Stolen by-cycles, disappearing elephants

[Grip Fast]

It all seems hopeless. But there is a young man called Boyan Slat who is experimenting with ways of cleaning plastic from the oceans. He went on a scuba diving trip and saw more plastic than fish, so decided to do something about it. I hope he succeeds.

Nearer to home, and on a much smaller scale, I make my garden as wildlife-friendly as possible, and get a real kick out of seeing a hedgehog, amphibian or snake visiting my plot. In the summer, I like to sit out in the garden at dusk with a glass of wine, or cup of tea, and watch the bats give an aerial display as they catch insects. They are amazing fliers.

And yet, all around, people are concreting over their gardens so they can park more cars on their land. Whole streets in London, and other cities, have lost their gardens to concrete.

Millions of people watched Planet Earth II, it seems to escape the stress of depressing news, for an hour on Sundays. There is a condition, called Nature Deficit Disorder, which is becoming increasingly recognised, especially among children who have no contact with wildlife and nature.

People need access to green and wild spaces, but it's under pressure like never before.

[Mitch1100]

Very sobering! I listened to a program about Nature Deficit Disorder in children. As kids we walked to and from school through the bush, spent all daylight hours exploring/playing in local bushlands, Parents these days sit the kids in front of TV, drive them to and from school, wouldn't dream of letting them into parklands or bush or own backyards.