tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post1279793141926745971..comments2023-11-13T18:20:41.040+00:00Comments on Skye Calling : Where Have All The Flowers Gone?Richard Dorrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-23156371897043869862019-06-23T00:18:05.392+01:002019-06-23T00:18:05.392+01:00We have also noted that, this year, almost no swal...We have also noted that, this year, almost no swallows are in our village. Obviously, the lack of insects is partly to blame. Other summer visitors have come - and gone already; the serins and hoopoes hardly stayed for a weekend. We manage a little woodland and we always keep it as natural as possible (in spite of the draconian but necessary anti-fire laws) and as a consequence we make sure that many wild flowers bloom and, as a result, there are plentiful bees and other insects. But we are a rarity and most cut back the growth in spring, before blooming. It's a disaster and our small contribution simply highlights the catastrophe going on around us. As you say, the human race is playing out its end game.<br /><br />Thank you for the info about tree planting. I shall follow this up.<br /><br />Fitch O'C Fitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10640364279013953871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-59004917954477036212019-06-22T11:36:00.468+01:002019-06-22T11:36:00.468+01:00Thank you for your sad comment. The human race doe...Thank you for your sad comment. The human race doesn't have much longer, but the planet will live-on. <br /><br />I'm not sure about planting trees on Skye. You might like to get in touch with the John Muir Trust, and ask if they have any land here where they would welcome some planting.<br /><br />Another thought is to contact Magnus Burd - he is a Skye-based tree surgeon, much into conservation, and I know he also plants trees. His email is magnusburd@yahoo.com<br /><br />Best wishes, RichardRichard Dorrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755395461723610728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7157979146974701124.post-11088928410235629282019-06-22T00:11:03.460+01:002019-06-22T00:11:03.460+01:00Sad to read about the lack of wild flowers and ins...Sad to read about the lack of wild flowers and insects. I live a bit further south than you - about 2000 kms, in N Portugal - and we have been experiencing exactly the same phenomenon. The other week we had to drive to Lisbon, a 700 km round trip, over the course of a weekend and it was hot, so normally we would have expected to clear the windscreen of dead insects two or three times during the journey. But no. Not once. Even when we got back, the windscreen was barely spattered. Wild flowers? Far less than last year, which was less than the year before. We're in deep trouble.<br /><br />By the way, we shall be in Skye in September. I want to explore how we might plant a few trees (a memorial thing). Any suggestions?Fitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10640364279013953871noreply@blogger.com