Plastic wrapping, empty cartons and bottles are usually taken to landfill to be buried, but they take decades to degrade and pollute the surrounding soils where they are buried. Try using reusable options instead and find a local zero-waste shop that allows you to refill old washing-up and detergent bottles. The products sold at these stores are often environmentally friendly too, so this could be two resolutions in one!

Go local: transporting goods over long distances has a higher environmental impact than buying locally. Shropshire has dozens of local farm shops where good quality locally produced vegetables can be purchased safe in the knowledge that they were flown or shipped thousands of miles to end up in your kitchen. You can also reuse your old carrier bags, so don't forget to take them with you!

Planting a tree is a worthwhile cause and can help you play your part in combating climate change. Find a local tree planting community scheme near you and join regular sessions...the more trees you plant, the better and you meet some like-minded people in the process. Shropshire Council have launched a scheme recently to encourage communities to plant trees in their local area.

Visit their website here for more information.

Join a local nature reserve volunteer group and really get hand-on with nature conservation. Whatever your skills or background and however much time you can give, you can make a difference. From helping out at our visitor centre reception to key management work of special wild spaces, there’s something for everyone. As well as helping Shropshire's environment, you’ll be meeting new people and learning new skills.

There are hundreds of greenspaces, nature reserves and walking routes to explore in Shropshire. Make it your New Year's resolution to discover the joys of the countryside...it is a great way to clear your head, get some exercise and it doesn't cost a penny!

We manage 40 nature reserves, all of which are free to access and explore, but there are also lots of other places you can visit that are managed by councils and private landowners. The Shropshire's Great Outdoors website is a good place to start planning your trips.

You can also check out our nature reserves pages here.

Protecting the natural world is vital, but it costs money to manage and care for nature reserves and increase environmental awareness. There are lots of ways you can fundraise, whether it is a sponsored walk, bake sale or if you feel like a bigger challenge, setting up your own events.

Try a fundraising service like EasyFundraising or Just Giving

By becoming a member, you are supporting our efforts to protect and restore Shropshire's nature spaces for people to enjoy and to give wildlife a place to thrive in. And in return, you receive our members magazine 3 times a year so you can keep updated on how much progress we have been making.