Harrogate Borough Council

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Nature

Problems include air and water pollution, which can also result in acid rain; increasing intensive farming practices; habitat loss due to development; the introduction of some non-native species; and demand for aggregates used for road building.

What can you do?

• Buy organic food and goods. These are produced without chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides or growth regulators, without unnecessary cruelty to animals and using a sustainable system.
  
• Only use as much washing detergent as you need. It contains phosphates, which can kill fish and other organisms in lakes and rivers. Or try eco-friendly products when possible.
  
• Encourage wildlife in your garden. Plant flowers to attract insects. Butterflies particularly like buddleia, honeysuckle and large daisy-like flowers; birds like berries and fruit.
  
• Put up a bird table and bird feeders to provide food during cold weather; or put up a bird box or bat box.
  
• Use peat-free compost in your garden. Removing peat for use in gardens destroys fragile moorland habitats.
  
• Make a pond to encourage water life and insects.
  
• Leave a small patch of grass untended, only cutting it once or twice a year This will encourage insects, which provide food for birds and other wildlife
  
• Set up an allotment. By growing your own vegetables you can be sure to avoid chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the vast distances food so often travels.
  
• Join a local box scheme for organic produce delivered direct to your door.
  
• Get involved in a conservation group to help protect your local environment. Some grants are available for community projects

The council's role