I am not a scientist (I was crap at science at school), however I was OK at mathematics. So if a country like the USA has had 4 (possibly 5) “once in a thousand years” events this summer; China has temperatures never recorded before of over 50C; Pakistan has record floods; Europe’s main river for trade – the Rhine – has record low flows; crops across Europe and worldwide are having lower yields; sea. levels are rising and coastal erosion increasing; glaciers are melting at record rates in all continents; species extinction due to climate change (as opposed to population growth) is increasing; CO2 levels have doubled in last couple of centuries; methane levels are increasing; IT IS A NO BRAINER NOT TO REACT TO THESE FACTS.
DROUGHT
Groundwater, river levels and reservoirs are all at the lowest level for 21 years. Of course climate is a major factor but we should not ignore the impact buildings and roads have, together with intensive agriculture, In the last 100 years e have lost 90% of wetlands and 150000miles of hedgerows. The more impervious the surface, the faster the runoff and the lower the infiltration. this means more floods and more severe droughts. House will need to be built with separate sage and storm water systems, all houses will have to have water butts.
BIRDS
In April and May I thought the birds had deserted me – food in dispensers left for days – took them down and gave them a good wash. But now they are demolishing bird food like a panic run on toilet paper. One individual – a greenfinch – is quite comical. Whilst most great tits and blue tits zoom out of the apple tree to grab some food and retreat as quickly as possible, this one arrives on the feeder and instead of tucking in and making a quick getaway he (I think it is a he) lands and has a look back to the red and has a look of “I am here now so do not disturb me”. He is in no hurry and will spend 20 minutes glaring around and having the occasional seed. Comical.
Butterflies are mainly confined to small white. One peacock and a couple of gatekeepers. I am hoping for more. A couple damsel flies too.
DROUGHT-FLOOD
Absolutely no planing or preparation for events that are 100% predictable. Create mini-lakes to absorb flood waters, plant more trees and shrubs, Every Parish Council should be mandated to come up with a plan to ameliorate floods and drought. Discounted water butts and pond liners, free wild flower seeds. Cut green bin collections to 6 a year.
Increase council tax for paved over lawns. Nature should come first.
WATER
Companies should be forced to produce monthly figures for reservoir , river and groundwater levels. Also number of leaks stopped, km of pipes replaced. Subsidised water butts provided and all new housing required to have them and only brown water going to treatment. No wage rises or bonus payments for those earning £100,000 or over until environmental and social targets are met (i.e. not for 15 or 20 years).
Farmers should meet certain standards too – with aid if necessary. Pollution of rivers like the Wye should be halted immediately – preferably by increasing cost of pollution to eye watering levels. If chicken costs go up, so be it – environment first. The same goes for intensive beef/dairy pig facilities.
Venison sales, especially wild, should be encouraged.
OH SHIT, what a mess we are in. The environment is still seen as a free lunch for large landowners, to be exploited and abused as they arrogantly wish. The economy is distorted massively, the financial system is corrupt (can anyone explain how a person in an office in the City of London actually increases the quality of life for the human race?
1976
A similar dry summer with hosepipe bans. In 2022 the announcement of a hosepipe ban was announced with a plea ‘to dob on a neighbour’. In 1976 this came much later. In 1976 we had a government (not in 2022). Will this government make golf courses and stately piles exempt? Will it impose laws that wastage must be cut by 15% per annum with no dividends until this takes place, and no price hikes.
Of greater importance is the need to ensure a long term protection for our chalk streams and wildlife. If these waterways are in private ownership, then the owner must create access in a equable way.
Water companies must comply to environmental standards or be nationalised without compensation. They should also have to pay an environmental fee for the privilege of becoming guardians of our environment. Everyone should also be provided with a set quantity of water free. I do not know how to work this out – but 5 toilet flushes per person, 3 minute shower, 5 litre for cooking and 10 litre for washing up. Then charge.
Perhaps the same should occur for households. The first x therms free, then progressively tax (allowances made for disability recipients).
CLIMATE CRISIS
Discussion in village with “I am not convinced by CC” person. After about 45 secs of hearing nonsense I told him I could not waste my breadth arguing the obvious with him in case he told me the Earth was flat and Brexit was a good idea. One way to make friends eh?
WEATHER
MetO predict 80% chance of rain whilst other say none. It would be good to top up the water butts. Not picking tomatoes today – I will leave to John and Linda to do that. I got a parcel ready for Cornwall but Mart is going on the train – which is the best option anyway.
LAWNMOWERS
Lawns do provide space for relaxation and some animals like woodpeckers, but most are vanity projects. The market is estimated at about $3 billion per year. Add in energy costs and the chemicals and we individually pay billions to destroy wildlife. My neighbour sprays dandelions with something horrible despite her husband assiduously mowing it short very 2 weeks. Why – does she hate bees and hover flies?
Environmentalists like to blame farmers, and I assure they contribute to loss of habitat in a large way, at least they are producing food. However the 15-20 million lawn owners are doing their bit to destroy our planet for vanity. The ozone layer was almost destroyed by people using aerosols to smell … often … vile. Vanity again.
BIRD FEEDERS
All was quiet then 3 long tailed tits, 2 robins, 1 great tit, 1 blue tit, 1chaffinch, 1 hedge sparrow in 5 mins. And then gone.
Reporter in the G said lack of butterfly’s might be down to earlier hatching – nob. They are disappearing.