Fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael yma
On St David’s Day, we are encouraged to do the small things – and as so much of Welsh culture is intertwined with references to wildlife, we think it is the perfect opportunity to do the small things on behalf of the nature on your doorstep.
March is a month of change; we see the first glimpses of Spring as the leaves begin to blossom and the evenings become lighter. We will see blue tits and robins fervently exploring their local patches looking for ideal nesting sites and hear the blackbird up early, singing in search of a mate.
So why would we see St David’s Day as a perfect time to help our nature? Well, simply, because Wales’ nature needs our help. We’ve seen numbers of many of birds, whose sight and sound we used to take for granted, dwindle in the last decades; and the recent Birds of Conservation Concern in Wales Report told us that a further 5 birds have been added to the red list which now has 60 species on it. Birds such as the Greenfinch have dramatically disappeared from many of our gardens. The causes of decreasing numbers can be varied and at times complex, but we know that to reverse these losses in biodiversity we need change on a large scale. But while we call on the Welsh Government to introduce game-changing legislation - which looks to reverse and increase biodiversity loss by 2030 through the agri bill, or introduce a marine development plan and seabird strategy to protect the future of our seabirds - we must remember that we all can ‘do the small things’ for the nature on our doorstep.We’ll keep a welcome As mentioned earlier, birds big and small will be using these days to search for the perfect home. But while many birds will build nuzzling nests skilfully structured and sheltered among the leaves and crevasses of surrounding trees in our forests or in the rural rough on our farmlands, a birdbox for your local garden birds would be greatly appreciated. It must be remembered that for different birds come different birdboxes, tens of varying shapes and sizes; from smaller modest boxes for your local Blue or Great Tits, a terrace for the ever-sociable House Sparrows, a more sizeable one for Starlings, or even a Swift box to install under the eaves of your home. Times are hard for many of us in this current time of cost-of-living crisis – so you can always build your own box from recycled wood!A Welsh & Wild Corner
Of course, DIY isn’t for everyone. So instead of getting the screwdriver out, why not reach for the shovel, and make your very own wild corner! Making a wild corner is ridiculously simple, yet its benefits can be felt in gardens of all sizes, benefitting several levels of your garden’s biodiversity. By making a dead wood pile, you’ll be welcoming insects to chew, providing a good food source for birds. A compost pile, made up of excess plant cuttings, food scraps and land, will be transformed over time into compost, as well as a go-to worm snack bar for the hungry robin hopping around!Flower power
Daffodils are a popular symbol of St David’s Day and will be opening splendidly all around us at this time of year. Continuing the theme of flowers is a brilliant way of doing the small things on this special day - by sowing wildflower seeds. There are many native wildflowers you can purchase, and their colourful presence in your garden will give a wonderful welcome to pollinators who need our help more than ever.Hedge your bets
With the soil warming up, this time of year is also good to sow something a little more long-term – a permanent feature to remind you of our special National day perhaps! Hedges and shrubs provide invaluable shelter for birds such as wrens, robins and dunnocks; and their fruits will invite a wide variety of your feathered friends over for a meal. Or if you’ve got the room – why not plant a tree!Pond life
This last one’s a bit of a project, but nevertheless, a great addition to you garden which will provide a great deal of help to the nature on your doorstep. A pond, or a mini pond for smaller gardens, are not only a great water source for our birds and hedgehogs, but potentially a new haven for frogs, toads and newts! Creating a water source is such a great idea that it doesn’t matter what size your garden is – for larger gardens, it can be a pond with a presence, or for smaller yards, a basic bath for a bird or damp ditch for diversity.A peaceful place shared
We’ve gone on quite a bit about how the ideas above can be beneficial to local nature – but it is ever so important to stress that simply being in the outdoors, making a muddy mess and engaging with nature is so good for our physical and mental wellbeing also. Blessing your garden with birdsong is not only a wonderful sound, but a healing one; even for a moment, taking your mind off the everyday stresses of life and instead focusing on all the wildlife that share this green space with you.
After reading, considering, and imagining these natural wonders that you could welcome around you - we really hope that you’ll consider doing the small things this St David’s Day – for yourself and the nature on your doorstep. Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus!