TRAWLERMEN - FIRTH OF CLYDE

Documenting Trawler Sampling in the Firth of Clyde, with Millport Marine Station, Isle of Cumbrae 2011

2015 GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN - MY VISION FOR NATURE

"A Focus on Nature is filled with young people brimming with passion and talent to communicate about nature and to protect it. But as many of us know, decisions about nature don’t always go our (or nature’s) way. This is because those in power don’t feel enough pressure to decide in our favour. As young people, we’re going to suffer the worst consequences of this. When the politicians in power now are retired or dead, we’ll be living in the natural world built by their decisions. That’s why those decisions have to reflect our ambitions."

Matt Williams - AFON

My Vision for Nature

The air we breath, the environment we live in, it's all influenced, and inextricably linked to natural world. However, with increasing population pressure, the ever growing demands of industry and economy, we are beginning to see the cracks appear in the landscape. With a rapid deterioration of ecosystems our own well being, as a species, is suffering. But what can we do, we need solutions that work for people AND wildlife.

Conservation is a word that in many ways could invoke inaction, but conserving must not be confused with preserving. Action needs to be taken to improve our natural environment, not just to preserve what wild places are left. Life has a knack of clinging on, bringing its vitality to the concrete jungle many of us call home. It's this that can be encouraged, improved and increased.

So what is my vision for nature? It's a future where nature is not sidelined. This is not to say I do not believe in building new homes, new schools and businesses, but that this can be done sensitivity and sensibly. There is still so much scope for the nature to be incorporated into our everyday lives. I want to see urban reserves, thriving and connected. Water courses, free from pollution and houses teaming not just with homo sapiens, but also a myriad of other animal life. As well as conserving wild and green areas, we can create new habitats, new build homes can have living opportunities for other animals incorporated into their design, nest boxes for house martins and bat roosts. Rather than the constant displacement that leave so many populations isolated and dwindling.

Wild places teaming with life are not the preserve of the countryside, where often the reality is barren intensive farmland, wild places can be at the heart of the city and in some cases already are. I want to see more of them spring up, and opened up, to be appreciated and enjoyed. This can and needs to be part of the urban development in the 21st Century, trees to cool and clean the air, and nectar rich plants to feed the bees. Modernisation is about learning form the past, not replicating previous mistakes.

So it seems it's up to us, the next generation, to make our visions a reality. We are calling on all political parties in the run up to the elections to take these issues seriously. The youth have a voice and we want to see real policies on the environment and on climate change, that will safeguard the future of this planet for everyone, of all species.

FUNGI FORAGING

Fungi foraged in Sussex, on this particular expedition I was looking for specimens to paint and draw, rather than eat.

MARATHON CHALLENGE - PART 6 A DIFFERENT KIND OF WALL

So I'm back, well back on the blog. It feels like it's been a while, and I think avoiding looking at this Blogger page is a part of a larger problem. I've been avoiding it, and in turn, avoiding running. I mean totally and utterly avoiding running, so I haven't had any updates to give. This is therefore the first stage in getting back on the horse (or into the rhino costume) as the case may be.

I haven't been running recently and today it doesn't look like I'm bucking that trend, I very much think I am a fair weather runner (and its been a shoddy wet westcountry day today). I am coming up with new excuses now, but quickly running out; I can't claim being new to the area any more, because I've been here (Bristol) for three weeks; my friend Kate has shown me a good, leafy and varied route, so I can't claim a lack of inspiration; and my other mates seem quite capable of getting up early and running before work, even when they start earlier than my 9.30am, so that just puts me to shame really. Therefore given these ample opportunities I am now having to face the fact that the only obstacle in my way, is me, and a wall of my own making.

Frankly this is probably laziness, but labelling myself as such is not motivation in itself. So how to break this well constructed and beautifully pointed red brick barrier. I think, in part, it's in overthinking things, it's imaging in far too much detail, just how bloomin wet, cold and down right freezing it is outside. So for the third Monday in a row I am setting myself a challenge, not as tough a challenge as a full blown marathon in a rhino (which is my fate in April), but the very immediate challenge of kicking myself out of bed at least an hour earlier than necessary, heading straight for the crusty trainers and getting out the massive green front door. What makes this different from any of the other three of my Sunday declarations? Well, put simply, I think I feel more accountable when it's in writing. Hence putting finger to keyboard seemed like the first step through this particular wall.

If you are starting to get an idea of how much I am not cut out for a marathon and are therefore concerned for me, why not make a contribution to Save the Rhino on my fundraising page. Because if one thing's for sure, it's for the rhinos that I've got myself into this mess! And it's for the rhinos that I'll drag myself out of bed A WHOLE HOUR EARLIER.

Until next time!

Cheers.

RICHMOND PARK RING NECKS

Where did the parakeets come from?
Ring-necked parakeets have become a common site within many Parks in and around London. They are certainly a colourful and noisy addition to the landscape and no less so than in Richmond Park where there is a healthy population. The warmer than average winter temperatures afforded by the city and a reliable winter food supply has allowed released individuals to persist in the environment and subsequently start breeding (first recorded in 1969). It's not yet know how their increasing population may impact on other native British species through competition for food and nesting sites.