The most recent Nature and Biodiversity (N&B) project is focusing on gardening for soil health. Aylsham has a strong gardening community that we want to capitalise on and share everyone’s expertise in promoting in soil healthy gardening.
Gardens are important in the battle against climate change, as there are over 10 million acres of gardens in Britain, which is larger than all of Britain’s nature reserves combined. Soil health is important as soils store more carbon than the atmosphere, and all the world’s plants and forests combined. So, gardening for soil health is a way of everyone making a difference in their own back yard.
Over the years, the loss of hedgerows and margins on farmland and reliance on pesticides and herbicides has reduced biodiversity across our countryside and towns. Extra building in Aylsham further increases pressure on the natural world in our town.
The ACE Nature and Biodiversity group are members of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Wilder Communities Network, which draws together many biodiversity and conservation groups across Norfolk, including Greening Wyndham, the Ryburgh Wildlife Group, the South Yare Wildlife Group, the Felbreck Trust, and Cromer Green Spaces Group, some of which already have successful gardening projects.
Initially hoping to work with existing gardening groups in Aylsham, such as Inspired Gardeners, Aylsham in Bloom, U3A Gardening Group, allotment Groups, and anyone else that would like to be involved. The N&B group hope to promote gardening conversations across gardening groups and the wider community in Alsham, to build on existing expertise and good practice. We will be posting ideas and information about gardening for soil health and nature on our ACE website and social media sites.
If you are interested in joining us please email Yvonne Stewart.
