Counting On … – Page 36

Counting on … day 192

15th October 2024

Rewilding the sea – seawilding – is as important as rewilding the land. Rewilding Britain explains why. “Britain’s seas used to be home to the biggest creatures on the planet: blue, humpback, fin, sperm, bottlenose and sei whales. Our rich, soupy waters helped fuel a thriving, diverse ecosystem, attracting huge numbers of small fish, and in turn massive balls of herring and whiting, which would bring these ocean giants to our shores to feed. Like the decline of large mammals on land, whales were hunted to near local extinction for their meat and oil. Alongside the decline of these very visible giants, all marine ecosystems are suffering. The UK has lost around 92% of its seagrass meadows, 95% of its native oyster reefs and nearly all its kelp in regions like Sussex where it once was abundant” (1)

In February 2023 three areas of water of the coast of England were given the status of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) where all activities such as fishing, mining and laying cables that might damage the sea bed, are banned. The aim is to protect marine biodiversity by allowing seaweeds such as kelp and sea creatures to recolonise the sites. That said, these areas cover only 0.5% of English seas.

There are other projects where a proactive approach has been taken by actively replanting new kelp meadows – such as the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project – or in the Humber Estuary by creating oyster reefs to serve as nurseries for the reintroduction of native oysters (2)

https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/why-rewild/what-is-rewilding/examples/introduction-marine-rewilding

(2) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/02/oyster-restoration-project-rebuild-uk-reefs-overfishing-seabed-trawling?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on … day 191

14th October 2024

As important as restoring the biodiversity of our land, is restoring the biodiversity of our coasts. In particular this can include restoring wetland areas which can receive the varying inflow of water, whether tidal or flooding from rivers. These are liminal areas which can support a diversity of plants, birds, animals and sea creatures – many of which are only to be found in these areas of water flow and retreat.

Salt marshes are wetlands that are regularly inundated by sea water, of which WWT Stewart Marshes in Somerset is an example. Steart Marshes are part of an ongoing rewilding project that aims “to recreate natural wetland features that would protect the area against flooding, restore biodiversity, provide a place for people to enjoy nature and mitigate for climate change. The area has already attracted otters, egrets, owls and spoonbills, as well as providing grazing for locally produced saltmarsh lamb and beef.” (1)

In the Thames Estuary another rewilding project has been evolving. “RSPB Wallasea Island is a stunning landscape of marshland, lagoons, ditches and sea. The landscape has been restored through a managed realignment project. This ambitious project used more than three million tonnes of earth from the tunnels and shafts created by the Crossrail project in London. The material has allowed the project to create a new 115 ha intertidal area of saltmarsh, mudflats and islands. This has created an important habitat for a wide range of species – from plants, to birds and invertebrates. The whole area now supports an abundance of species rich habitat. Grazing animals on site provide an income stream to the farmer. The project offers guided walks and nature trails, and this increase in visitors has benefitted local shops. (2)

Counting on … day 190

11th October 2024

The left hand half of this diagram shows the amount of land used in the UK for different purposes – from providing grazing for beef cattle and sheep (the largest single use) to land cultivated as orchards (smallest alongside land used for growing Christmas tree!).

The right hand half shows overseas land that we rely on (effectively use) to produce food stuffs that we import – and again land for beef and lamb production is the largest.

Even just halving our meat consumption, would free up huge amounts of land that could be better used for rewilded biodiverse rich landscapes, as well as having space for increased horticultural production of a wide range of fruits and vegetables.

Counting on … day 189

10th October 2024

Restoring biodiversity and protecting 30% of the UK is going to need a widespread reworking of farming practices and objectives. This will mean taking some land out of food production – eg to create peat bogs or woodlands – but on the other hand if we view land as the means of supporting not just food production but primarily as the means of supporting life, this makes sense. Should we be paying a life support tax to finance this?

Restoring biodiversity will also mean reducing the intensity with which the land is farmed for food – widening existing, and planting new, hedges, cultivating the borders of fields as wild flower meadows, creating ponds and rewiggling rivers, reducing stocking levels (and reducing the total number of livestock to a proportionate level given that for every animal more land has to be used to grow feed crops), changing crop planting patterns to reduce the need for fertilisers that then pollute waterways etc.

All this will mean a change in the way we eat. We need to switch to diets that are largely plant-based and dependent on locally grown crops. Diets that will in fact be both tasty and healthy.

Counting on … day 188

9th October 2024

“The Natural History Museum’s Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) estimates how much of a region’s natural biodiversity is still left on average. The BII measures biodiversity change using abundance data on plants, fungi and animals worldwide. The Index shows how local terrestrial biodiversity responds to human pressures such as land use change and intensification.” https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/services/data/biodiversity-intactness-index.html

Clearly we should be worried that the BII for the UK is less than 50, but equally concerned about the lack of biodiversity elsewhere across wide swathes of the Earth.

Counting on … day 186

7th October 2024

We often think of the Yorkshire moors and the fells of the Lake District as being naturally wild areas. But in fact they are areas shaped by human intervention and in particular by livestock grazing, and sometimes this is depressing localised biodiversity. For example over stocking with sheep can lead to a lack of plant diversity including a lack of tree saplings, with a detrimental impact on insects and birds, and the increased risk of flooding and landslides.

However things could be different as Rewild Britain explains in their web site –

https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/why-rewild/what-is-rewilding/an-introduction-to-rewilding/rewilding-the-uplands

And as can be seen in on the ground examples such as the rewilding of Ennerdale – https://www.wildennerdale.co.uk/

Counting on … day 185

4th October 2024

Rewiggling rivers – allowing them to follow their natural winding tendency – and allowing them to spill out into their local floodplain, has the same affect as a rain garden but in a larger scale. This Rewilding benefits biodiversity and reduces unpredictable flood risks. The following is from Thames21:-

“ Reintroducing a more natural system that creates space for increased water flow means less flooding and reduces the pressure on London’s struggling drainage system. Improvements like installing reed beds not only create new habitats for wildlife, but help to trap pollutants before they flow downstream.

“Removing barriers and concrete channels, and creating beautiful new wetland areas brings rivers back into the heart of communities; makes them more biodiverse and improves the wellbeing levels of people who visit them. Those living near the river restoration projects across London report a better community spirit as the amount of shared space, and opportunities for volunteering and community action, have increased.”(1)

We should be encouraged that so much work is happening and so be encouraged to press for and support the so much more that could be done!

(1) https://www.thames21.org.uk/joinacampaign/londonriversweek2023/rewilding-londons-rivers/

Counting on … day 184

3rd October 2024

Hard surfaces let the rain runoff rapidly increasing the risk of flooding. Hard surfaces inhibit the good health of underlying soil and preclude plant life. Replacing hard surfaces with something more amenable can boost biodiversity and improve the visual appearance of the landscape.

In the Netherlands this has become the source of competition – who can make the biggest improvement to nature by ‘Whipping out the paving stones’ and wining a golden tile prize?

The Dutch ‘tile whipping’ competition to green gardens and streets

Counting on … day 183

2nd October 2024

Church yards and gardens are places where greater biodiversity can be encouraged. Land around churches has often been undisturbed for many years allowing naturally for a high degree of biodiversity. The land can also be welcome green space in the midst of more built up urban environment. And there is more that can be achieved if there is a sustained focus on improving biodiversity.

“Churchyards can be surprisingly rich in nature, and many of the plants, fungi, and animals found within a churchyard predate the church buildings and help identify the timelessness of these places and the consistent management they have received year after year.” (1)

In February 2024 the Church of England’s General Synod has backed a series of measures to promote biodiversity. “The Synod approved further action to increase biodiversity including work towards drawing up environmental policy and land management plans for Dioceses and the recording of biodiversity in church green spaces. The Synod also backed a request for the Church Commissioners to report back to the General Synod within three years on their progress in enhancing and supporting biodiversity across their agricultural and forestry land.

“Introducing the debate at the Synod, the Church of England’s lead Bishop for the Environment, Graham Usher, said there was a need for immediate action to promote biodiversity. He warned that the UK is now one of the most ‘nature-depleted’ countries in the world.” (2)

(1) https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/churchyard-wildlife

(2) https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/general-synod-backs-action-tackle-biodiversity-crisis

Counting on … day 182

1st October 2024

Variations of SUDs and rain gardens can -and are being – used in schools to promote biodiversity (more and varied planting) and creating more exciting play areas to stimulate awareness of the environment.

“We designed, built, and installed 564 SuDS Rain Planters in 72 of London’s schools most vulnerable to flooding. Through this project, we aimed to create sustainable, climate-resilient environments while educating children on the importance of nature in combatting global warming.” (1)

Playgrounds can be designed to be rain-playgrounds which use rain to add to the diversity of play opportunities. In Gothenburg they have purposely built rain-play grounds that have “been designed to be particularly fun when it’s wet. There are dips in the ground to make the puddles deeper and more satisfyingly splashy, and water gushes down channels from lilypad-shaped rain shelters into a sandpit where children can make pools, rivers and dams. “The kids love to go on their bicycles through the puddles, and my son likes to dig the sands, so some parts of the playground are really nice when it rains,”” (2)

(1) https://www.meristemdesign.co.uk/blog/rain-gardens-vs-suds-planters-differences

(2) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/06/wetter-the-better-gothenburgs-bold-plan-to-be-worlds-best-rainy-city?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other