Cities and the environment.

[sarraceniac]

Wasn't sure where to post this but I guess this is the place.

Everybody should read this (it's not dry or boring) And then contine to GROW YOUR OWN.

BBC - Earth News - How cities drive plants extinct

[Dynamo]

There was a good piece on Countryfile a week or so ago about Gorilla Gardeners. People who live in cities who put plants into any spare area or ground they see. Some councils are dead against the idea, but others with more sense welcome these guys with open arms.

[Capsid]

There was a good piece on Countryfile a week or so ago about Gorilla Gardeners. People who live in cities who put plants into any spare area or ground they see. Some councils are dead against the idea, but others with more sense welcome these guys with open arms.

I think you mean guerilla gardeners. From what I've seen gorillas like to eat a lot of veg but don't much care about grow your own.

[Dynamo]

From Capsid:- I think you mean guerilla gardeners. From what I've seen gorillas like to eat a lot of veg but don't much care about grow your own.


Whatever.

[Jeanied]

We've had taters growing in the flowerbed just outside our local Morrisons for the past number of years - not sure if anyone ever lifts them tho - that's why the keep coming back each year! (Just shows the maintenance guys never do a good job when they replant from time to time.)
Had to chuckle at your Guerillas, Dynamo, some councils may just see the guerilla gardeners as a nuisance - up to monkey business (sorry - couldn't resist)

[organic]

Lighten up dynamo.


sarraceniac - thanks for the link.


Before I got an allotment I was on the verge of being driven to guerrilla gardening. Now I've got my plot I still think about it though.

If I ever end up with a surplus of money I'll probably buy a load of fruit trees and start planting them wherever the council have cut something else down or where there's space. I always think it's a shame we have so many ornamental trees in our cities but not so many that actually produce fruit. (EDIT - I think guerrilla gardening can be very irresponsible sometimes - especially considering some of the people who do it don't care a jot whether the species they introduce to an area is native or invasive/aggressive - anything I planted that way would be both native and non-spreading)

I've been foraging a bit of windfall in housing estates recently, some pears last week and about half a carrier bag of apples about an hour ago. It's brilliant and there should be more of it!

[bluemoon]

Whilst not doubting the truth of this, I would have thought that the pesticide and herbicide drenched industrial monocultures, which we once called the countryside, would have been equally at fault in patterns of extinction.

[organic]

Whilst not doubting the truth of this, I would have thought that the pesticide and herbicide drenched industrial monocultures, which we once called the countryside, would have been equally at fault in patterns of extinction.

Agreed. Well, not agreed on the "equally" point - but otherwise, agreed.

[bubblewrap]

Last year did my bit with poppy seeds & will be doing the same this year.
I go about with a container of seeds and spread a few when I see some open ground.
As I have about a litre of seed thats quite a lot of poppies.

[Dynamo]

(EDIT - I think guerrilla gardening can be very irresponsible sometimes - especially considering some of the people who do it don't care a jot whether the species they introduce to an area is native or invasive/aggressive - anything I planted that way would be both native and non-spreading)

All the more reason why councils should try to work in partnership with the people rather than complaining about them or ignoring them.

[northmaid]

All the more reason why councils should try to work in partnership with the people rather than complaining about them or ignoring them.

I must congratulate my local council. An example - along one of the main streets where I live they have large wooden planters usually filled with bedding plants; this year they mixed in veg such as cut'n'come again lettuce, chard etc and also outdoor tomatoes. The produce was available for anyone to pick. Now that's what I call a good council (and a good community).
Maybe just one of the reasons my council NEWCASTLE won the greenest city award!