Easy Ways to Make a Change

Summer can be a tricky time to keep the momentum for your environmental work going. So, as we approach the end of August, we’ve put together a list of a few ways to develop your personal climate and nature actions and get things moving again!

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1. Create a wildlife-friendly outdoor space: Whether you’ve got a huge garden or a little windowsill, there are many ways you can support your local wildlife, from insect-friendly plants to bird feeders, hedgehog highways to log piles. Start with this list of easy ways to help nature on your doorstep from the RSPB.
2. Plan an event and enjoy spending time with others: It’s easy to get caught up in our heads, particularly when it comes to difficult topics around the climate and biodiversity crises. Sharing time, thoughts and energy with each other is crucial to making a difference, and an event is a great chance to bring your community together. Take a look at this year’s Great Big Green Week A-to-Z of Ideas to get the ball rolling.
3. Make some changes to your carbon footprint: It can be easy to feel like shifting your personal habits has a miniscule effect on a massive problem, but more than 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our homes, and engaging with the possibilities around carbon reduction can help us to learn more & share that knowledge. Find some top tips to reduce carbon emissions and check out what’s going on with local groups like South Dartmoor Community Energy.
4. Eat up! Find out more about food and the environment: Living in the South West means there are a huge range of options for accessing food grown locally and with consideration for the environment. We also know that cutting back on meat, avoiding food waste, buying bee-friendly food and more can make a big difference to our personal impact. Learn more from Friends of the Earth here.
5. Make positive change and look after yourself: Thinking positively is easier said than done, perhaps, but trying to do our best for the environment also means getting to meet like-minded people, engage with our communities, understand our world more meaningfully, and actively participate in doing good for the planet and each other. Find more ways to take positive action here and help yourself with some tips on coping with climate grief and anxiety.