EnglishWith a New Year comes hope for the future and that includes for our wildlife as well. There are many threats to wildlife in the UK but with knowledge and a willingness to help we can do a lot to overcome the problems.
One threat is from habitat destruction. Wetlands are filled in, trees are cut down, hedges uprooted, and meadows destroyed all for many different reasons. Agricultural intensification is one as is the demand for more housing, factories and roads all of which are destroying these important habitats for pollinating insects, like bees, birds like skylarks and mammals like bats. The overuse of pesticides can destroy habitats by contaminating soil, water and other vegetation They can for instance find their way into the water supply by been washed into drains and ditches and into rivers thus harming fish, other wildlife and even us! So how can you help? One thing you could do is to grow more plants in your garden and if you have no garden, planting flowers like marigolds and lavender in tubs or window boxes will still attract insects. When flowers and insects are in your garden birds will follow. You can help the birds by feeding them in winter and spring and making sure that water is available for them throughout the year You could build a pond as this will attract many different animals It doesn’t have to be big, a child’s paddling pool will be sufficient and will soon be home to insects like water beetles and amphibians like frogs. Ask your parents to keep a part of the garden a little untidy which will attract all types of wildlife including the ‘gardeners’ friend ‘the hedgehog. Have fun and plant some vegetables. It’s amazing how many vegetables you can grow in a small area but don’t use pesticides or chemical products.
Another threat to our environment is from plastics. Plastics are almost in every corner of the earth from the cold Arctic to the hot deserts. By 2050 it has been estimated that there could be more plastics in the ocean than fish! So, what are plastics? An American inventor in 1869 made the first plastic. He made it from a plant material called cellulose. Later another American developed the first plastic made from synthetic materials. Nowadays plastics are very strong and are blended with other materials and although plastic remains a great invention –what would we do without our laptop or phones-- they cause problems for the environment as they do not break down. A plastic carrier bag can still be in the environment in 100-300 years’ time. Having said that many plastics are now recyclable but many recycling plants can’t keep up with the amount of plastic to be dealt with, so the plastic goes into landfill which is not ideal. Microplastics are very small and are formed through the breakdown of plastic into tiny particles. They can end up in the ocean, air and soil. They can also enter our bodies through plastic packing, drinking from plastic cups, straws and so on. A great deal of plastic enters the food chain. For example, microplastic is ingested by algae which is eaten by water fleas which in turn are eaten by fish which are eaten by seabirds. Surface feeding seabirds such as kittiwakes also have been found with their stomachs full of discarded plastic items and of course birds and other wildlife can become entangled in plastics from fishing lines, discarded nets and even helium balloons. We will never get rid of plastic, but we can help by the following.
Reduce the amount of plastic brought. For example, Instead of bringing a plastic lunchbox to school get a nice metal one and rather than wrapping your sandwiches in clingfilm try a beeswax food wrap which is biodegradable and can last for up to a year They are also fun to make! Ask your parents to buy loose tea instead of teabags which may contain a plastic called polypropylene and often the cardboard box containing the teabags are wrapped in cellophane, another plastic There is so much unnecessary packaging. It would be better to support local shops like greengrocers, bakeries, fishmongers, butchers who will give you fresh food without so much plastic wrapping.
Reusing items is very helpful to the environment Think of plastic and glass bottles, plastic cups, scrap paper, clothing, bedding, furniture, toys all these items can be reused. Wet wipes and nappies are very convenient, but landfills are full of them Using cloths or towels instead of wet wipes and nappies made from materials which can be reused will help the environment. What about using cloth hankies instead of those packets of tissues wrapped in plastic!
Recycling is important too. Many items can now be recycled. Plastic bags, cellophane, tin cans, cardboard, magazines, detergent pouches and even white goods like fridges and washing machines all can be brought to recycling points. Clothes, books, toys, unwanted household goods and gifts can be given to charity shops so that others may enjoy them. Composting waste like lawn clippings and paper is a good way of recycling and of course will attract wildlife so buy or make a wooden compost bin.
Other fun ways you can help is by joining beach cleanups and litter picking groups. By collecting waste, you can understand how much we create and how best to dispose of it.
Climate change is increasingly having an impact on UK weather. We now have warmer and wetter winters with less snow, hotter and dryer summers and more frequent weather extremes We unfortunately are the main cause of climate change as we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas to power factories, cars, planes and to heat our houses. The earth is surrounded by a layer of greenhouse gases. They trap heat from the sun keeping the planet warm. This is called the greenhouse effect but by destroying forests and burning fossil fuels which releases harmful gases we create extra greenhouse gases which traps even more of the sun’s heat leading to a warmer earth. One of these gases is called carbon dioxide. We need it but too much makes the world too hot and this unfortunately is what is happening As the earth warms extreme weather happens. Heavy rains cause flooding, high temperatures trigger droughts and fires. The shifting seasons where summer flowers are still flowering in winter, where birds are nesting earlier is not good. Migratory birds could be affected as their journey is closely connected with food availability. How we can help is a global affair. Our world leaders must make the decisions, but we can assist by reducing the number of gases emitted and making changes in the way we live. One way you can help is by using less fossil fuels. If cold, put on more layers of clothing rather than turning up the heat. Instead of going to school or friends’ houses by car why not walk or go by bicycle, bus or train. Plant more trees as they absorb carbon dioxide and also give out oxygen which is good and they even help to reduce flooding and to provide homes and food for wildlife. Finally start up or join your schools eco council where you could do environmental projects Education is the main way to help the environment and as Greta Thunberg said ‘You’re never too small to make a difference’.
ANIMAL OF THE MONTH; THE SHORT EARED OWL
Percy says you will be very lucky to spot one of these even though they live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. They are very rare in the UK and are listed as a Northern Ireland Priority Species. Other names by which they are called are the Wanderer, Grass Owl and Marsh Owl. They migrate to the UK including Northern Ireland in Autumn and early Winter from their home in Russia and Scandinavia. Now is the best time to look for them. Some will stay the whole year and breed but in Northern Ireland most are nomadic and not resident. In some years only a few hundred migrants appear in the UK but in other years thousands may arrive. This relates to the climate as in severe weather food may be difficult to find so they are forced to migrate to milder climates where food is more plentiful. They can be accompanied by long eared owls on these journeys. Short eared owls have been recorded travelling up to 1200 miles. So what do they look like? They are about 38cms long, the plumage is yellowish buff heavily streaked with black, the underparts are buff with lighter streaks, and they have very striking yellow eyes surrounded by a ring of dark feathers. Yellow eyes are a sign of daytime hunters, and they hunt during the day and at dusk (Barn owls for example have dark eyes because they are nighttime hunters). The ears are short and are purely for show although they will raise them when anxious or curious. Their real ears are hidden beneath the feathers on the face. Their voice is a deep hoot and a high sneezing bark. In Northern Ireland there are no voles which are their main prey, so they catch rats, mice, shrews and even insects. They favour open habitats like moorland (with some conifers), bogs and dunes The best place to see them in Northern Ireland is in the uplands of County Antrim. In 2021 one was spotted along the Tornaroy River in Belfast. It has a buoyant low gliding flight rather like a moth, slow and almost silent. They breed in April to July on the ground sheltered by reeds or bushes. The clutch size is between four and fourteen eggs and is dependent on food availability. In 1997 a pair bred in Co Antrim and three nesting sites were found in 1999.In 2000 it was reported that they had bred in Co Tyrone. They are lovely birds to look out for and if you see one why don’t you take a photograph and send it to Percy Pine Marten Good hunting!
BEESWAX WRAPS
To reduce our plastic usage, and although you can buy lovely beeswax wraps on-line it is fun to make your own and also no one else will have one the exact same as yours!
An ADULT will be required to help.
You will need.
100 % Cotton fabric (pre-washed and cut to desired size)
Pure Beeswax pellets (can buy these online) or a Beeswax Candle.
Grater
Parchment paper
Iron
An old towel
How to make.
1. 1. Cut your pre-washed cotton fabric to the desired size. For example; Small 20cm X20cm; Large 35cm X35cm If you want, you could use an old unwanted cotton blouse or shirt to save buying material. To prevent the fraying of the fabric, trim edges with pinking shears.
2. 2. Lay an old towel down to protect your table. Then on this, place a sheet of parchment paper and on top of this the cotton fabric.
3. 3. Sprinkle beeswax pellets or grated beeswax candle evenly over fabric. You don’t need very much It is better to use less and then add more if needed.
4. 4. Cover with another sheet of parchment paper and then ask an ADULT to iron (wool setting) the fabric. Start towards the centre and iron outwards You can watch the wax melting and soaking into the fabric. This will darken when it is ready.
5. 5. Ask an ADULT to carefully lift the parchment paper as its very hot and if needed repeat----add more wax, cover with paper and iron if required.
6. 6. When all your fabric is soaked with melted wax, hang it to cool and dry. As it cools it will stiffen. You have made your Beeswax wrap.
7. 7. You can customize your wraps if you want by adding buttons or little pockets made from pieces of fabric or lace. I am sure you can think of other ways!
8. 8. Your homemade beeswax food wraps are ready to use and should last about 6 months to a year. Wash with soap and cool water.
Children's Page written by Maureen Graham