DOWN TO EARTH in The City

How absurd, the idea that a plant is anything other than a life giving, life preserving entity, the essence of life, without which there is no life. Richard Mabey provides a terrific account in 'A Cabaret of Plants' (BOTANY AND THE IMAGINATION) PROFILE BOOKS 2015. And whilst many of us celebrate plants  intensely and  joyously, some are preoccupied with total disdain towards certain species; the 'Triffid syndrome' might be applied here as a concept approaching an 'irrational fear leading to a concern that certain plants will, if left to their own devises, consume human babies'. A few local 'triffids' are evident at this time of year, notably Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and the most recent traveller, Giant Hogweed. Side by side, Rea Valley Hogweed at Ten Acres (foreground left) and the giant cousin (middle ground and left) Photo 8th June. Our friendly hog, Heracleum sphondylium , seems to be an accepted plant at the edge of river, woo...

A park of many corners Highbury Park features somewhat disproportionatley in the 'Rea Valley Woodland Consultation' Blog, two reasons, one it's close to home and work and two it's interesting, that might be three, but nevertheless it's a fascinating area with lots going on almost everyday, and there are enough landscape features combined with a geographical declivity to make it seem much larger than it is; a park of many 'corners', thanks to Milner's 19th century landscape design and this, together with a mixed arrangement of Park's management additions, changes, abandonment, cut backs and nature improvement, thanks to volunteers, Friends, Rangers and the B&BCWT NIA funding, makes it an intriguing subject. http://www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/NIA Author and journalist Barbara Copperthwaite also has much to say about the area in her blog - https://www.gobewild.co.uk/wild-blog  Great photos accompanying. Every now and again, I dawdle the time ...