Futures Forum: Bristol's green corridors @ BBC Springwatch

As the final week of Springwatch comes to a close
BBC Two - Springwatch

... one of the highlights (besides the hatching birdlife...) has been a trip to Bristol:
BBC Two - Springwatch, Do Something Great in Bristol

It's been about 'turning the city into a nature reserve':
My Wild City | Avon Wildlife Trust
Projects | Avon Wildlife Trust
Forget the urban jungle – new project turns a Bristol street into a wildlife haven | Avon Wildlife Trust

Avon Wildlife Trust teamed up with leading UK law firm Burges Salmon to create a community project that brings natural wildlife to the doorsteps of an urban street in Easton, as part of the My Wild Street project.

The My Wild Street project has created a wildlife-friendly urban street in Bristol, transforming the front gardens of 30 terraced houses on a typical Bristol street into a haven for nature and people alike.

Nature in the urban environment deals with considerable pressures and Bristol is no exception, especially as it has one of the fastest growing populations in the UK. We hope 'My Wild Street' will show people the opportunities for wildlife in the city and it will put Bristol on the map as a city that aspires to be nature-rich.

Stanley Road in Easton was selected for this case-study and 30 houses welcomed a wildlife garden makeover. Stanley Park will provide a wildlife corridor between the neighbouring green spaces, allowing for wildlife to move around in this inner city area. Avon Wildlife Trust hope this project will inspire other Bristolians to work with their neighbours to create their own wild street.

My Wild Street - YouTube

The Transformation

Avon Wildlife Trust worked with designers Earth Timber Stone to create individual garden designs for each house, providing a range of nature habitats throughout the street. Plant life was introduced using reclaimed decking and leftover soil from a friendly neighbouring construction company. Green roofs were added to wheelie bins, and pergolas for creeping plants squeezed in. The gardens have been filled with bug hotels, log piles and bird baths to encourage critters of all shapes and sizes to make the gardens their homes

The project couldn't have worked without leading law firm Burges and Salmon, who not only brought along a 100 amazing volunteers, but contributed much of the equipment and plants needed for the wildlife makeover.

The residents of Stanley Street joined in, lending equipment and kept everyone's energy levels topped up with tea, cake and chocolate!