra time to take the bus, expense of non-dairy milk alternatives and so on.


I tried to come up with positive actions that I could take which are less distant or abstract. I wanted them to be directly rewarding, with benefits at a local level and - most of all - something I’ll realistically be able to complete!


My thinking turned to ways to maintain and increase local biodiversity. I’ve not paid much thought to this in the past – I’m the not-so-proud owner of an Astroturf “lawn”. And I’m not particularly green fingered, so at the outset had very little clue on the best course of action. However, an allotment plot came available close to my home, and my wife Charlie and I at last had a great opportunity to do … ’something’!


Charlie transformed 90% of it in 2022, introducing a whole variety of fruits and vegetables. The remaining 10% is my biodiversity oasis project for 2023! It’s a small patch right at the bottom end, hidden behind the shed. It’s not particularly practical for access.


My Biodiversity Oasis project diary below charts what I decided to do - the latest post appears at the top. Below that is the diary from the start, just click on the symbols on the left to join my world, share the pain, enjoy the pleasure! Feel free to share my learning! - what works, what doesn't, and what you think might work better!! Comments very welcome, please add below the blog.


LATEST POST: SPRING 2023 - QUICK UPDATES!


A very quick update here, but I wanted to share a little bit of progress - we are now the proud owners of a cherry bush! It's called a Porthos - which I'm sure is very much on-trend :)


In preparation I dug out a trough, a couple of meters running parallel with the fence, adding some appropriate fertiliser - I have been assured that this is the best thing to do as we train the bush to grow in that direction, rather than where the pond will be.






We also have a few shoots springing up here, I have no idea what this is but I'm going to see how this bit of greenery pans out!

If you do know what I've got on the way, please leave a comment!







 

Previous Posts - click arrow to read!

October 2022 – Making a start

Late October 2022 - some small progress!

November 2022 - SOR (Save Our Raspberries)

Winter 2022 - Preparations

 

***More stories on gardening, composting, food sharing from our Climate Action Newcastle members can be read here.

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