The summer sun is fading as the year grows old. And darker days are drawing near... Yes it's War of the Worlds time as we slip away from the summer sun, and the climate turns colder. This is just a seasonal thing, but imagine if it was part of trend. Global experts say we're already overdrawn at the climate bank and other experts say they've calculated our worlds end.
No doubt the experts will continue to debate the validity of their arguments, spurred on by the media pretending to represent the voice of reasoned debate. It's all hot, or cold air. The reality is that we are already losing upto 60 % of our UK wildlife ... YES SIXTY PER CENT!
We're an endlessly creative species and I'm certain we can all find ways to soften urban landscapes by growing atmosphere enhancing plants;which have the added benefit of supporting wildlife, capturing water, scrubbing pollution from the air we breathe and moderating air temperatures. Nature's amazing and so are we.
Edwina Pitcher is a volunteer working with communities and schools at our Wild about Hampstead Heath project in London, helping them discover and enjoy the world on the City of London Corporation owned Heath. She's taking time out to walk some 600 kilometres from Lisbon in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It's one of the many pilgrim routes leading to the Galician Cathedral, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here, in the first of what we're hoping will be a couple of instalments, is her wild adventure:
"I have begun to walk across Portugal, beginning at Lisbon and finishing at Santiago da Compostela. It is of course the Caminho
It's a long way from London and the wildlife of Hampstead Heath, where I have been observing and enjoying the owls, bats and beetles under the wings of the RSPB folk in the park there there. Hopefully I can bring the same curiosity for wildlife I found, surprisingly, in the middle of London, back to you from the Caminho here.
The route itself, weaving through wilder borderlands between villas, serves to connect communities as well as, on a larger scale, countries. Early on it becomes clear this track is for feet to follow, the way mostly deviates into older tracks, roman roads and scrublands. You come close to habitats removed from the drone and lights of traffic. Rabbit paths lace over the tracks.
And if you enjoy wildlife as much as I do I hope you will continue to read my posts to you from this journey. Now, one thing I should make clear, the caminho here pairs you down to the essentials: food, water and rest. You travel light. There's no need for a map. The way is so well marked. There is need to worryover where you are heading, leaving your mind free to consider the big questions in life. You can give yourself up to the road and I honestly don't think many other long distance paths allow for this degree of presence and focus on your journey.
So while you become pretty atuned to spotting the yellow signage, you also become alert to the natural sights around you.
I have seen water snakes and turtles in the Tejo river; an owl as I climbed late one evening into Santarém; wayside snails that climb and live on tips of grass and birds who skim lakes to dip for evening water.
The landscape here is teeming with creatures and all you need to do is walk. I am pulling on my boots and about to stride onwards, I hope you will follow."
Hopefully Edwina will find time to update us on her walk. Wherever you are, you'll be surprised at how many different plants and creatures you can identify... and those that you can't, simply enjoy and remember them. It may be the last time you see them outside of a book.