Week 42
It was probably the wind, although I will never know, as passers-by have done strange things before. This week there was one of those storms, with trees waving wildly in all directions, whirlwinds of fallen leaves, and not a single bird in the sky. Lakeland can do that, and this was one of those occasions. As a local, all one does is wait. Yet passers-by still go out walking and some appear obsessed. There is no explanation.
Last year it was common hogweed[i], when a passer-by decided it was unwelcome and snapped it at ground level when they thought no one was looking. I was, and I saw. This year I tried to correct things by placing a sign beside the hogweed declaring “Not giant hogweed”. It is the giant version of the plant that can be significantly toxic. I do not have any and sense the passer-by did not realise.
This year it was a young willow[ii] that was lying across a lane outside my house. It had been unexpectedly growing from a crag, and I had already pruned it to allow local traffic to pass. The willow was there because Nature had welcomed it, so I was not going to buck this trend. Cars and lorries were driving past contentedly, but clearly not in the eyes of a passer-by. Although I may be welcoming to Nature, there are some who hate plants[iii], willows included, and there is a proper spot for everything. A plant in the wrong place simply should not be there.
There is even a psychological condition to go with this - it is called botanophobia[iv]. There is also dendrophobia[v], which is a specific fear of trees. There are other phobias, too. Hylophobia, a fear of forests, nyctohylophobia, a fear of forests or dark woods at night, and even xylophobia, a fear of wooden objects, which includes forests, too. If there is a phobia, someone will have it. In this case, I have invented the diagnosis of willowphobia, can only hope I am wrong, and that the willow tumbled thanks to wind rather than a passing phobic.
To damage a willow troubles me, as the tree carries symbolism to so many. It has been associated with growth, strength, good luck, fertility, deep emotions, spiritual awakening, a new beginning of life, expansion, stability, and security[vi]. To some it also protects boats from harsh weather and in this respect can be the fisherman’s friend. Damaging a willow may bring bad luck[vii] and the origin of the phrase “touch wood”[viii] is said to have been with the willow. To fell a willow, for whatever reason, is thus to invite trouble and misfortune.
Whatever the reality, the superstitions that surround a willow suggest the tree should be preserved. My initial response to the fallen willow had been to trim its narrow stump and dispose of the broken tree. Rufus[ix], without whom these pages would be impossible, thought differently and the willow has now been replanted. Portions of the tree have been cut, and the cuttings inserted into a mound of nearby soil. Willows are some of the easiest trees to root. A new tree can often be grown simply by taking a stem and sticking it in moist soil. It is the hormones in willows that cause such rapid rooting. These are indolebutyric acid, which stimulates rooting, and salicylic acid, which protects cuttings from fungi and bacterial infections[x]. Rooting can be so rapid, that a rooting solution for other plants can be made by boiling willow stems in water. Our ancestors called this willow water[xi],[xii]. In outline, if a willow is uprooted, even by those who do not comprehend, it is worth replanting a portion. Disappointment is unlikely.
There is no doubt that renaturing is an adventure. Much of the time I know what is happening, but sometimes I do not. This week I was transplanting moss from one part of my land to another, when I glanced to my left. I must have passed that way a dozen times and simply not noticed. Now it was clear. A Peltigera[xiii] lichen, tucked behind a rhododendron and sitting quietly on a moss-covered rock. I am unsure of the species, but I would guess it was Peltigera canina[xiv] or Peltigera membranacea[xv]. The lichen was dark grey, almost black, with white margins that look nibbled. A lichen is not a single organism but a stable and symbiotic association between a fungus and algae and/or cyanobacteria[xvi].
Peltigera species, of which there are more than a hundred, are well-known and have been widely used medicinally to treat wounds, urinary disorders, thrush, tuberculosis, and rabies. Peltigera aphthosa was once used as a remedy for cough and infantile aphthous ulcers and Peltigera specimens from Hawaii and Iceland were reported to have pronounced antioxidant activity.
The presence of Peltigera also suggests something else, which made me feel happy. Quite simply, most lichens will not survive in polluted areas[xvii], so the fact I have the Peltigera is excellent news. Lichens are sensitive to atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen because they receive all their nutrients and water from atmospheric fall-out. Nitrogen fall-out can destroy a lichen’s chlorophyll. Certain species of lichen are more tolerant of nitrogen than others. Those that tolerate nitrogen are nitrophilous - there are not many - while those that cannot tolerate it are nitrophobic[xviii]. Peltigera is generally considered nitrophobic. In this respect, lichens are excellent bioindicators. A shift in their species composition or health suggests the beginning of an ecosystem’s decline[xix]. That appears not to be happening on my land.
I was away from Lakeland for part of this week, in the once fashionable south of France, and attending an environmental meeting, as well as explaining about renaturing back home. I say once fashionable, as tourism statistics suggest that the Mediterranean coast is becoming less popular, thanks to climate change. Travellers are now looking more towards northern mountains. As I journeyed south from Lakeland, towards my environmental meeting, from which I was hoping to bring back some useful tips, so the weather changed, rainfall declined, sunshine increased, and temperature rose. It was clear that alongside these changes, the approach to renaturing must alter. Plants that do well in Lakeland may not do the same in Southern France, and vice versa.
The figures are worrying, so I prepared a table for the month of September. Do look at how Southern France forms part of the European heatwave that has led to 2023 being, as yet, the hottest European summer on record[xx]:
Table 1 - Weather data (Lakeland and Southern France)
These figures show not only the huge difference in weather between Lakeland and Southern France, but also how 2023 has been truly bad for mainland Europe. I sense that 2024 may be worse, as the El Niño effect that began this year, and is responsible for some of our climate change, is frequently delayed. The effect will last for between two and seven years. We are likely at the beginning, not the middle or end, of climate catastrophe.
As if temperature, sunshine, and rainfall were insufficient, I found Southern France’s air quality in the town of Forcalquier[xxv] to also be lacking, although I measured it on only one day. I have placed my findings in Table 2 here:
Table 2 - Air quality data (Forcalquier, Southern France, 9 October 2023)
The figures for NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 are unacceptable, which may explain why I was coughing furiously, while others around me looked concerned. Meanwhile ground-level O3 (ozone) was doing well. Tropospheric, or ground-level ozone, is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds[xxviii]. This happens when pollutants are emitted by various sources. Despite a decent level of ground-level ozone it is still evident that mankind is struggling. Somehow our species must adapt.
As I headed south, the lack of water was unquestionably a problem. Reduced water supply is not something Lakeland often sees yet some French villages already had standpipes in the street. Mostly, the people of Southern France were conserving water as best they could while trying to lead life normally, which is easier said than done during a climate catastrophe. Water reserves in France are presently extremely low[xxix] and are not improving.
An excellent example of good coping was near Lyon at Le Domaine de Gorneton[xxx], where I stayed en route. Water was clearly sparse but little fuss was made. It was there that I watched the grape harvest (vendange[xxxi]) underway, impressed that Europe’s hottest summer had permitted any grapes to ripen at all. Despite the mechanisation of the modern world, the harvest is still performed by hand and in an astonishingly quick time.
In France, I also visited some areas of so-called permaculture, which is a similar process to renaturing, but where three principles are involved - earth care, people care and fair share. Ethics such as these are critical for the long-term cultural and biological survival of mankind[xxxii]. Permaculture, which is an abbreviation of permanent agriculture, works with Nature to create a harvest. The friends I visited who are doing this near the village of Dauphin[xxxiii], are practising it well. As a renaturer in Lakeland, I am presently not harvesting anything, but I am allowing Nature to take the lead. Perhaps I should be doing more than I am.
Permaculture has shown me how water might be conserved in time of drought and yet still provide a harvest. I have eaten the vegetables that permaculture can grow, have sat in its shade, and have seen how a solar cooker might be used to slow-cook food. After all, solar energy is a renewable resource and is less environmentally harmful than wood or fossil fuels[xxxiv]. On a sunny day a solar cooker can reach an astonishing 400°C, a temperature that is not required for most cooking applications[xxxv]. Most foods cook in 2-4 hours, with research suggesting that family-scale solar cooking is viable in a UK climate[xxxvi].
As climate change takes further hold, even in Lakeland I sense it will be important to adapt to a reduced water supply[xxxvii]. Some plants do well with reduced water, others not so well. For example, lavender[xxxviii], rosemary[xxxix], and various types of thyme[xl] are tolerant of drought. Trees such as the holm oak[xli] and stone pine[xlii] are also well-suited to limited water, which is more than I can say for my willow, alder[xliii], and silver birch[xliv]. I must start thinking about vegetation for my own land as climate change heats up.
Scarcity of water has now become second nature to Southern France and water-saving techniques are commonplace. It is routine to shower infrequently rather than take a bath and some locals cannot remember when they last bathed rather than showered. Toilets are not flushed routinely, but only when needed, and those with land are sure to collect water. When rain does arrive, it is often short-lived and heavy so must be captured when possible. Mulching[xlv], which helps to retain soil moisture, is widely used on land, and dry stone designs exist that allow stone to trap condensed water. And a compost heap? That as well, as it is another way of preserving moisture when rain is in short supply.
There are other methods, too. A rain garden is one. This is a garden of native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a small depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rainwater runoff that flows from roofs, driveways, patios, or lawns. Compared with a conventional lawn, rain gardens allow for 30% more water to soak into the ground. A rain garden is not a water garden, nor is it a pond or a wetland. It is dry for most of the time and typically holds water only during and following rainfall. Rain gardens will drain within 12-48 hours and thereby prevent the breeding of mosquitoes[xlvi].
Then there is a swale, which is often seen as part of permaculture projects. A swale is a shady spot, perhaps a sunken or marshy place, and may be either natural or manmade. The aim is to slow and capture water runoff by spreading it horizontally across the landscape and facilitating runoff infiltration into the soil[xlvii].
There are other methods, too, and that I need to research. Grey water[xlviii]? Drip irrigation[xlix]? Rainwater harvesting[l]? Each is a valid way of saving water and an idea that may one day be needed in Lakeland.
Tips and tricks such as these are becoming ever more important, especially as the Sahara Desert expands. In the past 100 years, the Sahara has grown by 10%, and reaches 16% during the summer[li]. Much of it is southerly enlargement but some is also to the north, which takes in the south of France, indeed the entire Mediterranean. Two-thirds of this expansion is thanks to natural climate cycles, but one-third is caused by mankind.
We should hang our heads in shame.
***
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.
Hashtags
References
[i] See weeks 29 & 32 entries.
[ii] See weeks 23 & 38 entries.
[iii] Barreca G. I hate plants. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/snow-white-doesnt-live-here-anymore/201009/i-hate-plants. Accessed 9 October 2023.
[iv] Fear of plants phobia – botanophobia. See https://www.fearof.net/fear-of-plants-phobia-botanophobia/#:~:text=Botanophobia%20is%20the%20extreme%2C%20unwarranted,for%20deep%20aversion%20or%20dread. Accessed 9 October 2023.
[v] Dendrophobia (Fear of Trees). See https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22587-dendrophobia-fear-of-trees. Accessed 9 October 2023.
[vi] Clark J. Willow Tree Spiritual Meaning: What is The Symbol Represents? See https://lotustryo.com/willow-tree-spiritual-meaning-represent-symbolizes/. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[vii] Sedgwick I. What willow folklore surrounds this beautiful tree? 11 September 2021. See https://www.icysedgwick.com/willow-folklore/. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[viii] Hathaway RV. Why we knock on wood for luck. 30 January 2020. See https://theconversation.com/why-we-knock-on-wood-for-luck-129864#:~:text=The%20Oxford%20English%20Dictionary%20traces,%5Bby%5D%20touching%20wood.” Accessed 10 October 2023.
[ix] https://www.rsghorticulture.com
[x] Willow water rooting hormone recipe. See https://gardentherapy.ca/willow-water-diy-rooting-hormone/#:~:text=Willow%20Water%20Rooting%20Hormone%20Recipe,from%20fungi%20and%20bacterial%20infections. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xi] Allen Smith P. How to propagate willow trees. See https://pallensmith.com/2015/02/10/how-to-propagate-willow-trees/. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xii] The Ohio State University. Gardening folklore. See https://guernsey.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers/seasonal-gardening-tips/gardening-folklore. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xiii] Wikipedia. Peltigera is a genus of approximately 100 species of foliose lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. Commonly known as the dog or pelt lichens, species of Peltigera are often terricolous (growing on soil), but can also occur on moss, trees, rocks, and many other substrates in many parts of the world. Although a few reports have described caribou and reindeer feeding on the thalli of Peltigera, in general, species of Peltigera are not commonly used as a food source by mammals. In respect of bioactivity, a mixture of methyl and ethyl orsellinates have been identified from Peltigera aphthosa that had antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. The novel non-protein amino acids solorinine and peltigerine have been detected in various species of Peltigera. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peltigera. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xiv] The British Lichen Society. Peltigera canina. See https://britishlichensociety.org.uk/resources/species-accounts/peltigera-canina. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xv] Peltigera membranacea. See https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/peltigera-membranacea. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xvi] The British Lichen Society. What is a lichen? See https://britishlichensociety.org.uk/learning/what-is-a-lichen. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xvii] Damiano J. Should you worry about lichens, moss, algae on trees? See https://apnews.com/article/climate-and-environment-gardening-trees-algae-c4af20f5891fa7c83348b78bac09094a#. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xviii] Whiteknights biodiversity. Nitrophilous lichens. See https://blogs.reading.ac.uk/whiteknightsbiodiversity/2012/08/29/nitrophilous-lichens/. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xix] National Park Service. Lichens as bioindicators. See https://www.nps.gov/articles/lichens-as-bioindicators.htm#:~:text=Lichens%20do%20not%20have%20roots,their%20nutrients%20from%20the%20atmosphere.&text=Lichens%20are%20sensitive%20to%20atmospheric,increase%20the%20load%20of%20nutrients. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xx] September 2023 hottest on record by 'extraordinary' margin
See https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2023/10/05/september-2023-marks-hottest-september-on-record-by-an-extraordinary-margin_6149244_114.html. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxi] Cumbria weather in 2024. See https://www.weather2travel.com/cumbria/september/#:~:text=Expect%2016°C%20daytime,to%20Cumbria%20in%202024%2F2025. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxii] South of France weather in September 2024. See https://www.weather2travel.com/south-of-france/september/. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxiii] See https://www.weather2visit.com/europe/france/marseille-september.htm. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxiv] See https://www.visualcrossing.com/weather-history/marseille/metric/2023-09-01/2023-09-30. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxv] Wikipedia. Forcalquier. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forcalquier. Accessed 15 October 2023.
[xxvi] World Health Organization. What are the WHO Air quality guidelines? See https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/what-are-the-who-air-quality-guidelines. Accessed 15 October 2023.
[xxvii] See https://www.accuweather.com/en/fr/marseille/170960/september-weather/170960?year=2023. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxviii] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Ground-level ozone basics. See https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/ground-level-ozone-basics. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xxix] More ‘crisis’ level drought alerts in France, water reserves stay low. See https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/More-crisis-level-drought-alerts-in-France-water-reserves-stay-low. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxx] See https://ledomainedegorneton.com/fr/. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxxi] Wikipedia. Harvest (wine). See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_(wine). Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxxii] Permaculture ethics. See https://permacultureprinciples.com/ethics/#:~:text=Central%20to%20permaculture%20are%20the,of%20good%20and%20bad%20outcomes. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxxiii] Wikipedia. Dauphin, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dauphin,_Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Accessed 14 October 2023.
[xxxiv] Holmes M. Solar Ovens: What Are They? How Do They Work? 25 October 2022. See https://www.treehugger.com/what-are-solar-ovens-5088602#:~:text=Solar%20energy%20is%20a%20renewable,like%20wood%20and%20fossil%20fuels. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxxv] Wikipedia. Solar cooker. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cooker#:~:text=Solar%20cooking%20products%20are%20typically,temperatures)%20on%20a%20sunny%20day. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xxxvi] Solar Cooking for the UK. See http://www.slicksolarstove.com/#:~:text=Solar%20energy%20is%20free%20and,eat%20as%20you%20learn!.&text=Our%20research%20indicates%20that%20family,reduce%20demand%20for%20fossil%20fuels. Accessed 10 October 2023
[xxxvii] Gildemeister H. Mediterranean Gardening: A Waterwise Approach. University of California Press; 1st edition (December 8, 2002). 978-0520236479.
[xxxviii] See weeks 31, 32, 35, 36 & 39 entries.
[xxxix] Iannotti M. How to grow and care for rosemary. 28 August 2023. See https://www.thespruce.com/grow-and-care-for-rosemary-plants-1403406. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xl] Felman A. What are the benefits of thyme? 23 August 2018. See https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266016. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xli] Wikipedia. Quercus ilex, the evergreen oak, holly oak or holm oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the Ilex section of the genus with acorns that mature in a single summer. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_ilex. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xlii] Wikipedia. Stone pine. The stone pine, botanical name Pinus pinea, also known as the Italian stone pine, Mediterranean stone pine, umbrella pine and parasol pine, is a tree from the pine family (Pinaceae). The tree is native to the Mediterranean region, occurring in Southern Europe and the Levant. The species was introduced into North Africa millennia ago, and is also naturalized in the Canary Islands, South Africa, and New South Wales. Stone pines have been used and cultivated for their edible pine nuts since prehistoric times. They are widespread in horticultural cultivation as ornamental trees, planted in gardens and parks around the world. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_pine. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xliii] See weeks 24, 34 & 38 entries.
[xliv] See weeks 6, 31, 34 & 38 entries.
[xlv] See week 8 entry.
[xlvi] Groundwater Foundation. All about rain gardens. See https://groundwater.org/rain-gardens/. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xlvii] Wikipedia. Swale (landform). See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swale_(landform). Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xlviii] Grey water uses: what is grey water and what can you do with it? See https://www.envirodesignproducts.com/en-ca/blogs/news/grey-water-uses-what-is-grey-water-and-what-can-you-do-with-it#:~:text=Grey%20water%20is%20defined%20by,perspiration%20all%20contain%20organic%20matter. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[xlix] Drip irrigation. See https://web.uri.edu/safewater/protecting-water-quality-at-home/sustainable-landscaping/drip-irrigation/#:~:text=Drip%20irrigation%20involves%20placing%20tubing,plant%20productivity%20and%20quality%20improve. Accessed 10 October 2023.
[l] Wikipedia. Rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater is collected from a roof-like surface and redirected to a tank, cistern, deep pit (well, shaft, or borehole), aquifer, or a reservoir with percolation, so that it seeps down and restores the ground water. Dew and fog can also be collected with nets or other tools. Rainwater harvesting differs from stormwater harvesting as the runoff is typically collected from roofs and other surfaces for storage and subsequent reuse. Its uses include watering gardens, livestock, irrigation, domestic use with proper treatment, and domestic heating. The harvested water can also be committed to longer-term storage or groundwater recharge. Rainwater harvesting is one of the simplest and oldest methods of self-supply of water for households, having been used in South Asia and other countries for many thousands of years. Installations can be designed for different scales including households, neighbourhoods and communities and can also be designed to serve institutions such as schools, hospitals ,and other public facilities. See https://web.uri.edu/safewater/protecting-water-quality-at-home/sustainable-landscaping/drip-irrigation/#:~:text=Drip%20irrigation%20involves%20placing%20tubing,plant%20productivity%20and%20quality%20improve. Accessed 10 October 2023
[li] Fitch C. Why the Sahara desert is growing. 16 June 2018. See https://geographical.co.uk/science-environment/why-the-sahara-desert-is-growing. Accessed 10 October 2023.
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