I have to admit it but we dont have the best view from our front room window. In fact for lovely leafy Leamington its perhaps not the best view or most typical of our town. I live opposite a car show room that has flags flying in the daytime lights glaring at night time and balloons by the dozen at the weekend to promote their special offers. So as you can imagine for someone who is passionate about sustainable transport its not a view I tend to marvel at.
Now a few months back on a Sunday afternoon we were lazing in the front room with our Sunday papers when I happened to look up and see a staff member walk around the car park and cut all the balloons free. Up up up they floated as the worker continued to set about 50 balloons free.

I was flabbergasted as to me it was just plain littering. A business wouldnt throw out 50 odd leaflets or food wrappers on the street. Just because they float upward and out of site doesnt mean they are not litter when they land. They obviously werent thinking about where they were going to land as it would be far far away out of sight and not on their land. Not their problem! I was also annoyed as Id read that they posed a danger to wildlife as birds and marine creatures can mistake them for food similar to plastic bags and can choke on the remains.
The following Saturday to my shock horror when I drew back the curtains there were pink blue and yellow balloons (yes all colour co-ordinated) promoting their latest cut deal offer. This time there must have been over 100 balloons gracefully bobbing in the breeze. I wont go into the next half an hour but it involved me stomping around the house whilst my poor long suffering partner looked on bemused followed by me marching across the road to see the manger.
Luckily I d found some info on the net about balloon littering and that organisations could be fined up to

This is the most amazing time of year everywhere you look theres new life.
Flowers are beginning to bloom birds are preparing their nests tiny rabbit kittens graze on the grassy roadsides there is ahhh factor galore!
Even in our own back garden weve had some special babies this year. For the first time the frogs have laid spawn and we have hundreds (literally) of fat tadpoles swimming around in our pond.

Im always fascinated with the pond because only a couple of summers ago it was just a plastic lining filled with tap water a couple of bunches of pond weed and two water snails. Now it is so full of life aside from the frogs tadpoles and snails there are all kinds of insect larvae plants and even the land dwelling wildlife such as blackbirds rely on it for baths and drinks. I always think of our garden pond as a tiny example of how resilient nature is.
The other newborns we witnessed this week were some spider babies which had been nesting in the corner of a window pane in our back door. The most incredible thing was to watch them collectively construct a long thread of launch web which allowed them to float off and make their own way in the world.

Nature is resilient but it is also a delicate balance and it is things like this that remind you why we must do our best not to cause it even more damage.
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When I watch wildlife documentaries I love to see playful seals and I would love to take part in a seal watching expedition in Scotland or even on the South East Coast of England (Margate in Kent is becoming a hot spot for seal spotting).

However these popular marine mammals which help attract wildlife tourists to various locations across the world are victims of human cruelty. Seals are brutally and savagely murdered across the world for their skin oil and most bizarrely by fishermen because seals eat fish to survive!
The Canadian commercial seal hunt
When I think of Canada I think of a country rich in wildlife however it appears that the Canadian Government may care more about what the fishing industry thinks and increasing GDP from commercial activity than wanting to keep its country rich in wildlife. Each year a cruel and unethical practice takes place in Canada in which seals (including pups aged about 2 weeks to 3 months) are killed with a blow to the head using a wooden club or hakapik.

This hunt is a highly competitive activity and it is disturbing to know that some of the seals are actually skinned before being rendered fully unconscious. Most of the sealers are fishermen who in addition to wanting the seals to sell abroad also have a vested interest as they own sea food companies and thus want to reduce seal population to maintain cod stock levels which in turn will increase their profits.
The 2008 Seal Hunt
The allowed quota for 2008 was 275000 seals however it was reported that participation in seal hunting was lower than usual and federal officials say that about 80% of the quota was taken (still far too many!!). The reason for low participation included bad weather high fuel price and the fall in financial value of pelts (half of what they were a year ago).
Seal products
Whilst seal products are not sold in the U.S.A (thanks Marine Mammal Protection Act) they are still legally sold in a variety of countries including the UK!
Seal pelts
Back in 1982 the European Union banned the import of whitecoat seal pup pelts (skin) however hunters instead waited until the pups shed their white fur before they killed them.
Seal pelts are still used for a variety of products ranging from designer coats to traditional Scottish sporrans (see photograph below).

However I was delighted to hear that the UK ethical Bank Cop-Operative refused to do business with one Scottish kilt company which still uses seal pelts in its sporran range (news source from Guardian newspaper)
Seal meat
After the seals have been skinned most of the meat is wasted and left on the ice however some is sold and ground up into animal feed and some of the flippers are even sold for human consumption in Newfoundland.
Seal oil
North Atlantic Harp Seal oil is sold in capsules labeled

Lyme Bay Reefs on the Devon / Dorset coast is one of the UKs finest marine wildlife sites and thanks to a successful campaign conducted by the Wildlife Trusts in conjunction with excellent support from members of the public an area of 60sq miles has been protected from commercial scallop dredging.

I first reported about the Save Lyme Bay Reefs campaign in the posts titled Help save the seaside and I would like to thank any GGG readers who supported the campaigning by signing the petition and or writing to Defra.
The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for a 60sq mile exclusion zone around Lyme Bay reefs since concern was highlighted in the early 1990s by divers who observed damage to some areas. Survey work by Devon and Dorset Wildlife Trusts has shown that scallop-dredging is damaging the reefs and that time is running out for their preservation.
Lyme Bay is home to around 300 recorded species of plants and animals including dense populations of the nationally protected pink seafan and the extremely rare sunset coral. As well as a haven for sponges starfish and coral the reefs also support a range of seafood animals including crab lobster and scallops.

Talking about the success Paul Gompertz Devon Wildlife Trusts director said:

Maybe Im nuts but the boys (3 and 1!) and I have decided its time to get some chickens. As long as the landlord agrees!
Weve got plenty of space in the garden for them to cluck around and a stable that would keep them safe at night.
Weve even got friends who have offered to look after them if ever we get around to going on holiday. So all is looking rosy.
Ive been thinking about having chickens for a good few years now. Its the eggs were after and the entertainment. It would mean we would know exactly what had gone into the food we are eating.
We always buy organic free range eggs. But I recently discovered that not all organic birds have the idyllic life we would expect. Apparently many of them are raised in flocks of many thousands of birds with the restrictions that would obviously create. So were ready to take responsibilty for raising our own chickens and keeping them as happy as can be.
For me its also about the boys starting to learn about where food comes from and taking responsibility for the welfare of another creature from an early age.
So it got me wondering: do any of you have your own chickens? What exactly am I letting myself in for and are there any top tips you could share on keeping our chickens

In London on Wednesday 3rd September as a representative of the fantastic organisation Campaign Whale I joined one of the 25 peaceful protests taking place outside Japanese Embassies around the world. Various animal welfare organisations joined forces and together united protested against Japans continued slaughter of around 20000 small cetaceans (dolphins porpoises and small whales) each year.
The slaughter
One of the dolphin slaughters takes place in a small village called Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture. The process in which they kill the dolphins and whales is absolutely horrific (as is the killing of most animals). They herd them into killing coves turning the water red with blood.
The Black and White Dalls porpoises known in Japanese as ishi iruka are hunted and killed by hand-thrown harpoons. These killings in Japan are the largest massacre of cetaceans anywhere in the world.
japan defends the cull arguing that strict quotas are set to prevent species becoming endangered and all killing is done in as humane a way as possible.
Profit versus planet
In the Japanese culture dolphin whale and porpoise meat are popular dishes. The meat is sold to the general public and even marketed as brain food for young children. The industry is very profitable for the fishermen and the Government which is why they are reluctant to stop hunting and killing these beautiful marine species.
Poisonous meat
However the meat as is a lot of seafood these days is contaminated with mercury methyl-mercury and PCBs. Repeated chemical analyses have shown that the level of mercury in the meat from the slaughtered dolphins in Taiji is much higher than the maximum allowable level set by the Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare of Japan.
Human welfare
I believe that the government is aware of this and is knowingly allowing members of the public including young children and pregnant women to be put at health risk.
I have read that mercury damages the central nervous system endocrine system kidneys and other organs and adversely affects the mouth gums and teeth. Exposure over long periods of time or heavy exposure to mercury vapor can result in brain damage and ultimately death.
The Dolphin Day protests have been highlighting the human welfare side of the slaughter of dolphins too. Protestors believe that the Japanese public should be made aware of the health risks of eating contaminated seafood such as dolphin meat.
Racial issues
The protests on a number of occasions have been accused of being racist against Japanese and their culture. People who defend the cull and eating of cetaceans in Japan have said that the rest of the world is hypocritical.
Well in a way this is correct.
Dolphin friendly tuna I dont think so
I hope that you are not one of those hypocrites and thinking its terrible that they are killing dolphins yet right now you are munching on a tuna sandwich. Yes tuna might not be as cute as dolphins but they are important and are classified as Marine MegaFauna (large animals) like dolphins. Bluefin Tuna can grow up to two metres long and can weigh 500kg.
I read a statistic that Sainsburys alone sells 665000 tins of tuna a week. You may think you were being ethical when you pick up a tin featuring the Dolphin Friendly Tuna label however sorry to burst your bubble but there aint such a thing. Sorry but there isnt ok.
Tuna are strong amazing fast swimming fish so in order for fishermen to catch them they either use vast purse-seine nets to scoop them out of the sea or use trail lines of baited hooks many miles long.
Tuna bycatch
Such methods are undiscriminating against any other marine species. By fishing for tuna (so you can have that sarnie or tuna pasta bake) the fishermen end up also catching non-targeted species too known as bycatch.
A range of species get caught up in the process including the occasional cetacean but mainly a large shocking number of popular species such as turtles albatrosses and that less popular yet hugely misunderstood species the shark.
I used to fear sharks because of the movie Jaws it scared the hell out of me as a child and I would not go swimming in the sea. Now I really appreciate sharks and instead I am now scared of their survival becuase of how many are being killed for shark fin soup or as bycatch on long line fishing nets. I will write a more detailed post about sharks in the future in the mean time back to the topic!
Ethics and the worlds diet
Whilst the Japanese government is committing crime by allowing the slaughter and its people to eat dolphin meat with high mercury levels in I would like to highlight that its not the general publics fault in most cases as they do not know.
Like you may not know about the long line tuna nets getting other species or as I have posted about before the Scottish salmon industry killing seals so you can enjoy your smoked salmon and egg breakfast.
What I am highlighting is that all over the world many people unknowingly eat foods that have ethical and also health implications. It can be hard to know what is good to eat and in this modern world food is extremely political.
Food for thought
However if you love animals and want to protect the planet and to be part of the solution and not the problem then it is my personal belief that you should go vegan or at least vegetarian.
However even as a vegan or vegetarian I know it is hard to be completely ethical. Im vegan but then I get faced with dilemmas such as knowing what products may have palm oil in it (which is causing deforestation and loss of habitat for many species).
At the start of the year I pledged to eat more local food however since I have moved to join my fiancé I regret to say I have sinned on this. However I have discovered an organic farm shop that I can cycle to so will do that.
I hope that overall my article has given you some food for thought and if you want to get actively involved in protecting Whales and Dolphins then I highly recommend you support Campaign Whale.
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Meet Manson Dylan and Ozzi aka The Lovely Boys and my gourmet guests for this doggie biscotti review.

So let me tell you about this special dog biscuit cutely named Barkotti. The canine companion treat by Dr Harveys is handmade using only natural and organic ingredients. It boasts an impressive list of qualities which it seems can be attributed to all of Dr Harveys products:
No artificial colours or flavours
No preservatives absolutely none
No added sugar or salt.
This doggie treat is vegetarian too and contains a variety of vegetables apple and herbs as well as organic oat and barley flour honey molasses and bee pollen.
OK a healthy dog biscotti is all well and good but if its not tasty it wont cut it right? Of course Im not the one to judge the yumminess of these treats but if my lovely canine assistants could talk they would tell you that they like them. I guess the proof is here in the pictures. Heres Manson politely taking a piece of Barkotti and Ozzi helping himself:

And heres Dylan nom nomming his way through one of the biscuits:

I like the ethos that runs through Dr Harveys which as the story goes came about through a genuine care for animals and animal health.
Founder of the company Dr Harvey Cohen has been making human grade food products for companion animals for over 20 years and is dedicated to educating owners about why pets need a healthy natural diet. Being a teacher and a lecturer Dr Harvey is happy to answer questions about companion animals to help you understand your furry or feathered friend a little better.
Dr Harveys care doesnt stop at the animals. He cares for the environment too by avoiding chemicals in his products and supporting the growth of organic trade as a member of the Organic Trade Association. The Barkotti packaging is even green made from 100% recycled and recyclable card and printed with soy based ink.
As well as Barkotti Dr Harveys produces a variety of natural and organics foods treats and supplements for dogs cats birds and horses.
Find out more about Dr Harveys the products and where to buy them at www.drharveys.com
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This week is National Rabbit Week (www.nationalrabbitweek.co.uk) and to mark the occasion I thought Id share my experience of how rabbits can make great green pets.

I always think that rabbits are misunderstood little creatures who arent given the credit they deserve as sociable and intelligent animals and the high levels of care they need is often unrecognised. I have re-homed a few rabbits over the past 10 years and each one has had their own individual personality and needs. Murphy our houserabbit is very bright and incredibly cheeky.
So how can a rabbit be green? Well the main reason is that from their eating habits to their entertainment theyre happy with simple natural low processed stuff. Heres how
Diet
Hay hay and more hay
The majority of a rabbits diet should be hay hay and then some more hay. Hay is vital for their dental and digestive health. Because in their natural habitat a rabbit would graze on grass all day their continually growing teeth are ground down and kept short. Hay also keeps their delicate digestive system in check because it is high in fibre if a bunnys tummy stops moving youve got big troubles. Did I mention how important hay is?
So straightforward hay. No preservatives no colours nothing and you may even be able to buy it from a local farm. Many farms shops do sell hay but you need to check with them that it is clean and suitable as food. Luckily we have a farm just down the road which sells organic dust-free hay and straw especially for animal food and bedding www.dustfreehay.co.uk. It even comes in hessian sacks or cardboard boxes rather than those nasty plastic bags.
Seasonal fruit and veg
Aside from the staple hay rabbits have a wide and varied taste when it comes to fruit and veg and the great thing about this is you can give them locally grown and in season greens. At the moment Murphy is enjoying curly kale! If your garden is free from other animals like cats and dogs (who are prone to pee on unsuspecting plants) you could even give your rabbit home grown treats like parsley or spinach or grass and dandelions which take no cultivating at all. Whats more local than that?
Vegan diet
Rabbits are also strict vegans (although sometimes I wonder when Murphy tries to wrestle a chocolate bar out of my hand!) so you dont need to buy them meat or dairy products and they will never prey on local wildlife or drop a dead bird at your feet.
To find out about rabbit diet from the experts read the Rabbit Welfare Association guide to feeding your pet rabbit.
Environment bedding and litter
Environment
Whether your rabbit lives indoors or outdoors they will need space to move around as well as places to hide. How you might provide this for your bun may vary in lots of ways. However one thing I would stress is if your rabbit lives in your house keep them away from electrical cables. I dont know why but they always make a beeline for the first cable in a room and chomp straight through it. Aside from being dangerous this is costly and wasteful. Trust me Ive been there.
Since rabbits like to chew give them things that wont harm them and lets you recycle at the same time. Cardboard boxes old phone books blocks of untreated wood and the insides of loo rolls all make good toys and boredom breakers.
Bedding and litter
Murphy is a house rabbit and is never locked in his hutch so his bedding is whichever carpet he decides to sleep on. However if your bun lives outside or if like Murphy he uses a litter tray youll need something nice for him or her to sit on and to make a comfortable loo.
There are commercial rabbit litters available but Ive never bothered with them. Since rabbits like to nibble whilst theyre on the loo better for them to munch on something that wont harm them. I line Murphys litter tray with old newspaper (donated to me by my mums neighbour who cannot live without his daily tabloid) or shredded office waste paper and straw. When the tray needs to be cleaned the paper and straw (and poop) can go in the compost bin. Ive also just discoverd that white vinegar is great to rinse out the tray and eliminate nasty smells. No chemical toilet here!
Companionship and care
Without sounding too cheezy your rabbit needs lots of love and companionship and those are not finite resources. Caring for another creature is sustainability at its best.
Serious bit
Ok this is the serious bit but I think it needs saying. Although its easy for your your rabbits green lifestyle to fit alongside your own they are not easy pets to keep. Slight changes in their diet wrong amounts of types of food and a stressful environment can (amongst other things) cause your rabbits serious health problems and lots of distress for you both. Dont take a rabbit into your home and family unless you have read lots of information from those in the know (like the Rabbit Welfare Association) and thought about it carefully.
Finally I would never advocate buying a rabbit from a pet shop. In all likelyhood these animals have been bred purely to make money and there are plenty of them sat in rescue centres waiting for a home. If you really have your heart set on giving a rabbit (or two) a home check out some rescue centres ask lots of questions and have fun making a green healthy life for him or her!
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This morning I woke to the birds singing and sunlight pouring into my bedroom. What a great day I thought to connect with nature.
So I made a packed breakfast comprising peppermint tea and lots of fruit and set off to the West Beach Nature Reserve. I went past the busy main road across the bridge over the river Arun past the shabby industry units past the B&Bs went down the winding pathway past the boat graveyard past some brave daffodils popping their head up past the posh yacht club past the golf club (which should be transformed back to a salt marsh!) until I reached my destination of peace and tranquillity.

As I sat on a large piece of driftwood drinking my tea and staring out to the sea I thought wow. The waves were lapping against the shore the sea-gulls screeching their tune. The large spacious beach was empty the sea vast and mighty. I felt small in comparison but connected and peaceful. Nature is my muse my healer my guide.
Or as William Wordsworth says in the poem Few Miles above Tintern Abbey:

When Sir David Attenborough opened the Attenborough Nature Centre in 2005 he described it as