Week 16
A delight of my renaturing is that I have no real clue what is happening. Nor I suspect does anyone else, however they may present their views. Each of us is in the hands of Nature, which in many respects is how it should be. My fingers are certainly greener than they once were but as each day passes, I become more astonished by Nature’s incredible power, and horrified by what mankind is doing to our planet. The damage our species is creating simply beggars belief. There can surely be only one endpoint, and that is a massive depopulation by whatever means Earth can dream up when she eventually decides we have had our moment.
Mankind has seen such things before[i] but never at a time when our species is not only able to destroy itself - just look at nuclear power and weapons - but is also pushing the planet beyond its breaking point. We are spoiled for choice when it comes to methods for our extinction. Overpopulation is the elephant in the room, the topic few seek to address. It leads to the depletion of natural resources, degradation of the environment, conflict and wars, a rise in unemployment, a high cost of living, pandemics and epidemics, malnutrition and starvation, water shortage, a lower life expectancy, and so much more[ii].
I doubt Earth’s breaking point is far away, if we are not already there. We are unlikely to vanish tomorrow, but mankind is visibly in slow and steady decline. I see that in so many places. Illegal immigration says plenty as so much of it appears to be from south to north, not in the opposite direction. Surely these are climate refugees, and an indicator of more to come? I speak for myself when I admit that my Lakeland renaturing project, The Bit Outside, is largely thanks to warming weather further south, where I have spent most of my life. Am I really the only one to have reached this conclusion? I doubt it. Nature is the boss, and we must acknowledge that.
Renaturing shows me this quite plainly, as I can take a portion of my land where I know I have done nothing and watch as a plant suddenly appears. It is thanks to Nature. Buried in my thin topsoil are activities I do not understand. The area was once ancient woodland[iii], which headlong development over many decades is doing its best to destroy[iv],[v]. There was a time when things grew without human interference - no longer can I say that.
Take my Lily of the Valley[vi], which has suddenly appeared in a location where I have not seen it in previous years. The flower has the most perfect scent, often features in perfumes, and is widely used as a bridal bouquet. For the royal wedding between the United Kingdom’s Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the bride carried a bouquet featuring Lily of the Valley. The plant, which is rhizomatous[vii] but can also slowly spread by seed[viii], certainly knows how to grow. Once started it is difficult to stop. On my land it is presently forming a huge colony at least 50 metres from where I planted a dozen rhizomes 18 months ago. At the time, I was proud of a homemade root barrier I inserted, fashioned from aluminium foil. My efforts, it appears, were wasted. There is no sign of Lily of the Valley where I spent a day of hard labour, but 50 metres away, where I did nothing, the plant is taking over. Explain that if you can, other than Nature has decided, Nature has acted, and as a human I have been powerless to intervene.
The few-flowered leek[ix] is another. I have never once shown any interest in it, have certainly not planted it, and yet with renaturing it is springing up in the most unexpected locations - under trees, beneath hedges and at the bottom of dry-stone walls. Few-flowered leek never appears to grow in the open. It needs company, shade and security and, on my land, is always next to something else. It is flowering now, its seeds ripening in June, and is Heaven for pollination. The bumblebees are already very happy.
The marsh marigold[x], too. I have never planted it but thanks to Lakeland damp the marsh marigold is happy on my land. It is reliable on boggy ground and can flower twice, if cut back hard in the summer. Right now it is shining brightly and can be lifted and divided in late spring[xi]. A rewilder cannot do that, but a renaturer can, so I look forward to dividing and lifting my marsh marigolds in a few weeks’ time.
With renaturing, when a stripy lawn becomes a thing of the past, the number of flowers that can feature increases hugely, thanks to the larger area available for growth. All that former stripy lawn becomes Nature’s flowerbed. No longer am I directing what I would like to see, I am simply supporting Nature. If she decides to put a plant in a particular spot, or if an animal thinks to appear, that is how it will be. From time to time I have cheated and have planted the occasional bulb. Last year, for example, I spent a fortune on daffodils, which I purchased from a well-know supplier. This year I am pleased. The result has been the Poet’s Narcissus[xii], essentially a flattened daffodil, without the flower’s typical trumpet, and is thought to be the daffodil of ancient times. Some call it the Pheasant’s Eye, which is late flowering and loves long grass[xiii]. It is also Heaven to a pollinator.
It hailed a few days ago, which was unexpected, a quick blast that was over in a few hours. Yet that was all it took to damage so much. Many plants survived, but a few did not. Hail can be good for soil as it creates spaces, feeds microbes and increases nutrient availability[xiv]. Hail can also be bad. Some of my Western skunk cabbage was damaged, as were plenty of daffodils and a few garden tulips[xv] that are beginning to appear. Tulips have always fascinated me, especially in this age of cryptocurrency, as tulip mania in 1634 was likely the first speculative bubble. Just before the market collapse in February 1637, single tulip bulbs were sold for more than ten times the annual income of a skilled artisan[xvi]. At one point, five hectares of land were offered for a single bulb of Semper augustus[xvii]. This was the most rare and valuable of the high-end tulips during the short period of tulip mania. The species had dark blood-red streaks and flashes on white petals. In 1623 a single bulb cost 1000 guilders (Dutch currency), by 1633 this was 5500 guilders and by February 1637 this was 10,000 guilders. Prices then cratered 90%[xviii]. My land does not have any Semper augustus, at least not that I am aware, as these days it is an extremely difficult tulip to find, if it can be found at all.
The birds on my land are manifestly in breeding overdrive and the orgy continues. Lovebirds abound. The origin of the word “lovebird” is fascinating, as it first appeared in the 1590s, to describe a species of small African parrot, noted for the close attention mating pairs paid to one another[xix]. The lovebird’s genus is Agapornis, a name whose origin says all. In Greek, αγάπη means “love” and όρνις means “bird”[xx]. I rest my case. My land is filled with lovebirds.
The male and female wood pigeons that have paired up are now constantly by each other’s side. They have gone lovemaking crazy, while she remains most unimpressed at his efforts. Meanwhile the male pheasant struts around my land as if he owns the place - in truth he probably does - and now has two female pheasants that he mounts from time to time. Again, they appear indifferent to his efforts despite his huffing and puffing, ruffling of feathers, tiny dances, and his general showing off. It is hard work being a male pheasant, as pheasant ladies need plenty of attention.
I can do little but watch. After all, Nature is my boss.
***
Acknowledgement
Take it from me - none of this would be possible without the help of RSG Horticulture. Rufus, who runs it, has far more energy than me and is full of ideas and skills.
References [i] Frankopan P. The Earth Transformed: An Untold History. Bloomsbury Publishing. 2023. ISBN 978-1526622563. [ii] Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Solutions That are Seriously Eye-opening. See https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-overpopulation.php. Accessed 3 May 2023. [iii] See blog of 26 February 2023. [iv] Planners ignoring new curbs on destroying ancient woodland says Woodland Trust. See https://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/planning/401-planning-news/41136-planners-ignoring-new-curbs-on-destroying-ancient-woodland-says-woodland-trust. Accessed 15 April 2023. [v] Campaigners attack proposals to allow destruction of ancient woodlands. See https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/04/ancient-woodland-cut-down-biodiversity-offsetting. Accessed 15 April 2023. [vi] Convallaria majalis. Highly poisonous to humans and animals. Also known as Our Lady’s tears, May bells, or “muguet” by the French. Sometimes called Apollinaris as it was thought to have been discovered by Apollo. Said to be good for gout, strengthens memory and restores speech although there is no evidence for any of this. [vii] See https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/4327/convallaria-majalis/details. Accessed 15 April 2023. [viii] https://www.gardenersnet.com/bulbs/convallaria.htm. Accessed 16 April 2023. [ix] Allium paradoxum. Edible and can be eaten raw as well as in salads, or as a herb to flavour foods. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_paradoxum. Accessed 16 April 2023. Its onion flavour is thanks to the sulphur it contains. It can lower cholesterol, tonify the circulatory system and aid digestion. See https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Allium+paradoxum. Accessed 16 April 2023. [x] Caltha palustris. Name is derived from the ancient Greek, κάλαθος, meaning “goblet”, the shape of the flower. Can be yellow, white or magenta with many different species. Produces nectar and pollen with up to 200 seeds produced by each flower. Early spring greens and buds are edible. Can cause convulsions and burning of the throat, vomiting and diarrhoea if ingested. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltha_palustris. Accessed 16 April 2023. Has medicinal uses, too – pain, cramps, menstrual disorders, bronchitis, jaundice, constipation, fluid retention, high cholesterol, and low blood sugar. See https://www.rxlist.com/marsh_marigold/supplements.htm. Accessed 16 April 2023. [xi] https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/caltha-palustris/classid.78083/. Accessed 16 April 2023. [xii] Narcissus poeticus. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_poeticus. Accessed 15 April 2023. Associated with the Greek legend of Narcissus, a hunter known for his beauty, who rejected all romantic advances, and fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology). Accessed 15 April 2023. [xiii] https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/narcissus-poeticus/. Accessed 15 April 2023. [xiv] Correcting the cause – hail. https://soilworksllc.com/hail/. Accessed 16 April 2023. [xv] Tulipa spp. About 75 species in total, usually showy coloured – red, pink, yellow, white (warm-coloured). Name thought to originate from the Persian word for “turban” and cultivated in Byzantine Constantinople as early as 1055. Symbol of the later Ottomans. Rapidly introduced into Northern Europe, especially The Netherlands, and associated with that country ever since. [xvi] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania. Accessed 16 April 2023. [xvii] https://www.econlib.org/book-chapters/chapter-ch-3-the-tulipomania/. Accessed 16 April 2023. [xviii] https://www.semperaugustus.com/semper-augustus. Accessed 16 April 2023. [xix] https://www.etymonline.com/word/love-bird. Accessed 16 April 2023. [xx] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebird. Accessed 16 April 2023.
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