If the change in weather to cold mornings and dark evenings hasn't been enough to dampen spirits, a burst soilpipe in our office block has snuffed out the remaining cheer lingering from the warm start of this month. Our new office mantra: "Wake up and smell the beings". Umm. Full roast.
That open sewer smell transports me to adventures on foreign soils, or occasionally after heavy downpours in London, the banks of the Thames. In themselves, these memories are pleasant and bursting with wildlife, I just wish we could all experience them without the odour and inherent health hazards. The power of smell, sounds or images to trigger memories seems to have been in the news quite a bit this week. Its partly centred around a new book by psychologist Steven Pinker.
His latest work calls upon vast amounts of data to show that we're living in a far less violent age than our great grandparents and a far, far less violent age than our ancestors. War zones, sports pitches and terrorism aside, he has a point. My query is whether it's also reflected in the natural world.
Nature itself has become more violent, with increased frequency of storms and severe swings of weather conditions triggering a range of natural climatic disasters. But looking at the wildlife. Predators continue to predate traditional prey; weeds continue to colonise new grounds; and habitats transform slowly from bare soil to young woodland. So, I think I'm on safe ground in saying that no, wildlife is no more, nor less violent than it's ever been. I would argue instead that the stresses on wildlife are growing larger than they've been since the Ice Age. Many of our common London species are shrinking as they start to move north westwards.
In the UK, we've missed our 2010 targets to halt biodiversity loss. We've set new ones for 2020. Yet powerful lobbyists continue to push for agendas that are far from green. I wonder what Steven Pinker makes of this? It's like a self-destruct gene has kicked-in to replace the genetic drive for self-preservation.
The natural world is not based on a market economy. If you don't believe me, visit our Date with Nature on Hampstead Heath next week and join our staff to see how many herons are developing bigger wings to fly faster from A to B to secure more twigs for bigger nests; or how many kingfishers are meeting to work out how to drain the ponds to catch fish more easily. Nature moves to the rhythms of the seasons and lives within its means.
Despite this, it's struggling too (arguably because of our actions) and when frost, ice or snow locks away food, things can quickly go from desperate to dead.
So as we hurtle towards winter, do put out some food and water for wildlife. We've organised Feed the Birds Day as an incentive but it's something you can do anytime. So, wake up, drink the coffee, then Step Up for nature by putting some cereal or porridge crumbs on a windowledge or bird table. The sight of happy birds feeding will help raise spirits back to summer morning levels.