Abandoned, but still beautiful

Image from Landschaftspark.de

Countries the world over are home to derelict buildings those with a strong industrial past are likely to have at least a few substantial abandoned plots. Plots such as old factories cover large areas of land and are normally deemed unsafe to be near and unseemly. But should this be the case? Unless the ground contains harmful chemicals abandoned buildings and structures can be made safe. The following is an example of just what we are missing by nut utilising these unusable locations.

Landschaftspark (Landscape Park) in Duisberg, Germany was once the Thyssen ironworks. At 180 acres it boasts green spaces, gardens, an old railway and five areas of water way. As well as the landscape and industrial heritage a wide variety of events are also held in and around the park. Everything from bike rides to film showings and music festivals can be experienced in Landschaftspark.

The diversity of land uses on these sites results in a wide variety of options to adapt them into. As such pretty much anyone can find something to enjoy and provide the time-out they need. Cycling, walking, running, yoga, music and films, gardening and that is to name but a few. Beyond the benefits we will gain these sites will also provide habitats including food and places to raise young. Plants also benefit, Landschaftspark is resident to at least 700 different plant species. From this it could be discovered that Landschaftspark or any other reclaimed industrial site is home to rare, endangered or even a species thought to be extinct.

Old industrial sites may be something of an eye sore, but they have so much potential to be beautiful, practical and an amazing place for both people and wildlife.

New in nature 🌲

Winter. It's cold and the only new thing maybe a new layer of snow or the gifts received. In the natural world Spring is most commonly associated as being the season of new. Unburst buds becoming new leaves, new life in the fields and trees. New doesn't just happen in Spring though, mushrooms erupt in the Autumn, their fruiting bodies popping out of the ground and trees to shower spores on the world. Fruits too are commonly found in Autumn. New is a constant phenomenon, one that humans have a strong connection with; new shoes, new car, new phone, humans became obsessed with new.

More recently this changed as many realised the harm 'new' causes to the planet. Whether that be from waste, the use of resources or the lack of recyclability for too many items. There has become a move towards recycled and reused as well as pre-loved items, such as those sold on Vinted. New is something nice and something that most people love, but new in nature means so much more. New in nature is more about new life, whether that is offspring or new leaves on trees. New in nature is about survival of the individual and species.

When you consider the concept of new in the natural world, it puts perspective on that new bag you were looking at the other day, or the new phone waiting at the end of your contract. There are new things humans can look forward too without the environmental impact. A walk in the woods at any time of year will provide something new. Last year's seedlings will begin to emerge, flowers will bloom, fruits, nuts and seeds from trees and vegetation will form, mushrooms can be found, animals may be seen one visit and not the next with migratory species appearing, bringing a completely new almost exotic feel to the woodland. It is not just in woodlands that the new of nature can be experienced. Coastlines changing bring new species, again including some migratory. Even climate change will bring new to many environments. However, much of the climate change new may cause other problems such as competition between species, this will be especially problematic to niche species.

To some new is scary and something to avoid, but it is part of life for nature and humans. It can be problematic (climate change), but it can also be a joyous thing (new life). Appreciate the new and old.

Share your thoughts in the comments or come over to Discord to chat about this and other subjects.

https://linktr.ee/environmintleaf

December definition

If we conserve a habitat as a whole we also conserve individuals of a species. If there is not enough food individuals will leave or not survive. Pandas for example rely on bamboo forests there is little point protecting the panda when their food and habitat is being destroyed.

December - Get involved

Artwork by Helen Oxenbury for children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt written by Michael Rosen.

November - Quote

Image credit: Tree2mydoor

 It took a long time to get where humans and our known species are today. Many triumphs and failures brought about humans, big cats, pet dogs, amphibians and birds but here they are. All we need to do now is stop them going extinct unnecessarily. 

November - Selective breeding

Selective breeding is a very old process where humans use individuals of a species or breed that display desired characteristics to ‘create’ offspring and future generations with these features. Both animals and plants are subject to selective breeding and may undergo multiple selections to give the ‘perfect’ results. Size, shape and colour are common for plants whilst muscle density, temperament or milk production are most selected in species such as cows and dogs.

Sheep for example have been selectively bred to not lose their wool so that farmers can shear the sheep fully and get more for the wool. However, this is becoming an issue, wool no longer fetches a good price on the market which means the time spent shearing is not covered by the return on the wool. Climate change is also an issue as shearing will be more imperative due to hotter summers meaning time will be lost.

In plants newer selections are catered to pest, disease and drought resistance. As with sheep wool climate change means each of these factors is increasing in ferocity and in some locations changes so regularly or is so unpredictable it cannot easily be bred for.

November - Word definition

Adaptations have made species unique. Without them there would be little or no need for identification. You may think that would make life easier, but variation keeps ecosystems balanced. Without adaptions the planet would be taken over with fewer but more powerful species. You could also view it that without adaptation and consequentially evolution, there would be no species other than bacteria and maybe not even them, on Earth.

November - Evolution Flashcard

October - Identification

It is important to identify a keystone species within an ecosystem. For when that system or another species requires conservation the keystone species can be targeted to get the best results from the conservation plan.