Your input is needed to plan for nature’s future. The government’s Big Society drive has been rolled out to cover biodiversity issues as the Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman today called for views to help shape the government’s policy on the environment.
As part of the government drive towards a greener economy the Natural Environment White Paper is due to be published in spring 2011. It will be the first environmental white paper in 20 years and will set out measures to protect wildlife and promote green spaces in England. It will also be a chance to recognise the economic value of the services nature provides.
Caroline Spelman said ‘We want everyone to contribute their views on the natural environment – whether they’re concerned at the plight of the songbirds in their garden, the quality of air in their town, flooding problems worsened by people paving over their gardens or the fate of our wider countryside.’
Everyone from bug collectors to business leaders is invited to submit their comments to the discussion document, An invitation to shape the Nature of England launched today at Kew Gardens. The deadline for responses to this document is 30 October 2010.
Soil Association Organic Fortnight (3–17 September) is the UK’s biggest celebration of all things organic. Organic farming is a sustainable system of food production that works with nature, avoids the use of pesticides, and prohibits the use of synthetic fertilisers and genetically modified organisms.
It gives me great pleasure to start with a disclaimer. Most View articles are careful to note that they are the personal views of the writer – rather than a particular organisation. In my case, however, this is not one particular organisation, but amazingly, more than 40 organisations that have been involved with BioBlitzes this year.
And there it was. Boom. Back in London. Having cycled 3,000km, through eight different countries, to travel from the source to the mouth of the River Danube in just three weeks. That question was a sharp and sudden reminder that we were now back home, back on the bike, and back commuting to work. The adventure was over.
More views