As summer turns into autumn, you might be thinking about what to grow in the garden next year. Or maybe you have a garden but don’t really pay it any attention. Or would you love to garden, but don’t have any outdoor space? Well, whatever your situation, the good news is that you can reduce your carbon footprint and help wildlife by spending some time outdoors.

Grow food to eat
One of the best ways of using outdoor space to reduce your impact is to grow food to eat – no packaging, no food miles – just straight from your garden to your table! Growing your own can be daunting, but there is plenty of advice in gardening books or online – there’s even a free Grow Your Own iPhone app from the Royal Horticultural Society. Plan now what to grow throughout the coming year – maybe start small with a few herbs or easy vegetables.

If you haven’t got a garden, you could search for a local community allotment or garden, help out a friend or neighbour, or sign up to a Time Banking scheme to offer help to others in exchange for others’ time.

And if you don’t want to grow food, there are still things you can do. Most importantly, keeping your garden as lawn or planted up is better than paving or decking, which contribute to flooding. You can also make sure you don’t buy more than you really need, as everything you buy inevitably comes with a carbon price tag. Borrowing tools from neighbours or getting them second hand is far greener.

Buy better quality plants that will last
As for plants and seeds, buying for longevity is better – buy better quality plants that will last, and ideally get them from friends. Or why not plan a few trips to car boot sales or local markets at key points in the year, as they often have very cheap plants grown locally in people’s gardens. For a big plant purchase or a whole redesign, researching your plans and making sure you have the right plants in the right conditions will minimise waste. If you’re buying compost, go for peat free or, even better, put in your own compost bin and turn food waste into beautiful nutritious food for your soil.

Then there’s gardening for wildlife. Your garden may be tiny, but trust me, it can provide an absolute haven for many, many species of birds, insects, mammals, amphibians and more. Top of the list has to be creating a hedgehog highway by cutting small holes in your fence to link your garden with others. Hedgehogs are in huge decline, and one contributing factor is not being able to get around to forage. Go to hedgehogstreet.org for instructions.

Plan for next year
Now’s the time to think about your garden plans for next year, and a little research goes a long way. Some plant species attract an incredible array of wild species, while others are virtually useless for wildlife. Covering a bare fence with ivy or planting a small crab apple tree, for example, will support many species of birds and insects. The best resource is the RSPB website, where you can search ways to give nature a home in your garden, from simple things like creating a log pile or planting butterfly friendly seeds, to bigger projects like creating a wildlife pond. Happy planning!