Most days the state of the planet finds its way into my head, so I have a lot of conversations with myself. I give talks that are a great outlet and I blah blah to family, friends and sometimes random people in shopping queues!
I'm sure like a lot of us, it's like keeping the lid on a bubbling saucepan because we all know the climate score by now but may feel helpless?
A conversation about honey bees...
'People still keep darn honey bees because its trendy! This bee is like comparing a chicken to a blue tit. Don't worry most hives fail because hobbyists don't plant any floral resources for their pollen pigs'.
A conversation about digging...
'But people dig the soil in their gardens and rake their grass! Don't worry they are learning that most bees live in the soil and 'no dig' is where it's at, especially for soil carbon storage '
A conversation about solitary bees...
'People don't understand the different bees. Don't worry folk are learning that so called 'solitary'(wild) bees are 97% of bees, they work alone and are the most effective pollinators. Here's one...
Andrena nitida - newly emerged from our soil on a sunny late spring day 2/4/2023. The grey patch mining bee having a good clean whilst on my finger.
A conversation about chemicals...
'Some folk are plain idle and use poisonous chemicals on nature. Path Clear or Roundup, don't worry if they breathe it in it might kill them... only joking? '
A conversation about peat...
'Folk are still buying energy intensive bedding plants grown in precious peat, don't worry the vine weevil adult lays 500 eggs in the lovely soft peat, so humans learn lessons the hard way, when their plant roots are eaten'. Better to do things this way?
A conversation I can't have without spitting...
'People are still installing plastic grass, don't worry @shitlawns started on twitter, that could be the critical mass of humanity that leads to action'.
We all started with no mow may and that's now history and folk are leaving uncut areas of lawn and no longer raking or using treatments and this is the reward...
Also more people are sowing native wildflowers...
A conversation with my brother...
'Hey sis' I want to grow some wild flowers'
Grace sowing seeds on sunday 26th March 2023 with her dad David (my brother) 💚
The weather had warmed up a bit.
Is there anything more important than young humans helping protect natures planet?
The seeds were from Boston Seeds cost of £19.99 after a chat with a helpful member of the sales team. (I explained the aspect, soil).
The area was approx 30 square metres, she explained this would need 100 grams.
3 grams of seed per square metre, which is about one teaspoon of seed perfect.
A mixture of annuals and perennials.
Lots of floral resources to look forward to.
26 different plant species in the mix, most of which are perennial, some will flower next year 2024.
This will be a top end food store for pollinators.
Conversations with you...
Maybe this year, you'll just mow a path through your lawn and leave the rest uncut?
Maybe you'll ditch the chemicals and ignore the quick fix sprays on the shelves?
Maybe you'll order some fresh native wildlife seeds?
Maybe buy a shrub or a tree instead of annual bedding plants ?
Maybe you'll share a plant or two with a friend instead of buying cut flowers?
Maybe you'll check the compost bag to make sure there's no peat?
Maybe you'll add some water in a sunken upturned bin lid?
Anyone of us with a windowsill, balcony, patio, allotment or garden of any shape or size keeps the trunk roads of food open for nature, so let's pat ourselves on the back, and keep improving the conversation.
Happy gardening!
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