We're careering towards Feed the Birds Day at an alarming rate. This haste seems to have been maintained throughout 2010 and frankly, I'm looking forward to the Christmas holidays, which are... just eleven weeks away (sound of alarm bells and cash-tills)!
A partridge in a pear tree is possible in Greater London, but there are plenty of other birds to enjoy too. Feeding the birds can be expensive but there is a simple and practical answer. Grow your own bird food. Any seeds and berries are welcome, as are dense shrubs and climbing plants that support both birds and bugs. Choose your plants well and you can have windowboxes, balconies, gardens or road verges full of colour and movement. Why not set aside part of an allotment or school playground for some plants?
London is a very green city, but it can be greener. Plants soften the landscape and help keep us cool on warm days and slow down water during heavy downpours, alleviating the threat of flooding. Mayor Boris Johnson is doing what he can to improve the Capital and has just launched a consultation on his proposals for managing climate change and energy needs. He's set a welcome and fantastic target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% before 2025, much better than the already ambitious national target of 80% by 2050.
Where Boris and the RSPB part company is on aviation. The Mayor argues that aviation is crucial to the economic well-being of London. Looking at the figures on carbon emissions however, suggests this support for aviation growth is counter to the 60% target, leaving us potentially facing the same missed targets in 2025 that we're facing with those set for 2010 that are on the Nagoya Climate Change agenda. The figures used in the Mayor's plans are those cited by the Government and only take account of emissions from the aviation industry on the ground, ignoring the impact of all the planes circling over the capital every day. The RSPB believes favouring the aviation sector also puts unfair pressure on other sectors to reduce emissions, such as housing. Retro fitting London's housing stock to modern energy standards don't come cheap.
Mayor Johnson's other aviation campaign, for a new airport in the Thames Estuary, also hit a new obstacle this week. A fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, hosted by Conservatives for International Travel, ruled out an estuary airport, describing it as "an unworkable idea" that "has no future".
Tough times are ahead for all Londoners and we'll be doing what we can to ensure the Capital's people, wildlife and green spaces don't lose out. Adding your name to our Letter to the Future helps in a small way, feeding the birds helps in another, joining the RSPB is a third option and the fourth - emailing Prime Minsiter Cameron and urging him to stick to his pledge to lead the greenest Government ever - takes you closer to climate heaven.