Category: Counting On …

Reflections and actions during COP26 and going on

Counting on … day 176

23rd September 2024

My local community garden was formally approved before we began but others may be less formal but just as impactful. 

“What is guerrilla gardening? It’s an act of reclaiming unused or neglected urban spaces and transforming them into biodiverse havens, benefitting both people and planet. What started as a form of peaceful protest against urban decay and the encroachment of industrialisation has evolved into a global movement aimed at bringing nature back into cities. The practice involves planting flowers, vegetables or shrubs in nature-depleted pockets. This could be an abandoned flower bed, the base of trees along your road or a depleted area outside a library or bus stop. (1) 

At the same time, guerrilla gardening can involve seeking permission from the landowner which may be more forthcoming if there is a group ready and committed to greening that spot.

For more information about how to go about guerilla gardening – https://urbangardeningguru.com/guerrilla-urban-gardens-in-london-origins-impact-and-success-stories/

  1. https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/guerrilla-gardening-london-challenge-earthed-rewilding-b1179583.html

Counting on … day 175

20th September 2024

Community gardens can fit into the tiniest spaces and still bring biodiversity benefits. Near our local school a patch of rough ground less than a meter deep and about 10m long was planted with hedge saplings and wild flower plug plants by the children. Since then other plants have been added by members of the local community, making it very much a community-made garden and filling it with colour and variety. 

Counting on … day 174

19th September 2024

Of all the green space in London, a little under a third comprises private gardens. (1) How we use our gardens can contribute positively or negatively to improving biodiversity. Solid decking and brick/ concrete driveways prevent wildlife from creating a home, whilst using pesticides and herbicides kill wildlife. On the other hand mowing lawns  infrequently (No Mow May etc), planting a year-round range bee friendly plants, and including a mix of of shrubs, trees and plants of different sizes can create a variety of well fed habitats for wild life. (2)

(1) https://www.gigl.org.uk/our-data-holdings/keyfigures/

(2) https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2023/04/increase-garden-biodiversity/

Counting on … day 173

18th September 2024

In 2019 London declared itself to be the first National Park City, to enable residents to live greener, healthier and ‘wilder’ lives, as well as promoting new business opportunities. (1) Already green and blue spaces cover 49.7% of the land. 

The fact that an area of land is designated as a National Park does it always mean that it will be used or cared for in such a way as to promote biodiversity. (2)

On the other hand plenty of organisations work really hard to achieve this.  In London many organisations are drawing up and implementing biodiversity action plans, including the City of London, the Royal Parks, the Greater London Authority, various London Boroughs, as well as organisations such as the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, the South East Rivers Trust, Barnes Common Limited, and many more, both smaller and larger. Positive change is possible!

  1. https://nationalparkcity.london/proposal

(2) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/09/national-parks-in-england-and-wales-failing-on-biodiversity-say-campaigners?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Counting on … day 172

17th September 2024

There are about 250,000 allotments in the UK (the most common plot size is 10 rods, an ancient measurement equivalent 253 square metres). Allotments have many values such as enabling people to grow their own food, to get in touch with the natural world, to escape the confines of a flat or small house, to improve their physical and mental health through the manual work of gardening, and through sociability of being with others. (1) Some allotments owners have commented on the spiritual benefits they receive, which is wonderful link back to the story of the original garden created by God in Eden.

Allotments too could be the means of improving local biodiversity, and can help form green corridors. Green corridors enable wildlife to move easily over long or short distances without having to leave the safety of their natural environment. 

If you have an allotment or a garden, here are some suggested ways by which you can improve local biodiversity: https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/news/four-ways-to-boost-allotment-biodiversity

  1. https://database.nsalg.org.uk/benefits-of-allotments

Counting on … day 171

16th September 2024

What if everyone lived within walking distance of a community-run orchard? 

Surely that would improve biodiversity, improve people’s connection with the natural world and encourage people to expect and enjoy eating locally grown/ produced food?

Certainly that dream is the ambition of The Orchard Project. (1) Since 2009 they have created or restored 500 plus community orchards across the country – Orchard Map

  1. https://www.theorchardproject.org.uk/

Counting on … day 170

13th September 2024

Many of the things for which urban trees offer us protection are at the same time threats to the tree themselves.

Urban trees suffer from:

  • constricted and compacted soil, especially where they share the soil with pipes, drains and foundations, and where the soil is heavily trafficked by feet and wheels
  • Damage to roots caused by excavations, damage to branches caused by high vehicles
  • Strong wonders where buildings form wind tunnels
  • Extremes of heat and cold, as well as ‘burns’ when sunlight is reflected off glass surfaces onto their leaves
  • Air pollution affecting their leaves and bark
  • Water-born pollution affecting the whole tree 
  • Artificial light which can disrupt normal photosynthesis, and disrupt the signals by which the tree knows when to sprout leaves in the spring and shed them in the autumn. 
  • Lack of light because of shading from tall buildings
  • Lack of water especially where hard surfaces channel rain water away into drains

The first years of a newly planted urban tree are critical. They need to be kept well watered, their root space kept clear of weeds and their trunk kept free of abrasive damage. GreenBlue offers some useful advice – https://greenblue.com/gb/who-is-responsible-for-maintaining-our-public-trees/

Urban tree stress https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/9/932

Counting on … day 169

12th September 2024

Trees benefit their environment – and this is of particular value in urban areas – by providing:

  • Shade
  • Cooling the air through the release of water vapour
  • Absorbing pollutants 
  • Absorbing carbon dioxide
  • Reducing noise pollution
  • Slowing the rate at which rain reaches the ground as the water bounces off each leaf
  • Absorbing water via their roots – both of these reduce flood risks
  • Improving soil structure, helping it absorb more water
  • Decomposing leaves provide nutrients for the soil 
  • Provide habitats for other organisms, improving biodiversity
  • Improving the mental and physical health of humans
  • As well as providing sources of food for birds, animals and insects, they can be a source of food for humans too.

For further information – 

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/benefits-of-urban-trees/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/cities-urban-trees-climate-change/

Counting on … day 168

11th September 2024

Trees are just as important in urban as in rural areas: “They have a huge impact on local wildlife, mental and physical health, and pollution levels, while making the places we live in more beautiful.” The Woodland Trust (1) 

In London there are estimated to be 8,421,000 trees (2), whilst globally urban trees whilst covering only 2% of the land, comprise  about 8% of the world’s tree diversity with 10 billion trees of more than 100 types. (3) 

Looking after – and indeed expanding – these urban forests is clearly important for biodiversity.

  1. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/habitats/urban-trees-and-woodland/

(2) Rogers, K., Sarcre, K., Goodenough, J. & Doick, K. Valuing London’s Urban Forest: Results of the London i-Tree Eco Project. (Treeconomics, London, 2015)

(3) https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/Biodiversity_infographic_final.pdf

Counting on … day 167

10th September 2024

Every year trees such as the oak, the horse chestnut and the beech, produce vast numbers of seeds  from which hardly even one will make it to become itself a mature tree. Rather their seeds will be eaten by squirrels, birds, deer  and – if they are there – pigs or wild boar. There is a balance between the food supplied and the number of creatures fed. But then once every few years, the trees produce an excessive number of seeds – a mast year. For this year only the supply of food exceeds consumers and from this crop, the next generation of trees may sprout. This fascinating understanding of supply and demand comes from Tristan Gooley’s book, How to Read a Tree, which I thoroughly recommend.