The Butterfly Effect
We are living through a climate crisis where our long term “life as we know it” is hanging in the balance, yet we have the ability to safeguard the future of our beautiful precious planet and everyone living creature who lives on it. The Butterfly effect is when one action from someone/somewhere has a more significant effect on alot of people.
For instance, fossil fuels. When they drill a new mine in the North Sea, this will cause catastrophic damage to the environment. The simple act of drilling causes loud noises, vibrations across the sea, more human trafic, toxic waste which all disrupt whales, birds, fish, dolphins and all marine life. Using fossil fuels to provide heat, light and energy creates waste, pollution and drains Earth of its strength to keep us safe. By mining/drilling for fossil fuels, we are working against Mother Nature, sending ripples into the Artic and Antartic which heats up the planet and causes a huge amount of problems for us all. Its time we learnt to work with Mother Nature, if we leave the coal, oil, nuclear ingredients and gas in the ground and use renewable energy, our ripples will be so small that no butterfly effect will happen. By using solar, wind and wave energy, we will not affect the natural breeding grounds, there is no toxic waste to bury in the ground or limited supplies.
We have a lovely big sun which shines down all day every day, lets use it. The wind blows all day everyday, lets use it. The moon’s gravitational pull controls the waves, by carefully placing wave energy, we can use the ocean to create energy, as clean as clean can be. Lets create marine areas, full of live, sea grass, a healthy sea bed and use the ebb and flow to make electricity. Its time to stop burning, polluting and disregarding our planet. We know it but the people who hold the power to put this in action, need to listen.
How to live without leaving a footprint
Walk and cycle more
reduce your plastic use.
use less water. Install water butts, water harvester tanks, gutters around the fences/shed
grow more of your own food, there is no nicer feeling that harvesting your tea from your own garden
refuse to use pesticides, chemicals and peat
be actively involved in telling your MP what you expect from him/her
plant hedges, they give shelter, food and nesting sites for birds and insects
dig a pond with an easy way out for mammals
Plant trees, native ones with berries if possible
let the nettles, brambles and ragwort grow. A lovely activity to get your children involved in looking for caterpillars
use essential oils in your daily life
live organically
consider moving to solar power if possible. Its much cheaper to install and there are grants available.
How to look after butterflies
Butterflies are beautiful and a sign of summer, they are also considered a real indication of how well our natural world is coping. This year has been another tough year. Its been a cold, windy and wet spring/early summer which is not good for our butterflies plus too much habitat is being destroyed. There is so much we can do to help. Every garden in the UK can become a little nature reserve. Here are our thoughts;
Leave nettles to grow all year as many butterflies lay eggs and feed from them. Im not suggesting that you have nettles front row in your borders, just leave a patch of two in the corner/back of the border. The butterflies will find them. The Peacock butterfly will love your nettle patch.
The same goes for brambles. The White Admiral butterfly loves to lay their eggs on brambles and native honeysuckle, so at the bottom of your hedge, leave a patch of brambles. The birds will eat the blackberries later on too. If you want Brimstone butterflies in your garden, they feed on the bramble flowers. Brambles are a plant that supports many mammals, birds, moths and butterflies, leave a bramble patch and watch them thrive.
Ivy is another important plant to have in your wild corner., The Holly Blue butterfly lays its eggs on ivy in April, they are so pretty. Later on the ivy flowers provide vital late season food for bees, hoverflies, wasps and butterflies along with excellent sites to over winter.
Allowing your grass to grow a little longer in areas gives butterflies places to hide. Plant wild flowers to feed the bees and consider thistles, many butterflies love this plant.
Leave shallow bowls of water with a pebble to allow insects to drink.
Dont cut back your hedges, let them be a little wilder and shaggy. Excellent places to sleep through the winter and escape a rain shower.
I think the main way we can help all insects, is to be less tidy. Plant nectar rich plants and shrubs with a long season of flowers, pollen and seeds. The Butterfly Conservation trust is carry out the annual Big Butterfly Count
Great fun for the whole family and a lovely way to get your children invested in the natural world.
OUR NEWS
We are very excited that our “say hello to autumn” products are back on our shelves. We love summer but we dont want to miss autumn. A time of spicy scents, vibrant colours, misty cool mornings and warm sunny afternoons.
Available in our soy candles, reed diffuser, essential oil blend and our gift boxes.
The blend of pimento, rose geranium and sweet orange is so joyfull, the perfect way to celebrate autumn.
A date for your diary. We are taking part in the Andsotoshop Online Autumn Market which starts on Saturday 3rd September until Monday 5th September. Lots of wonderful creative stalls and small businesses. More information to come nearer the event.
And finally……
If the news is making you feel sad, stressed and anxious, try this wonderful meditation
Get into a comfortable position and close your eyes.
Take a deep breath in your through your nose, counting from 1 to 5. Let your breath flow as deep down into your belly as is comfortable.
Then, without pausing or holding your breath, let it flow gently out through your mouth, counting from 1 05 again.
On each breath, bring your attention to a part of your body, as you exhale relax all the muscles in that area.
Start from your head and continue until you have relaxed every part of your body.
Acknowledge your senses but keep your focus on your breath, nothing more. If a thought comes to mind, observe it as a spectator and watch it float away. Like a leaf down a stream.
Slowly breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Keep doing this for 3-5 minutes or until you feel relaxed and in control of your breathing once again.