To mark World Re-wilding Day 2023, Orwell Housing Association's Deben View in Woodbridge is re-wilding their communal outside space with support from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Transition Town Woodbridge, local volunteers, Orwell's own gardening team and of course, the residents themselves. 

Some of the work to date includes planting fruit trees, sowing wildflower seed, planting a hedgerow, and building Swift and hedgehog boxes. Hedgehog Highways and a Bug Hotel have also been built to support wildlife. The project aims to show that re-wilding is not limited to large open spaces and can be a great way to involve everyone across the local community to make a difference to nature - and to wellbeing.

The communal garden was originally laid to lawn with scattered trees and staff and residents at Deben View decided they wanted to change the way the grounds were managed, encourage more wildlife into the garden and provide an interesting habitat that is attractive to not only the residents but also to bugs and beasties.

The Orwell gardening team will use their mowing time to support the re-wilding project and provide related activities for the residents at the scheme.

Supporting nature recovery enhances biodiversity and encourages a range of different species that rely upon the plants you supply for survival. Re-wilding also helps nature to deliver a range of other essential benefits such as clean air, fertile soil, good health, wellbeing, and resilience to disease.

Michelle Harrison, Director of People and Culture for Orwell, said, “It is fantastic to be undertaking this re-wilding project with our residents at Deben view and with support from partners and volunteers. The project will be ongoing and develop over time, and the commitment is to do this using recycled, donated, and reusable items. This project is a testament to the commitment of our colleagues at Deben View to provide a safe and comfortable home where residents can feel connected to the natural world and enjoy interacting with nature.

We are very grateful to have the support of the local community who have offered their time and resources to help make this project a reality. We hope this project will continue to be a success and that the garden will become a popular spot for both wildlife and people alike.

We look forward to seeing the garden blossom and are excited to be part of this effort to make Deben View a more vibrant and natural space.”