Category: Count down

Count Down


 Action 42: Plant spring bulbs: the ideal time for this is between now and November. This is also the time to plant summer bulbs such as lilies and alliums. Plant a variety of bulbs from the earliest flowering crocuses to the later flowering tulips to ensure an ongoing supply of nectar for insects as well as scents and colours that will bring us joy too. 


As we continue to mark the days until the COP26 climate conference you might like to subscribe to the United Nations climate change news letter. https://news.un.org/en/newsletter/climate-change

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 Action 40: Check out high visibility clothing. With schools terms starting and the evenings drawing in, it is a good time to think about staying visible as both pedestrians and cyclists when it is dark. After dark even light coloured clothes do not make the wearer clearly visible to other road users.  Fluorescent markers on bags and coats, cycles, helmets, wrists and ankles are all good options.

New! Starting a from tomorrow and everyday during creationtide (1st September – 4th October) I will be posting a picture of something from the natural world to encourage us to ‘fall in love again with creation’. These will feature under the new heading added to the menu ‘Falling in Love’

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Missing from yesterday! Action 35: Set aside part of your garden for wildlife. Climate  change places extra pressures on wildlife so give them a helping hand by encouraging wild plants (weeds) to colonise part of your garden. Nettles are very good for ladybirds and butterflies, dandelions flowers are good for bees and dandelion seeds are tasty food for goldfinches.


 Action 36: Make next week a vegan week. Stock up on beans and pulses, tofu and nuts, assorted types of rice and pasta. Make a shopping list with plenty of seasonal fruit and vegetables.  Add miso pastes, chutneys, yeast flakes and herbs for extra flavours. Plan some easy meals combinations.  Be inspired by new recipes – try these from Hodmedod : https://hodmedods.co.uk/blogs/recipes/tagged/vegan  

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 Action 34: Green your insurance. Insurance companies, pension companies and banks are amongst the biggest investors in fossil fuels and related industries – yet it is the continuing use of fossil fuels  that is accelerating our climate crisis. It would be far better if our monies were invested in green industries that are and can increasingly actively decarbonise our economy. Switch to a  home insurance company that does not underpinning the fossil fuel industry. Check out the Ethical Consumer’s Guide on home insurance:  https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/money-finance/shopping-guide/ethical-home-insurance. 

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 Action 33:  Check out your bank. You may not have thought about it, but the money in your bank may be being used to finance the fossil fuel industry.  “since the 2015 Paris agreement, 35 of the world’s major private banks have provided a total of $2.7 trillion in lending and underwriting to the fossil fuel industry – with fossil fuel financing increasing each year” Ethical Consumer. 

The Ethical Consumer report gives details about which banks invest in what and on other ethical issues such as tax avoidance practices. This may be time to swop to a new bank. 

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Action 32: Rail electrification – compared with 100% in Switzerland, 55% in  France and 48% in Germany, only 38% of Britain’s railways are electrified. Trains across non electrified tracks are pulled by diesel engines enlarging Britain’s national carbon footprint.  Why not contact the Department for Transport and ask what plans there are for increasing the amount of electrified rail track in the UK? To contact the Department use this link: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ZVVFD6/