Simple things you can do to improve the environment for ourselves and neighbours

It seems that every aspect of our modern lives is blighted by something or other. Our air and waterways are polluted a wide variety of noxious substances and materials, and industrialisation and transport have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide which seems to be contributing to a general warming of our planet.

One of the worst effects of human impact on the world is the extinction of other species as well as the diminishing and, indeed, disappearance of whole natural environments . We can save an animal from extinction and put it in a zoo, but without a habitat, where has it to go other than to what amounts to a prison?

Things look grim but we can act to improve the surroundings for ourselves and our neighbours. These are just a few suggestions.

Air pollution

• Whatever kind of car you own, use it as little as possible.

• Never have open bonfires near where other people live and work. There are very many toxic compounds known to be present in smoke from burning wood and garden waste.

• If you have awood burner,fita catalytic converter. Wood burners give out toxic particulates and their effect on air inside is even worse than that outside.

• Think twice before having a barbeque if you are near to your neighbours.

• If you live on a busy road, plant a hedge and allow it to grow tall in front of your house. The hedge will absorb a huge amount of pollution from traffic and prevent it from entering your property.

WaterPollution

• Conserve water by turning off unnecessarily running taps and try to use watering cans instead of hosepipes and sprinklers.

• Saveguard our sewerage system by not pouring contaminated materials and noxious substances down thedrain. Takediscarded medicines to the pharmacy for disposal.

• Do not pour fat and oil down the drain. Put it into absorbent paper and into the waste bin.

Nature

• Make holes in the bottom of fences so that small animals can move from garden to garden for them to widen their area for food foraging.

• Do not use broad range weed killers and try more natural methods for controlling pests.

• If it is essential to use a pesticide, make sure that no domestic or wild animals can contact the toxin.

• Remember that many animals eat slugs, especially hedgehogs and birds, so don’t use slug pellets. If you do you might kill our treasured wildlife. In any case, only a few species of slug will eat your garden plants. Most feed on decaying detritus

• Don’t kill insects and spiders without careful thought. They are declining dramatically and are at the base of the food web for many animals. Many keep your garden free of pests (even wasps in early summer do this).

• Don’tbe too tidy in the garden and leave unkempt areas if possible.

• Leave some of your lawn unmown so that wild plants can flower and set seed.

• Put food waste into onto a bird table and/ into a compost bin.