Trees and Churches – Humans, Governance and being able to live Socially

Trees and Churches – Humans, Governance and being able to live Socially

England, the rural beauties mixed with deliberate actions to leave verges growing and paths overgrown.

Cycling the highways and running the byways, the abundance of nature is apparent. But are the deliberate actions meant to enhance nature or save money? Consequence or correlation due to action, or inaction?

A number of factors are at play. Farmers are feeling the economic bite and the opportunity to leave walking paths not quite so well kempt can be seen as a means to cut costs on diesel, labour and machine where and tear. Quality farmers have practiced set aside and planting shelterbelts to positively influence wildlife flora and fauna.

Other private landowners, it is contended, have taken their lead from local government who seem to find it easier to cut costs of what they are mandated to do, than cut their overheads spent taking decisions on fewer and fewer services and amenities.

This may sound harsh, but we live in harsh times. The majority of rural people using footpaths, waiting for buses, wondering how they are going to see a doctor do not have the comfort of a pension beyond the basic State one (itself certainly not being allowed to grow as rampantly as the verges).

The parts of England experienced are enjoying a heat wave people are savouring short term. But the countryside is also suffering from the new extremes of weather as greenhouse gas effects start to cause climatic changes. After the excesses of a late winter and above average, if averages mean anything, rainfall, now the ground is rock hard, cracking open leaving little grass for animals to graze on after silage and hay making. The verdant growth along the sides of road is little use as grasses and cow parsley are well versed in how to cope so heads come up, seeds for the next generation of preservation and, given opportunity, dominating the ecosystem.