Now, more than ever nature needs our help
Contributing to our environment has a built-in feelgood factor
Making a positive contribution toward the appearance of your local environment, either as an individual or member of a group, rarely needs rewarding by others. It comes with a built-in feelgood factor.
That’s my experience of voluntary efforts gleaned from both sides of the fence – doing and judging. Now, more than ever, nature needs a helping hand, not only locally but also worldwide.
Whether you collect litter, suitably armed with relevant equipment, or join an environmental task force, it is a gesture of good intent sadly lacking in many parts of our world.
Alnwick in Bloom and Rotary recently combined forces to plant 8,000 purple crocus bulbs in the Column Field, and this fellow, a founder member of the former and friend of the latter, joined the group of 20 volunteers.
Thankfully, Town Council staff were there with their turf cutting machine. Strips were rolled up like carpets and tree roots negotiated to gain an eight-centimetre planting depth. The bulbs planted, turf rolled back into place, and two hours or so later, job completed!
Nothing outstanding about this you’d think, everybody’s planting bulbs at present, except that these, apart from extending an ongoing project, were symbolic of suffering in far flung parts of our world.
Rotary international, working in conjunction with the UN and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is spearheading a worldwide drive to eradicate polio and the choice of flower colour is relevant. When children in Nigeria or Afghanistan have been immunised, their fingers are dipped in a purple dye to record the fact.
Furthermore, the amount raised through bulb sales and donations is tripled by Gates Foundation to fund the essential serum. So, come next spring our existing bench and associated plants will be joined by spectacular crocus displays but more importantly, children’s lives will be saved.
Bulb planting time is here and will continue for several more weeks. Any planted before the end of November stand a good chance of flowering next spring. Beyond that, December planting is better than leaving some you’ve just found still in their packet to shrivel. Once in the ground they`ll do the rest.
Generally, sound bulbs should be planted with their tip covered with soil to an amount twice their height. On light, sandy ground this can be slightly deeper, and more shallow where there’s clay.