LET’S LOVE WHAT WE HAVE

 IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOVE WHAT WE  HAVE 

Living in Cornwall, as in any other place, there are distractions which prevents us seeing what is actually around us. For many people they will not get the opportunity to be able to spend time examining what is there; to be able to see the beautiful naturally world or have the time to witness the harm that is being done. Cornwall Wildlife Trust along with other county trusts play there part in communicating what is needed. Areas that can be taken possession of where nature can co-existent with farming. Helman Tor near Bodmin has recently been acquired and is under the Trust’s management. 

The other morning on BBC Breakfast a member of the RSPB was being interviewed in connection with the loss of seabirds and in particular mentioned Sand Eels. They are an important seabird food but these are being fished for human needs, reduced for their oil, fish meal and animal feed. The problem is that we take and do not give enough back. Maybe that is about change but not without considerable effort by those who care. Marine reserves allow regeneration and that is the same for areas managed by trusts. 

OTHERS DON’T LOVE OUR LAND OUR AS MUCH AS I DO

One evening there was a programme about the state of our rivers. For example the River Wye is in dire need of help along with chalk streams that have been reduce to nothing because of extractions from the chalk aquifers. Although the water companies get fined millions raw sewage can legally be pumped into our water systems and the sea where people swim! There is an amazing piece of engineering for the Thames that will treat London’s sewage to return it to us as clean water and that is good. With Thames and Southern Water being fined millions why should a CEO be allowed to earn a million or more? Paul Whitehouse, an angler, presented the programme and one point he made was the profit the water companies were making. It appears to me that should have been used to prevent sewage spills or am I being too naive? That’s what happens when water utilities were sold into the corporate world. 

Then on the morning of the Labour Party Conference a sound bite in relation to sanctions to be imposed on water companies. And the people who allow the spillages. Isn’t that about bloody time!