# Nature **Hold events at nature reserves** Having staff away days and small events at nature reserve centres or country parks is a great way to support local nature and biodiversity. You get to support the work of the reserve or park, and learn more about the wildlife and nature that they protect. Make sure to shout about your event on social media to encourage more people to support their work, and if you’re interested why not become a member yourself? #### Useful links * [National nature reserves scotland](https://www.nnr.scot/) * [Find a country park](https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/find-country-park) **Build shelter for animals** People in Scotland are well-known animal lovers. Share the love by taking climate action in the form of building shelters for animals around your building. You can build birdboxes, hedgehog homes, and even mansions for bugs.  ‍It’s really important that as we build more urban areas, animals have places to live so that species can continue to grow and avoid extinction. Loss of species can have a big impact on eco-systems and our environment, so give them a helping hand! #### Useful links * [How to build a bird box](https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-bird-box) * [Making homes for hedgehogs](https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-hedgehog-home) * [Creating habitats for insects](https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-bug-mansion) **Biodiversity surveys** To find out how healthy our environment is and what kind of plants and animals are living in it, scientists take surveys, counting the type and number of species that they find. There are several big surveys which the public can help out with – a fantastic way to help study our natural world, keep track of the problems facing it, and learn more about the nature on your doorstep. Top Tip - this can be an engaging team building exercise with staff and volunteers. #### Useful links * [Citizen science for biodiversity](https://www.nature.scot/citizenscience) * [How to do a wildlife survey](https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities/do-a-wildlife-survey) * [Smartphone apps to record local wildlife](https://www.brc.ac.uk/apps) **Walk in nature** Walking in nature helps to calm the mind and build our connections to the world around us. Why not try having a walking meeting in the local park, or organise a walk with your colleagues at lunchtime. If you are trying to get away from being on a screen all day you could even try heading out to have your meeting on the phone. #### Useful links * [Walk once a day hub](https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/lets-walk/walk-once-a-day-this-winter) * [Nature and wellbeing resources](https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/lets-walk/walking-with-nature-hub) **Let it grow** If your organisation has an area of grass or garden – let it grow. That’s right, even the weeds. While some people may say that this looks messy, it’s a great way to support nature and biodiversity in your area. Try to only mow every month or even less to give wildlife a chance to bloom. Top tip: If you don’t have your own grassy area, why not talk to your landlord or neighbour about what they are doing. You could also use any outdoor space (or pots and planters) to grown fruit and vegetables. Not only does it add to the biodiversity of your space, it can also provide you with food and help you cut down on food waste. #### Useful links * [Scottish Wildlife Trust guide to creating homes for wildlife](https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/resource/create-homes-for-wildlife-in-your-garden/) * [The Conservation Volunteers guide to creating a wildflower meadow](https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/create-wildflower-meadow/) * [Plantlife's 'No Mow May' campaign](https://nomowmay.plantlife.org.uk/) * [Making a Living from Local Food - Resources on Fruit and Veg Growing](https://www.nourishscotland.org/making-living-local-food-resources-fruit-veg-growing/) from Nourish Scotland [ #### Energy & buildings ](/act/energy-buildings) [ #### Travel ](/act/travel) [ #### Waste & reuse ](/act/waste-reuse) [ #### Engagement ](/act/engagement) [ #### Buy & sell ](/act/buy-sell) [ #### Nature ](/act/nature) [ #### Food ](/act/food) [ #### Justice & adaptation ](/act/justice-adaptation) [ #### Create a policy ](/act/create-a-policy) --- ## About Growing Climate Confidence SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) is the national membership organisation for Scotland's voluntary sector. Our role is to champion the role of voluntary organisations in Scotland and to support them to do work that has a positive impact. SCVO supports members and the wider voluntary sector with all aspects of setting up and running a voluntary organisation. SCVO represents the needs and concerns of the voluntary sector to the Scottish government in Holyrood and UK government and Westminster. Through our learning and events programme SCVO offers training and development opportunities to the sector. Members access an extensive membership benefits package including specialist, in-depth, 1-to-1 guidance from our Information Services team and from professional service partners. Access to exclusive membership networks (including comms, employers, governance and policy) supports members to grow their connections, stay up to date, exchange ideas and views with peers, and learn through tailored learning opportunities. SCVO members enjoy free access to Funding Scotland Premium to stay on top of funding opportunities to support their organisation’s financial resilience. Discounts and savings on SCVO products and services (including our HR service, managed IT support, payroll service and events and training) and partner offers provide members with support to allow them to focus on delivering their organisation’s goals. Further SCVO products and services include [extensive digital support](https://scvo.scot/support/digital), a climate action resource [Growing Climate Confidence](https://climateconfident.scot), a voluntary sector publication [Third Force News](https://tfn.scot) and a voluntary sector jobs and recruitment service [Goodmoves](https://goodmoves.org). For more information on SCVO membership, visit [SCVO membership](https://scvo.scot/membership)