We want to create more areas for our insects and wildlife by increasing biodiversity in our village. To do this we want to create wildflower meadows on our village verges and along our hedgerows in our village. We also want to plant 2 oaks and 1 whitebeam on the green as well as plant lots of British native spring bulbs to help our bees with encouraging more flowers in early spring before the wildflowers and trees bloom. We also want to engage our community and organise a talk with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. If we got more funding we also want to engage with our local children in a hands on creative class in the village hall. We would sit in the wildflower areas looking at the beetles and insects learning about their habitats and then designing and creating their own beetle sculptures.

What we'll deliver:

• Plant 2 trees, hundreds of bulbs, thousands of wildflowers.
• Biodiverity talk and creative class for children in the village hall.

Why it's a great idea:

The fact is that insect numbers have dropped by 25% and they are still falling. Without insects all life on earth ends.The problem is, as farm equipment has got bigger and more efficient, fields have had to get bigger and more efficient. Which means that since the war Britain has lost140,000 miles of hedgerows. Its lost 40% of its ancient woodlands, lost 97% of all its wildflower meadows.Everywhere where insects like to live are disappearing. Councils/parish councils have a significant role to play in tacking the climate emergency. We can all do our part to help, and it is very simple, all we need to do is encourage pollinating insects by growing patches of wild plants, flowers and trees. Not only are wildflower meadows valuable habitats , but they are really efficient at absorbing and storing carbon. And just one oak can support more than 1,000 other species, for every 100 years of its life it could absorb around 1 to 3.5 tonnes of CO2.

Steps to get it done:

• buying the seeds, bulbs and trees
• planting them
• giving a talk in the village hall about biodiversity
• having the beetle class in the village hall for the local children