Front Gardens for Wildlife with Sarah Skeels

Britain is a nation of nature lovers, yet we live in one of the most depleted countries in Europe. The State of Nature report that came out in 2023 stated that 1 in 6 species in the UK are at risk of extinction.These kinds of stats are staggering, and more than a little depressing. But this is something that we can all do something about, in our own gardens, or in communal green spaces.In this weeks episode, I'm chatting to Sarah Skeels, who I first came across via her wonderful instagram account @frontgardens.forwildlife.What Sarah is doing is incredible, and her I love her focus on front gardens, recognising that sparking conversations and spreading the word is a vital part of helping nature recovery. And it's also bought a huge amount of connection to her neighbours, and a whole load of joy!If you're inspired by Sarah, she shares how she got started, in her own garden, then a street What's App group, and then on from there. So we can all start small, with a simple sign in our front gardens!Useful links:Front Gardens for Wildlife on InstagramLambridge and Walcot Community Nature HavenNational Security Assessment - Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national securityState of Nature Report 2023Miles Richardson - Derby university- The Nature Connection handbookBiodiversity stripesNew RSPB guidance on feeding birdsTeam Wilder - Somerset Wildlife TrustThe Wildlife TrustsMerlin Bird ID appiNaturalist appBLUE campaignThe Sustainable(ish) Clubhouse -doors will be opening in June!

Welcome to Episode 200!200 episodes feels a little bit mad! A LOT has happened: globally, in the sustainability space, and for Sustainable(ish).In this solo episode, I take a little trip down memory lane, share the Top 5 episodes by download numbers, and share your podcast ripples ie the things that you've gone and done, the changes you've made, after listening to an episode.I'm going to be having a break for a couple of weeks, but in the meantime I will republish some of the episodes that are mentioned in this one, as having inspired action! LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:The Sustainable(ish) Living GuideAvailable at online bookstores - my fave is World of Books(or ask your library if they have a copy, or can get one in!)The Sustainable(ish) Guide to Green ParentingSustainable(ish) Festival - links to all the sessions on You TubeCarbon Literacy info and waiting list - there's a box at the bottom of the page to sign up to the waiting list, and I'll be in touch when I've got some dates in the diaryThe Sustainable(ish) Clubhouse -doors will be opening in June!Sign up to the waiting list hereTop 5 podcast episodes by downloads:1) [164] Your Council and Climate Action with Annie Pickering from Climate Emergency UK2) [138] How much difference can individuals actually make with Tom from Take The Jump3) [124] The Day the World Stops Shopping with JB McKinnon (the book of the same name is here on World of Books)4) [134] How eating seasonally can help reduce your carbon footprint with Veg Power5) [137] Wildflower meadows and how to create (a mini!) one in your garden with Paul Jupp from Meadow in My GardenSustainable(ish) on Podlink - a great space to find all the episodes in one place, with links out to all the popular podcast platforms so you can listen.The Nothing New in '22 podcast (episode 126) that inspired Sam to set up her Swap ShopsThe original podcast episode with Tillie at Frome Eco Party Kit (epsiode 38) that inspired Isabel to set up the Party Kit Network

Did you know we have lots 97% of our species rich graslands in the UK since the 1930s? This has had a huge knock on impact to the rest of the food chain that are relaint on that habitat, things like our insect pollinators especially, but also our birds and mammals that were part of this ecosystem.The good news is that this is something most of us can do something about! If you have a garden, or have local green spaces, we can use them to recreate some of that lost speices rich grassland, and you don't need masses of space to be able to do it.AND this is one of those very rare things - a sustainability action that actually requires LESS effort than the status quo, because to make it happen, we're being asked to mow LESS!In today's episode I'm chatting to Sarah Shuttleworth, Specialist Botanical Advisor at Plantlife, all about their No Mow May campaign, and how we can all get involved, even if we don't have a garden, and/or the rest of the family aren't keen on having an entirely unmown lawn for the whole of the summer!Have a listen, and then head over to the Plantlife website to sign up to take the No Mow May pledge . There are links to all of the fab No Mow May resources on the Plantlife website, including things like downloadable signs you can print out to let the neighbours know what you're doing!Sarah ShuttleworthA bee orchid - Sarah's favourite plant! LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:Plantlife- Website- Facebook- Instagram- You TubeNo Mow May- Take the No Mow May pledge- The No Mow Movement calendar- Free downloads: posters, lawn signs, colouring sheets, social media posts- The Good Verge Guide (for local authorities)- Managing grassland road verges (for local authorities)Sarah Shuttleworth- Linked InSeek - plant ID appNational Education Nature Park (for schools)[137] Wildlflower meadows and how to make (a mini) one in your garden! With Paul Jupp (podcast episode) Sustainable(ish) Clubhouse - doors opening again soon!Carbon Literacy- Carbon Literacy with me!

Pets can bring a huge amount of joy into our lives, but as with everything, they have an environmental impact, and in this episode we're going to dive into where that impact comes from and what we can do to reduce it.Now I'm very aware that 'sustainability' can sometimes look like being told that all of the things that you love doing, or having, are bad, and that to be truly 'sustainable' you have to stop doing all those things, and suck all the joy and happiness out of your life.That is absolutely not the case, and it's absolutely not the case for pets. This episode isn't about not having pets, it's about (as I hope all the episodes are!) understanding where the impacts are, and making 'better choices more of the time'. I've got a dog, she adds to our family's carbon footprint, but she also brings a huge amount of joy, and she gets me outside every single day.I really hope you enjoy this chat with the brilliant Laura Binnie, who is a small animal vet based in Cumbria who has been at the forefront of the sustainability movement in the veterinary profession. It's packed with hints and tips, I've summarised them all in a blog post which I've linked to in the show notes, so hopefully you'll feel more informed about the things you can do to reduce your pets carbon pawprint - enjoy!Laura Binnie LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:Laura Binnie- Linked InVet Sustain[027] - The worlds most sustainable pet food? With Tom Neish from YoraThe evidence for environmental contamination with parasiticides in small animal practice - Vet Sustain reviewCanine Parasite Risk Assessment Tool (Vet Sustain) Feline Parasite Risk Assessment Tool (Vet Sustain)Pet Impact recycled poo bags- Poo bags 101Blog post: How to reduce your pet's carbon pawprintSustainable(ish) Clubhouse - doors opening again soon!Carbon Literacy- Carbon Literacy with me!

This is Part 2, or a 'double header' episode with the brilliant Sara Grimes from Bath and West Community Energy. Part 1 is all about community energy, and takes a bit of a dive into solar and heat pumps, as well as things like the governments's Warm Homes Plan (it's honestly more fun than it sounds if you haven't already listened to it!)And this is Part 2, where we talking about all things home retrofit, and looking at some of the less technical , perhaps more affordable options for making our homes more efficient, more comfortable, and cheaper to run.Enjoy! Sara Grimes LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:Sara Grimes- Linked InBath and West Community Energy (BWCE)- Website- Community benefit- BWCE home energy plans and surveys (for people in the Bath area)- Green Heritage Homes- Linked In- Facebook- InstagramCommunity Energy EnglandCommunity Energy ScotlandCommunity Energy WalesCommunity Energy Northern Ireland[112] - Community Energy with Brighton Energy Co-op[135 ] - The local electricity bill with Steve Shaw (lots of community energy chat in this episode!)Green Open Homes networkVisit a Heat PumpWarm Homes Plan- On the UK government website- Which explainer articleFind energy grants for your home (UK gov)Energy grant helpline: 0800 0987950Boiler upgrade scheme (for heat pumps)Find an energy certificate (EPC)Historic England - Energy efficiency and retrofit in historic buildingsHeat GeekEnergy Saving TrustCentre for Sustainable EnergySustainable(ish) Clubhouse - doors opening again soon!Carbon Literacy- Carbon Literacy with me!

This week's episode is the first ever two parter!This was supposed to be an episode on home retrofit, and I'm chatting to SaraG Grimes from Bath and West Community Energy about some of the brilliant work that they're doing, and what people can do in their own homes.This first part is looking bigger picture and is quite a wide ranging chat! We cover community energy generally, as well as hearing about some of the specific projects that BWCE are working on; solar; heat pumps; the UK government's Warm Homes Plan; and support for renters amongst other things.In the second part (available to listen to now!) we look more specifically at home retrofit and some of the lower cost retrofit measures available, like draught proofing and insulation.I'm very aware that both of those potentially sound more than a little dull and dry as podcast episodes, but I really hope that they're interesting and useful! Do let me know!There we go - I did warn you it was quite a wide ranging chat, but I really hope it was interesting and there were some nuggets there that you can take away.Part 2 is much more focussed on home retrofit, and some of the lower tehc, more affordable options, and should be available to listen to now if you want to dive straight in, or save that particular treat for another day!Thanks so much for listening - do let me know any thoughts, comments or questions from this episode, amd I'll catch up in Pt 2Sara Grimes LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:Sara Grimes- Linked InBath and West Community Energy (BWCE)- Website- Community benefit- BWCE home energy plans and surveys (for people in the Bath area)- Green Heritage Homes- Linked In- Facebook- InstagramCommunity Energy EnglandCommunity Energy ScotlandCommunity Energy WalesCommunity Energy Northern Ireland[112] - Community Energy with Brighton Energy Co-op[135 ] - The local electricity bill with Steve Shaw (lots of community energy chat in this episode!)Green Open Homes networkVisit a Heat PumpWarm Homes Plan- On the UK government website- Which explainer articleFind energy grants for your home (UK gov)Energy grant helpline: 0800 0987950Boiler upgrade scheme (for heat pumps)Find an energy certificate (EPC)Historic England - Energy efficiency and retrofit in historic buildingsHeat GeekEnergy Saving TrustCentre for Sustainable EnergySustainable(ish) Clubhouse - doors opening again soon!Carbon Literacy- Carbon Literacy with me!

If you were to google 'how to be more sustainable' you would get a slew of posts sharing 'ten top things to do to cut your carbon footprint' or similar.Very few (if any) mention the huge potential influence that we can all have, by sharing the things that we're doing, talking to other people, voting etc etc.Which is why when I first came across a paper called 'Choices for climate action: a review of the multiple roles individuals play', and it included these very things, I was super excited, and promptly used it as a framework for diving into climate action in my Carbon Literacy courses.I was delighted to be able to dive into this in more detail with one of the paper's authors, Dr Sam Hampton, who is an academic at not one, but two universities, Bath and Oxford! We discuss not only the paper I mention above, but a new paper that has just been published about the role of hairdressers as 'everyday influencers' - a phrase I absolutely love! We are ALL everyday influencers, and our choices matter and shape the decisions of those around us. I find this hugely empowering, and I hope you do too!Sam Hampton LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:Sam Hampton- Website- Linked InChoices for climate action: a review of the multiple roles individuals play[188] - Money, money, money with Lisa Stanley-MannHousehold contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions- This paper says 60%- This paper says 72%Katharine Hayhoe- Saving Us (book)- Katharine on the Sustainababble podcast- TED talkGlobally representative evidence on the actual and perceived support for climate actionExperimental evidence for tipping points in social convention[118] - A beginners guide to COP26 (I reference this episode with Laura on the podcast)Hairdressers as 'everyday influencers' on climate change and sustainability Green Salon Collective[154] - Leading by example, does it work? With Steve WestlakeGreen and Healthy Frome[185] - Is it all b*llocks?Outrage and Optimism podcast episode with Lorraine WhitmarshIpsos Perils of perception studyOxford University Climate Leadership Research CentreLarger Us - Lets Talk Climate projectSustainable(ish) Clubhouse - doors opening again soon!Carbon Literacy- Carbon Literacy with me!Pie chart showing the six domains for individual action on climate change I'd love to hear your thoughts on 'everyday influencers' , and if this episode has helped you to think more broadly about the impact we can all have.Let me know!

If you were to google 'how to be more sustainable' you would get a slew of posts sharing 'ten top things to do to cut your carbon footprint' or similar.Very few (if any) mention the huge potential influence that we can all have, by sharing the things that we're doing, talking to other people, voting etc etc.Which is why when I first came across a paper called 'Choices for climate action: a review of the multiple roles individuals play', and it included these very things, I was super excited, and promptly used it as a framework for diving into climate action in my Carbon Literacy courses.I was delighted to be able to dive into this in more detail with one of the paper's authors, Dr Sam Hampton, who is an academic at not one, but two universities, Bath and Oxford! We discuss not only the paper I mention above, but a new paper that has just been published about the role of hairdressers as 'everyday influencers' - a phrase I absolutely love! We are ALL everyday influencers, and our choices matter and shape the decisions of those around us. I find this hugely empowering, and I hope you do too!Sam Hampton LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:Sam Hampton- Website- Linked InChoices for climate action: a review of the multiple roles individuals play[188] - Money, money, money with Lisa Stanley-MannHousehold contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions- This paper says 60%- This paper says 72%Katharine Hayhoe- Saving Us (book)- Katharine on the Sustainababble podcast- TED talkGlobally representative evidence on the actual and perceived support for climate actionExperimental evidence for tipping points in social convention[118] - A beginners guide to COP26 (I reference this episode with Laura on the podcast)Hairdressers as 'everyday influencers' on climate change and sustainability Green Salon Collective[154] - Leading by example, does it work? With Steve WestlakeGreen and Healthy Frome[185] - Is it all b*llocks?Outrage and Optimism podcast episode with Lorraine WhitmarshIpsos Perils of perception studyOxford University Climate Leadership Research CentreLarger Us - Lets Talk Climate projectSustainable(ish) Clubhouse - doors opening again soon!Carbon Literacy- Carbon Literacy with me!Pie chart showing the six domains for individual action on climate change I'd love to hear your thoughts on 'everyday influencers' , and if this episode has helped you to think more broadly about the impact we can all have.Let me know!

Football and sport don't perhaps at first glance seem like a natural 'in' for climate action. But did you know..?- Over 100,000 grassroots football matches are cancelled every year due to bad weather such as flooding- Over 80% of football fans want are concerned about climate change- 65% of football fans want their clubs to take more climate action It was such a joy to get the opportunity to chat to Katie Cross all about Pledgeball - an award winning sports sustainability charity who do an amazing job of empowering sports fans to take action for climate and nature, often framing it around the idea of 'protecting where we play'.I wouldn't count myself as a football fan, but I took so much inspiration away from this episode and from Katie.  So many clever ways of taking something that people are passionate about and using it as a way in to talk about climate and how it's impacting on that thing that they love, and then harnessing the power of the community that they are already involved in to take action, and to see how their one action contributes to a much greater impact.Even if you're not a football fan, I think there will be lots to take away from this episode - some way to take a little bit of the work that Plegdeball are doing with football, and in sport more widely, and apply it to the communities that you're already a part of. Katie Cross LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:Katie Cross- Linked InPledgeball- Website- Instagram- Linked In- Facebook- You Tube- The Pledgeball podcast- Add your club (or school, or workplace etc)- Sustainable Travel CharterEp 154 - Leading by example - does it matter? With Steve Westlake (podcast ep)David WheelerClimate Outreach- Britain Talks Climate and NatureEFL Green ClubsCarbon Literacy- Carbon Literacy with me!Ep 175 - Climate Play (including Lego Serious Play) - podcast with Lisa HawthorneEp 193 - The power of swapping with Sam Drury ShoreReading FC's kit with the warming stripes on the sleeve I'd love to hear if you get your local club signed up, or get your kids school involved, or start something at work around this - do let me know!

To change the world, you've got to throw a better party than those destroying it". This is a quote from Louisa Ziane at Toast ale, and is one of my faves, and something I try and keep front of mind. 'Sustainability' has an image problem and is very often seem as something that is dull and dry and bleak, and for the keen greenies over there wearing lots of hemp, or for the lone Sustainability Manager at a company.It's not really something we'd bring up in conversation down the pub. Or is it..?Adam Bastock is the founder of People, Planet, Pint - a simple concept of getting like-minded people together 'down the pub' for a chat. From a What's App message at COP26 asking if anyone fancied a pint, People, Planet, Pint now hosts around 80 events every month, in 120 locations around the world! It's such a brilliantly simple idea - one of the things that many of us struggle with is feeling like we're on our own, at the same time perhaps as feeling like the more traditional forms of 'activism' aren't really for us or feel out of our comfort zone. People, Planet, Pint is a great way to connect with other people locally, and to recognise that it's not just you, and that you're not on your own, and who knows what might come of a conversation over a pint (or glass of wine/diet coke/insert other drink choice here!) down the pub. LISTEN... USEFUL LINKS:Adam Bastock- Linked InSmall 99- Small business carbon footprint estimator- Digital emissions calculator- Action Box- Pub mini-game- Linked In People Planet Pint- Find an event- Become a host- Wine Tastings- Linked In- InstagramCarbon Literacy- Carbon Literacy with me!Ep 175 - Climate Play (including Lego Serious Play) - podcast with Lisa HawthorneEp 193 - The power of swapping with Sam Drury ShoreThe People Planet Pint map! Do let me know if you have been to your local People, Planet, Pint event, if you're a host, or if you're now thinking about finding an event local to you, or perhaps even finding out more about hosting!If you've enjoyed this episode, please do leave a rating and a review wherever you listen, and tell all your friends!