Transition Island Blog

Last year was the 20th anniversary of The Great Storm, on the 15/16 October 1987.

Overnight, 15 million trees were lost and streets, hedgerows, woods, public parks, private gardens and historic landscapes changed.

Many people woke up to radically different views out of their windows - and also to new recognition of the real value of trees in their patch.

The even more widespread storms of 1990 reinforced the message.

Conker-tree disease

This year, we have the discovery of a virulent new disease sweeping through Britain’s much-loved conker trees.

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Scientists investigating how quickly global warming could run out of control have now identified nine ‘tipping points’.

Each of these could tip the planet into an increasingly dangerous state that could last for many centuries.

A major international investigation by dozens of leading climate scientists has found that the “tipping points” for all nine could occur within the next 100 years.

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Spring is coming earlier than ever, says a Springwatch survey.

“There are catkins out all around, and, although we’re in the Midlands, the daffodils are almost in bloom,” says Kate Lewthwaite, one of the Woodland Trust’s researchers.

Across the country, 50,000 researchers, part of the Trust’s “Nature’s Calendar” project, have reported sightings of natural events that should be happening far later in the year.

Kate says there have been 100 sightings of frogspawn, and even four of tadpoles.

startlingly early 

“Wildlife is responding to our warmer springs, which are happening because of climate change. It’s happening incredibly quickly, and some of them don’t have the resources to adapt.”

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Ancient trees are living relics.

They have stood and watched many generations of native humans pass.  Their incredible age inspires awe and mystery. Some began their lives before the Norman Conquest!

They have helped shape our history, and could help shape our future. They are survivors - for example, many ancient oaks will have lived through the medieval mini-ice-age.

This may mean they are important genetic reservoirs, which could be very relevant as we enter the climate change era.

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