This April, East Devon District Council has begun its 'biodiversity starts on your doorstep' campaign, encouraging residents to support nature by way of their gardens.

John Golding, East Devon District Council's director for Housing, Environment and Health said: "UK gardens cover a larger area than all the protected landscapes combined, so this gives us all a chance to play an important role in preserving biodiversity.

"Whether you have half an acre or just room for a few pots, we can all do our bit for the environment."

Biodiversity is the variety of species, habitats and ecosystems, underpinning the air we breathe and the food we eat.

We depend on biodiversity for protection against pollution, flooding and climate breakdown. Scientists estimate inaction will lead to the extinction of 1 million species within our lifetime.

You can follow East Devon District Council's (EDDC) social media channels, where they will be sharing three posts a week, covering EDDC's nature recovery work plus tips and advice for you to try in your own garden.

Biodiversity activities for the weekend will be shared every Friday, giving residents the chance to support local wildlife.

Advice for growing vegetables at home will also be shared, helping residents enjoy the fruits of their labour and reduce their plastic-use at the same time.

Green-fingered residents may be entitled to a plaque from the Devon Wildlife Trust's Wildlife Garden Award to recognise their garden efforts.

Enhancing biodiversity is part of EDDC's Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, which set out how the council aims to meet its targets of reducing carbon emissions year-on-year and achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.

One step towards ensuring biodiversity is assisting native species in our parks and open spaces, so that they can adapt to a changing climate.

Examples of ways that EDDC is improving biodiversity and supporting nature recovery across all its greenspaces include:

• Planting trees and hedgerows. 1,000 trees were planted over the winter through the Emergency Tree Fund initiative
• Banning glyphosate weed killers on our land
• Establishing ecologically appropriate plants across our green spaces to help wildlife
• Transitioning away from carpet bedding towards more herbaceous and woody perennial plantings
• Establishing wildflower meadows
• Creating wetland areas
• Installing bird and bat boxes, and bee and bug homes
• Reducing the frequency, area and deck height when cutting grass

Read more on our new biodiversity starts on your doorstep webpages here: https://eastdevon.gov.uk/biodiversity/