Week 24
The thing about renaturing is that all living creatures try to join in. Part of being a renaturer is sharing your efforts with others and that does not mean just humans. In truth, mankind is the least important.
It is why I enjoy rising early, often at 4 a.m., and using the time to see what animals have been wandering through my land overnight. I can also listen to the dawn chorus. This very morning, as I sat under a spreading oak tree, I was accompanied by blackbird, song thrush, jackdaw, wood pigeon, wren, dove, rook, goldcrest, greenfinch, and a chiffchaff that sings all day. It never seems to stop, but then chiffchaffs perform they do not sing. It is the way they are.
Around me were the tracks of the night before, more obvious thanks to the early morning dew, which is still happening despite the heatwave that is affecting the whole country. Badgers had been active, as had fox and rabbit, deer as well, not counting a colleague’s cat that uses my land for transit. It has found a favoured spot in my long grass, where it sleeps for much of the day, before starting its prowl in the early hours of the morning, as it patrols the local area.
Tracking animals is a slow process, and best done near ground level. It is not only recognising footprints from above. Prints are important but are rarely clearcut. To them should be added feeding signs, scat, resting places, bones, feathers and hair, as well as eggs, trails and runs, with rubs, wallows and scrapes[i]. Tracking is about likelihoods, rarely certainties. My tracking tutor once said that I should take the evidence around me and give five options as to what had caused the signs. For example, the lonely piece of scat (droppings) that lay dead centre on a path before me might have been evidence of pine marten, fox, rabbit, dog, or even my colleague’s cat. There were reasons for each choice, and reasons against.
By thinking in this way, probabilities emerge, and it is possible to reach a conclusion. That was me, at 4 a.m., listening to the dawn chorus, and deciding it was likely a pine marten[ii] had wandered by, left its droppings, gobbled a blackbird, and moved on. My land was not meant to contain pine martens, but some had been seen elsewhere in the Lake District[iii] and I recalled the animal sometimes follows the course of rivers. There is an underground river passing right by my land, so of my five probabilities, as well as earlier trail camera footage, a pine marten it would be. The animal is known to be in Scotland, and the Lake District is not far away.
Emphasising the interconnected nature of the climate catastrophe that mankind has created, and continues to do so, I have noticed a few of my darker surfaces are looking dusty. I think this is thanks to massive and multiple Canadian wildfires, that have locked down much of the United States and Canada, with the local population being asked to stay indoors, wear facemasks, and not exercise outside. These are significant fires, with real dangers to human health. Smoke and ash crossed the Atlantic to UK and Ireland in 2019[iv] and this year’s fires are worse. The smoke has already reached Norway[v] as the pollution forecast for my local area slowly deteriorates. Air pollution can certainly injure plants, too[vi], which can appear as pieces of dead leaf, or simply yellowing. In addition to leaf damage, pollution can hinder flowering, harm roots, prevent plants from growing, damage stomata (small pores on leaves that exchange gases with the atmosphere), and contribute to overall global warming[vii].
Air pollution is bad for mankind, bad for plant life, and bad for wildlife as well. Acid rain, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and other toxic substances can affect the quality of the environment or habitat in which the wildlife lives, as well as influencing the availability and quality of food[viii],[ix]. What is happening in Canada now[x] is affecting everyone and everything. My land is no exception. The carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are astonishing. I have a small pollution monitor on my land and this has shown particulate matter not to be an issue, but CO2 certainly is. The average outdoor level of CO2 should be 400 parts per million (ppm). Levels higher than this might be expected in occupied spaces. By 1000ppm one can expect drowsiness[xi]. Right now, thanks to wildfires many thousands of miles away, outdoor CO2 levels on my land have risen to 750ppm. My plantlife and wildlife will not be enjoying it so I must hope that CO2 levels soon fall. For reference, 400ppm has never been reached since the mid-Pliocene, two to four million years ago[xii]. Ten thousand years ago, the figure was 280ppm[xiii]. Our planet is in serious trouble, and I can see that on my land.
This week the sky has been largely cloudless with the tiniest drop of rain that lasted all of 30 minutes. By leaving my grass uncut, it stays greener for longer, but that cannot be forever. The long grass has been filled with wildlife, as it feels safer and cooler when surrounded by tall vegetation. The few areas I have cut shorter are already turning yellow. The many tree seedlings and saplings are looking droopy, and I cannot water everything. A tiny alder tree has appeared, which puzzles me in this time of drought, as I associate alders with moisture. Alders[xiv] are normally found near rivers, ponds and lakes, but this is the first one on my land so I must do what I can to protect it. Alder has wood that does not rot when waterlogged but turns harder and stronger instead. The wood is white when cut but rapidly becomes a rusty red. This is supposedly symbolic and has linked alders to supernatural life. Indeed, the tree was a very important sign in Celtic astrology[xv].
My land’s plant life is changing rapidly. Bluebells have gone, as has my speedwell, while a bout of heavy wind eliminated almost all my field poppies. The yellow Welsh poppies seem stronger, are protected by a low wall, and are still looking perfect. I would have thought my cuckooflowers would have wilted by now, but they are still hanging on, and managing to look beautiful. A cuckooflower is small, and generally lonesome, as if trying not to be noticed. The carpet bugle has disappeared, my cowslip has shrivelled, while there is cuckoospit in many places. This looks like human saliva, is perched on a green stem, and deep inside is a juvenile sap-sucking insect called a froghopper[xvi], or spittle bug[xvii]. Cuckoospit is harmless.
As for my daffodils, they have long gone, although I can see some old daffodil leaves fully flattened and am sure that a deer has turned them into a place to sleep, officially termed a ‘form’. To deer, there seems nowhere they call home, as they will often sleep somewhere different each night.
My land is now in a period similar to just before spring, where I am waiting for the next batch of flowers to establish. There is plenty of bird’s foot trefoil[xviii] biding its time and it should not be long before another ocean of yellow stretches before me. There are some tremendous names, too. Enchanter’s nightshade[xix],[xx], yellow pimpernel[xxi], flatweed[xxii], and nipplewort[xxiii],[xxiv] nearby. Stripy Lawners appear to hate them, a traditional gardener pulling them out in moments.
I have discovered a problem with encouraging insects. I end up covered in bites and might easily be mistaken for a badger, as I spend much of my life scratching. The insect that concerns me most is the tick as it carries the disease I do not want, Lyme disease. In Europe, up to 5% of tick bites can lead to the disease, with 5% of ticks being infected, certainly in England and Wales. In 2021 there were 1156 laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales, a number that is slowly rising[xxv]. The bacterium carried by the tick is Borrelia burgdorferi, which normally responds to an up to four-week course of antibiotics, provided the disease is recognised. Ticks do not stop there, as there is also a disease called tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Believe me, you do not want either.
The most common ticks to transmit Lyme disease to people and companion animals in the United Kingdom are Ixodes ricinus (also known as the sheep tick, deer tick, wood tick, and castor bean tick) and Ixodes hexagonus (the hedgehog tick)[xxvi]. Even the darling hedgehog is not always friendly.
Lyme disease is usually easier to treat, the earlier it is diagnosed. It typically starts off with a so-called bull’s-eye target lesion on the skin, which needs no description as it looks precisely as it is named, although only about 20% of those who develop Lyme disease show this[xxvii]. Indeed, roughly a third of those infected have no rash at all. The incubation period of the disease is 3-30 days after being bitten, with the symptoms being like ‘flu, albeit without the runny nose. If Lyme disease is left untreated, or is not treated early, things become worse, with joint pains, nerve and memory problems, heart problems, and difficulty concentrating[xxviii]. Without treatment, or with inadequate treatment, Lyme disease can cause permanent damage. There is a condition called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) that can cause all manner of problems, none of which a sane person would want[xxix]. Sometimes PTLDS can even look like multiple sclerosis[xxx]and misdiagnoses have occurred.
The best way of avoiding Lyme disease is to stick to hard paths, wear long trousers and tuck them into socks, use insect repellent, and check for ticks after being outside. Ticks are tiny and are easy to miss. They are why you will not find me on my land wearing shorts, and my sleeves are always rolled down even when it is sweltering. I have no wish to be gobbled by a tick.
***
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. Do contact him through https://www.rsghorticulture.com.
References
[i] See https://www.danpuplett.net. Accessed 9 June 2023. [ii] Mellor C. Pine martens: where they live, what they eat and other facts. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2018/06/pine-marten-facts/. Accessed 9 June 2023. [iii] Have pine martens returned to the north Lakes? See https://keswickreminder.co.uk/2022/10/14/have-pine-martens-returned-to-the-north-lakes/. Accessed 9 June 2023. [iv] Smoke particles from Canada wildfires cross the Atlantic to UK and Ireland. See https://www.euronews.com/2018/08/15/smoke-particles-from-canada-wildfires-cross-the-atlantic-to-uk-and-ireland. Accessed 9 June 2023. [v] Keane D. Smoke from Canadian wildfires forecast expected to reach Norway. See https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/smoke-canadian-wildfires-forecast-reach-norway-b1086573.html. Accessed 9 June 2023. [vi] Effects of air pollution on agricultural crops. See https://www.ontario.ca/page/effects-air-pollution-agricultural-crops#:~:text=of%20square%20kilometres.-,Effects%20of%20Air%20Pollution%20on%20Plants,or%20chlorosis%20of%20the%20leaf. Accessed 9 June 2023. [vii] How does air pollution affect plants? See https://airly.org/en/how-does-air-pollution-affect-plants/. Accessed 9 June 2023. [viii] Air pollution: effects on wild animals. See https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-pollution/quality-environment-economy/ecosystem/wild-animals.html#. Accessed 9 June 2023. [ix] Impacts of air pollution and acid rain on wildlife. See https://www.air-quality.org.uk/17.php. Accessed 9 June 2023. [x] Coletta A, Bisset V, Timsit A. What to know about the Canadian wildfires causing poor air quality in the U.S. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/06/07/canada-wildfires-weather-air-quality/. Accessed 9 June 2023. [xi] Carbon Dioxide. See https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/chemical/carbondioxide.htm#:~:text=The%20levels%20of%20CO2,of%20drowsiness%20and%20poor%20air. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xii] Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_in_Earth%27s_atmosphere#:~:text=Carbon%20dioxide%20concentrations%20have%20varied,to%204%20million%20years%20ago. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xiii] Jones N. How the World Passed a Carbon Threshold and Why It Matters. See https://e360.yale.edu/features/how-the-world-passed-a-carbon-threshold-400ppm-and-why-it-matters#:~:text=There%27s%20a%20lot%20of%20debate,before%20the%20industrial%20revolution%20hit. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xiv] Alder (Alnus glutinosa). See https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/alder/. Accessed 9 June 2023. [xv] The magic of the alder tree. See https://www.snapdragonlife.com/news/blog/the-magic-of-the-alder-tree/#:~:text=The%20tree%20has%20wood%20is,important%20sign%20in%20Celtic%20astrology. Accessed 9 June 2023. [xvi] Cuckoo spit (spittlebugs). See https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/cuckoo-spit-spittlebugs. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xvii] Cuckoo spit. See https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/cuckoo-spit/#. Accessed 11 June 2023. [xviii] Common bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Sometimes called “Granny’s toenails”. Common bird's-foot-trefoil is an important foodplant for the caterpillars of the common blue, silver-studded blue and wood white butterflies; the latter two species are both classified as Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. Its flowers are a good nectar source for bees. Accessed 10 June 2023. See week 1 entry. [xix] Circaea lutetiana. See https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/enchanters-nightshade. Accessed 10 June 2023. Many see this as a weed. I happen to like it. [xx] The genus Circaea is named after the Greek goddess Circe who was known for her knowledge of potions and herbs. She is said to of used enchanter’s nightshade in her potions to transform Homers crew from the Odyssey to swine. The plant is not actually related to the nightshade family and is not poisonous but is considered inedible due to the high levels of tannins. It had been used in some cases in a tea as a cure for gout or infections or mixed with ethanol and used as a rub. Enchanter’s nightshade is said to have enchanting powers and used by witches for attracting or binding people, another name for the plant is the “witch’s grass” and the name Lutetia (Circaea lutetiana) is the Latin for Paris which was once called the “witches city”. See https://iwt.ie/species-of-the-week-enchanters-nightshade/#:~:text=She%20is%20said%20to%20of,the%20high%20levels%20of%20tannins. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xxi] Yellow pimpernel - Lysimachia nemorum. See https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/yellow-pimpernel. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xxii] Hypochaeris radicata – also known as catsear or false dandelion. Edible but suspected of causing stringhalt in horses if consumed in excess. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochaeris_radicata. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xxiii] Nipplewort - Lapsana communis. Seen by many as a weed. See https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/weeds/weed-datasheets/nipplewort. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xxiv] Nipplewort. Used as a salad vegetable in Europe. It is very edible having a calming effect. Used as a tea it also helps staunch the flow of milk when it is time to stop breast-feeding. See https://www.juliasedibleweeds.com/general/nipplewort/. Accessed 10 June 2023. [xxv] See https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/04/13/what-is-lyme-disease-and-why-do-we-need-to-be-tick-aware/. Accessed 9 June 2023. [xxvi] Lyme disease. See https://bestpracticeguides.org.uk/people-resources/lyme-disease/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20ticks%20to,hexagonus%20(the%20hedgehog%20tick). Accessed 9 June 2023. [xxvii] See https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/OIDEOR/CZVBD/Shared%20Documents/Lyme_MD_poster_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 9 June 2023 [xxviii] Lyme disease. See https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/lyme-disease. Accessed 9 June 2023. [xxix] Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome. See https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/postlds/index.html. Accessed 9 June 2023. [xxx] Lyme disease versus multiple sclerosis. See https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/Other-Conditions-to-Rule-Out/Lyme-Disease#:~:text=Lyme%20disease%20can%20cause%20delayed,and%20cognitive%20dysfunction%2C%20and%20fatigue. Accessed 9 June 2023.
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