Back to nature

Re-wilding was the topic of debate at last week’s Forty Club meeting. The speaker, Alan Hargreaves, asked us how often do we stop dashing around and take stock of the countryside around us? 84 per cent of Yorkshire’s rivers are not at their best and 50 per cent of the UK’s wildlife has been lost. One in 10 species are at risk of extinction. Urban sprawl, wildflower and woodland loss, pesticides and climate change are all to blame. The alarming decline in the bee population is most worrying as they pollinate our food plants. Scotland is a barren landscape but the reintroduction of wolves, lynx and boars could kick-start the ecosystem again removing the huge deer population that graze the small plants stopping re-growth back into woodland.

No trees also mean flooding and landslides. Mother nature knows best how to balance the environment and keep the soil nutrients we need. Of course there are always people against returning to nature such as landowners who cut and burn heather for grouse or deer shooting or farmers who fear wolves would eat their livestock. The risk from re-wilding is actually much smaller than driving a car on the road.

We need to teach young people how beautiful a wild natural landscape could be so they can re-connect with nature. Working in an office all day is not healthy. We are the caged animals!

Alan’s talk prompted much debate with some in favour and some against re-wilding. Mr Ward gave the vote of thanks for an excellent, well researched and passionate speech.

This week’s meeting is ‘Yorkshire Genius’ by Colin Wigglesworth. Contact 01723 354813 for details.