The secret garden encourages visitors to invite insects and wildlife back into their garden by using attractive planting methods and building a �living� wall.
Putting the garden back into the city
Gardens play a vital role in keeping city emission levels down by absorbing CO2, they also play an important role engaging people with the environment. Try to use as much as your own garden space as productively as possible - don't cover too much of it with decking.
Encouraging wildlife
Natural habitats are being lost at such an alarming rate that half the world�s flora and fauna could be extinct by the end of the century. The changing climate will destroy the habitat of some species. Others will be unable to reach places where the climate is suitable for them to live and breed.
Our secret garden houses bird feeders and insect logs provided by Natural Collection (http://www.naturalcollection.com/) to encourage biodiversity back into gardens. You can also do this by using plants to attract wildlife.
Living walls and roofs
The secret garden is made out of living walls created by Greenfix UK (www.greenfix.co.uk). The walls are planted with sedum, a drought-resistant plant. If planted against a house it can help with insulation - keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in summer and can help lower your home's carbon footprint. You can also plant it on your roof.
No garden? Try guerilla gardening
Don't worry if you haven't got a garden or outside space of your own, there are still ways to get involved. Try contacting your local council to find out about allotments. Alternatively you can try your hand at guerilla gardening...
...Guerilla gardening became popular in 1970s New York when communities took over the city's wasteland to plant gardens which have now become protected areas. The movement is now growing over here with people across the country utilising neglected public spaces to grow sustainable plants. It's a great way of 'greening' your community. Check out www.guerillagardening.org
Guerilla gardening can be even more revolutionary. In Brazil, just 3% of the population owns two-thirds of the land. Christian Aid supports a landless movement called Movimento sem Terra (MST) which helps some of the country's poorest communities identify unused land and occupy it. When the land is officially granted to them, these communities eventually establish homes, schools and farms.
More Christian Aid projects
The community is now growing a greater range of plants which has extended the growing season and provides more crops throughout the year.
In India, Christian Aid works with Deccan Development Society, a women�s organisation which has rescued more than 80 plant species that would have otherwise been obliterated.
In Honduras, the Lenca Indian community has lost much of its protective forest to industrial logging. Christian Aid's partner organisation, Coprodedpiy, runs workshops with Lenca children to teach them about conservation to help preserve what remains of their heritage.