Rewild the City

Rewild the City!

Being in nature is good for our health

Spending time in natural places boosts your immune system, reduces stress and improves your mood! There is even research showing spending time in nature can help you focus in school.

Our cities are suffering from a lack of nature. Here are some ways you can help make our cities greener:

Plant Native Seeds

Planting native seeds helps support local wildlife. In Birmingham, some good native plants to consider are:

1. Bluebells: Beautiful blue flowers that bloom in the spring.
2. Foxglove: Tall plants with bell-shaped flowers.
3. Primrose: Early blooming flowers that attract pollinators.

Make some seed bombs

If you don’t have a garden or an allotment, don’t worry! Seed bombs are a fun way to spread wild flowers in empty spaces.

You can make them at home and whenever you pass a grey area or a bit of grass in need of some love, throw the seed bombs on them! Wildflowers help with ensuring bees and butterflies have a happy home.

Here’s how you can make them:

1. Mix together clay, compost, and native wildflower seeds.
2. Add a bit of water to form small balls.
3. Let the balls dry for a day or two.
4. Throw the seed bombs in areas that need more greenery, like empty areas or roadside verges.
5. Help the city be covered in flowers!

You can also buy a little pot of seed bombs crafted to help the bees and butterflies from the Seedball UK shop.

Plants as Diverse as Culture

Cities are home to people from many different cultures. Planting a variety of plants from different regions can celebrate this diversity and create a beautiful, multicultural garden.

By growing plants from different cultures, you help create a garden that reflects the diversity of the people living in your city. For example, you could plant:

1. Japanese Maple: A small tree with beautiful red leaves.
2. Mediterranean Herbs: Rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
3. Tropical Plants: Like banana plants or hibiscus, if you have a warm spot.

Talking about this with your friends and family…

“I think it would be fun to see how plants grow from seeds. Can we try growing some food together?”

“What if we started with a small herb garden on the windowsill? We can grow things like basil and mint.”

“Some communities have shared gardens where everyone helps out. Can we look into joining one?”