Meet a Plant: Meadowsweet
05/08/2020
Meet, Meadowsweet. This delicate, sweetly scented flower has many names. Its Latin name is Filipendula ulmaria. … More Meet a Plant: Meadowsweet
Category: Environmental Articles
Big Butterfly Count 2020
19/07/2020
This year’s Big Butterfly Count is now underway. For day 48 of 365 Days Wild I did my first count of 2020. … More Big Butterfly Count 2020
Meet the Small Copper Butterfly
14/07/2020
On day 43 of 365 Days Wild a Small Copper butterfly was spotted in the meadow. … More Meet the Small Copper Butterfly
Don’t Step on a Bee Day
11/07/2020
Day 40 of #365DaysWild … More Don’t Step on a Bee Day
Connecting with Nature
04/04/2020
I am a ‘do-er’. I like to get out into nature and ‘do’ something. I always have my camera slung over my shoulder, plus a notepad and pen, and often even a watercolour pad and some paints. I can happily spend hours on end out in our local green spaces doing whichever thing most appeals to me. I always feel very connected to nature. … More Connecting with Nature
Three craft activities to reuse plastic Easter eggs
26/03/2020
This is another article that I wrote for The Rooter a few years ago. As it looks like we’re all going to be stuck in our homes on Coronavirus lockdown over Easter, I thought this might be a good one to fully re-post, rather than simply filing away under the Environmental Articles menu tab. This … More Three craft activities to reuse plastic Easter eggs
Pit lakes: a life after quarrying
24/03/2020
This is actually an article that I wrote for The Rooter, the positive environmental news website that my sister and I set up a few years ago. Unfortunately, I soon found myself trying to run it on my own – something that proved to be far too much for a single person, and so was … More Pit lakes: a life after quarrying
Eco events in August 2018
30/07/2018
Are you considering heading out and about, or looking for ideas and inspiration for events and projects to take part in over the next few weeks? Here’s our monthly roundup of eco-themed events, large and small, local, national, and global, taking place in August 2018. Don’t forget to let us know how you marked a … More Eco events in August 2018
The robotic future of farming
20/07/2018
For a long time farming has been a wasteful, polluting necessity. We’ve needed to grow crops, but the technology available has led to an unsustainable level of environmental damage. Small Robot Company aims to change this. They’re developing a trio of farmbots that could revolutionise the way in which technology is used in food production. Their robots are so … More The robotic future of farming
‘Carnabee Street’ is a hive of activity
11/07/2018
Carnaby Street has been renamed and transformed into a pollinators paradise for Defra’s third annual Bees’ Needs Week. From Monday 9 until Friday 13th July you can pay a visit to ‘Carnabee Street’ and discover what can and is being done to help our pollinators. This year Defra has partnered with Carnaby London, the leading West End shopping … More ‘Carnabee Street’ is a hive of activity
Eco events in July 2018
23/06/2018
Are you considering heading out and about, or looking for ideas and inspiration for events and projects to take part in over the next few weeks? Here’s our monthly roundup of eco-themed events, large and small, local, national, and global, taking place in July 2018. Don’t forget to let us know how you marked a … More Eco events in July 2018
Join the #WaveOfSupport for the UK’s oceans
23/06/2018
The seas around the English coast contain many diverse habitats that support a range of marine life, but the impact of human industry has steadily been encroaching. With waters over-fished and plastics found throughout, to ensure these habitats continue to exist in years to come, they need to be protected. The UK government have recently … More Join the #WaveOfSupport for the UK’s oceans
Reasons to be positive about the future of wind power
14/06/2018
Renewable energy is the cleanest, safest means of powering our modern, energy-hungry world. As today is Global Wind Day, here are some reasons to be positive about the future of wind power. The amount of energy being produced by wind power is increasing. 2017 was a particularly good year for wind energy. In the UK, … More Reasons to be positive about the future of wind power
Can a value be placed on our urban green spaces?
07/06/2018
Our parks and green spaces are precious. Not only do they provide habitats for wildlife, they also help to improve the quality of life of the people with access to them. There have been a number of studies in recent years that have shown the effects of green spaces on health and well-being. For the first … More Can a value be placed on our urban green spaces?
The brothers creating butterfly-friendly habitats
02/06/2018
Butterflies are beautiful creatures. Whether they’re brightly coloured or plain, it’s always a pleasure to watch them flit between flowers or bask in the summer sun, their delicate wings alight. But the UK’s butterflies are in need of heroes. With many of their habitats paved over or turned into agricultural land, the past forty years … More The brothers creating butterfly-friendly habitats
Help #BeatPlasticPollution this World Environment Day
31/05/2018
World Environment Day 2018 is just days away. The UN flagship day for promoting worldwide awareness and action for the environment is on June 5 2018, and this year, the theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution”. The theme invites everyone to consider how we can makes changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of … More Help #BeatPlasticPollution this World Environment Day
Are you ready to go wild?
29/05/2018
June is a perfect month to get out and about. The days grow longer and the sun warmer. Flowers are in full bloom. Fledglings leave their nests. It’s easy to connect with nature at this time of year, if you simply take a little time to do so. This is why the Wildlife Trust are … More Are you ready to go wild?
Eco events in June 2018
29/05/2018
Are you considering heading out and about, or looking for ideas and inspiration for events and projects to take part in over the next few weeks? Here’s our monthly roundup of eco-themed events, large and small, local, national, and global, taking place in June 2018. Don’t forget to let us know how you marked a day. … More Eco events in June 2018
EU takes action on plastic
28/05/2018
The European Commission has announced that it is to take steps to tackle plastic pollution by introducing new laws to reduce throwaway single-use plastics. The proposal sets out a number of measures designed to prevent and reduce the negative impact that disposable plastic items have on the environment, particularly on marine habitats, where there harmful … More EU takes action on plastic
Conservation success at Eelmore Marsh
17/05/2018
Eelmore Marsh in the south of England is a place brimming with flora and fauna. There are several species found within its bounds that can only be seen in only a handful of other sites around the country. But this biological diversity has not always been the case. Two centuries of mismanagement led to a largely barren landscape, and … More Conservation success at Eelmore Marsh
A May morning in the orchard
14/05/2018
On a sunlit May morning last week, before starting our work for the day, my sister and I paid a visit to Cross O’Cliff Orchard in Lincoln. An historical orchard concealed behind buildings in the middle of a residential area of the city, you can easily walk past the entrance without ever realising that a … More A May morning in the orchard
The wonders of home composting
11/05/2018
Composting is the best way to get rid of your garden and kitchen waste. Not only is it environmentally friendly, it also provides you with a nutrient rich compost to use on your garden. As May 6th-12th 2018 is International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), it’s the perfect time to look into starting a compost heap. We’ve … More The wonders of home composting
Littleheath Woods: Croydon’s hidden green haven
08/05/2018
It’s easy to think of a town or city and to picture a grey, lifeless area, covered in concrete, and absent of trees and plants. This may be the case for some places, but not Croydon. This large town in South London has a number of green spaces encapsulated within its urban sprawl. One of these is Littleheath … More Littleheath Woods: Croydon’s hidden green haven
Residents put an end to litter filled streets
03/05/2018
Nobody wants to see their streets filled with litter. Not only does it look unsightly, it can also damage local economies as less people wish to visit for shopping and leisure activities, and it can encourage further antisocial behaviour. A group of residents in Wilmslow, Cheshire, have taken it upon themselves to make sure this doesn’t … More Residents put an end to litter filled streets
Bees protected as EU bans neonicotinoid pesticides
30/04/2018
A near-total ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on crops in Europe has been introduced following a vote in the European Commission. From 2019 onwards, almost all outdoor uses of the chemicals will no longer be permitted. The proposed ban gained a large majority backing from the twenty eight EU member states when it was put … More Bees protected as EU bans neonicotinoid pesticides
Eco events in May 2018
27/04/2018
Are you considering heading out and about, or looking for ideas and inspiration for events and projects to take part in over the next few weeks? Here’s a our monthly roundup of eco-themed events, large and small, local, national and global, taking place in May 2018. Don’t forget to let us know how you marked … More Eco events in May 2018
Join the Great British Bee Count
25/04/2018
Do you know what types of bees can be found in your area? By joining in with the Great British Bee Count you can find out more about your local bee population whilst also helping scientists to gather data. The count, organised by Friends of the Earth (FotE), sponsored by EcoTalk, and supported by Buglife, … More Join the Great British Bee Count
UK Achieves 55 Hours Coal Free
22/04/2018
The move away from dirty fossil fuels is steadily gaining momentum. This week the UK managed to span a whole 55 hours relying solely on renewable energy sources. Between 10:25pm in London on Monday April 16th and 5:10am on Thursday April 19th 2018, the UK went 55 hours coal free, beating the country’s previous record … More UK Achieves 55 Hours Coal Free
Help Protect Our Ancient Woodland
22/04/2018
Following a recent review of UK planning policy, changes have been proposed that will protect our ancient woodlands from further development and destruction. Your support is needed to make these proposals reality. Ancient trees, however, are being left out in the cold. By letting your opinion on this omission be known, we can all do … More Help Protect Our Ancient Woodland
Discover Wildpoldsried – Germany’s renewable village
04/04/2018
In Bavaria, Germany, there’s a village that produces five times more energy than it consumes. With rooftops covered in solar panels, an installation of wind turbines, and a range of other eco-friendly projects, Wildpoldsried is leading the way in renewable energy. Its successful sustainability strategy has provided a model for other German municipalities, as well … More Discover Wildpoldsried – Germany’s renewable village
UK ban on ivory sales announced
03/04/2018
The UK is to introduce a ban on ivory sales, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed, setting out a plan to help protect elephants for future generations. The ban will cover ivory items of all ages – not only those produced after a certain date, and the maximum penalty for breaching the ban will be … More UK ban on ivory sales announced
Boom year for UK renewable energy
31/03/2018
UK Government figures released this week have shown renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, to have overtaken nuclear as producers if UK electricity. According to The Independent, the figures published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy showed a leap for energy generated from renewables to around 29, up by about … More Boom year for UK renewable energy
Green light for bottle deposit scheme
29/03/2018
A deposit return scheme for single-use bottles is to be introduced in England subject to consultation, UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed. The scheme would see shoppers in England paying a deposit when buying products, such as water or fizzy pop, in single-use plastic, glass and metal containers. The scheme aims to increase recycling rates … More Green light for bottle deposit scheme
Eco events in April 2018
28/03/2018
Are you considering heading out and about, or looking for ideas and inspiration for events and projects to take part in over the next few weeks? Here’s a our monthly roundup of eco-themed events, large and small, local, national and global, taking place in April 2018. Don’t forget to let us know how you marked … More Eco events in April 2018
Turtles return to Mumbai after beach clean-up
26/03/2018
For the first time in twenty years, turtles have hatched at Versova beach in Mumbai after a major beach clean-up drive. Versova beach, on Mumbai’s north-west coast, had previously been one of India’s capital’s dirtiest beaches. The piles of plastic waste in some places had reached as much as 1.67m in height. This had made … More Turtles return to Mumbai after beach clean-up
Time to record the changing seasons
25/03/2018
Have you spotted your first butterfly of the year yet? Or the first buds on trees? The first bluebells in flower? These are all things that The Woodland Trust are asking us to record on Nature’s Calendar, enabling scientists to track the effects of weather and climate change on wildlife. Going out for a walk, … More Time to record the changing seasons
Let’s have a plastic-free Easter (Petition)
24/03/2018
Who doesn’t love a chocolate egg at Easter? Even if you avoid the sweet brown confection for the rest of year, indulging yourself once a year is a treat not to be missed. Unfortunately, it’s a treat that loses some of its appeal when you open the box and find it filled with plastic packaging. … More Let’s have a plastic-free Easter (Petition)
Druridge Bay safe from opencast coal mining
24/03/2018
Beautiful Druridge Bay in Northumberland has been saved from being turned into a massive opencast coal mine. After nearly two years of campaigning by concerned locals and environmental groups, the government has rejected the planning application, unprecedentedly citing climate change as the reason. The planning application was originally approved by Northumberland county council in 2016. … More Druridge Bay safe from opencast coal mining
Meet the pompom sparrow family
20/03/2018
As today is World Sparrow Day, how better to engage a child’s interest in this little brown bird than by making a pompom sparrow chick out of wool and pipe cleaners. You will need: Wool – brown or beige Pipe cleaners – orange, black, and white Scissors Glue How to make: Step one Make four … More Meet the pompom sparrow family
How to have an eco-friendly house move
19/03/2018
They say that moving house is right up there with bereavement and divorce as one of the most stressful things you can go through, and considering the enormity of the list of things to organise and take into account, it’s understandable that being green when moving is perhaps not at the top of the priority … More How to have an eco-friendly house move
