Environment: January 2008 Archives

Do you want to know more about the process of climate change, written in easy to understand language? The BBC have created some graphics, based on scientific research, that do just that.

Compare the levels of climate change it's predicted we'll create through our present greedy consumption of fossil fuels, with the lower levels we could bring about with more sustainable lifestyles: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/04/climate_change/html/climate.stm

In the Alexander Technique we aim to improve our individual use and the means-whereby we gain our own immediate, personal ends, so that we look after our health and wellbeing. This attitude of mind can be expanded, to develop awareness of our use in relation to the world's shrinking resources and of our impact on the environment.

In order to gain the end that most of us agree that we want, ie a world in which we do not contribute to global warming, we need to address our increasing mis-use of these natural resources. The means-whereby most of us are living now, seems to be having a negative impact on the environment. We can all make conscious choices to live more sustainably, inhibit our unthinking and wasteful habits and bring about changes to improve the situation.

For ideas about how you can make positive changes and live more sustainably, visit: http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/

With wet leaves and some wintry frost and ice here, it's time to take care on pavements. If you are afraid of falling on slippery paths like mine, it is tempting to tense up all over but remember, you will have more sense of your balance and more control over your movements if you refuse to tighten but walk in an alert and free manner - a good time to use all you have learned in Alexander lessons.

It's also time to keep warm, in order to look after our health. Perhaps we can do our bit for the environment and start off by wearing an extra layer of clothing, rather than turn the heating up without thinking.

Wildlife needs even more help from us at this time of year. I was watching a blackbird trying to drink in the birdbath, which had frozen. He kept pecking at the ice but it was too solid. The blackbird watched as I went out and poured water into the birdbath and seconds later he was happily having a drink and a bath.  Fortunately my pond had not frozen over yet as frogs will be hibernating there.

Gardens are wonderful places in which to create your own outdoor space, get back in touch with nature and to return to a calm state after the hustle and bustle of city life. Allowing yourself just to be, whilst observing the world around you can be immensely helpful for your wellbeing. For my part, I shun the often sterile, over-designed gardens and I find it an added pleasure to create a garden that is to be shared with, and helps support, some of the wildlife that lives around me.

The gardener who wishes to help wildlife and the environment can find inspiration at places like Kew Gardens, where they have introduced a number of ideas that both enrich habitats and therefore biodiversity - and that are interesting to look at. We can be creative, as well as environmentally aware.


Take this huge wooden stag beetle sculpture at Kew, for instance. This sits amongst rotting logs at the base of a standing but dead tree, the ideal habitat for the real stag beetle which is an endangered species, largely through the loss of habitats that it can live in. Many invertebrates, plus wood mice and amphibians such as frogs and toads which are struggling to survive, will be able to seek protection and find food amongst leaf litter and the humid areas between the logs.

The dead tree will also attract birds such as woodpeckers, that make use of holes in the trunk and will eat insects from under the bark.

 
The sculpture is home to fungi which forms an interesting texture visually. The sculpture may itself rot down into the log pile, eventually. So wood piles don't just have to look untidy and somewhat boring. With some imagination, they can create an interesting new feature in your garden that you can enjoy gazing at, whilst they also help wildlife to survive.

You need to be careful and look after yourself when lifting heavy logs around and it is a good time to consciously use the Alexander Technique.  Inhibit before lifting anything and give yourself directions; be thoughtful and aware of how you move and lift things.  A monkey position may be useful to use for lighter logs, or a squatting position may be better for larger logs.  In both cases, make sure that you are well balanced and keep the weight as close in to your body as possible, so that you avoid straining your back.