Natural England

Natural England, the nation's environmental champion, is inviting people to go wild at a city garden party in Manchester.

To celebrate the wonders of Britain's natural world, Natural England is hosting a garden party at the BBC’s Springwatch festival on Saturday June 9.

Children can make their own ‘bug bling’ jewellery and learn about the birds, bugs and beasties waiting to be discovered. The garden party will take place from 11am until 5pm at Angel Meadow Park on Dantzic Street – just a five minutes walk from Manchester Cathedral.

Liz Newton, the North West Regional Director of Natural England, said: “Getting up close to England’s natural world is fun, exciting and easier than you might think - you don’t have to trek out into the wilderness to do it. England’s gardens are some of the wildest places on the planet.

“With a little hard work and patience, you can create your own wildlife garden in ten easy steps. Come down to our Natural England garden party to find out how.”

Natural England is laying on a range of activities to suit all ages:

• Try your hand at making 'bug bling' jewellery
• Build your own bird feeder
• Pot up a range of summer blooms
• Test your green knowledge with an interactive quiz
• Get expert advice on making your garden a haven for wildlife and a great place to play
• Join a Fairy Crown workshop.

Kick off your shoes and join the wildest party in town.

To find out more visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk/campaigns/breathingplaces

Ends

Notes to editors

1. Events are taking place in 13 cities across England.

2. Contact with the natural environment improves children's mental and physical health

• A child's self discipline can be improved by 20% by simply having views of trees and vegetation outside their homes
• Children are more likely to play in a green environment than on hard tarmac and at school this can reduce bullying.
• Obesity levels for children aged 6 have doubled in the last 10 years, and have tripled in 15 year olds. 22% of adults are obese and about 40% are overweight. Being overweight or obese accounts for as much as 30% of heart disease and 80% of diabetes and costs the UK £2.5 billion a year.

3. Contact with the natural environment brings benefits to communities also.

• Aggression and domestic violence is less likely in low-income families with views or access to natural green space.
• Crime rates are lower in tower blocks with more natural green space than identical tower blocks with no surrounding vegetation.
• Studies have shown the presence of vegetation can halve the incidence of violent and property crimes in otherwise identical public housing blocks with randomly allocated tenants.

4.   Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

Issued on behalf of Natural England by GNN North West.