Whilst on the subject of weather it would seem sensible to plan for a potential heat wave of British Columbia proportions sometime in the future. Planting trees and roof top gardens would help. Would grey rather than black road surfaces help? These actions go hard in hand with flood prevention. Last year London saw several extreme rainfall events. Increasing permeability in driveways and car parks would help. Hard engineering is likely to make the situation worse – transferring the problem. With the increase in sub-surface excavations there has to be an increased threat to life and huge insurance claims. London’s Underground system has already been disrupted – will Cross-rail be flooded before opening?
I was somewhat shocked a few years ago to view a house on a hillside that had suffered huge damage due to the volume of flood water flowing down the slope – it is not just flood plains that need to be aware. On which – why are houses being built on flood plains?
Wild flower gardening – greater plant volume is bound to increase water retention and spread out release into the hydrological cycle. It also moderates temperature, thus saving on heating and air-con.
Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered is a collection of essays published in 1973 by German-born British economist E. F. Schumacher. The title “Small Is Beautiful” came from a principle espoused by Schumacher’s teacher Leopold Kohr[1] (1909–1994) advancing small, appropriate technologies, policies, and polities as a superior alternative to the mainstream ethos of “bigger is better”.