Protecting nature and eating less meat

January is an opportunity to turn over a new leaf, look for birds in the leafless trees, plant a tree that provides more leaves or even eat the leaf you've turned over. Here are our green steps for January 2025.

Join the Big Garden Birdwatch (24-26 Jan)

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 January. It’s the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers like you take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring.

Wild birds are a key indicator of the health of our ecosystem and with the World Wildlife Fund reporting that wildlife populations have fallen by 73% between 1970 and 2020 it is important to keep monitoring local wildlife in the hope we can stop this decline.

Provide shelter for local wildlife

The four basic needs of wildlife are food, water, shelter and air. Shelter is important for providing a safe place for wildlife to live, away from predators and harsh weather conditions.

The Biological Recording Company is running a free webinar on Thursday 13 February, 12.30-2pm. Simple Steps to Boost Biodiversity will give you information on bird nest boxes and making your garden a thriving ecosystem using deadwood. Sign up online through Eventbrite.

You can also provide shelter in your garden by ordering up to five discounted fruit trees through PeCAN’s Fruit Tree in Every Garden project. Order by 6 February while stocks last.

Give vegan a go in Veganuary

What we eat, and how that food is produced, affects both our health and the environment.

According to the UN, beef (70.6kg) and lamb (39.7kg) production generates the highest greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of food with rice and grains well down the scale at 3.6kg per kilogram of food.

By switching to eating more plant-based meals, you can reduce your impact on climate change and have a healthier diet. Join up for Veganuary and you can access 10 meal plans, a celebrity cookbook and coaching emails.

Alton Climate Action Network (ACAN) is holding an Eating for Tomorrow event at Alton Maltings on Saturday 25 January at 6.15pm which for £10 (or £5 for people not in work) includes a film screening and plant-based meal.