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😂 I give so little thought to my own user I hadn’t even noticed
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Same here.
In South Oxfordshire, in a small parish just to the north of the Chilterns. I wasn't involved directly in the discussions with the Parish Council but they apparently were very supportive. What I've taken from this is that anywhere where the land owner is receptive to similar initiatives could potentially quite quickly turn into biodiversity gains given the right community input. I think in our case we were lucky with the orchard as there were retired market gardeners with the right expertise to advise us, and with stream project we were able to get advice for free from professional ecologists who some in the community knew through their wider networks.
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Nice! Sounds like quite a serendipitous arrangement. There’s been a bit of positive movement local to me (Worthing), new council with some apparent enthusiasm for environmental projects, so I’m hoping for something similar to crop up round here
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Definitely not all shit. Also at the global level, hope in progressing the 30x30 agenda too. 30% of the earths surface with some formal protection for biodiversity by 2030.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/30/100-days-until-cop15-the-omens-are-good-for-a-global-plan-to-protect-nature-aoe -
This is pretty shit though, 15 years of trying and still failing to reach a consensus
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/27/united-nations-ocean-treaty-marine-life -
As well as posing an existential threat to future generations, fossil fuels are a hazard in the present, claiming more than 8 million lives prematurely in 2018, 18% of that year’s total deaths, according to one study.
and
“The current burden of death and disease from air pollution is comparable to that of tobacco use, while the long-term effects of fossil fuels on the Earth’s climate present an existential threat to humanity – as do nuclear weapons.”
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Citizen scientists are being trained as the best hope to protect rivers from pollution and over-abstraction as data suggests the Environment Agency’s new monitoring programme leaves waterways unprotected.
A £7m programme to set up citizen science testing in 10 river catchments across England is under way in an attempt to standardise the way volunteers carry out the monitoring.
Modelled on the testing carried out by volunteers at Chesapeake Bay in the US, the third largest estuary in the world, the project aims to create thousands of volunteer scientists who will monitor their local rivers and provide a grassroots voice to protect them.
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For Truss to promote fracking was “primarily a political decision – they have to be seen to be doing something”, said Cornelius. “It does not make economic sense. I do not think sensible people are putting money in this.”
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I read that as kind of good news? Political bluster unlikely to actually go ahead at a local level?
They had a big plan to do fracking near me in the south downs which ultimately never went anywhere. Hopefully it won't come back around...
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RSPB response to budget
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National Trust and Wildlife Trust's says they are on board to work together and mobilise to fight it together, between the three of them they bring a massive membership, 6m+, wonder how many will engage
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WWF on the goverment potentially scrapping the new payments for farmers engaging with nature
https://twitter.com/WWF_UK_Politics/status/1573744233571393539 -
We have a similar experience at home. My wife co founded an agricultural technology business a couple of years ago as she became more interested in soil science and the environment. Through this we learned about the impact of livestock worming on the soil, the chemicals to kill the worms in sheep and cattle also kill insects in the soil. This helps turn fields into sterile dirt. Adding to this many farmers over graze land stripping nutrients from the soil and failing to sequester carbon back into the ground.
There are a couple of fields we were letting out to a farmer. We stopped doing this and have let the fields revert to rough grass. Two years later we now have a family of deer living on our land as they have cover to hide in the long grass, the grass itself has formed a thick mat filled with rodent holes, the field buzzes and whirs with insect activity, beetles crawl everywhere, more raptors overhead, huge anthills forming etc etc. I am aware we are privileged to be able to do this but it’s been an incredible change to watch. It reflects the John Lewis Stemple “March Hare” book which was a huge influence on us moving out of London into the countryside.
Given we walk our dogs daily through this we have seen a complete change in the biodiversity, even driving along the road it is noticeable the difference in insects in the air when passing our ex-field and neighbouring farmed land.
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And in a few years time it will be reverting to woodland.
I used to manage a lot of land. Of that 3 arable fields were abandoned when the farmer gave up his tenancy. It is now a fascinating woodland. Deer and rabbits have diversified the structure. Paths have formed through it. 7 species of Orchid now grow there. It’s full of birds and insects. Nothing was ever planted. -
National Trust response to new Government proposals
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/our-response-to-recent-government-proposals- -
Hi everyone, especially Thamesiders:
Thames Estuary 2100 public consultation launched on 26th September
Over the past 3 years, we have been working with partners to review and update the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. We are now in the final stages of this and will launch the updated Plan next spring, setting out how we can work together to manage flood risk in the Thames Estuary.
I am excited that we have launched a consultation (link live from 26th September) on key content for the updated Plan from Monday 26th September. The consultation will run for 8 weeks to 20 November.
This is your opportunity to:
Tell us whether you support the updated outcomes that set out what we need to achieve Share this message and supporting materials with your partners and communities – and others you work with in the estuary Have your say on the content proposed for the updated Plan before it’s published next yearThe content within the consultation is the culmination of 3 years of collaborative working across the estuary on the 10-Year Review (the first full review and update of the strategy since it was published in 2012). It includes an updated set of outcomes which reflect our collective ambitions for flood risk management, sustainability and place-making in the Thames Estuary. Furthermore, we have used the latest climate science and evidence to review deadlines and evidence for the updated Plan, reflect changes in policy since 2012 and incorporate improved ways of working, based on feedback from our partners.
The 10-Year Review found that the original Plan remains robust and sets out reliable pathways for adapting to the impacts of sea level rise. However, sea level rise is accelerating, and it is crucial that we act now. Some of the deadlines for upgrading defences in the estuary have come forward. We cannot do this alone – we need to work with your organisation to create a resilient estuary for future generations to enjoy. This is a huge milestone for the Environment Agency and our partners, as the first full update of a world-leading adaptive flood risk management strategy. We really welcome your support by responding to this consultation, and encouraging others in your organisation to respond.
Supporting material to share with colleagues and partners
I would be very grateful if you can help us to promote the consultation (and supporting drop-in events) to the communities and businesses you work with in the estuary, using these supporting materials:
Pack of media materials (tweets, GIFs, banners, blog posts) Single page briefing showing consultation details - attached Posters promoting drop-in events across the estuary - attachedPlease note we are also looking to hold two more drop-ins towards the end of October or early November; one in the City of London and one in Richmond. All drop-ins are generic to the whole area of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. Please contact the team for further details on these events.
If you have any questions, please let me know, or get in touch with the Thames Estuary 2100 team at thamesestuary2100@environment-agency.gov.uk.
[Please pardon the formatting above. I thought I was just copy & pasting an email I received].
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@hippy
Love to hear it. Where is this?