Net Zero Outdoors

Sustainable gardening is important as it preserves natural resources. It's often better for the environment and your finances.

Here are some tips to make your garden more sustainable (no minimum size!):

Plant native species to promote biodiversity. The wider array of plants, the bigger variety of insects will beneficiate.

Use locally grown plants that are adapted to the local soil and climate, sustainable gardening reduces the need for extra water and fertilizers.

Support local wildlife with bird houses, bat houses, bug hotels or hedgehog houses.

Minimise chemical use: avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and protects the insects! If possible, compost is a great option to avoid food waste and provide sustainable fertilizers.

Harvest rainwater to minimise water usage.

Use renewable energy sources like solar-powered garden lights and water pumps to reduce your garden’s carbon footprint.

A bit more advanced, vertical gardening is a great option to maximize space and increase yield by growing plants vertically using trellises, towers and wall-mounted planters.

The outdoor space of a church is key in allowing a church to get Silver or Gold A Rocha Awards. Check out the stories of the Gold Award Methodist churches and see what they did with their outdoor spaces here

More churches have mentioned their outdoors endeavours in articles, for instance:

Porthkerry Road Methodist Church and Barry United Reformed Church in the Wales District

Peel Methodist Church in the Isle of Man District

St David’s Methodist Church in the Wales District