08/07/2024
FOR THOSE ATTENDING 'WILDING' AT THE LIVING ROOM CINEMA THIS WEEK
You will find (or have found) a letter and small gift on your seat. I have posted the text below so you can click through to the web-sites. Many thanks to www.thelivingroomcinema.co.uk for their enthusiastic help with this. If you're not already booked, give yourself a treat this week.
Dear Patron of TLRC,
I am sure you are about to be moved and inspired by 'Wilding' and the transformation of the Knepp estate.
Many of you will no doubt already be actively working towards a greener, wilder, healthier future. Equally, you may be wondering...
'what on earth can I do to make a difference?'
We don't all have hundreds of acres to rewild, but even the smallest patch of unpromising ground can become a haven for wildlife. Imagine if some of the 22 million private gardens in the UK became a network of mini nature reserves... road verges, parks, roundabouts.... potentially 400,000 hectares!
A lawn of mono-culture rye-grass, or an unloved border, can become a swaying, buzzing, colourful display of native flowers and insect food-plants, attracting a huge diversity of species- the foundation of a thriving ecosystem.
We have lost 76% of our flying insect biomass in less than 30 years, so the need for action is urgent.
So here's a start with our best wishes, to be sown in the autumn, each packet enough for one to two square metres of brilliant border display- there's some brief sowing instructions overleaf.
No space? Give them to someone who does, or become a 'guerilla gardener' and secretly sow some in a neglected public place ;-)
One thing is always true- our impact is greater when we work together. So, if the film leaves you brimming with ideas and you would like to find like-minded people to explore them, take a look at these:
www.riverweytrust.org.uk
Really local, monitoring for pollution of our river, restoring habitat, and preserving our riparian heritage.
www.thelynchmeresociety.org
Again, really local, and managing the stunning Lynchmere Common nature reserve.
www.thebuzzclub.uk
Fantastic, family-friendly citizen-science projects to discover how best to enhance our gardens for wildlife.
There are many more- county based Wildlife Trusts, amphibian and reptile groups (ARG), bat groups (BCT), Bumble Bee Conservation Trust (BBCT), Buglife... the list goes on, all doing vital work and needing volunteers. However, for more inspiration, and for change on a LANDSCAPE scale-
www.knepp.co.uk/knepp-wildland-foundation
www.kneppwildlandfoundation.org
No explanation needed- flying the flag for rewilding (flyer attached).
'Feral- Searching for Enchantment on the Frontiers of Rewilding'
A wonderful book by George Monbiot- highly recommended.
'Rebirding- Restoring Britain's Wildlife'
Another book to fill you with hope, by Benedict Macdonald
www.rewildingbritain.org.uk
Add your voice!
About us-
‘Independence’ is more than a word...it’s what gives us wings!'
Our patients will always come first (it is what we are here for, after all) but we want to go much further and recognise that the health of our pets, ourselves and that of our environment are all intrinsically linked - ‘One Health’. Caring for the environment is not traditionally the role of a veterinary practice, but is a foundation stone of Small World Vet Centre – the clue is in our name! Faced with a biodiversity and climate crisis, this has never been more important. From energy efficiency and minimising waste, to promoting sustainable pet ownership, and raising money for conservation projects… there is no aspect of our locally-owned, independent business that is not tilted towards this aim.
And sponsor of seat C3!
www.smallworldvets.co.uk/sustainability
About the seeds-
Sow in Spring or Autumn onto bare damp earth, each packet spread evenly over 1-2 square metres. Don’t rake the seed in- just press it in gently or give it a light roll. Do not cover or add compost. The seeds need very little help and do best in low-nutrient, 'unimproved' soil. They will take up water and germinate slowly over the next 8 weeks, providing the soil is warm. The annuals will predominate in the first year and then the perennials will add to the display thereafter.
For more advice (and seeds)-
www.britishwildflowermeadowseeds.co.uk
____________________________________________
“The idea of wilderness needs no defence. It only needs more defenders. Remaining silent about the destruction of nature is an endorsement of that destruction.”
“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.”
Edward Abbey
The Knepp Wildland Foundation was founded to galvanise nature recovery across Sussex and contribute to our global effort to reverse our biodiversity crisis.
