Editorial: Local nature protection efforts are tangible way for citizens to protect biodiversity
There is a piece of land – known as Fearns Island – in the middle of the River Aire, just down from Crown Point bridge in Leeds. It used to be home to the Sea Scouts, but now their old huts and weeds and plants wrestle for control. A group of local residents want to turn it into a nature reserve, and I am supporting them. The regeneration of the waterfront in Leeds has been remarkable in the last 20 years, but one thing we need much more of is green places, flowers, plants and trees.
While Fearns Island is still an idea, just over a mile away a local group has been planting wild flower meadows on derelict land and municipal grassed areas in Holbeck. It's a brilliantly simple idea and I was bowled over by what they had done. I took the photo above because I was bowled over by what they had done and how great it looked; the bees seemed pretty happy too as they floated from poppy to cornflower.