As we enter spring and blossoms and flowers start to appear which re-awakens our senses after the colder dreary winter months, I am reminded that we should try to live in, with and cherish nature.
At a macro level, housing developments should be carefully thought through and plan to not minimise impact to the local ecology and surrounding environment.
Some key issues that can be considered include the following:
- Integrate local ecology into the development and build within nature
- Capture runoff and integrate functional/practical water features such as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) into the landscape that also be used to create water fountains
- Integrate green infrastructure into the development to minimise Urban Heat Island (UHI) during the hotter periods
- Incorporate natural habitat features to attract wildlife such as hedgehogs, deers, bats, birds, etc
- Increase urban density but do not facilitate overcrowding when building on previously used land (brownfield sites). Ensure adequate infrastructure and amenities are provided for the proposed build out
- Work to regenerate brownfield sites by attracting wildlife to the area to coexist with people. In those brownfield sites adjacent to or near green belts, work to extend parts of green belts into the redeveloped brownfield
- Sparingly develop on green belt land and ensure any developments are planned around any significant natural features and matured trees avoiding the wholesale clearance of parcels of land. These developments should have a very low urban density
- Incorporate artistic features into the development and highlight any past cultural, historic features to inculcate place setting and a sense of pride for the residents
At a micro level try to incorporate nature within our homes and lives
- Plant trees around our houses
- Grow flowering plants that will attract birds and bees and also provide residents with a feel-good factor
- Bring and maintain more plants inside our homes.
- Grow fruits and vegetables in our garden
- Hang bird and/or squirrel feeds in our gardens
- Have a wilding patch in our gardens to attract bees, bugs, insects and birds
- Incorporate a green roof if able to
- If possible, incorporate a green wall within garden and the interior of our houses
- Incorporate water fountains, ponds and other creative water features into our gardens and for the bold- hearted, into the structure of our homes.
All these items will not only provide us with a feel-good factor and make us happier but enhance our health and well-being.