An Ordinary Person’s Views on Living With Minimal Environmental Impact

The archives for June 2008.

  1. Have all the Ladybird’s been eaten?

    Written by Clare Topping on 25th Jun 2008.

    Is is just me or is there a distinct lack of ladybirds about at the moment? I have looked around the garden, there are definitely aphids in the hazel and on the golden hop, which is the place I usually find lots of ladybirds or their larvae, but this year there are none. As many [...]

    Appearing in
    with content relating to

    One comment — it’s a start.

  2. Food Prices

    Written by Clare Topping on 23rd Jun 2008.

    I just caught the end of a program on Channel 4 about the cost of food, which included a poll to which apparently 55% of respondents thought that the government should intervene to reduce food prices. Do I come from another planet? As far as I can tell food prices have been incredibly low for [...]

    Appearing in
    with content relating to

    No comments.

  3. Reasons to take a walk.

    Written by Clare Topping on 23rd Jun 2008.

    OK, so we all know that walking to and from work is good for the environment and makes us healthier (unless we get run over by a lorry). I also maintain that not only does it reduce stress, but makes our lives more interesting, allowing us to notice the nature all around us that we [...]

    Appearing in
    with content relating to

    No comments.

  4. Garden Update

    Written by Clare Topping on 17th Jun 2008.

    So, the courgette is dead, the beans are under attack, has it all gone wrong? Fortunately, no it hasn’t. I did a quick stocktake today and a few days with some sun and no rain has allowed the plants to put a bit of a growth spurt on and stick two fingers up to Mr [...]

    Appearing in
    with content relating to

    No comments.

  5. Garden Birds

    Written by Clare Topping on 15th Jun 2008.

    I spent a considerable amount of time today cleaning the bird feeders. This is my own fault as it is a task I have neglected for some time, but I have given the birds the last of the live mealworms, so it seemed a good time to clean them all out. I have restocked the [...]

    Appearing in
    with content relating to

    No comments.

  6. Hedgehog

    Written by Clare Topping on 15th Jun 2008.

    Last night I discovered that we have a hedgehog back in the garden. We did have a couple last year, but were worried we had evicted them when we moved the railway sleepers that one of them appeared to be nesting under. We have since made a waterproof home for them at the bottom of [...]

    Appearing in
    with content relating to

    No comments.

  7. Early(ish) Morning Birdwatching.

    Written by Clare Topping on 4th Jun 2008.

    A great morning’s birdwatching today – a large number of sparrows, young and adults, blackbirds a-plenty, chaffinches, greenfinches, bickering goldfinches, great tits, blue tits, a dunnock – the only thing missing was a robin and Walter the pigeon. Yes, these were all in my garden whilst I had my breakfast – I was so interested [...]

    Appearing in
    with content relating to

    No comments.

  8. Youngsters!

    Written by Clare Topping on 3rd Jun 2008.

    There were more new visitors to the garden today. I was alerted to the fact by the huge amount of noise coming from outside whilst I was making my breakfast. Sure enough, a nest of great tits must have recently fledged and were visiting the garden. I was a little concerned because the adult was [...]

    Appearing in
    with content relating to

    No comments.