Roeburnscar is an idyllic 5 bedroom cottage on Backsbottom Farm and will be available for holiday lets from the end of September 2012.
It is surrounded by a wildlife paradise of 240 acres of ancient woodlands, hay meadows and upland blanket bog.
Sleeps 9, stabling for 3 horses, dogs welcome. No TV
Christmas is a joyful time of gathering
with loved ones and giving gifts. But it’s also a time of excess:
mountains of food, gallons of eggnog and piles of presents swathed in
inordinate amounts of wrapping paper. With a growing awareness around
the dangers of single-use plastic and climate change, are there ways to
make your Christmas more sustainable? How can you put the green into
gifting?
Here are some top suggestions for small changes that could make a
big difference to the planet this yuletide. We’re dreaming of a green
Christmas – are you?
Each Christmas we’re getting through around 8,000 tonnes of wrapping paper. That equates to approximately 50,000 trees.
But that’s ok, paper is recyclable, right? Wrong. A lot of festive
wrapping paper is laminated or covered in metallic coloured shapes,
glitter and plastics which can’t be recycled. Luckily, there’s a simple
test to determine whether your paper is a goer. Simply scrunch a small
square of it in the palm of your hand. If it scrunches up it can be
recycled; if it doesn't and springs straight back then its destined for
the rubbish tip. To play it safe, opt for brown paper or old newspaper, glammed up with a bit of reusable ribbon.
There’s a simple test to
determine whether your wrapping paper can be recycled. Simply scrunch a
small square of it in the palm of your hand. If it scrunches up it can
be recycled; if it doesn't and springs straight back then its destined
for the rubbish tip.
2. Ditch the sticky tape
Try using biodegradable string or raffia
to secure your wrapping paper, rather than plastic tape. And if you get
given gifts wrapped using sticky tape, make sure you remove it from all
the wrapping paper as it can make the paper hard to recycle.
3. Cut back on presents
Present giving is an integral part of Christmas, so we’re not
suggesting you give it a miss this year. But what about giving less?
Talk to your family about taking a Secret Santa approach,
so you all give and receive one quality gift that is really wanted.
(And try to buy locally when you can to support small businesses and
reduce your carbon footprint.)
4. Give charity gifts or experiences
Another great way to reduce waste is to buy experiences rather than
physical items. What about a wine tasting? Cinema vouchers or a night in
a shepherd’s hut? And charity gifts are lovely too: sponsor a water
vole for an animal lover or give a goat to a Rwandan farmer.
5. Trawl the charity shops
As well as sticking to local businesses for your present shopping,
you should check out the local charity shops. You can often bag a
bargain in the form of designer clothes or the latest bestseller. Not
only are you cutting down on waste, your money is going to a good cause
too.
6. Send e-cards
We all love receiving cards through the post, but the sad truth is
that most Christmas cards end up in the bin in January. Have you thought
about sending e-cards instead? Many companies let you design your own
and no trees need to be harmed. Alternatively, cut up last year's cards
and reuse them this year. Give those robins a second outing! If getting
creative’s not your thing, be sure to buy recycled and then recycle any you receive.
How choosing the right washing machine setting could make a difference.
7. Recycle your tree
Although they might seem less wasteful, fake trees are not the answer.
They last longer, sure, but that’s because they’re mostly made from
plastic, which isn’t recyclable. It’s a much greener option to opt for a
real tree (as long as it’s from a sustainable source),
as it will actually help to remove carbon from the atmosphere while
it’s alive, and then recycle it after the big day. If your local
authority doesn’t recycle then find a garden centre that does.
8. Put waste food in the compost
Each year we throw away fridgefuls of food that we just can’t squeeze
in. Try to cut down on the shopping this year (do you really need
brandy butter AND brandy cream?) and put any uneaten food scraps in the compost, not the bin.
People are buying more of their clothes second-hand because of worries about waste.
9. Go crackers for reusable crackers
It’s hard to imagine Christmas without the annual battle for cracker
victory and, of course, the colourful paper hats. But crackers are
pretty wasteful: many are coated in plastic which makes them impossible to recycle and the plastic toys
inside invariably end up in the bin (who needs another miniature
yo-yo?). Thankfully, there are lots of sustainable options on the market
now: ones with cardboard casings and plastic-free toys, crackers that
bang when you pull them but don’t tear open so you can refill them and
use them year after year, and natural linen crackers that will look beautiful on the table and will last a lifetime.
10. Ban batteries
Many gifts and toys exchanged at Christmas require batteries, and
that’s bad news for the planet. Batteries contain toxic chemicals (an
environmental hazard), they don’t biodegrade and are difficult to
recycle. Try to avoid buying battery-powered toys (after all, there’s nothing better than a good book), and where it’s unavoidable source some rechargeable batteries.
Peter Gibbs investigates the trend for fake turf and artificial plants.
11. Choose solar-powered lights
For some streets, Christmas lights have become seriously competitive.
It’s all about having the brightest display and the biggest inflatable
Santa hanging from a drainpipe. But all these bulbs – as fun as they
might seem – are burning through electricity and having an impact on our
environment. Instead, think small, subtle and solar-powered.
How you can save the environment through gardening
We’re used to taking an uptight,
corseted approach to gardening: keeping hedgerows, borders, lawns and
pots neat and tidy and weed-free. But as “rewilding” projects have
proven, letting nature reclaim the land means a huge boost for wildlife.
And with insects (nature’s “glue”) in decline across the planet, and
air pollution rife, it’s never been more necessary.
But what if your outdoor area is tiny? Or you don’t have a garden at
all? Fear not, we have tips for turning even the most miniscule of
urban spaces into a haven for nature to save the environment.
You may not have any outside space of your own, but you’ll likely
have a window or two. So, rig up a window box and scatter some wild
flower seeds. Bees are fond of colourful, tubular flowers like foxgloves
and love lavender, borage, catmint and buttercups. (What could be nicer
than the scent of lavender wafting into the room?) Our buzzing, stripy
pals are also partial to the pink blooms of chives. Add this to your
window box and you’ll always have the herb on hand for cooking with too.
2. Don't bother mowing
If you're lucky enough to have some lawn, you might feel a bit
embarrassed to sit on your hands and watch it go to seed, sprouting dark
patches and thick tussocks. But leave it a few months and soon the
space will be a biodiverse patchwork of wild flowers and different
grasses – attracting a plethora of butterflies and other six-legged
friends. Meadow grass, buttercup and dandelion all provide favourite
seeds for a whole range of birds too.
Tools and utensils used in gardening aren't very eco-friendly.
3. Install some house plants
As well as creating a haven for wildlife, plants have the added
benefit of reducing carbon dioxide levels (through photosynthesis). They
also help to diminish airborne dust and levels of certain pollutants
like benzene and nitrogen dioxide. Fill your home with plants and know
that you’re doing your bit for the environment!
Fill your home with plants and know that you’re doing your bit for the environment.
4. Build a bee and bug B&B
In the UK there are over 250 species of bees, the vast majority of
which are solitary. Some of them nest in holes in walls, pieces of wood
and old vegetation. So, you can give a boost to their habitat by
constructing your own bee hotel from wood and hollow plant stems,
affixing it to a wall or fence or popping it on your balcony.
Construct your own insect hotel from wood and hollow plant stems and affix it to any external wall or fence.
5. Cut the pesticides
It’s time to go organic. The first step to encouraging insects and
birds into your garden is to ditch all pesticides, weed-killers,
fertilisers and slug pellets. To stop slugs ravaging your veggies simply
crush up egg shells and sprinkle them around the base of your plants instead.
6. Make a hedgehog run
We don’t mean chase a hedgehog, but rather speak to your neighbours
about creating a pathway between gardens and properties so that
hedgehogs and other creatures can happily pass from green space to green
space. We know that joining up bits of land is crucial for the safe
passage and proliferation of wildlife – so get the neighbours on side
and cut some hedgehog-sized holes in the bottom of your fences, or even
take out the odd fence panel. This way you get to keep your privacy but
welcome wildlife.
Your houseplants reduce carbon dioxide levels and improve the quality of the air we breathe.
7. Make your own mini pond
All life needs water, so the best thing you can do with a small or
urban space is to create a pond. It doesn’t have to be large – even a
washing-up bowl will do. Add plant life and, before you know it, you’ll
have frogspawn, pond snails and dragonfly larvae aplenty.
8. Pull up paving
Think about hauling out those paving stones and putting down some
turf. If your plot is simply too small then another option is to opt for
gravel, and scatter some insect-friendly plants like lavender amongst
the stones. And there’s always the option of planting some wildflower
pots if you can’t bring yourself to say farewell to the flagstones.
"Which way to the next garden?"
Plant
herbs and edible greens in your window boxes so that you can also get
nutritious food whilst being kind to the environment.
9. Think vertically
A clever way to introduce plant life when you have limited space is
to encourage some climbers. Ivy, honeysuckle, passion flower, jasmine
and wisteria are all wonderful plants for wildlife, and many don’t even
need a trellis. Unlike a bare fence, a climbing plant provides space for
birds to nest, butterflies to hibernate and bees to shelter from the
rain.
10. Attach a bird box
A nest box is an excellent substitute for a tree hole, and much
needed in areas which are lacking in the latter. Why wait? Get one
rigged up! For tits, sparrows and starlings the box needs to be between
two and four metres high up on a tree, wall or fence. It’s also
important to make sure it’s facing between north and east to avoid
strong sunlight and wet winds.
There is a wide gulf between real gardens and those portrayed on social media.
To stop slugs ravaging your veggies simply crush up egg shells and sprinkle them around the base of your plants.
11. Borrow a pig
Animal disturbance can help to turn over the soil in a garden and
uncover all the dormant, natural seeds. So, if you have the space, what
about putting a pig in there for a week or two? An animal also means
poo, which is a natural fertiliser and will help attract dung beetles.
If a pig’s out of the question (and let’s face it, for most of us it
will be), try rooting around in the soil with a garden fork instead and
contact a stables - they usually have free dung they're trying to
dispose of. Link to website
When life gets too much, most of us try
to get away from it all. Some might head to the pub, play football or
knit a jumper. But if you really want to take a break and restore, a
dose of nature might be the best tonic – spending time in natural
environments has been shown to boost physical and mental health.
Even just listening to the sounds of nature could help us to relax, an idea being explored in a new experiment launched by Radio 4 as a study accompanying a new nine-part futuristic eco-drama called Forest 404.
Alex Smalley, a PhD researcher working on the
Forest 404 experiment, gives his top tips on how to make the most of the
stress-busting benefits of nature, no matter how much time you do – or
think you don’t – have…
Spending
time just taking in the forest atmosphere can lower the stress hormone
cortisol, decrease blood pressure and calm pulse rates.
1. Dive in
If you’re lucky enough to live near
the countryside or coast, there’s nothing like getting out for a walk,
cycle, run or swim. These kinds of natural environments can promote
physical activity; so-called “green exercise” has been shown to improve
people’s self-esteem and mood.
Data suggests that people in the UK tend to be happiest when they are by the coast.
But contact with nature can happen in
many other ways too, and spending time in your garden or local park can
be just as good. These natural spaces can reduce stress and anxiety,
help us sleep better, and boost pro-social behaviours. Evidence is
mounting and practitioners are taking note; doctors in Shetland can now
prescribe “a dose of nature” to their patients, with similar trials
recently taking place in Cornwall.
2. Go green
In Japan, the practice of shinrin yoku – literally, “forest bathing” –
makes a good case for taking a walk through your local woodland.
Researchers there have found that spending time just taking in the
forest atmosphere can lower the stress hormone cortisol, decrease blood
pressure and calm pulse rates. In the UK, studies have shown that urban
parks and gardens can provide long-lasting impacts on mental health; and
that larger areas of green space could act as a buffer against
stressful events.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about how these
mechanisms work, but nature’s ability to provide a feeling of calm
fascination, as well as a sense of being away from day-to-day
activities, seems to be the key.
3. Is blue best?
Medics were prescribing convalescence by
the sea as far back as the 18th century, but it’s only been in the last
decade that evidence for a “blue health” effect has emerged, with
studies showing that people who live close to the coast tend to have
better health and higher life satisfaction than those who reside inland.
Data suggests that people in the UK tend to be happiest when they are
by the coast, and research has directly pitted green spaces (like the
countryside) against rivers, lakes and the ocean. Blue spaces repeatedly
come out on top but there might also be a sweet spot; one study
suggested that a scene consisting of one-third green and two-thirds blue
was most preferred. People make over 500m visits to England’s blue
spaces each year, so you’ll be in good company if you venture out.
4. Bring the outside in
Many of us don’t have access to a natural environment, or might have
difficulty getting outside for other reasons. Fortunately, quite a bit
of evidence suggests that simply having a view of nature, whether real
or digital, can deliver similar benefits. One seminal study from the
1980s found that patients could recover from surgery more quickly if
their window provided views of nature, and researchers have used
pictures and videos of natural settings to demonstrate a range of other
positive effects, from improved mood to an enhanced ability to complete
complex tasks.
Getting out to your local aquarium has also been
shown to boost wellbeing, and watching nature programmes such as Planet
Earth can elicit feelings of joy while reducing negative feelings like
tiredness. So if you can’t get out, bring the outside in!
5. Listen up!
Much of the research into the effects of
the natural environment on health and wellbeing has focused on vision.
Yet interactions with nature are multi-sensory, with sound, smell and
touch playing a vital role in our experience, particularly for people
with visual impairments. Listening to birds singing, rivers flowing, or
waves lapping can help people relax and restore, and the myriad videos
of these soundscapes on YouTube demonstrate their potential power.
Feeling part of something greater than ourselves might just make us more altruistic and willing to help others.
But there’s still a lot we don’t know
about what sounds people prefer, how they might impact wellbeing, and
how best to harness their restorative potential. That’s where our Forest
404 experiment comes in – we want to understand how people across the
UK respond to the sounds of nature and you can help us! Find out more and take part here.
6. Awesome experiences
A new area of research has started to suggest that awe-inspiring
experiences can improve mood and, excitingly, make us less selfish.
Nature is great at producing awe; watching a pod of orcas breaching;
standing beneath a canopy of giant trees; or observing the view from a
mountain top can all create a sense of wonder and amazement. By making
us feel small and part of something greater than ourselves, these
awesome experiences might just make us more altruistic and willing to
help others.
While awe isn’t an easy feeling to elicit, new
advances in virtual reality mean we might be able to put people in the
grand canyon, on the summit of Everest, or at the bottom of the ocean
with just the flick of a switch. The future could be bright – it could
be awesome!
7. The new cigarette break?
Cigarette smoking used to be a common reason for regular breaks away
from work or social situations, with people often heading outside. As
smoking continues its decline (currently down to 15% of adults in the
UK), these breaks could be replaced with short doses of nature. Making
time for regular pauses by taking a walk outside, watching a quick
nature video, or listening to a two-minute soundscape, could help us to
manage the strains of a busy work life. Meditation is also becoming a
popular technique for dealing with stress, and newly-released research
suggests that combining mindfulness with nature encounters could deliver
even greater benefits.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about how
nature could benefit health and wellbeing, and we need to remember that
spending time in natural environments can also present risks.
Nonetheless, the next time you’re frustrated, stressed or anxious, try
taking a dose of nature – it might just help you feel better.
Find out more about Radio 4’s Forest 404 experiment, and take part.
We've put butterfly identification postcards in the cottage for our guests to buy. Here are some photos taken by Rod last year and here is the link to Butterfly Conservation
Included in this film is the River Roeburn running through Backsbottom Farm near to Roeburnscar
Richard's new film exploring his ever expanding nature art attempting to research all mediums and materials found in nature and featuring his recent collaborations with
https://www.youtube.com/gravityglue.
See more at https://RichardShilling.co.uk,
https://www.facebook.com/richardshill...,
https://www.instagram.com/richardshil....
Music:-
Namaste - Audionautix (https://Audionautix.com) Reverie - Purple-Planet Music ((https://Purple-Planet.com) The Logs Burn Slower Here - Geotic (https://Geotic.bandcamp.com) Lusciousness - Asher Fuller Blue Boi - Lake Inspired (https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired)
