International Day for Biological Diversity
And the swifts are back!
Before anything else….the swifts are back! We saw them at the weekend reeling overhead and it is such a wonderful sight bringing a feeling that summer has really begun. These fast and fabulous birds are truly avian wonders, flying around 3400 miles twice each year to and from the UK and Africa, it always astounds me that something so small and delicate can do such a mammoth journey, hearing their cries as they zoom overhead is magic, so welcome back little birds!
It is International Day for Biological Diversity today, proclaimed by the United Nations, 22nd March is now a day to promote and increase awareness of biodiversity issues around the world for our creatures, habitats, plants and planet.
Biodiversity is important to us all, humans and the planet alike, for our health, diet and environment, we can all do our bit to help such as recycling, reducing litter, not using pesticides in the garden and supporting conservation charities - sales from my little corner of the internet help with monthly charity donations to the RSPB and Wildlife Trust for example (thehollowwayshop.com).
Spring is still marching on in the garden, we just had a beautiful few days weather-wise so did the usual jobs for this time of year - pruning, weeding (so much weeding), potting-on and planting, it is raining as I type, but that will only do good as well as replenishing the water butt and topping up the frog pond. Life as a gardener is never dull and there is always a job to do.