BobbyD wrote:redsturgeon wrote:Rather like weeds just being plants in an inconvenient place in inconvenient numbers.
John
Weeds vs invasive species.
I have endless battles trying to convince folk who should no better that Himalayan Balsam is a blessing, not an invasive species and that with out it we would lose many of our pollinators.
Folk, some in authority, tell me that Balsam is taking over and suppressing native species. I ask for evidence, get none.
Recently a neighbour has convinced the council to cut and then weed kill several hundred yards of land rich in balsam and other pollinator friendly plant. It was as he described just weed although he has noticed there are less butterflies. Looking at the 3 folk they had doing this and the ongoing work I estimate that this will consume all I have paid in poll tax and all I make from honey sales and then some and all to make the world worse.
Still they organise Balsam bashing and I say fine, what are you going to plant to replace the lost nectar and pollen and often they say it will be mowed grass and strimmed grass. I point out that mowed grass has neither nectar or pollen and they looked surprised. The stupidity of many folk who should know better is outstanding while the cutting companies have only the concept that if they destroy all the plants they get paid and if this means the end of native pollinators, birds etc it is how the UK should be.
Next on my endless battle lists is flail mowing of hedges. Defra have made farm grants dependent on flail mowing of hedges in autumn when they are full of berries to feed the birds. I walk by a flail mowed hedge and all the berries that should be the natural larder are wasted on the floor.
Last week I discovered that it is now policy to smash all Mallard eggs. The chief rational is that Mallards are dangerous to cyclists. Don't believe me, then look at last weeks Country Life in the Good for, Bad for column.
imho we have a class of people who fear for their jobs and spend time mandating stuff that they can show as work done and justify their salary. We have very similar stuff from the EEC when they would not permit the sale of wonky carrots, a decision that funded a neighbours pony carrot business as he would buy the wonky carrots and sell them for ponies, goats etc. This has now been changed and one can now buy wonky carrots again, presumably showing that the many years of the ban was stupid but again it makes work for the folk in charge of this.
The more I come into contact with folk who make decisions the more I realise that many of them are over educated idiots or are getting kick backs for implementing policies friendly to others. The number of these in the legacy v renewable energy media and legislation is large.
Regards,