Have you made a New Year’s resolution? A survey conducted in autumn 2024 found that the three most popular resolutions in the UK were: exercise more, save money, and eat a healthier diet.
Interestingly, ‘do more for the environment’, was also in the top 10, with 20% of respondents saying they resolved to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
And here’s the good news: by doing more for the environment, you might well find that you exercise more, save money, and eat a healthier diet – without really trying.
Making small changes to daily habits can have a positive impact on the planet, while also improving your health and finances.
And nature really needs our help right now. The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2024 revealed a catastrophic decline of 73% in global wildlife populations over the last 50 years – a decline which is largely driven by human activity.
Other 2024 surveys that focused on wildlife species in the UK showed worrying declines in insects and many wild bird species – especially farmland birds such as turtle doves and tree sparrows.
So will you resolve to help nature in 2025? Here are a few ideas for achieving two New Year’s resolutions in one simple action!
Exercise more
Dig a pond. The number of ponds across the UK has declined by at least 50% over the last century – so this is one of the best things you can do for wildlife. Even a tiny pond adds loads of value for wildlife – and all sorts of creatures, from frogs and toads to bats, birds and dragonflies, will start to benefit almost immediately. Exercising outdoors is also a great way to improve mental and physical health.
Volunteer for your local conservation charity. Just a few hours a month makes a huge difference, and you could learn new skills too. Working with others to achieve a common goal can improve mental health – and volunteering often involves moderate physical activity in the fresh air. For ideas for volunteering opportunities, see the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust website (www. derbyshirewildlifetrust .org.uk), or check out the events listings in the Peak Advertiser.
Plant a tree or a hedge. Native trees and hedges provide food and nesting sites for birds, and support hundreds of insect species. Hawthorn, holly, blackthorn and crab apple are native species that work well in a wildlife hedge. If you have space to plant a tree or two, rowan and hazel are good for wildlife. Or plant an apple tree – bumblebees love the nectar provided by apple blossoms, and the autumn fruits are delicious.
Walk or cycle instead of driving. Walking is one of the easiest – and cheapest – ways to improve fitness. If work or school is too far to walk the whole way, try parking half a mile (or more) away and walk the rest of the way. This is particularly effective on the school run – it avoids congestion (and air pollution from exhaust emissions) around the school gates, and studies show that children who walk to school tend to have better concentration in the classroom. By reducing petrol consumption and wear and tear on your car, walking or cycling more will also help you to…
Save money
Reduce energy use. A 2022 UCL study showed that turning your thermostat down by just one degree could save an average household £130 per year. With household energy prices now even higher, keeping an eye on the thermostat could save even more. And reducing home energy use also reduces impacts on the environment.
Wearing layers of warm clothing, using a hot water bottle at night and having regular hot drinks can help keep you warm without turning the heating up. A thermostat set to 18C should be comfortable for most, but rooms may need to be warmer for some people, such as the elderly.
When heating your home, you want to be sure all the heat stays inside. Effective insulation keeps houses warmer and energy bills down. As well as having loft insulation, consider draught-proofing gaps around windows and doors.
Buy a reusable water bottle or coffee cup. Many places will now top up water for free and offer discounts on hot drinks in reusable cups. There are also refill stations across the UK in train stations, airports, and some high street stores. If you usually buy bottled water, you could save hundreds of pounds by refilling a reusable bottle – while reducing plastic pollution that can end up in the sea.
Grow your own. With a few packets of seeds you can produce fresh food at home and save money. Salad leaves are a good example, as they can be grown in patio pots or on a sunny windowsill – and one packet of seeds (costing around £1) will produce the equivalent of several bags of salad from the supermarket.
Home-grown veg can be picked and eaten immediately, so is usually fresher and tastier than food that’s been shipped halfway round the world. You can also produce your own food without the use of harmful chemicals. People who grow their own produce often eat a higher quantity and wider variety of fruit and vegetables too. So, as well as getting you outside and more active, growing your own can also help you to…
Eat a healthier diet
Choose organic food. Organic fruit and vegetables avoid the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers which contribute to climate change – and can be detrimental to human health. And choosing local and seasonal food – for example from a local farmers' market or farm shop – is also better for the environment, as it needs less transportation from farm to fork.
Reduce meat consumption. Eating just one or two meat-free meals per week can have a huge positive impact on the environment – reducing your carbon footprint, helping to boost biodiversity, and improving animal welfare. Eating less meat and more plants can also improve your health, by increasing vitamins and minerals and reducing saturated fats in your diet.
Visit the Meat Free Mondays website (www. meatfreemon days.com) for more information and recipes.
And for more ideas for helping nature in 2025, from reducing single-use plastics to boosting biodiversity, check out the Little Green Space website!
Penny Bunting
www.littlegreenspace. org.uk
Bluesky @lgspace.bsky.social
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