Reading Wildlife in Gardens

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Bringing Nature Home:

Reading

Wildlife in

Gardens

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The Reading Wildlife in Gardens Awards

Bringing Nature Home

The Reading Wildlife in Gardens Awards scheme is promoting Reading’s biodiversity by creating more habitats for wildlife.

No matter the size of your outdoor space, you are eligible to join in! No space is too small, whether you have a garden, allotment, balcony, or window box, you can apply for an award to recognise your commitment to Reading’s biodiversity and inspire others.

The award scheme recognises positive change to support wildlife by incorporating simple features in your outdoor space.

Find out how the Awards scheme works here.

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Some urban areas are richer in plants and animals than nearby intensively used countryside

Urban gardens and allotments can be havens for wildlife

Urban green space, allotments and private gardens are particularly important in towns and cities

life

Gardens can be 'stepping stone' connections between larger patches of habitat

How the Award Works

No matter the size of your garden, you are eligible to join in – and it’s free! We are promoting a number of simple, low-cost, wildlife-friendly actions. By adopting them you will be making a difference for your local wildlife and will be eligible to apply for a Reading Wildlife in Gardens Award.

To support wildlife in your green space, you will need to provide food, water, and shelter. You may also need to manage your garden differently.

Click here to view the actions you can take in each category

Our award scheme has four tiers. If you have a balcony or window box, three actions from any category will win you an Acorn award, four a Sapling award, five an Oak award, and 5 alongside two connectivity actions.

ACORN AWARD (5 actions from the first 4 categories)

SAPLING AWARD (10 actions from the first 4 categories)

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OAK AWARD (15 actions from the first 4 categories)

FOREST AWARD (Oak award AND 2 connectivity actions)

For gardens and allotments, the Acorn award recognises five actions from the first four categories. To win a Sapling award you would need ten actions. The Oak award is for fifteen actions. The Forest award is for those eligible for an Oak award who have also enhanced connectivity by completing at least two of the connectivity actions.

All award holders can enter a prize draw to win a signed copy of the Self Delusion by Reading Professor, Tom Oliver.

The awards are open from 30th June to 31st October. Details on how to enter the award can be found here.

Water	Food	Shelter	Organic methods	Connectivity
Put out a water dish Install a pond Add a bird bath Use grey water Create a rain garden Install a water butt Grow drought resistant plants	Install and maintain a bird feeder Plant bee-friendly flowers Plant night-scented flowers Create a herb garden Plant a fruit tree Put out hedgehog food	Create a log/ wood pile Build a rock pile Leave your leaves in a leaf pile Include climbing plants Put in a hedgehog house Put up a bird box Plant a tree / bush Provide dense hedgerow habitat Make a bug tower Build a bug hotel Create an area of shade Put in a reptile/ amphibian hibernaculum	Use alternatives to pesticides and poison Use a compost heap Leave an undisturbed area Go peat-free If you’re growing veg, try companion planting	Tell 5 people about what you do in your garden Share photographs of your garden with us for our promotions Be part of a wildlife group in your local area Create access points between gardens such as hedgehog highways

Click here to return to about the award

Entering the Award

Applications for the award are open. Please click below to enter (entry closes 31st October):

If you have any queries regarding the Wildlife in Gardens Award Scheme please contact RWIGS.contact@gmail.com

ENTER THE AWARD HERE

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Who are we?

Hello! My name is Nilo and I study Zoology at the University of Reading. I have a passion for wildlife conservation, animal biology, animal welfare, and sustainable practices; but most of all, I really love crocodiles! After my degree I hope to work on research or conservation projects where I can put my practical skills and knowledge into use by saving wildlife. I am grateful to be administrating this scheme as I believe that the biodiversity across Reading should be celebrated and protected.

Hi, I’m Becky and I’m an Ecology and Wildlife Conservation student at The University of Reading. After a ten-year career in horticulture, I made the decision to start an Ecology degree so that I might learn more about the natural world around me and help to protect, conserve and restore our planet. I’m really excited to be taking part in creating a Wildlife in Gardens scheme for the Reading area so that collectively we can come together as a community to do what we can to help the environment around us.

I’m Charlotte Allchin and I studied at Reading University and remained in the area. I’m involved with Earley Environmental Group and Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire Bat Group and I’m passionate about getting people of all ages into and connected to their local nature. I believe that even the smallest green space can improve our mental wellbeing if it is cared for with nature at its heart.

I’m Julie Hawkins, Professor at the University of Reading and lover of wild spaces. I have long admired the range of projects that the Friends of the University of Reading support. I’m grateful to them for supporting this initiative.

Hi I’m Georgia! I’m a Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics Graduate from the University of Bath. Having grown up in Reading and now returned I’m eager to help contribute to the local community and wildlife! I’ve just planted a wildflower garden of my own!