Stevenage aims to boost urban biodiversity by designing buildings, gardens and allotments that support wildlife, recognising that neighbourhood nature—found in gardens, parks, schools and workplaces—provides most people’s daily contact with the natural world.
Urban areas can host rich wildlife, with buildings mimicking natural cliffs for species like Swifts, bats and Kestrels, and gardens offering diverse mini‑habitats that support high densities of birds, amphibians and invertebrates. Allotments also provide valuable habitat mosaics.
The main threat is continuing urban expansion, which removes green and brownfield sites and reduces nesting and roosting opportunities in modern buildings. Instead of resisting development, the goal is to integrate wildlife needs into building design, encourage wildlife‑friendly gardening and ponds, and raise awareness so residents can help maximise biodiversity in their own outdoor spaces.