Earth Day falls on the 22nd of April this year with the whole month taking centre stage as a time to raise awareness and inspire action into environmental protection. These actions don’t have to be huge gestures, in fact, small contributions are some of the simple steps we can take to begin to tackle climate change at home. April is also the month that spring comes into its own as the skies become bluer and the Sun’s presence begins to be felt. We naturally begin to gravitate towards making our garden summer ready after the colder darker months of winter. In recognition of Earth Month this April, we have come up with some simple eco-friendly garden ideas for you to implement.
Power it with the Sun
Decorations, lights, and even parasol fans all can be purchased with solar energy as their power source. The Sun’s energy is harnessed via the solar panel that in turn charges a battery. Look for Monocrystalline Solar Panels in your product to provide the highest conversion efficiency. The sun provides a clean and unlimited source of energy, so, by choosing solar powered garden supplies you are actively contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and a greener future for all. For those wishing to take it a step further, rooftop solar panels can currently be installed at competitive prices from Solar Together Sussex.
Harvest the rain
As our planet becomes warmer, we are faced with more frequent water shortages. The South East of England is under serious water stress due to pressures from regional population growth, tourism and climate change. A great way to reduce your own pressure on local water resources is by installing a water butt in your garden. An average butt can collect around 200ltrs of water that can be used to water the garden, top up ponds and bird baths and even wash the car!
Grow your own
Growing your own fruit and vegetables gives you access to the freshest fruit and vegetables. By growing your own you are also reducing packaging and transportation costs and reducing food waste. April is a great month to sow carrots, parsnips, and beetroot and to plant strawberries, onions and asparagus plants. You can find some great tips in our National Gardening Week post!
Composting magic
Composting is a simple and effective way to live a greener lifestyle, reducing landfill waste and incineration, and in turn emissions. At home composting also provides a more superior compost full of nutrients than store bought varieties. This is especially fantastic if you are growing your own fruit and veg. There are many different ways to go about composting and you can find some great advice on the ESCC Composting at home webpage.
Invite the wildlife in
Planting wildlife friendly flowers and shrubs is a great way to help increase biodiversity in your local area, and with an estimated 24 million gardens in the UK, the possibilities are endless. Plant a wildflower corner, hang a bug hotel, create a bee drinking station, or even installing a hedgehog hole in your fencing! The way we manage and care for our gardens can make a huge difference in supporting the local environment.
Dry it Au Naturel
Get yourself a washing line. Did you know that electric dryers are extremely inefficient? Switching to a washing line can save nearly half a tonne of CO2 emissions a year! Washing lines come in a number of different varieties to suit the space you have available. You can’t beat that air-dried freshness!
Find out what ESCC are doing to reduce our impact on the environment and how we’re committed to getting to net zero as soon as possible. You can also find further advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint all on our climate change page.
Share your own eco-friendly garden ideas in the comments section below.
