London

Lessons in life

Tim Webb — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:46:23 GMT

I was always told at school that history helps us make sense of the 'now' and prevents us repeating the mistakes of previous generations. Some of us must have had pretty useless history teachers, because lessons were not learned.

The UK Government's SEVENTH report into proposals for a major new airport in the Thames Estuary has been published and it's reached the same conclusions as its six predecessors: it's too environmentally damaging, too great a risk from bird strike and... way too expensive.

The RSPB has welcomed this aspect of their reccomendations,but we're not happy with the Transport Select Committee's support for a third runway at Heathrow; maybe an even bigger expansion west of the existing facilities.

One of our main objections to expanding the number of flights is the commitment to reducing emissions 80% by 2050; a legally binding agreement the UK Government signed up to. We applaud that Government commitment because it was made to address climate change, the single biggest threat to UK wildlife. If the Government were to allow any airport expansion, they'd break their own rules and undermine their own targets. That would be messier than crumbled meringue and mashed strawberry stirred through cream.

There's still plenty of time for those championing a new airport in the Thames Estuary to stamp their feet in the hope sensible folk will be ground down by their nagging. The Aviation Review doesn't report back until after the next general election.

Meanwhile, here we are with the indisputable facts bearing-up to scrutiny once again.

1. The Thames Estuary is a dynamic and unique place that cannot be reproduced on the same scale anywhere in Europe.

2. Destroying aspects of it for an airport would do irreparable harm to the birds and wildlife that live their fragile lives along its beautiful but inhospitable mudflats, marshes and wilds. It is not empty space. It's nature's industrial complex where air, water and primary food sources are manufactured and processed.

3. Consider for a moment the volatile cocktail of the vast numbers of biggish birds that fill the estuary's airspace and the dash of planes from runways in its heart. You'll need brave pilots willing to face that mix and still guarantee their passengers' safety.

There's still a lot to protect and cherish in the Thames Estuary and I'm sure there are individuals who will happily continue to ignore history and throw more money at inquiries. If I were a cynic, I'd predict we'll reach ten Government reports before we've reduced emissions 10%. But I'm a cup half-full sort of person, so I'm looking forward to standing shoulder-to shoulder with Mayor Boris Johnson as we fight unnecesary expansion at Heathrow on the grounds that it's too expensive, too environmentally damaging and undermines our Government's obligations to reduce emissions 80% by 2050.

I'm calling for a riot, a riot of colour!

Tim Webb — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:28:09 GMT

Wasn't the weekend glorious? Saturday was the first day this year I was able to get outdoors and tart-up my garden. I cut the grass, forked over borders, gathered up fallen leaves, cleared old growth, sowed some seeds and enjoyed coming across some of the things that share this space.

There was a shield-bug, loads of fat worms, a couple of bees, a comma butterfly and an early painted lady butterfly; maybe it's from one of those grow your own butterfly kits that kids and organic gardeners love? Either way, the sunshine and fresh air left me feeling energised.

It was all so enjoyable I lingered into the evening, hoping to catch sight of the International Space Station scooting across the evening sky (I missed it yet again). The shocking truth pulling the rug from beneath this relaxing moment was that there wasn't a minute when I couldn't see at least one jet plane in the sky. With five airports, London's airspace is pretty busy.

Today, a new report commissioned by the RSPB, HACAN and WWF has been published raising doubts on the assertion that London's economy will benefit from increasing airport capacity.

It's been the assertion that London's economy is reliant on expansion that has driven Mayor Boris Johnson to pursue the creation of a mega-hub airport in the estuary (which he wants to call Margaret Thatcher International to "scare visitors" - call me naive, but I thought we wanted to attract visitors?). It seems the whole debate supporting airport expansion is built on flimsy foundations.

Flimsy or not, the real foundations for infrastructure development like airports involve a lot of concrete and tarmac; and an awful lot of space. Just like in my garden, stuff lives in these spaces. The cost of losing nature doesn't seem to worry the airport expansionists. They assert they can build new spaces for nature. 75% of Crops worldwide are pollinated by insects as are 94% of wild flowering plants. Bees, butterflies and more are vanishing at an alarming rate. Replacing wild spaces with new runways is not the way to support nature.

As the charity Buglife states, 'it's the small things that run the world'. Shrinking numbers of garden birds are a warning sign that nature is in touble. Rather than seeing airplanes soaring over my home, I'd far rather see developers investing in schemes which improve nature; allowing our communities, our economies and our well-being to soar. Protest against airport expansion by sowing native wildflowers and shrubs in your gardens and community spaces. That way, air passengers will be able to see a riot of colour indicating public support for nature as they fly into the Capital. Say it with flower power.

Where's wigeon

Tim Webb — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:01:15 GMT

Can you spot the wigeon in this image of 10,000 black-tailed godwits?

No neither could I, but if there is one, it would have been identified by one of our keen eyed volunteers who used this image to count how many birds were in the giant flock.

This picture is amazing, not just because of the size of the flock, which is roughly a third of the UK's entire population of BT godwits, but because it's a few miles from the centre of London, concentrated on our Cliffe Pools nature reserve.

Much work has been put into creating the right sort of habitat at Cliffe, where wildlife can flourish, but this gobsmacking sight was not the aim. We don't want such large numbers of single species. We want them spread across the whole of the Thames estuary as they used to be. The sad fact is that they've congregated here probably because they could no longer find the right sort of habitats elsewhere. Don't get me wrong. It's an amazing spectacle and well worth the short-trip out to Cliffe to see. But, wouldn't it be better for them and us if there was more space for them along the length of the Thames?

Cliffe is also hosting hundreds of other species right now: 1,400 teal, 3,000 lapwing, 4,500 wigeon, and 8,000 dunlin; and that's just the birds.

The pools, mudflats and marshes of the Thames estuary are unique and prized. They are crucial for the survival of migratory birds and yet the spaces they favour are shrinking. Cliffe is a gem, but we're working hard with farmers, landowners, communities and businesses to ensure the whole estuary can better support nature. It's a win-win situation. The wildlife that's lived here for centuries will continue to survive, and the spaces they favour will continue to act as flood buffers protecting homes and businesses from more frequent storm surges.

Some see the estuary as an empty space that's of no value. They, like King Canute, would look to control tides and nature. Hopefully the sight of these black tailed godwits will spring their eyes open wide to see the world in all its mystery, power and beauty. The estuary is natures' home and we are privileged to be able to share it and must learn how to be good custodians; living, working and benefiting in harmony with its rhythms.

Making Room for Wildlife in the Centre of London - Guest blog

Tim Webb — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:11:55 GMT

Dr. Michael Short is a Southwark resident, living within a few minutes walk of Mayor Boris Johnson's City Hall HQ, in the shadow of Tower Bridge.

Like many Londoners, he cares about his community and the changes being done to it. Changes which all too often, forget what's there already, especially the wildlife and the greenspaces where people and nature mingle, relax and play; crucial for healthy communitties. Dr Short is one of the many Londoners passionate about their local spaces:

London started around London Bridge about 3,000 years ago. Its renaissance is happening right now with The Shard and all the developments on the south bank between Tower and London Bridges. Associated with it has been an explosion of office space and residential units climbing ever skyward. Every plot of land, no matter how small, is up for grabs as house prices rise. But, it is not so much where have all the people gone? As where do all the people go?

Whilst first Ken Livingstone and then Boris Johnson have written strategic plans to prevent the [development of] concrete jungles with damaged families, in this rush to build more badly needed housing, there has been little thought of green space for the people who will live and work in these new developments, especially in which our children can relax and meet socially in a welcoming environment.

So, my concern is for a small plot of land with a basketball court and adjoining children’s play area. It's just waiting for some grass and a few trees. It had a warehouse empty for eight years and has been cleared for five. It is in Long Lane in Southwark. An area that has received more than its share of high rise apartment blocks recently. In fact there is, or will be, almost a continuous line on the north side. A park here could break up the development on the south side. There is an enclave of terrace houses with small front and back gardens, which attract goldfinches, greenfinches, blue and great tits, robins, wrens, dunnock, blackbirds and wood pigeon facing the site. The whole area then becomes quite big and sustainable. What a little gem!

Dr Short's vision is under threat. It's not an isolated case. All over London there are similar struggles between development and communities. The truth is, both sides of the debate would benefit if nature were included in development proposals from the very start. Green space adds value, improves appearances, reduces hot air temperatures, prevents flash flooding and much, mich more. Green spaces can incorporate community growing spaces or allotments and have been proven to boost mental and physical health of the people that enjoy being in them. Another added benefit is often an improvement in public behaviour.

If you dream of spaces like that in Dr Short's vision, share your thoughts with us [images welcome too], and the following councillors and inviduals involved in the Southwark Long Lane site:

anood.al-samerai@southwark.gov.uk;
darren.merrill@southwark.gov.uk;
adele.morris@southwark.gov.uk;
nick.dolezal@southwark.gov.uk;
kevin.ahern@southwark.gov.uk;
csc@southwark.gov.uk;
robin.crookshank.hilton@southwark.gov.uk;
chris.brown@southwark.gov.uk;
simon@simonhughes.org.uk;

Mighty oaks from tiny acorns and all that

Tim Webb — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:07:21 GMT

A dwarf daff is not a mighty oak.

The one I'm talking about has bright yellow petals, which stand out proudly against the hard grey landscaping of our street. Best of all, the sight of some of these tiny flowers makes me smile. I helped do that.

Some of my neighbours organised the planting last year and provided the bulbs. Together we planted them in the tree pits lining our street and this little bit of effort has been rewarded this month as the flowers burst through the compacted soil, exploded into colour and helped shine some light through the gloom and darkness of the extended winter. It was a job of minutes to push the bulbs into the ground. It required one devoted person to organise it, but it's made a tremendous difference. I guess our next step ought to be some summer flowers to keep the colour coming.

The idea is simple and has been adopted by many other people, but here's a great organised approach, turning spare pavement spaces into mini-food growing areas along a London bus route. The Capital is crammed with small spaces that could be turned into spectacular mini-gardens its communities would be proud of. If you can't picture it in your mind, the good folks at the green inbetween have some photos to help.

Basically, the message is, be positive, have a go and sow some seeds to make life more interesting. Just digging over some compacted soil will help improve London's environment. Nature always helps, with seeds dropped by birds or carried by dogs often succeeding to germinate in the most inhospitable of places. I'm not suggesting a take-over of every pavement, roundabout or tree-pit. There are some practicalities to consider and always ensure what you plant is suitable for the space you're eyeing up. No one wants harmful or destructive plants.

Get outdoors and be creative around the place where you live. Have fun, but as with all things, be sensible.

Animal lover

Tim Webb — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:00:01 GMT

My daughters laugh at me. Openly.

I've checked my flies and they're closed; there's no spinach stuck between my teeth and no one drew a moustache on me whilst I dozed in my chair. So, I was forced to ask, 'what's so funny?'

It's when I start to talk about nature and caring for wildlife apparently. They tell me they laugh because they all think I hate animals. OK. I get a tad heated when squirrels raid my nuts and seed feeders. I leap into action when stray cats or dogs squat in my garden. I refuse to have chickens or rabbits because there are too many local foxes, and I don't want a pet; not even a stick insect. I like seeing animals and birds living as they were intended; roaming as free and wild as a dust mote over a warm grassy hill on a sunny, summer's evening.

It might sound romantic, but it's a solid and grounded point of view, unfettered by the desire to control and master. I like my animals, like people, to be free. I grew-up on a farm so cattle, sheep, pigs and hens are wonderful to see in the fields and on the commons or marshes dotting and surrounding London, but there's nothing sentimental about their future propects. Farmed animals deserve the same rights as all living things; to feel the sun, rain or wind on their faces and glorious mud and grass under their feet. It's all about respect.

There's a new ITV show coming up, hosted by Paul O'Grady. His knowledge of herbs and natural therapies far outstrips my scant knowledge on that subject and he knows far more about sequins and mascara than me too. We do share an important link. We both have huge respect for nature. This show is called ‘The British Animal Honours 2013’ and will showcase not stupid things that animals do, but the clever, important stuff. I've helped judge three of the categories and was inspired by the depth and knowledge of the other jurors and their passion for the subject. No doubt the show will be criticised by some who will label it exploitative. The prodicers are going to great lengths to protect the star animals of the awards and to ensure the making of the programme conforms to the highest environmental and well-being standards. No cattle prods were evident when I cast my votes and the fodder they provided (fruit) was definately healthy.

Living in London, the majority of people are remote from nature. Parks and shared green spaces are coveted, but under enormous pressure. Wildlife is often seen as dangerous or unwelcome.It all deserves greater respect. Get outdoors and see what you can find. Most birds are starting their breeding season so have their best, most colourful plumage on show right now. Giant grey herons are teetering comically on slender branches at the tops of trees in Battersea and Regent's Parks, and alongside the Thames near Kew Bridge. Soon caterpillars will be out in glorious hairy technicolour and both toad and frog spawn has started to magically appear in many ponds and canals.

Life is starting to buzz in the Thames too. We've had recent sightings of otters, dolphins and seals. Fish migration and spawning is underway. The great nature renewal is evident everywhere.

Nature is amazing and gives us so much. It deserves respect, and an awful lot of [paternal/maternal or platonic] love. Laugh out loud. Smile at a stranger and hug a tree. It's so good to be alive!

Pickled think

Tim Webb — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:43:00 GMT

The successful development of the Thames Estuary is our birthright.

That was the assertion of the Rt Hon Eric Pickles, above, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Banner behind him reads 'Greater Thames' and he was speaking at the official launch of our Futurescape.

So what is it all about?

I'm glad you asked me that. It's about the body and soul of the Thames Estuary. As the Minister says: "stand on top of one of central London's tower blocks, look east and you will see one of the most biologically rich and valuable landscapes in the UK", but it's under pressure. "A bird's eye view is all very well", he said, then added. "But, I'm keen to encourage people to make their views known about the developments that are good for them on the ground and good for the environment, because that will be good for business." I paraphrased a bit, but that's the gist.

Who's involved?

The event brought together residents, farmers, politicians, leaders from business, industry, transport, development and charities. It's a start but there are more communities and sectors we need to reach out to; such the fishing and tourism sectors, faith groups, minority communities and young people, especially young people because what we're talking about is what they'll inherit.

Mr Pickles was concious of this too, saying "take the spirit of London, Essex and Kent to make a place that reed warblers, kingfishers, brent geese and people can enjoy; it’s our birthright’".

What's the payoff?

Several people at the event pointed out the UK's green economy is growing while other sectors stagnate or wither. In fact, the green economy is bigger than that generated by the UK's motor trade. A sobering thought with Dagenham just down the road. The Communities minister described east London as once being London's most polluted and dreadful area, but recounted how he’d spotted a meadow pipit in the wildflower meadows at the Olympic Park last year. To him, that bird is like a phoenix. A symbol of how putting nature at the heart of development can completely transform an area.

I know what he was saying, but as someone who lives in Hackney, I must say it wasn't dreadful before the Olympics. Some of those brownfield sites were home to black redstarts and other species. Some of them have moved on, but in their place there is a more varied biodiversity, cleaner and navigable waterways, more job opportunities for local people and improved community facilities too.

So what's next?

Join us in raising your voice to speak-up for your birthright. Shout Je Thames (#jethames on Twitter) and let us know if you think development of the Thames Estuary, with people and nature at its heart, is what you'd like to bequeath to future generations.

Is this just another ploy to get money?

No. This is an opportunity to turn the Thames Estuary into an economic and environmental powerhouse.

Whether you're a farmer or gardener managing your land for wildlife; an industrialist building a shipping port; a teacher taking students out of the classroom to explore the world; a transport planner improving public networks; a commercial mussel farmer; an individual with a business plan, or a parent on a family day out along the Thames - we can all collectively make it happen.

What goes round...

Tim Webb — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:11:29 GMT

My day started with a real bang the other morning, when my bike tyre exploded. Everyone stared, wondering if it had been a gunshot.

Forced to find another way in to work, I took full advatage of being on the bus and tube with commuters to eavesdrop ... and the conversation was not typical for a grey and chilly urban midweek schlep. It was all horses and foxes. Not the hunt gathering sort of conversations, but outrage at subjects that aren't normally relevant to urban residents lives. When it comes to our kids and our food; it's personal.

Horsemeat used to be tracked across the EU, but then members, including the UK, voted for a voluntary scheme. We can only officially claim to be aware of 1.8 million kilograms of horsemeat being exported out of the UK to countries within the EU between January and November 2012, and 2.2 million kilograms to countries outside the EU in the same period. Not sure what happened after that.

"You get what you pay for," commented the farmer selling his own butchered meat at my local market. "When markets force prices down beyond suppliers limits to produce goods, something gives - and that's made worse where there's a legislative vacuum." He added.

As if horsemeat isn't bad enough news for consumers, I sadly have to report that we are at a crucial junction and the path chosen now by our Government will shape the very future of farming, the food we get in our shops and the wider countryside. In short, the very future of our green and pleasant land is hanging in the balance.

David Cameron recently welcomed a deal with Europe. But that deal wasn't great for the custodians of our coutryside. Every UK taxpayer contributes money to the Common Agriculture Policy. That money goes in to two pots for farmers. The biggest, lets call it pot one, supports farmers for their business of producing food. The smaller, pot two, covers the costs of value added farming which maintains hedges, ditches, moorland, riverbanks, floodplains and all those other bits of the countryside where wildlife should thrive, people can wander, work and play, and where nature can take care of filtering our water and air and all those other tricksy things that keep up us alive in our fragile ecosystem.

The thing is, pots one and two haven't really got any bigger in the current financial climate. The UK Government now has to decide how much it can move from pot one to pot two. Whatever they do it's going to be painful and maybe the end for some farms. The RSPB doesn't want to see that happen. I love farmers, especially Chris and Iain Learmonth - even Jimmy Docherty who wins the prize for most chic farm ever.

But, what is important is that UK taxpayers money is invested in high nature value farming, which improves our countryside, increases opportunities for rural development and improves our environment.

There should be plenty of food in the UK countryside to support wildlife, yet species like turtle doves are close to vanishing forever. Food is one of the issues behind that decline. London has seen a thee hundrd per-cent increase in goldfinches over the past few years as they desperately seek food in our gardens. It's easy to get sentimental and to care too much. Feeding wildlife is good and kind in moderation, but remember the first half of that word and give wild things the respect, and distance, they deserve.

We all deserve a healthy countryside and we all deserve safe food. We all want investment in sustainable development, especially among businesses the length and breadth of the country. I'm sure every MP would agree with that, so please ask yours to support the transfer of as much taxpayers money as is legally possible from pot one to pot two of CAP.

Reaping what you sow

Tim Webb — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:23:00 GMT

The other night I was inspired and motivated in equal measure as I attended the launch of the Natural History Museum's new exhibition, "Extinction - Not the end of the world".

It was an amazing scene in the Central Hall with the dinosaur skeleton lit red and the lights in the vast cathedral-like hall dimmed.

Guest speaker Owen Paterson, the Defra minister told us all how wonderful our countryside is and what a stirling job farmers are doing to conserve it and the wildlife it supports. It came as a surprise just 24 hours later to hear that Prime Minister David Cameron has secured what can only be described as a regressive deal with Europe. He's effectively pulled the financial rug from under the wellies of the army of farmers who give a damn about wildlife and are rewarded for setting aside land for wildlife instead of cultivating it to grow more cash crops.

Thanks to the launch of this amazing exhibition, I am able to take this set-back in my stride. Because the real guest speaker was Sir David Attenborough. This quiet, gentle man spoke from the heart of his dismay at the global extinction of species. He was privileged, if that's the right word, to see eye-to-eye with some of the last remaining members of some of those now extinct species. To him, their loss is a real tragedy and our world is poorer for their passing.

The deal done in Brussels will not help lift Sir David's spirits. David Cameron's deal cuts the amount of money available for conservation by just over 11 billion Euros. Worse still it allows all member states to raid what little is left in conservation coffers and siphon it off into un-targeted subsidies.

Before the revised negotiation, the UK received about £500m for wildlife-friendly farming payments, but a previous study showed that, at best, this was only half of the sum needed to fund environmental priorities. The need for concerted action to restore farmland wildlife in the UK remains as great as ever. Some typical farmland species, like the skylark, have shown massive declines. Since 1978, the UK has lost over 350 skylarks a day; that’s one every four minutes.

In the UK, the RSPB hopes that Owen Paterson and his colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will show leadership and use their powers wisely to ensure that as much funding as possible will go towards those farmers and land managers who provide the greatest benefits for wildlife and the countryside. Other EU leaders will certainly need an example to follow.

We are now, in the UK, definately in this together as far as securing the future of our native wildlife is concerned. As Sir David Attenborough said during his speech, destroying our environment is destroying ourselves - I paraphrase but the meaning's the same. Scuppering what is effectively the life-work of many farmers undermines the chances of success for a sustainable recovery. We need a healthy land to produce the building blocks of society and industry. Our countryside can't be turned in to a factory.

I call on Owen Paterson to stand by the beliefs I heard him utter the other night. Find a way, along with his counterparts in devolved administrations, to financially support UK farmers. The UK can lead Europe in a new way forward. More than 30,000 people backed the RSPB's campaign to support the custodians of our countryside. David Cameron was wrong to ignore that many voters, but Owen Paterson now needs that popular support to fight for farmers and fight for a countryside we all want .. and all pay for through our taxes.

Finding our wings

Tim Webb — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:19:00 GMT

After noting the few birds in my own garden for last weekend's Birdwatch I'd developed an itch for something more adventurous, so the opportunity to scratch that itch was like finding a scrunched-up ten pound note in a coat pocket.

Courtesy of the Gardening Leave charity, I joined a group of Chelsea Pensioners and forces veterans in the very large grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea; an oasis of calm and green in the chaos and concrete of central London.

We split into four groups, one to the allotments, one around the feeders (lucky bunch got to stay in the heated garden shed equipped with kettle, tea and biscuits!). A third team set-off to more open spaces and I was escorted by Col (only his Mum calls him Colin) and Joanna Wise from Gardening Leave. We didn't get the warm shed, but we certainly hadn't drwan the short-straw as we spotted the greatest variety of birds.

Before we'd started, there was an opportunity to inspect some sturdy nest boxes made and decorated by In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The boxes will be installed by tree-surgeons around the grounds in the near future. It was as we left their greenhouse workshop that we saw a grey heron overhead, being chased away by a crow. The spectacle reminded Joanna to tell me about a woodpecker we'd probably see on our walk past a line of London Plane trees.

First on the recording sheet was a pair of magpies as we strolled towards Ranelagh Gardens. Col admitted to previously being indifferent to nature and wildlife. Born in London, he'd drifted into other interests but realised it was time to move on or be sucked into a life that would destroy him. He escaped north, joined-up and ended up being a southerner in a northern regiment. After seeing action abroad he's re-entering civilian life and exploring new options which connect him with the natural world, He's already almost single-handedly created a new vegetable garden on an old bramble patch within the hospital grounds. It's a journey he should be proud of.

Half way round we were joined by another veteran, Ian, who now works for Gardening Leave. Both he and Col admitted it was harder to spot birds than it had been to spot danger during their time in the forces. I know which challenge I'd rather accept. Birds are equipped to survive a hostile world, but they're not out to cause harm.

There were the usual suspects for west London. Crows aplenty, pigeons, robins, a solitary house sparrow (poor lonely thing). A variety of tits and some blackbirds. A formation of ring necked-parakeets screeched between the trees and then there was one sighting which kept us guessing for a while. After much head scratching and trawling through books we agreed the tiny birds we'd strained to see close-up were young goldcrests. We walked back past the row of plane trees hoping to crown our birdwatch with a confirmed sighting of the woodpecker. We'd almost given up when the squat wings of a bird in flight raised hopes. It landed high-up and vanished from view. Our hour was over and the warm shed and a mug of tea awaited.

Once everyone's Big Garden Birdwatch sightings have been reported from across the UK, we'll start working out tables of results and aim to report back in March. Meanwhile, there's still plenty to see. Robins are rearing young on their nests and London's warm climate continues to attract unusual and unexpected wildlife. We've got bearded tits in Hyde Park, muntjac deer in central London, hedgehogs roaming our parks and seals swimming in the Thames. Then there are the unexpected encounters, Like Londoner Andrea Boatswain's southbank encounter with a tame barn owl near Blackfriars bridge. You never know what you'll come across.

Swimming against the tide

Tim Webb — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:49:00 GMT

Weekdays, my commute to and from work runs alongside the Thames and every time I’m alongside the river, the pedals turn more slowly. It’s an inspiring way to top and tail the day.

The colours of the water constantly change, covering a range somewhere between a greenish-yellow broccoli and stilton coloured soup through to a deep brown onion consommé. At night, from my northbank cycle route, it’s a riot of colour with the illuminated buildings of the southbank reflected on its dark water.

I love the Thames, its history, its ecology and its industry. I wear my Je Thames pinbadge with pride (available from RSPB reserves along the river). What I love most about the Thames is its potential.

Its waters are part of an important migration and spawning ground for Eel, Bass, Flounder, Dover Sole and Mullet. Salmon pass through and all these fish attract cormorants and other water loving birds, right into the centre of our Capital city. High above, often too high to see, are thousands more birds using its contours to navigate their way along age-old migration routes.

The Thames is a complex eco-system that through geography and indifference we are largely excluded from; and what we don’t see, we don’t value. The river powers past both the square mile and Canary Wharf. Its currents far deeper and its ‘worth’ far greater than the noisy money markets.

The RSPB is seeking partners from along the Thames estuary to help nurture and evolve its potential. We’re already working with ports, commercial fishing interests, shipping companies, farmers, leisure users and many more to combine resources to clean-up and make the most of the river. We’re always interested in new connections, so do contact us if you can play a part in safeguarding the future of the Thames Estuary’s communities and economies.

It’s come a long way since the great stink of 1856 which often forced Parliament to be abandoned. Sewage still ends up in the Thames far too regularly but (Please visit the site to view this file) plans are in hand to address this. The river is generally far cleaner than you’d think. Already this year (2013) we’ve had sightings of common seal on the eastern edges of London; near our Rainham Marshes nature reserve at Purfleet. There are also regular sightings further upstream around the O2 Arena.

Heavy rains continue to threaten the river’s fragile ecosystem. The volume of water overwhelms drains, causing emergency overflows to release heavily polluted water and raw sewage into the Thames and its tributaries. This often ends up killing thousands of fish with a knock-on effect on other wildlife. It’s at this point that it becomes a threat to people too with unacceptable levels of e-coli bacteria and other dangers.

The Thames doesn’t need taming. It needs recognition for being an amazing resource, rich in wildlife. By working with others along the river, we can protect against flooding, generate energy, lock away carbon, transport goods and people and provide a new playground for water sports and leisure.

It’s not a crazy vision; it’s the reality we can create if we all come together for the love of the Thames [#Je Thames].

A worthwhile year

Tim Webb — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:31:35 GMT

The Christmas dinner leftovers have been eaten and the overflowing recycling box collected, drawing a line under the festive excesses.

Last year, my youngest daughter still played with the empty cardboard boxes her presents had arrived in. At one point this year she did hurl into the air the corn-starch foamy pieces packed around jars of pickle and oil from a box of posh food gifts. They littered the floor like a snow drift, reminding me of white Christmases long gone. This done, her attention turned to the telly, and the moment passed.

This innocent enjoyment of objects seen by the rest of us as material that requires problematic processing inspired me to re-set my social conscience. You can’t wrap a russet-hued sunset or a sparkly frosty-white cobweb, but I value the rare moments where I can stop, stare and wonder at these free and amazing gifts.

It will be the most troubled person who worried over how much their Christmas dinner cost in terms of money. The most contented people treasured every tasty mouthful and appreciated the effort spent delivering the food to the plate.

Food is a basic of life, alongside clean water and fresh air. We often forget but all three of these are influenced by one powerful group of individuals in the UK; farmers.

A new report called "Farming's value to society", commissioned by the Oxford Farming Conference and sponsored by Burges Salmon, the RSPB and animal nutrition specialists, Volac was published this week. Conference chair Mike Gooding said: “Our farmers have the skills and geographical reach to address some of society's fundamental challenges such as health, well-being and self-sustaining communities; but turning that opportunity into reality requires a better connection between wider society and farmers, and it is a two-way process”.

From my urban vantage point in sunny Hackney, it’s far too easy to forget the contribution farmers make to my life. There’s obviously food, but there are also the rolling hills of middle England. The moors of Scotland, the fluffy white sheep grazing the Welsh mountains and the beef and dairy products of Northern Ireland. There are the coastal paths, woodlands, rivers full of fish and the maintenance of the natural systems that support all life on earth.

How worthless life would be without all this. Please do share your images of special places by uploading them to Flickr, Instagram or our online RSPB Community, then tag them with #getoutdoors.

Cockney Sparrow Count success

Tim Webb — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:03:00 GMT

Dig out the bunting and buy the ingredients for a celebratory cake, it may soon be time to party.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our 2012 house sparrow survey, updating one completed in 2002.

We asked you to tell us where sparrows live in London so we could compare the findings of the two surveys, revealing change over the ten year gap. There's been no dramatic change, in fact the 2012 results reinforce what we found in 2002. Sparrows are more scarce in central London and increase in number as you head towards the suburbs. Interestingly, there was a very slight bias towards the east. but you'd expect that for a bird dubbed the 'Cockney' sparrow.

For a couple of years we've had Londoners telling us they are seeing more sparrows in their gardens and this survey is the first to hint at a sparrow comeback. From a scientific point of view it is far from rigorous and much too early to say there is a sustained sparrow recovery.

They still need our help, and our research has pointed at one way we can all help. Download our advisory note on supporting sparrows: (Please visit the site to view this file)

Sparrows need protein from insects, spiders and grubs when they're young; and carbohydrate from seeds when they're older. An easy way to increase both insect availability and seed is to grow it in our parks, along our road verges and in our gardens or even windowboxes. We grew different seed mixes in some London Parks and found all of them increased the number of insects and seed when not mown short.

We then hosted a conference on the practicalities, costs, benefits and funding of developing meadows and have high hopes many parks will blossom next year. Our challenge now is to convince Londoners to grow mini-meadows in their gardens or on their balconies and windowledges. Give it a go. They look great and could help sparrows too.

The arks in our parks

Tim Webb — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:11:00 GMT

London is lucky in having lots of public green spaces, compared with other similar world cities that is.

Various Kings and Queens maintained parks for pleasure and sport, then came the Victorians who created new open spaces. Canals, roads and train-lines added corridors through the maze of buildings and London took shape. That's the whirlwind guide. In a similarly speedy way let me take you to a time after the Second World War. A new enthusiasm exploded for imports so food growing fell out of favour and, right up until the early nineties, front gardens gave way to parking. All this meant that our green spaces looked green, but were increasingly bereft of life beyond pampas grass and gladioli. It was as if someone decreed we must ban wildlife and replace it with the exotic and artificial.

We're older and wiser now. It's taken a while for us to cotton on to the fact that our drains can't cope, wildlife has dwindled and we no longer grow enough food to meet our needs. In short, we are unsustainable.

Parks won't cure all our ills nor immediately solve the global economic crisis, but managing them properly will help moderate humidity, lessen the impact of sudden heavy rainfall, increase wildlife and provide space for us all to exercise, play and extend the number of years we remain fit and active. Our parks can become arks for wildlife. Supporting a broad range of critters and plants that help balance and maintain the natural systems that provide us with clean air, flood protection and yes, even some food.

RSPB research into declining house sparrows has proved that different management styles can increase biodiversity. There are three basic options we investigated:

Managing grass of varying lengths (Please visit the site to view this file)
Flower-rich grass plots, (Please visit the site to view this file) and...
Wildlife seed mixes (Please visit the site to view this file)

There are other types such as chalk soils, acid grassland and scrub. All are present in London and are increasingly seen as assets rather than wasteland. We need all these spaces to provide a healthy and sustainable city. I'm certain there is greater diversity in London than you'll find in many parts of the countryside, but don't take my word for it. Get outdoors and discover it yourself.

Sowing seeds for a greener London

Tim Webb — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:09:00 GMT

Have you ever stared at the side profile of City Hall? For years now I've wanted to stick a sparrow's head on it's teardrop shape, as it it would make a wonderful giant sparrow.

A monumental nod to the cockney sparra's brave and chirpy character and its similarity to the London spirit which makes our capital city such a great place to live and work.

With this in mind, what better place to meet and share details of research that could reverse, maybe even halt, the decline of this cheeky small brown bird. The latest research suggests nationally we've lost fifty sparrows every hour for the past 46 years! Earlier this year we ran the Cockney Sparrow Count. Londoners helped us map sparrows and added to the knowledge we continue to gather on this vanishing species. The findings were shared with some 200 or so people at City Hall along with ideas on how we could collectively improve London's parks and better support wildlife.

First up was the RSPB's Jacqueline Weir, reporting on her project exploring the impact different seed mixes have on wildlife.(Please visit the site to view this file)

Next was Martin Rodman from the City of London on what they're doing in the parks and green spaces they manage. (Please visit the site to view this file)

Dr Richard Smith of Buglife then talked about the importance of mixed habitats for insects and other pollinators. (Please visit the site to view this file)

After a bite to eat the facts kept coming.

Michael Murray of the Heritage Lottery Fund tempted people to apply for funding to create new meadows. (Please visit the site to view this file)

What conference on wildflower meadows would be complete without input from one of the people behind the spectacular displays at the Olympic Park? Dr Phil Askew of the London Legacy Development Corporation reminded us of those golden moments. (Please visit the site to view this file)

The practicalities and complexities of sourcing and sowing native wild flower seeds was explored by Howard Wood of the seed suppliers Rigby Taylor. (Please visit the site to view this file)

Finally Richard Scott of Landlife showcased some of the community benefits. (Please visit the site to view this file)

For anyone considering brightening their lives with wildflowers, whether in a windowbox, a road verge, hospital grounds or public parks, this event offered expert guidance on how to gain maximum benefit for communities, wildlife and bank balances. Please do share this page and let us know if your plans for a meadow are blooming.