Parks group says eight-legged creatures are just misunderstood.
Today is the perfect time of year to spin a new perspective on one of the most misunderstood creatures of spooky season, the spider. That's the view of the MK trust that houses millions of them in its parks and open spaces.
Often feared and rarely celebrated, spiders are some of the most beneficial animals in our ecosystems. The silent predators play a vital role in keeping nature balanced, from pest control to supporting biodiversity and plant health in gardens, parks, and green spaces.
Despite their reputation, fewer than 0.1% of the world’s 50,000+ spider species pose any threat to people.
A wide variety of spider species can be found across Milton Keynes, from the familiar Garden Spider and Common House Spider to the striking Zebra Jumping Spider and elusive Woodlouse Spider (pictured).
“Spiders are a key part of the ecosystem, not only quietly managing populations of insects that damage crops or spread disease, but they’re also a tasty meal for other critters, birds and mammals,” said Carla Boswell, Nature Conservation Officer at The Parks Trust.
“They might not be considered cute and cuddly, but they’re absolutely essential.”
The Parks Trust, the charity caring for MK’s parks, offers this advice to help make your garden or outdoor space more spider and eco-friendly:
- Ditch the pesticides – let spiders do natural pest control
- Create spider-friendly spaces – leaf litter, shrubs, and undisturbed corners are perfect habitats
- Educate, don’t eradicate – most spiders are harmless, so catch and release not kill
- Turn off outdoor lights – it maintains natural hunting patterns
More information: theparkstrust.com/spiders
