Wild About Wildlife Month
Plus some garden progress.
As I write, it is pouring with rain and fairly chilly outside, but it is, in fact July, and therefore Wild About Wildlife Month. Of course, like many of us, we are wild about wildlife all year round, whatever the month, but an international effort to raise awareness and education is never wasted in our turbulent world.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare started the event in 1984, and since then it has proven to be a very beneficial tool in opening up the world of environmental and conservation education and celebrating the wonderful animals we share this planet with. As well as highlighting the trials and tribulations faced by species around the globe caused by climate change, loss of habitat, pollution and war, Wild About Wildlife Month also brings much needed attention to the good things, success stories and wonderful people who are out there protecting our natural world.
Here are some positive things:
Beavers have been reintroduced to the UK with several family groups thriving and helping to maintain their habitats with dam building thus aiding in flood prevention and securing wet land spaces.
African gorilla populations are increasing.
India’s wild tigers have seen a 33% population growth since efforts began in 2010.
Grey wolves in the USA are recovering really well with their numbers climbing steadily.
Whale numbers in the Atlantic Ocean have regained their pre-1970s statistics with hunting being banned in many places around the world.
(Source https://nationaltoday.com/wild-about-wildlife-month)
Action has real effects! Some things we can all do to help include protecting our local green areas, not over-tidying our gardens, planting trees and hedges, sponsoring an animal through a charity and donating time or money to fundraising projects.
Back to our garden…it is too wet to take a decent photo of our rainbow chard, but it looks very similar to the picture above and it has grown beautifully after surrounding it with chicken wire and netting to protect it from the sparrows! We have been eating it with lots of meals, mostly stir-fried along with other veg and it is absolutely wonderful, colourful and incredibly good for us - in fact it is one of the best vegetables for health when both the stalks and leaves are used, this article notes all the goodness!
Our garlic has been harvested and is currently drying out in the shed, the kohlrabi are nearly ready and yesterday we ate the first of our kale and dwarf purple French beans. It is such an exciting time when we can reap the efforts put in earlier in the year, our little patch of land will provide us with goodies for months to come. Next will be the normal sized French beans, tomatoes, peppers, grapes and potatoes as well as the ever-present nasturtiums, chard, cucumbers and strawberries.
So, although the rain means an enforced day inside, it is so good for the plants, in fact we may have some monster growth after this so I had better clear some room in the freezers!