Wildlife numbers have fallen by 70% in the last 50 years and is falling at 1% per year. The worst decline is Latin America (down 98%), Africa (66%), Pacific (66%), North America (20%), Europe and Central America (18%). The report points out that the UK had diminished its wildlife well before the 1970’s, with it being one of the mist nature-depleted. countries in the world.
SOLAR FARMS
The Environment Minister has announced plans to curtail new solar farms on agricultural land. this has been condemned by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy who are faced with coping with the energy crisis; The right wing Institute of Economic Affairs think tank and the Green Alliance think tank.
SPICY GREEN RELISH
HURRICANE IAN
LAWNAGEDDON
Private garden space in Britain cover about 728,900 hectares. That is bigger than Devon (0.62m ha) or half the size of Yorkshire (1.48m ha). Let your garden lawn grow for the climate, wildlife and environment.
PATAGONIA
Owner of this clothing company has given the company over to environmental protection. https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/home/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmouZBhDSARIsALYcouqBOR-vro4WTau1iFOqnJG3P3Z3NRUp7iCr4EShb5UBTuBopj15jtIaAtxLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
CLIMATE CRISIS
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.