Living in the city it is easy to feel disconnected from nature, craving the peace and tranquility of open spaces and fresh air in your lungs. So, who would have though that just a few miles away from the hustle and bustle of central Nottingham and Derby there’s such a getaway, the Attenborough Nature Centre and Reserve?

ANC tailors for all nature lovers, young and old, from beginner to established birder and their facilities and  events demonstrate just that. Their full calendar includes all kinds of activities such as health walks, wildlife and wildflower courses and clubs for kids. They also provide educational programmes for schools from Foundation to ‘A’ Level. I really wish that Attenborough Nature Centre existed when I was at school, with education sessions on subjects like wildlife habitats, water life, saving our planet, wildlife art and outdoor adventures.

The nature reserve is managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and is a designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It was established in 1966 and over the years has become a very popular place to see many species of native and migrating birds. Keen birders can keep up to date with sightings at the Attenborough Nature Centre website.

Once you’ve taken the Attenborough reserve nature trail and soaked in the beautiful views you may want a cup of Fairtrade tea and a home made cake in the centre cafe. The cafe menu includes sandwiches, cakes and drinks made from Fairtrade, local and organic ingredients. You could treat yourself or someone else to a little gift from the nature shop too.

The centre was awarded the Gold award for sustainable tourism in 2007 and was listed in the top 10 eco destinations in the world by BBC Wildlife Magazine.

ANC can also boast a super eco-friendly building design from the construction materials to the furniture in cafe, conference rooms and offices. Heat loss is minimised by high levels of insulation in the walls, floor and roof and electricity is produced by photovoltaic panels on the roof. They also use a green electricity provider. For those of you interested in construction and green building take a look at their sustainable building leaflet.

So next time you’re in the Midlands and you’re looking for a little inspiration or simply to connect with nature, visit Attenborough Nature Centre. You can get there by foot, train, bus or car and there’s no admission charge. Take a look at some of the things you can expect to find in their online picture gallery and plan your visit soon. I know I’m going to be spending some more time there this summer.

www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk

All photographs in this article are copyrighted to Attenborough Nature Centre.

So I made a packed breakfast comprising peppermint tea and lots of fruit and set off to the West Beach Nature Reserve. I went past the busy main road, across the bridge over the river Arun, past the shabby industry units, past the B&B’s, went down the winding pathway past the boat graveyard, past some brave daffodils popping their head up, past the posh yacht club, past the golf club (which should be transformed back to a salt marsh!) until I reached my destination of peace and tranquillity.

As I sat on a large piece of driftwood, drinking my tea, and staring out to the sea, I thought, wow. The waves were lapping against the shore, the sea-gulls screeching their tune. The large spacious beach was empty, the sea vast and mighty. I felt small in comparison, but connected and peaceful. Nature is my muse, my healer, my guide.

Or, as William Wordsworth says in the poem ‘Few Miles above Tintern Abbey’:

“In nature and the language of the sense
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul
Of all my moral being.”

Living close to nature is important to me as I have to be connected to the natural world. I try and have at least a brief walk on the beach every day. I must admit, that like John Masefield I have ‘Sea Fever’.

“I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.”

If like me, you love listening to nature, then promote it by treating yourself to one of our fabulous GGG “Listen to Nature” T-shirts. Wear it with pride.

I always think that rabbits are misunderstood little creatures who aren’t given the credit they deserve as sociable and intelligent animals and the high levels of care they need is often unrecognised. I have re-homed a few rabbits over the past 10 years and each one has had their own individual personality and needs. Murphy, our houserabbit, is very bright and incredibly cheeky.

So how can a rabbit be green? Well the main reason is that from their eating habits to their entertainment they’re happy with simple, natural, low processed stuff. Here’s how…

Diet

Hay, hay and more hay
The majority of a rabbit’s diet should be hay, hay and then some more hay. Hay is vital for their dental and digestive health. Because in their natural habitat a rabbit would graze on grass all day, their continually growing teeth are ground down and kept short. Hay also keeps their delicate digestive system in check because it is high in fibre, if a bunny’s tummy stops moving you’ve got big troubles. Did I mention how important hay is?

So, straightforward hay. No preservatives, no colours, nothing and you may even be able to buy it from a local farm. Many farms shops do sell hay but you need to check with them that it is ‘clean’ and suitable as food. Luckily we have a farm just down the road which sells organic, dust-free hay and straw especially for animal food and bedding – www.dustfreehay.co.uk. It even comes in hessian sacks or cardboard boxes rather than those nasty plastic bags.

Seasonal fruit and veg
Aside from the staple hay rabbits have a wide and varied taste when it comes to fruit and veg and the great thing about this is you can give them locally grown and in season greens. At the moment Murphy is enjoying curly kale! If your garden is free from other animals like cats and dogs (who are prone to pee on unsuspecting plants) you could even give your rabbit home grown treats like parsley or spinach or grass and dandelions which take no cultivating at all. What’s more local than that?

Vegan diet
Rabbits are also strict vegans (although sometimes I wonder when Murphy tries to wrestle a chocolate bar out of my hand!) so you don’t need to buy them meat or dairy products and they will never prey on local wildlife or drop a dead bird at your feet.

To find out about rabbit diet from the experts read the Rabbit Welfare Association guide to feeding your pet rabbit.

Environment, bedding and litter

Environment
Whether your rabbit lives indoors or outdoors they will need space to move around as well as places to hide. How you might provide this for your bun may vary in lots of ways. However, one thing I would stress is if your rabbit lives in your house keep them away from electrical cables. I don’t know why but they always make a beeline for the first cable in a room and chomp straight through it. Aside from being dangerous this is costly and wasteful. Trust me, I’ve been there.

Since rabbits like to chew give them things that won’t harm them and lets you recycle at the same time. Cardboard boxes, old phone books, blocks of untreated wood and the insides of loo rolls all make good toys and boredom breakers.

Bedding and litter
Murphy is a house rabbit and is never locked in his hutch so his bedding is whichever carpet he decides to sleep on. However, if your bun lives outside or if like Murphy he uses a litter tray you’ll need something nice for him or her to sit on and to make a comfortable loo.

There are commercial rabbit litters available but I’ve never bothered with them. Since rabbits like to nibble whilst they’re on the loo better for them to munch on something that won’t harm them. I line Murphy’s litter tray with old newspaper (donated to me by my mum’s neighbour who cannot live without his daily tabloid) or shredded office waste paper and straw. When the tray needs to be cleaned the paper and straw (and poop) can go in the compost bin. I’ve also just discoverd that white vinegar is great to rinse out the tray and eliminate nasty smells. No chemical toilet here!

Companionship and care

Without sounding too cheezy your rabbit needs lots of love and companionship and those are not finite resources. Caring for another creature is sustainability at its best.

Serious bit

Ok, this is the serious bit but I think it needs saying. Although it’s easy for your your rabbit’s green lifestyle to fit alongside your own they are not easy pets to keep. Slight changes in their diet, wrong amounts of types of food and a stressful environment can (amongst other things) cause your rabbits serious health problems and lots of distress for you both. Don’t take a rabbit into your home and family unless you have read lots of information from those in the know (like the Rabbit Welfare Association) and thought about it carefully.

Finally, I would never advocate buying a rabbit from a pet shop. In all likelyhood these animals have been bred purely to make money and there are plenty of them sat in rescue centres waiting for a home. If you really have your heart set on giving a rabbit (or two) a home check out some rescue centres, ask lots of questions and have fun making a green, healthy life for him or her!

So, let me tell you about this special dog biscuit, cutely named ‘Barkotti’. The canine companion treat by Dr Harvey’s is handmade using only natural and organic ingredients. It boasts an impressive list of qualities which, it seems, can be attributed to all of Dr Harvey’s products:

• No artificial colours or flavours
• No preservatives – absolutely none
• No added sugar or salt.

This doggie treat is vegetarian too and contains a variety of vegetables, apple and herbs as well as organic oat and barley flour, honey, molasses and bee pollen.

OK, a healthy dog biscotti is all well and good but if it’s not tasty it won’t cut it, right? Of course I’m not the one to judge the yumminess of these treats but if my lovely canine assistants could talk they would tell you that they like them. I guess the proof is here in the pictures. Here’s Manson politely taking a piece of Barkotti and Ozzi helping himself:

And here’s Dylan nom nomming his way through one of the biscuits:

I like the ethos that runs through Dr Harvey’s which, as the story goes, came about through a genuine care for animals and animal health.

Founder of the company, Dr Harvey Cohen, has been making human grade food products for companion animals for over 20 years and is dedicated to educating owners about why pets need a healthy, natural diet. Being a teacher and a lecturer Dr Harvey is happy to answer questions about companion animals to help you understand your furry or feathered friend a little better.

Dr Harvey’s care doesn’t stop at the animals. He cares for the environment too by avoiding chemicals in his products and supporting the growth of organic trade as a member of the Organic Trade Association. The Barkotti packaging is even green, made from 100% recycled and recyclable card and printed with soy based ink.

As well as Barkotti Dr Harvey’s produces a variety of natural and organics foods, treats and supplements for dogs, cats, birds and horses.

Find out more about Dr Harvey’s, the products and where to buy them at www.drharveys.com

In London on Wednesday 3rd September, as a representative of the fantastic organisation Campaign Whale, I joined one of the 25 peaceful protests taking place outside Japanese Embassies around the world. Various animal welfare organisations joined forces and together united, protested against Japans continued slaughter of around 20,000 small cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises and small whales) each year.

The slaughter

One of the dolphin slaughters takes place in a small village called Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture. The process in which they kill the dolphins and whales is absolutely horrific (as is the killing of most animals). They herd them into killing coves, turning the water red with blood.

The Black and White Dall’s porpoises, known in Japanese as ‘‘ishi iruka,’’ are hunted and killed by hand-thrown harpoons. These killings in Japan are the largest massacre of cetaceans anywhere in the world.

japan defends the cull, arguing that strict quotas are set to prevent species becoming endangered and all killing is done in as humane a way as possible.

Profit versus planet

In the Japanese culture, dolphin, whale and porpoise meat are popular dishes. The meat is sold to the general public and even marketed as brain food for young children. The industry is very profitable for the fishermen and the Government which is why they are reluctant to stop hunting and killing these beautiful marine species.

Poisonous meat

However the meat, as is a lot of seafood these days, is contaminated with mercury, methyl-mercury and PCBs. Repeated chemical analyses have shown that the level of mercury in the meat from the slaughtered dolphins in Taiji is much higher than the maximum allowable level set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan.

Human welfare

I believe that the government is aware of this and is knowingly allowing members of the public including young children and pregnant women to be put at health risk.

I have read that mercury damages the central nervous system, endocrine system, kidneys, and other organs, and adversely affects the mouth, gums, and teeth. Exposure over long periods of time or heavy exposure to mercury vapor can result in brain damage and ultimately death.

The Dolphin Day protests have been highlighting the human welfare side of the slaughter of dolphins too. Protestors believe that the Japanese public should be made aware of the health risks of eating contaminated seafood such as dolphin meat.

Racial issues

The protests on a number of occasions have been accused of being racist against Japanese and their culture. People who defend the cull and eating of cetaceans in Japan have said that the rest of the world is hypocritical.

Well, in a way this is correct….

Dolphin friendly tuna – I don’t think so

I hope that you are not one of those hypocrites and thinking it’s terrible that they are killing dolphins yet right now you are munching on a tuna sandwich. Yes, tuna might not be as cute as dolphins but they are important and are classified as Marine MegaFauna (large animals) like dolphins. Bluefin Tuna can grow up to two metres long and can weigh 500kg.

I read a statistic that Sainsbury’s alone sells 665,000 tins of tuna a week. You may think you were being ethical when you pick up a tin featuring the ‘Dolphin Friendly Tuna’ label however sorry to burst your bubble but there ain’t such a thing. Sorry but there isn’t ok.

Tuna are strong, amazing, fast swimming fish, so in order for fishermen to catch them they either use vast purse-seine nets to scoop them out of the sea or use trail lines of baited hooks many miles long.

Tuna bycatch

Such methods are undiscriminating against any other marine species. By fishing for tuna (so you can have that sarnie or tuna pasta bake) the fishermen end up also catching non-targeted species too, known as bycatch.

A range of species get caught up in the process, including the occasional cetacean but mainly a large shocking number of popular species such as turtles, albatrosses and that less popular yet hugely misunderstood species the shark.

I used to fear sharks because of the movie Jaws, it scared the hell out of me as a child and I would not go swimming in the sea. Now I really appreciate sharks and instead I am now scared of their survival becuase of how many are being killed for shark fin soup or as bycatch on long line fishing nets. I will write a more detailed post about sharks in the future, in the mean time back to the topic!

Ethics and the world’s diet

Whilst the Japanese government is committing crime by allowing the slaughter and its people to eat dolphin meat with high mercury levels in, I would like to highlight that it’s not the general publics fault in most cases as they do not know.

Like you may not know about the long line tuna nets getting other species, or as I have posted about before the Scottish salmon industry killing seals so you can enjoy your smoked salmon and egg breakfast.

What I am highlighting is that all over the world many people unknowingly eat foods that have ethical and also health implications. It can be hard to know what is good to eat and in this modern world, food is extremely political.

Food for thought

However if you love animals and want to protect the planet and to be part of the solution and not the problem then it is my personal belief that you should go vegan or at least vegetarian.

However even as a vegan or vegetarian, I know it is hard to be completely ethical. I’m vegan but then I get faced with dilemmas such as knowing what products may have palm oil in it (which is causing deforestation and loss of habitat for many species).

At the start of the year I pledged to eat more local food, however since I have moved to join my fiancé I regret to say I have sinned on this. However I have discovered an organic farm shop that I can cycle to, so will do that.

I hope that overall my article has given you some food for thought and if you want to get actively involved in protecting Whales and Dolphins then I highly recommend you support Campaign Whale.

We’ve got plenty of space in the garden for them to cluck around and a stable that would keep them safe at night.

We’ve even got friends who have offered to look after them, if ever we get around to going on holiday. So all is looking rosy.

I’ve been thinking about having chickens for a good few years now. It’s the eggs we’re after – and the entertainment. It would mean we would know exactly what had gone into the food we are eating.

We always buy organic, free range eggs. But I recently discovered that not all organic birds have the idyllic life we would expect. Apparently many of them are raised in flocks of many thousands of birds, with the restrictions that would obviously create. So we’re ready to take responsibilty for raising our own chickens and keeping them as happy as can be.

For me, it’s also about the boys starting to learn about where food comes from and taking responsibility for the welfare of another creature, from an early age.

So it got me wondering: do any of you have your own chickens? What exactly am I letting myself in for and are there any top tips you could share on keeping our chickens “green”?

I’ve already read so much about “vaccinated birds” and “vitamin enhanced GM feeds” that I’m keen to make sure I’m keeping my chickens (and eggs) as natural as possible.

I’ve already worked out that it’s going to cost us more to produce our own eggs than to buy them, but for me it’s also about getting as close to nature as possible. And I know it’s not all about the romantic visions we might have of cute, clucky, feathered friends eating corn out of our hands – there’s a real-world practicality involved.

So I’d love to hear your stories about the highs and lows of raising your own chickens. Which breed(s) should we go for if we want eggs? What are the idiot mistakes that beginners make? Have you got eco-chickens at home?

I’ll keep you all updated about which breed(s) we choose and how it goes and I look forward to introducing you to our micro-flock some time soon!

Here’s to the freshest eggs in town,
Clare x

I first reported about the Save Lyme Bay Reefs campaign in the posts titled ‘Help save the seaside’ and I would like to thank any GGG readers who supported the campaigning by signing the petition and or writing to Defra.

The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for a 60sq mile exclusion zone around Lyme Bay reefs , since concern was highlighted, in the early 1990s, by divers who observed damage to some areas. Survey work by Devon and Dorset Wildlife Trusts has shown that scallop-dredging is damaging the reefs and that time is running out for their preservation.

Lyme Bay is home to around 300 recorded species of plants and animals, including dense populations of the nationally protected pink seafan and the extremely rare sunset coral. As well as a haven for sponges, starfish and coral, the reefs also support a range of seafood animals, including crab, lobster and scallops.

Talking about the success Paul Gompertz, Devon Wildlife Trust’s director, said:

“This is one small step for marine but one giant leap for marine-kind. It finally acknowledges that our seas need vital life-support systems like Lyme Bay reefs. It’s taken 18 years, hundreds of thousands of fundraised pounds, the energy and dedication of many people – and a host of setbacks and heartache along the way. But it has all been worth it – to see a new day dawn for the future of marine conservation in this country. The Government is to be congratulated on a bold step. Now we need to see the exclusions enforced.”

Important Marine Sites

World wide there are a range of important wildlife marine sites that require urgent protection. Whilst it may appear a daunting task to get such sites protected, I think that if conservation organisations work in partnership with one another, engage members of public into the campaigns and lobby MP’s face to face then we can truly save our seas.

Photo Sources

Lyme Bay by North Light: Source Flickr

Scallops by Rory MacNish: Source Marine Photobank

However these popular marine mammals which help attract wildlife tourists to various locations across the world are victims of human cruelty. Seals are brutally and savagely murdered across the world for their skin, oil and most bizarrely by fishermen because seals eat fish to survive!

The Canadian commercial seal hunt

When I think of Canada, I think of a country rich in wildlife however it appears that the Canadian Government may care more about what the fishing industry thinks and increasing GDP from commercial activity than wanting to keep its country rich in wildlife. Each year a cruel and unethical practice takes place in Canada in which seals (including pups aged about 2 weeks to 3 months) are killed with a blow to the head using a wooden club or hakapik.

This hunt is a highly competitive activity and it is disturbing to know that some of the seals are actually skinned before being rendered fully unconscious. Most of the sealers are fishermen who in addition to wanting the seals to sell abroad also have a vested interest as they own sea food companies and thus want to reduce seal population to maintain cod stock levels which in turn will increase their profits.

The 2008 Seal Hunt

The allowed quota for 2008 was 275,000 seals however it was reported that participation in seal hunting was lower than usual and federal officials say that about 80% of the quota was taken (still far too many!!). The reason for low participation included bad weather, high fuel price and the fall in financial value of pelts (half of what they were a year ago).

Seal products

Whilst seal products are not sold in the U.S.A (thanks Marine Mammal Protection Act) they are still legally sold in a variety of countries including the UK!

Seal pelts

Back in 1982, the European Union banned the import of ‘whitecoat’ seal pup pelts (skin) however hunters instead waited until the pups shed their white fur before they killed them.

Seal pelts are still used for a variety of products ranging from designer coats to traditional Scottish sporrans (see photograph below).

However I was delighted to hear that the UK ethical Bank ‘Cop-Operative’ refused to do business with one Scottish kilt company which still uses seal pelts in its sporran range (news source from Guardian newspaper)

Seal meat

After the seals have been skinned most of the meat is wasted and left on the ice, however some is sold and ground up into animal feed and some of the flippers are even sold for human consumption in Newfoundland.

Seal oil

North Atlantic Harp Seal oil is sold in capsules labeled “Terra Nova Omega-3 capsules” by a company called ‘Atlantic Marine Products’. However there is no need at all to source Omega 3 from seals or even fish as ethical alternatives exists including vegan versions containing predominantly seed oil.

Seal products and the EU Legislation

Thanks to the successful lobbying of various conservation and animal welfare organisations the European Commission recently announced that it will seek to ban the import of “inhumane” seal products.  However it is not known how long it will be until it is enforced.

Seals and the Fishing industry

It is hard to escape the fact that fish stocks are becoming drastically low, however rather than blaming the unsustainable fish quota’s, many unjustifiable persecute seals simply for eating fish for survival.

Conservation organisations including the Seal Preservation Action Group (SPAG) in the
UK state that:

“There is no scientific evidence to justify claims that seals are threats to fish stocks when human over-fishing clearly is”

In fact research suggests that seals are opportunistic feeders and their diet mainly consists of fish species which commercial fishermen target. According to SPAG:

“It has been estimated that seals in the North Sea account for only 2% of fish stocks annually, compared to 25% to 30% by the fishing industry”

The way in which some fishermen, fish farmers and even the owners of sports fishing rivers deal with seals eating their fish stock is to shoot them. In such instances profit is being put before ethics, animal welfare and nature conservation. However consumers must also play a role in terms of supply and demand, commercial fishermen and fish farmers are protecting fish stock from marine mammals to supply the demand from consumers.

What you can do to help

1) Use your consumer power to protect seals by:

a) Not purchasing any seal by-products

b) Boycott business organisations that sell seal byproducts including fashion designers

c) Help SPAG encourage UK food retailers to stock seal friendly salmon

d) Reduce or even completely stop eating fish

e) Not participating in or funding the sport fishing industry

2) Lobby for change:

a) Help SPAG encourage the UK government to create a Seal Protection Act whereby the killing of seals will be strictly forbidden.  If you would like to help SPAG’s campaign, please write to the relevant UK and Scottish Ministers calling for the protection of seals.

Their addresses are:

Lord Rooker, Minister for Animal Welfare, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, Nobel House, London SW1P 3JR

Richard Lochhead MSP Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Scottish Parliament,Edinburgh EH99 1SP

For further information about this campaign please go to the Seal Preservation Action Group (SPAG) website

b) Write to the Canadian Ambassador in your country and pledge to boycott all Canadian seafood products until sealing is ended.

In the UK the address is Canadian High Commission, Macdonald House,1 Grosvenor Square, London,W1X 0AB

c) Write to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanding that the UK introduces a unilateral ban on the import of all seal products as have EU partners Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands:

Rt Hon.Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister, Downing Street, London, SWIA 2AA

I have written to all of the above and I hope that GGG readers will get involved to help protect seals too!

Flowers are beginning to bloom, birds are preparing their nests, tiny rabbit kittens graze on the grassy roadsides – there is ‘ahhh factor’ galore!

Even in our own back garden we’ve had some special babies this year. For the first time the frogs have laid spawn and we have hundreds (literally) of fat tadpoles swimming around in our pond.

I’m always fascinated with the pond because only a couple of summers ago it was just a plastic lining filled with tap water, a couple of bunches of pond weed and two water snails. Now it is so full of life, aside from the frogs, tadpoles and snails there are all kinds of insect larvae, plants and even the land dwelling wildlife such as blackbirds rely on it for baths and drinks. I always think of our garden pond as a tiny example of how resilient nature is.

The other newborns we witnessed this week were some spider babies which had been nesting in the corner of a window pane in our back door. The most incredible thing was to watch them collectively construct a long thread of launch web which allowed them to float off and make their own way in the world.

Nature is resilient but it is also a delicate balance and it is things like this that remind you why we must do our best not to cause it even more damage.

Now a few months back on a Sunday afternoon we were lazing in the front room with our Sunday papers when I happened to look up and see a staff member walk around the car park and cut all the balloons free. Up, up, up they floated as the worker continued to set about 50 balloons free.

I was flabbergasted, as to me it was just plain littering. A business wouldn’t throw out 50 odd leaflets or food wrappers on the street. Just because they float upward and out of site doesn’t mean they are not litter when they land. They obviously weren’t thinking about where they were going to land as it would be far, far away out of sight and not on their land. Not their problem! I was also annoyed as I’d read that they posed a danger to wildlife as birds and marine creatures can mistake them for food similar to plastic bags and can choke on the remains.

The following Saturday to my shock horror when I drew back the curtains there were pink, blue and yellow balloons (yes, all colour co-ordinated) promoting their latest cut deal offer. This time there must have been over 100 balloons gracefully bobbing in the breeze. I wont go into the next half an hour but it involved me stomping around the house whilst my poor long suffering partner looked on bemused followed by me marching across the road to see the manger.

Luckily I ‘d found some info on the net about balloon littering and that organisations could be fined up to £2,500 if caught littering. Needless to say the manger did take seriously what I had to say and promised not to release (litter) any more. Whilst balloons are no way on the same scale as plastic bags for polluting our landscape. I still think it’s important for companies to realise the risks to our wildlife and that there is no excuse to litter. Hopefully the ‘Don’t let go’ campaign will raise awareness of this issue.

For more information about the campaign you can download a Don’t let go fact sheet. This has details of the threat to wildlife and more information about fines, the environmental protection act and the Marine Conservation Society.