PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR GREEN AND WILD PLACES, if we can't expand them!

 "It allows nature to thrive, taking carbon from the air and boosting health." Tear Fund (part of DEC - Disasters Emergency Committee)

We can expand the Clent Hills Country Park into a 32 sq Kms Regional Park as part of the new W Mids National Park.  For farming, recreation and re-creation of habitats to boost biodiversity.

It is vital that our 32 sq Kms Golden Green Triangle in that corner between the Black Country and Brum, with the two 1,000 feet high Clent Hills, is upgraded, invigorated and protected from built development.  To address the Covid, Climate, Ecological, Nature disasters.

Not a single hedgerow, it seems, has been laid to rejuvenate even one section.  Instead there are gaps galore.  Fences and barbed wire are taking over.  Hedging trees must be planted to absorb carbon.

Every Home Office wood must be handed over to the Woodland Trust for their care, maintenance and to be open to the public.  In this way, these precious woods can be restored and be a carbon sink.

Every field is needed as part of the national effort to feed humans before animals to feed humans.  Farming in tune with nature is essential and farming using fewer finite fossil fuels, too.  Have more people working on the land.  In this way, slow the Climate, Nature disaster.  AND SLOW THE ROT!

Fewer fields for horses and more for food!  Reverse horsiculture!

No fields for built development.  Keep smaller, much warmer, practical homes to the conurbation outside the three sides of the triangle.  In this way, to help ourselves to get out of the warming greenhouse.

The hundreds of miles of public highway paths must be upgraded with every stile made safe for walkers and runners.  Far too many paths are muddy in wet weather and almost every stile is in need of replacement or repair.  The councils and the WMCA must work with the farmers and landowners to get them up to standard.  Funds must be used to incentivise them.

Tim Weller  27 March 2021

Do as we say; not do as we do!

TRANSPORT SUMMIT REVEALS MORE DOUBLE STANDARDS!

At today's city council Transport Summit in Birmingham Council House, Cllr Len Gregory, urged delegates to switch off when idling to cut exhaust gases, to cut carbon dioxide emissions and to save fuel.

Environmentalist, Tim Weller, in the first question after Cllr Mike Whitby sat down from his speech said,

"I fully support Cllr Gregory in his appeal to switch off when idling. However, he might start with his own leader on his left. Cllr Mike drives a 3 litre Jaguar, when he is the Leader of the Council who claims to lead all other councils in the UK in doing the most to cut very harmful carbon emissions. Three weeks ago I found his large limo idling uselessly in the Council House Courtyard when I returned for my cycle. When will he follow Cllr Len's example and, better, when will he lead from the front, gain the respect of of us all and either cut his hefty carbon emissions by driving a smaller car; or, car share with the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor's two Jags; or, even better, follow Prof Julia King's work to replace high carbon cars with electric vehicles and drive an electric or hybrid car."

Cllr Whitby was not at all embarrassed by his gas guzzler and explained that he did not drive it so had no control over the idling engine.

Tim Weller commented that "Former London Mayor Ken was a regular bus and train user, Mayor Boris rides a cycle but our two Mayors and Leader Mike all drive their own, personal, chauffeur driven, carbon spewing Jags. This is totally unacceptable. It is business as usual for our three leaders; but they tell us to drive less and use public transport more. There is no leadership, no action and even they don't change one iota!"

Prof Julia King of Aston University, Cllr Mike Whitby and Cllr Len Gregory were the lead speakers this morning.