Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
4th May 2019
Bare Rooted
I am not a fan, but apparently today is Star Wars Day – ‘May the 4th be with you’. Clever!
It is also World Naked Gardening Day. According to Wikipedia, World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD) was introduced in 2005 as a nudist movement to discourage body shaming and encourage acceptance of all forms of the human body. It is still celebrated by some brave, or blatant, gardeners albeit in a light-hearted way, and providing numerous photo opportunities on social media.
Here is a list of things that I would advice you don’t do on WNGD
- Plant roses
- Re-pot cacti
- Go to the allotment (Terry Walton), or the garden centre
- Use a strimmer
- Cut back nettles (or brambles)
And one thing to do – leave your phone at home. I mean, where would you put it?
Let Nature Sing
The RSPB has recently released a press statement claiming that 40 million birds have vanished from UK skies in just 50 years. They insist it is time to ‘Let Nature Sing’ and have compiled a CD of the most beautiful bird song to raise awareness of the plight of our feathered friends.
Their message is simple: If we do not act now, and work together, the magical sound of bird song could be lost forever.
When I created Green Spaces in schools for autistic children, I always included birdsong in the background and it was amazing to see the calming effect it had. It is just background noise for many, but once you focus on it, it is quite magical, and meditative. There is so much talked about mindfulness these days, just listening to bird song, whether direct from the source or a CD, will definitely help you relax.
Apparently, over 40 million birds have vanished from UK skies in just 50 years, over half of species in the UK are in decline, and one in ten of our wildlife are critically endangered. Nature is in crisis, and new research from the RSPB has demonstrated that the UK is dangerously unaware of the impending danger with only 15% of people being aware, and highlighting that we are in danger of sleepwalking into a natural tragedy. C’mon everyone, WAKE UP!
Mercury Prize nominee, Sam Lee, who edited the single, told me, “Birdsong has been one of the biggest influences of our song, poetry and literature. The loss of it should concern us all, because it is a signal that all is not well in the world. We should see birdsong as a barometer for the health of this planet, and hence of ourselves.”
The track was released last week, in time to get bird song into the charts for International Dawn Chorus Day tomorrow.
‘Let Nature Sing’ is available as a digital download or as a CD. To purchase the track, and find out more about the vital work the RSPB is doing to help our birds, please visit www.rspb.org.uk/letnaturesing
Join in the Chorus
And whilst I won’t be joining in any celebrations for either of the above, I will be participating in International Dawn Chorus Day. I am woken up by birdsong most mornings as I sleep with the window open, and am always in awe of how loud it is as they herald the start of a new day, and by the fact that they sing whether anyone is listening or not. We could learn a lot from that.
It’s not just at dawn of course, I am lucky enough to be accompanied by an ‘ornithological orchestra’ most of the time, whether at home or in work and am often kept awake at night by a pair of owls gossiping outside my bedroom window. I adore bird song. I have appreciated it more and more the older I get and am always trying to identify the ‘The Voice’.
Tomorrow (5th May) there are numerous early morning events being organised to introduce people to the wonders of the Dawn Chorus, or Nature’s Daily Miracle, and in which the leaders will indentify various birds
You can join the Dawn Chorus Walk at Lake Vyrnwy Powys between 5am – 7am, finishing the walk with breakfast pastries and a hot drink. Booking is essential, please call 01691 870278 or join the early morning group gathering at Coed Y Bedw Nature Reserve also between 5am and 7am. You will have to book for this one too, please call 01656 724100. On Monday 6th May there will be a walk lead from Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve car park from 5.15am – 7.30am. Telephone 01633 636363
I was lucky enough to hear the Bitterns boom a few years ago – if you have no idea what I’m writing about, I won’t spoil it but I hope you hear them too!
You may find more organised walks on the internet but to be honest I would encourage you to go to a woodland or even a park or out in your own garden if feasible at 5 am just to listen to the magic for yourself.
Celebrated on the first Sunday of May, the story goes that International Dawn Chorus Day began in the 1980s when broadcaster and environmentalist Chris Baines asked everyone to attend his birthday party at 4am so they could enjoy the dawn chorus with him. Since then IDCD has grown from a small event in Birmingham UK to an annual international celebration with Dawn Chorus events held as far afield as the Caribbean and Antarctica. It is now promoted by The Wildlife Trusts.
Thanks xx