In association with:
Teamwork created The People’s #100Actions4Nature in response to the State of Nature Report 2019. Now it’s time for the people to come together again, on Sunday 27th October 2019 between 7pm and 9pm GMT, to share these actions and inspire more people to help restore UK nature.
We warmly invite you to join us on Twitter, between those times, and issue the following 100 tweets to your followers. Feel free to use and share the above banner to raise awareness of the online event. Creativity creates change, so feel free to create your own tweets that reflect the actions.
If enough of us work together on Sunday, as a Team4Nature, there is a great chance that the #100Actions4Nature hashtag will trend on Twitter, getting our positive messages out to a massive audience.
Thank you to every last one of our followers and supporters that have contributed to The Peoples #100Actions4Nature. We have been asked by many of our followers to produce a book covering these actions. In response to these requests, we have tweeted a poll and would be grateful if you could spare a moment to get involved.
We look forward to seeing you in the ‘storm!
Phase 1 of the Tweetstorm: Take Action at Home
#100Actions4Nature: 1 - Stop using pesticides, insecticides, slug pellets and other chemicals. Use natural alternatives: https://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/diy-natural-insecticides. Control “pests and diseases” organically: https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/pests-and-diseases
#100Actions4Nature: 2 - Plant flowers and shrubs that attract: bees (https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/garden-advice/), butterflies (https://butterfly-conservation.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/gardening) and other insects (https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/gardening/)
#100Actions4Nature: 3 - Allow ivy to flower as a late source of nectar and don’t cut until February.
#100Actions4Nature: 4 - Aim to provide food and shelter for nature all year round: http://team4nature.co.uk/get-involved/the-power-of-gardening
#100Actions4Nature: 5 - Create a wildlife pond (https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Creating-Garden-Ponds-for-Wildlife.pdf). Even small areas can include a mini-pond: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/createaminipond/
#100Actions4Nature: 6 - Use peat-free compost to protect our important peatland habitats: http://www.mayaproject.org/blog/2014/8/18/going-peat-free
#100Actions4Nature: 7 - Create a compost heap (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-compost-your-waste). Don’t burn leaves. Grow nettles to provide nitrogen feed, directly or dried, in the compost heap
#100Actions4Nature: 8 - Don’t throw fruit and vegetable waste in the bin. Add it to your compost heap: https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/how-to-make-a-compost-heap-10-top-tips
#100Actions4Nature: 9 - Mow a path in your lawn but allow areas to rewild (https://bluecampaignhub.com/), providing shelter for insects & other wildlife, and give more of your lawn over to native plants (https://plantlife.love-wildflowers.org.uk/wildflower_garden) and trees (https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-mixes-and-packs).
#100Actions4Nature: 10 - Do not use artificial grass. It adds to the ecological crisis and increases the risk of local flooding: https://bit.ly/2qL9mqz
#100Actions4Nature: 11 - Make your front gardens wild! If you need parking areas then create raised beds full of wild plants (https://plantlife.love-wildflowers.org.uk/wildflower_garden) and maybe even including log piles (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-make-log-shelter) & bird feeders (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-feed-birds-your-garden.
#100Actions4Nature: 12 - Install a bug hotel: https://bit.ly/363uN69
#100Actions4Nature: 13 - Grow your own fruit and vegetables: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-grow-wildlife-friendly-vegetable-garden. This saves money & provides an opportunity to help your community by sharing crop surpluses. Plant flowers nearby that encourage insects & control “pests” naturally: https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/gardening/
#100Actions4Nature: 14 - Plant native trees and hedges (https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-mixes-and-packs) and let your hedges flower and fruit. Allow nature to make the most of this food source by cutting back in late winter.
#100Actions4Nature: 15 - Inaction! Don’t “weed” and leave areas to allow wild flowers to establish and self-seed, feeding birds and other wildlife along the way. Allow your garden to become a home for nature: http://team4nature.co.uk/get-involved/the-power-of-gardening
#100Actions4Nature: 16 - Leave a hole in your garden boundaries big enough to allow wildlife, such as hedgehogs, that need large territories to roam freely: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/createnaturehighwaysandbyways/
#100Actions4Nature: 17 - Set up a bird feeding station (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CewTKmEHAM) and clean all feeders regularly (https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/feeding-birds/keep-your-bird-table-healthy/).
#100Actions4Nature: 18 - Install a bird bath (https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/how-to-make-a-bird-bath/) and place saucers of fresh water at ground level too. Clean these water sources regularly.
#100Actions4Nature: 19 - Bees can drown in deep or fast-flowing water. Create a bee bowl using a shallow dish with stones and water in.
#100Actions4Nature: 20 - Build a bumblebee nest: https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebee-nests/
#100Actions4Nature: 21 - Install a hedgehog house (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-hedgehog-home) and support your local reputable hedgehog rescue centres - they are most often unfunded and run solely by volunteers!
#100Actions4Nature: 22 - Set up bird boxes: https://www.bto.org/how-you-can-help/nnbw/make-a-nest-box
#100Actions4Nature: 23 - Set up planters to bring nature onto any essential hard landscaping
#100Actions4Nature: 24 - If you don’t have your own garden, then seek permission, if needed to install hanging baskets and window boxes, planting them with nectar-rich flowers: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/plants-for-wildlife/hanging-baskets-planters-and-tubs/
#100Actions4Nature: 25 - Adapt your property so that bats (https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/buildings-planning-and-development/bat-boxes), birds (https://www.bristolswifts.co.uk/swift-nest-box-design/) and other wildlife (https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/buildabeebandb/) have a home there too.
#100Actions4Nature: 26 - Create a wild corner of your garden with a log pile (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-make-log-shelter), brash & leaf litter for insects, amphibians & Reptiles (https://www.arguk.org/info-advice/wildlife-gardening/245-dragons-in-your-garden-arc/file), hedgehogs (https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/about-hedgehogs/where-do-they-live/) & other wildlife (http://team4nature.co.uk/get-involved/the-power-of-gardening).
#100Actions4Nature: 27 - Install a water butt to collect rain.
#100Actions4Nature: 28- Grow plants for butterfly (https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/foodplants.php) and moth (https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/moth-foodplant.pdf) caterpillars.
#100Actions4Nature: 29 - Late winter and early spring is a critical time for many species of UK wildlife, in the “hungry gap”, where food sources become scarce. Stock up your feeding stations and plant early spring flowers for pollinators (http://urbanpollinators.blogspot.com/2013/02/early-spring-flowers-for-pollinators.html).
Phase 2 of the Tweetstorm: Take Action In Your Community
#100Actions4Nature: 30 - Join your local greenspace (https://natfedparks.org.uk/members/) or bluespace group to help look after local parks, reserves and waterways. If there isn’t one then gather friends and family and create a group!
#100Actions4Nature: 31 - Join your local community action group to address issues such as littering, fly-tipping, destruction of wildlife habitat and the climate crisis: https://transitionnetwork.org/
#100Actions4Nature: 32 - Become a citizen scientist by recording local wildlife: http://team4nature.co.uk/get-involved/record-wildlife
#100Actions4Nature: 33 - Pick up litter whilst out walking and encourage others to do so too.
#100Actions4Nature: 34 - Become a member of wildlife charities and connect with their projects which are running in your local area: https://www.wcl.org.uk/
#100Actions4Nature: 35 - Community gardens are amazing and help to build communities from the ground up. Join one, or gather friends and neighbours and start a new one (https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/community-gardening/resources/community-garden).
#100Actions4Nature: 36 - Support your local libraries and encourage them to set up enticing wildlife areas with books and resources to encourage more children and families to enjoy and appreciate nature.
#100Actions4Nature: 37 - Volunteer with your local wildlife or green space or blue space group to help control invasive non-native species in your local area.
#100Actions4Nature: 38 - Support the Britain in Bloom movement in your area (https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/britain-in-bloom) & suggest the use of more species that help pollinators (https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/plants-for-pollinators) & other local wildlife (https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/plants-for-wildlife/).
#100Actions4Nature: 39 - Work with others to make sure that your local wildlife does not have to suffer from hazards such as netting and litter. By doing so you will also be raising the attractiveness and level of pride in your community.
#100Actions4Nature: 40 - Reduce the impact of artificial light on wildlife: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=513
#100Actions4Nature: 41 - Support your local forest schools to get more children and families in your community enjoying a deep connection with nature, through play, learning, bonding and discovery: https://www.forestschoolassociation.org/
#100Actions4Nature: 42 - Join the Incredible Edible community to help create kind, confident and connected communities through the power of food: https://www.incredibleedible.org.uk/
#100Actions4Nature: 43 - Where there are ponds, ditches, streams, canals or lakes in your area, encourage landowners and managers to maintain habitat (http://watervole.org.uk/home/water-vole-habitat-management/) for Water Voles which are rapidly declining in numbers: http://watervole.org.uk/about/
Phase 3 of the Tweetstorm: Take Action Through Your Activism
#100Actions4Nature: 44 - Join your local council forums and raise the issue of the state of nature and its importance.
#100Actions4Nature: 45 - Contact your local garden designers, landscapers and housing developers to ask them to embrace nature in their work and protect local nature.
#100Actions4Nature: 46 - Support petitions and campaigns that protect nature, review damaging activities or propose new laws or regulations to stem the rapid losses in UK nature
#100Actions4Nature: 47 - Write to your local council and ask them to stop mowing grass verges, except where there are genuine visibility or other health & safety issues (https://plantlife.love-wildflowers.org.uk/roadvergecampaign) and also to let areas of grass grow longer for a couple of months in local parks:
#100Actions4Nature: 48 – Contact councillors & MPs, asking them to protect nature for the health & wellbeing of the people. Ask them to build on sites of low value to nature, utilise empty properties & ensure developments include homes for wildlife: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/new-guidelines-call-homes-people-and-wildlife
#100Actions4Nature: 49 - Oppose local plans that threaten existing wildlife habitat. Even well-intentioned proposals like greenway schemes can fragment wildlife habitat if it is not properly planned and consulted with nature in mind https://www.wildlifebcn.org/news/new-melbourn-greenway-proposals-threaten-trumpington-meadows-nature-reserve
#100Actions4Nature: 50 - Consider joining Extinction Rebellion to speed up the political processes needed to resolve the ecological and climate crises, through peaceful protest https://rebellion.earth/
#100Actions4Nature: 51 - Support campaigns with Friends of the Earth (https://friendsoftheearth.uk/) and Greenpeace (https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/).
#100Actions4Nature: 52 - Contact your local farmers & ask them to work with your local nature (by, for example, leaving hedges to provide food and shelter into late winter, before cutting) & ask them to join the Nature Friendly Farmers Network: https://www.nffn.org.uk/
#100Actions4Nature: 53 - Join the Sustain Alliance for better food and farming policies and practices that help people and planet: https://www.sustainweb.org/
#100Actions4Nature: 54 - Join actions that reduce waste, plastic and littering such as the deposit return scheme on plastic bottles (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/introducing-a-deposit-return-scheme-drs-for-drinks-containers-bottles-and-cans/outcome/introducing-a-deposit-return-scheme-drs-in-england-wales-and-northern-ireland-executive-summary-and-next-steps).
#100Actions4Nature: 55 - Always vote in local and general elections and vote for the candidate that has a track record of looking after people and planet and standing up to “business as usual”.
#100Actions4Nature: 56 - Help end the use of Glyphosate-based herbicides (https://www.pan-uk.org/glyphosate/) & join the pesticide-free towns movement (https://www.pan-uk.org/pesticide-free/). Report misuse of herbicides, like excessive, aimless spraying at speed from quad bikes, to your council!
#100Actions4Nature: 57 - Take action to stop councils “fuelling the fires” of the climate crisis through their pension investments: https://gofossilfree.org/uk/fuellingthefire/
#100Actions4Nature: 58 - Consider signing up to become an Earth Protector, helping to stop ecocide: https://www.stopecocide.earth/become
#100Actions4Nature: 59 - Ensure that local “developers” adequately and independently assess the impact of developments and artificial light (https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/buildings-planning-and-development/lighting) on wildlife. Are there alternative sites available with lower impact?
#100Actions4Nature: 60 - Hemp, Jute and other natural materials have massive potential for producing sustainable products. Join actions that support the scaling up of their use.
#100Actions4Nature: 61 - Use social media to create and support petitions and campaigns that protect nature.
#100Actions4Nature: 62 - Join the campaign for a wilder future by supporting a Nature Recovery Network: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/nature-recovery-network
Phase 5 of the Tweetstorm: Take Action Using Your Power as a Consumer
#100Actions4Nature: 63 - Switch your money to ethical banks: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/money-finance/shopping-guide/current-accounts
#100Actions4Nature: 64 - Make your retirement savings do go by using ethical pensions: (https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/money-finance/shopping-guide/ethical-pensions) and If you need independent advice, use an ethical adviser (https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/money-finance/choosing-ethical-independent-financial-advisor).
#100Actions4Nature: 65 - Boycott companies that have a poor track record of protecting nature and the environment: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/retailers/shopping-guide/supermarkets
#100Actions4Nature: 66 - Research other ways to make a difference using the Ecosia search engine which plants a tree for every 45 searches made: https://www.ecosia.org/?c=en
#100Actions4Nature: 67 - Buy organic produce (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/organic-certification-list-of-uk-approved-organic-control-bodies/approved-uk-organic-control-bodies) and support traditional butchers and wildlife-friendly farmers https://www.nffn.org.uk/public-sign-up/
#100Actions4Nature: 68 - Boycott produce known to have come from intensive, destructive farming sources
#100Actions4Nature: 69 - Support local businesses that care about your community and its nature.
#100Actions4Nature: 70 - Support companies that are raising awareness of the state of nature and taking positive steps to protect nature and the environment themselves: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/retailers/top-5-ethical-companies-sector
#100Actions4Nature: 71 - Boycott goods that are covered in plastic and feed it back to store managers.
#100Actions4Nature: 72 - Use refillable bottles.
#100Actions4Nature: 73 - Switch to clean energy suppliers https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/energy/shopping-guide/gas-electricity
#100Actions4Nature: 74 - Buy eco-friendly cleaning products, rather than harsh chemicals.
#100Actions4Nature: 75 - Save money and the planet, whilst helping great causes by using charity shops and finding joy in second-hand, vintage and retro items.
#100Actions4Nature: 76 - Buy items that use sustainable hemp and jute materials.
#100Actions4Nature: 77 - Contact supermarkets and other businesses to ask them what their plans are to help end plastic waste and point out products that you feel are needlessly made from or wrapped in plastic.
#100Actions4Nature: 78 - Refuse polystyrene packaging and spend your money with businesses that use biodegradable alternatives (e.g mushroom or plant based)
Phase 6 of the Tweetstorm: Take Action Using Your Ability to Mobilise Others
#100Actions4Nature: 79 - Share surplus native plants, seeds, seedlings and your knowledge of the state of nature with neighbours and encourage them to create wildlife gardens.
#100Actions4Nature: 80 - Ask your local schools to get kids out into nature more for their health, happiness and wellbeing (https://bit.ly/2NavH8z). Suggest some activities and projects: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wild-activities-families-and-schools
#100Actions4Nature: 81 - Use your voice! Talk to family & friends about the power of nature (http://team4nature.co.uk/nature/the-power-of-nature) & state of nature in UK (https://nbn.org.uk/stateofnature2019/reports/), then share The People’s #100Actions4Nature with them to show that they can easily start making a difference!
#100Actions4Nature: 82 - Contact your local golf course, sports club and others that manage large areas of land and ask them to encourage wildlife into their grounds
#100Actions4Nature: 83 - People will only protect what they care about, so sharing your passion & the magic of nature with others, will certainly help to mobilise them. Lead your children, family and friends out into nature for their happiness, health, learning and wellbeing.
#100Actions4Nature: 84 - Share conservation success stories (https://commonbynature.co.uk/2016/09/05/five-conservation-success-stories-from-the-uk/) to demonstrate that together, we can make a difference.
#100Actions4Nature: 85 - Don’t be afraid to share ideas that you feel will improve the state of nature. Use your gifts to inspire and connect others to nature through art, writing, music, dance, sport, endurance etc.
#100Actions4Nature: 86 - Become an active member of the wildlife charities that you support. Attend AGMs and contact them to suggest new ways of mobilising their membership
#100Actions4Nature: 87 - Use social media to share the beauty of nature and your wild encounters. This will encourage others to connect with their local wildlife and green spaces for their happiness, health and wellbeing.
Phase 7 of the Tweetstorm: Take Action Through Your Compassion For Others
#100Actions4Nature: 88 - Report Wildlife Crime: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wildlife-crime-and-how-to-report-it
#100Actions4Nature: 89 - Report Fox Hunts: http://www.houndsoff.co.uk/action-advice/general-public/reporting-wildlife-crime/
#100Actions4Nature: 90 - Adopt practices that reduce the impact of cats on UK wildlife populations: https://conversation.which.co.uk/home-energy/pets-killing-wildlife-keep-cats-out-of-your-garden/
#100Actions4Nature: 91 - Slow down on country roads to reduce the risk of killing wildlife and record roadkills here: https://projectsplatter.co.uk/
#100Actions4Nature: 92 - Support charities that empower women and educate people about birth control
#100Actions4Nature: 93 - Use bio-degradeable dog poo bags and always place them in a bin
Phase 8 of the Tweetstorm: Take Action Through Your Own Self-care and Lifestyle
#100Actions4Nature: 94 – The People’s #100Actions4Nature shows that you can easily make a difference, even where time is a restriction. Manage your time to feel organised, reduce stress & create opportunity to do things that enhance your sense of purpose, self-worth & wellbeing.
#100Actions4Nature: 95 - Reduce your carbon footprint! Climate change is substantially adding to the challenges that are faced by us and the rest of nature. Eating less meat, driving and flying less will all make a difference. https://www.carbonfootprint.com/
#100Actions4Nature: 96 - Conserve water to reduce the impact on our river systems and their wildlife: https://bit.ly/364XP5t
#100Actions4Nature: 97 - Don’t flush wipes or sanitary products down the toilet!
#100Actions4Nature: 98 - Get out into nature and benefit from its well documented healing powers: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/r1_literature_review_wellbeing_benefits_of_wild_places_lres.pdf
#100Actions4Nature: 99 - Bring the principles of permaculture into your lifestyle, if you haven’t already: https://www.permaculture.org.uk/knowledge-base/basics
#100Actions4Nature: 100 - unite for a common cause: work together with your family, friends, neighbours, work mates, wildlife groups and charities to restore UK nature and create a better world with a brighter future for all!
