A sparrow hawk landed on a plant pot by the kitchen window with a dead blackbird and then spent a good 5 minutes plucking and nibbling.
ENVIRONMENT NEEDS HELP NOW
Once again the government has no plan other than Sleaze-Dogg ripping up protective legislation. Energy costs to carry on rising and the war in Ukraine is blamed. It is government policy that is to blame. France caps energy rises at 4%, Italy offers. 110% grants for improving home energy efficiency. Government boasts of £20 million ring fenced grant for tidal power research where we are world leaders (from a tiny base!).
Put speed limits on motorways and enforce them. Subsidise energy efficiency. Allow onshore wind farms. Support organic farms. Stop allowing housing projects where car use is essential due to location away from shops and facilities.
EVERY INDICATOR POINTS TO DISASTER. But the government does nothing.
ORGANIC GROWBAGS FOR TOMATO PLANTS
Nice one Banwell Garden Centre.
GREENHOUSE
It is quite cold at night still so most plants taking their time – but that’s ok! Tomato plants planted first doing well – time to transplant in a couple of days – but I need to create some space by giving stuff away! I have also transplanted some of the wild flower seeds into the front. Sweet basil on kitchen window sill with a tomato (if I clip it it should stay smallish), greek basil not showing yet. Dill growing well as are marigolds, mustard and Californian poppies.
BOOKS
Books I recommend. The Anarchy – William Dalrymple; The Book of Trespass – Nick Hayes; Our Climate Our Future – Jonny Friend; and for light entertainment Debbie Johnson -Cold Comfort Cafe. I make no apologies for wanting a gentle read with a bit of humour and a happy ending.
SHIT
Raw sewage pumped into rivers 372533 times last year. Our wonderful government and the privatised companies which have dished out millions of £ to shareholders, have agreed to cut these discharges by 40% by 2040. Honestly this is not a typo, and the government say it is a step change! So in 18 years time there will only be 223520 discharges of raw shit into our rivers. What a fragrant government we have!
WATER
Water companies dumped sewage into our rivers and coast 372,533 times last year! How shitty is that?
ENERGY
National Grid Live Status shows that we are still very dependant on fossil fuels, especially at this time of year. We have become reliant on wind for renewable energy and not done enough to develop solar. As ever I am the worst sort of commentator as I have limited knowledge which may be worse than no knowledge!
Cutting demand is an obvious partial solution. Solar panels on all possible sites of offices and educational establishments that operate mainly in daylight is a no brainer. Governments and investors of all persuasions seem fixated on the large scale projects. Would lots of small scale projects undermine the privatised National Grid? I am surprised at the lack of HEP – water powered this country for centuries. Re-instated mill ponds would surely bring environmental benefits.
The stats show the continuing importance of nuclear power. I am cautious with Windscale, Three Mile Island, Fukushima, Chernobyl all in my memory, and we do not seem to have solved the nuclear waste problem. However, needs must. At this time of year we need an alternative that does not exacerbate climate change. The £13 billion pound cost of increasing the nuclear component from 16% to 25% it to passed onto the public. I am not sure the free market economy is working too well in this market. We have seen the privatised energy companies make huge profits (and the huge fossil fuel companies), whilst little has been done to help the poorest in our society. (I was fortunate to have been born with the benefits derived from a socialist government. The gap between rich and poor was still too large, but has grown exponentially recently). The current capitalist model is broke.
Apparently Tory MP’s with rural constituencies are opposed to relaxing planning rules for onshore wind farms. I suspect that 90% of people living in villages do not give a shit, it is the wealthy landowners they are talking about. I am sure the Daily Mail or Telegraph can run a spurious story linking wind turbines to cancer!
WEATHER
I was wondering what impact a cold spell would have on wildlife? It is not predicted to be frosty which is something, but early nesting birds/broods could suffer? Butterflies? Blossom is out on many trees but they will need the bees to fertilise, yesterday there were lots of insects around. My bird feeders have gone strangely quiet in the last 3 days or so. Have they found a better source?
Plenty of Brimstone Butterflies in last week
WEATHER FORECAST – GARDEN – KITCHEN
Temperatures beginning to fall with possibility of snow at lower levels in South-West! So I think it is steady as it goes in the garden. No more planting for 2 weeks. Sunflowers are racing ahead. I need to get the ‘different’ vegetables in pots ninth greenhouse, but have no space until I can give some tomato plants away, and plant some up – 8 in greenhouse, maybe 10, and 4 in front by kitchen window.
Then put sunflowers in pots next to them. I need another grow bag for repotting flowers in troughs and bigger pots. Then herbs to kitchen windowsill, and maybe bedrooms. Maybe buy a couple of plants for hanging baskets.
Then out to Draycott towards end of week for strawberries and jam making.
Making rum garibaldis later.