Seeing the Changes 2133

Cornsalad (Valerianella locusta) blooming in Bynea.

Hitting the Spot?

 

Health records of more than 280,000 older Welsh adults have been examined. From 1st September 2013, Welsh public health policy ruled, that folk born on or after 2nd September 1933, were eligible for a shot of the Zostavax vaccination to protect them from shingles. Older subjects missed out. This distinction generated a natural experiment. When the data was analysed, subjects receiving the vaccination, showed a 20% reduction in their risk of developing dementia. The Zostavax vaccination has now been largely discontinued. This finding provides the strongest evidence yet that this vaccine reduces dementia risk   (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/02/study-finds-strongest-evidence-yet-that-shingles-vaccine-helps-cut-dementia-risk). This fortuitous finding doesn't, of course, suggest a clear mechanism for Zostavax's protective effect on dementia. The vaccine was designed to protect individuals from a recurrent viral infection inflaming nerve endings. Perhaps it has wider effects on the brain?

Seeing the Changes 2132

 

In Crymlyn Burrows, noted the start of flowering by Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria). In this location, Small-flowered cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) and Wild pansy (Viola tricolor) were already in bloom. Spring mining bees (Colletes cuniculatus) were also active in the sand.

Best For the West?

 

The UK is the most nature-depleted European country. Compared with the rest of Europe, the UK is very  under-forested. In England, tree cover is only 12.8%. Currently England's only national tree forest is in the Midlands. There's now a plan, however, funded by government and charities, to plant 20 million trees in 2500 hectares of the West of England. When completed in 2050. this new national forest, will  incorporate parts of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset, as well as the city of Bristol. It will be a forest in the Medieval sense, with a mosaic of habitats. Its area will feature grassland; farmland; towns and villages as well as densely-planted, closed canopy woodland. It will try to dispel the myth that forests ands farming are incompatible  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/21/new-western-forest-england-20-million-trees-2050). A Western national forest would benefit both people and wildlife. It would certainly help counter the effects of the greenhouse effect on climate change. Forests absorb and store carbon dioxide as well as providing shade. The forest could also boost tourism within its confines. More of this type of development is needed in the UK. The forests need, however, to be mixtures of different tree species rather than forestry monocultures.

A New African Savannah?

The Christon 'Heart of Africa' development, which started in 2022, looks to be very substantial. This £28m, 9 hectare project near the city of Chester, is apparently intended to replicate the African savannah of Uganda and Kenya. It will have 57 African species, including antelopes, giraffes, meerkats, Naked mole rats, ostriches, rhinoceros, vultures and zebras. There will be warming stations for some animals likely to feel the cold  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxqx156r13o). By zoo standards, Christon has a very large area and limits itself to animals from a distinct location. It isn't, however, anything like the African savannah. The area is, by African standards, miniscule. There's no possibility of large-scale migrations. No big predators (e.g. lions, cheetahs, hyenas etc.) are, for obvious reasons, included. There will, consequently, be no natural population control. Humans will be in charge. Having said all this, it does seem an interesting development. 

Seeing the Changes 2131

More flowerings around Bynea with Spanish bluebell (Endymion hispanicus); Red clover (Trifolium pratense); Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) and Red bartsia (Odontites verna).

Watering Down

Thames Water has selected KKR as its 'preferred partner'. This New York-based private equity company, could take a £4bn stake in the company. Thames Water is a privatized English Water company, that has, over decades, greatly mismanaged its finances. It spent much of its income on shareholder payments and rewards to its CEOs. It also illegally pumped out untreated sewage into rivers and the seas to save money. Very little of Thames Water's profit was spent on necessary, new infrastructure. The company also borrowed money, to artificially inflate its shares. Thames Water is now keen to charge its customers more, so it can  finally get round to mandatory infrastructure updates  (https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-thames-water-names-kkr-frontrunner-equity-raise-2025-03-31/). This may well be an attempt, to stave off renationalization by Thames Water. They could be hoping that KKR's 'investment', given the current anti-environmentalism evident in the US, makes it more difficult for the UK government to bring this monopoly back into public ownership (where it belongs). 

A Lawn Isn't Just For Christmas?

Like a pet, a lawn has to be kept year-round. The immaculate UK lawn of yesteryear, has now gone out of vogue. Celebrity gardener, Monty Don, is consequently working with the Royal Horticultural Society to design a hardy 'robust lawn' for the coming Chelsea flower show. Its resulting grassy area, is intended to be occasionally mown but still be resistant to trampling by dogs. A working formula, consists of combining a hard-wearing rye grass variety with daisies, clover and dandelions. The intention is to produce areas usable by humans and their pets but that also support insect pollinators, such as bees and butterflies  (https://www.inkl.com/news/rhs-develops-robust-lawn-that-works-for-people-pollinators-and-pets). The old, monocultured lawns basically suppressed many other organisms. The hope is that these robust lawns will facilitate biodiversity. Any lawn, however, is better than gardeners replacing their grass with hard-standing for cars. This makes areas more flood prone, as drainage is prevented.