Plants are crucial to life on Earth. In cities, the numbers and types of plants we encourage influences the animals that live alongside us. In urban greenspaces and on city streets, plants also help to reduce summer temperatures and add to our sense of wellbeing.

Some insects have adapted easily to life in cities. We can improve urban habitats to support more beneficial insect life by changing mowing schedules, caring for rivers and lakes, planting trees and selecting insect-friendly plants. Through thoughtful management of gardens and greenspaces, both diversity and numbers of insects will increase.

Rivers and wetlands are Manchester’s most biodiverse places. There are strings of parks along the river valleys of the Medlock, Irk and Mersey, as well as canals and smaller brooks and streams. Lakes and ponds are particularly important for supporting amphibians such as the common frog, the common toad and several species of newt.

Living in close proximity can have its drawbacks. Some of the species which are most successful at living alongside us are those which we like the least. Animals that thrive on our scraps are often seen as dirty or dangerous. Wildflowers that survive in city streets are seen as messy weeds.

The city’s parks and gardens can be great habitats for small birds. Trees, shrubs and hedges provide places to roost and nest, and there is often plenty of food available. However, attracting large numbers of birds can easily spread diseases through garden bird populations.

We are highly sensitive to the look of the places where we live. Our personal ideas of wild shape what is acceptable. If a weed is just a plant out of place, expanding the places we expect to see them will stop them being weeds. Some cities are starting to reduce the use of chemical herbicide and people are learning to live with weeds. How wild is too wild on your doorstep?