We’re all producing far too much carbon dioxide; the natural world is doing its best to mop this up for us but we need more nature.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the destruction of the natural world but it’s something you can start reversing today. With every plant taking in CO2, let’s have more plants!

By all means go along to your nearest garden centre and buy a plant to put in your flower bed or in a pot by your front door. However, you can create more plants without doing this and without more plastic plant pots. Simply collect seeds, which nature provides for free.

I leave a lot of my small suburban garden to nature by leaving sections unmown. Over a couple of years, the grass has grown long, and some wildflowers have appeared without my help. They have been spreading but I help to disperse them further afield. I take a handful of seeds on a walk and drop some on grass verges, trying to hit a patch of soil if I can. You could find a dandelion clock and revel in the sheer joy of blowing the seeds (don’t forget to count so you find out the time) knowing you are giving nature a helping hand. You could look out for where bluebells have turned to seed, watch for the seed heads to dry, open them and spread them. Or could you simply retire your lawnmower until autumn? It’s been great to see that local councils have been doing just that, mowing a lot less and purposely leaving areas for nature.

Whatever you do is important and worthwhile. Imagine if all 67 million UK residents helped to provide one more plant for the planet. It’s a very small step towards offsetting carbon, it feels almost insignificant in the big picture of nature destruction but it’s also a mindset. You are a changemaker, you are using your power to create a better world and the local bees and bugs will be very thankful for your actions.

Extract from my book ‘52 Tips to Reduce Waste’, available from: www.rhubarbandrunnerbeans.co.uk