I'm going to plant an apple tree in our new house, once the move FINALLY happens (the last week of Feb, I'm hoping). It's a birthday present from my parents, and though they laughed when I said I wanted it to bear fruit within the year - impatient non-gardener that I am! - planting even a single tree has got to be a good thing. And not just for apple crumbles. After some research, I found some awesome environmental benefits a single additional tree can do for the world. Here are 8 ways trees help the environment. 

Obviously, the first one is...

1. CLEANING THE AIR - apparently this can take up to 25 years to be effective with a mature tree, but little by little, as the tree grows, it has a positive impact on ammonia, sulphur dioxides, ozone etc. 

2. ABSORBING CO2 AND CREATING OXYGEN - In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced when you drive your car 26,000 miles. My front lawn is hardly an acre, but still! That same acre of forested land can provide enough oxygen for 18 people for a whole year.

3. TREES COOL URBAN AREAS - releasing water vapour into the air and creating shady spots, also PROTECTING US FROM HARMFUL UV RAYS. Placed strategically, they can even lower the need for air con in the summer, if you have it installed, thus becoming tools in CONSERVING ENERGY USE. 

4. Almost immediately, my humble tree will become A HABITAT FOR INSECTS, AND LATER, BIRDS and have a positive impact on SOIL EROSION. This also helps with flood alleviation - very welcome, when we're buying a new property!

5. TREES SAVE WATER. It's simple: Shade from trees slows water evaporation from thirsty lawns. It's a positive even when measured against how much water a newly planted tree needs. 

6. I've even read that TREES REDUCE VIOLENCE! Neighbourhoods and homes that are barren have shown to have a greater incidence of violence in and out of the home than their greener counterparts. Trees and landscaping help to reduce the level of fear.

7. Aside from apples for my crumble, TREES PROVIDE FOOD FOR ANIMALS AND INSECTS through fruit, seeds and even bark. 

8. TREES ABSORB DUST AND THE STRENGTH OF THE WIND, REDUCING SOUND POLLUTION , AND REDUCING GLARE.

Oh, go on then, one more... This isn't environmentally-related but it's fascinating all the same...

9. TREES AID RECOVERY FOR SICK PATIENTS - Studies have shown that patients with views of trees out their windows heal faster and with less complications. Fascinating!

I wish I had more space for more trees!

Lou x

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Lockdown has had an affect on our types of waste and the behaviours we display around getting rid of our waste. For example, who could have predicted 5 months ago that so many face masks would be dropped into supermarket bins as people exit the building? I certainly didn't have any face masks at home in February, but we have a stash now, ready for whenever the weekly shop is called for. 

Even during the pandemic, it's important to remember to AVOID, REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE your waste. The environment can't take a 'messy break' and litter, waste and pollution are not something to allow just because "times are unprecedented". Through lockdown, more single use plastic has been used, in an effort perhaps by people trying to reduce their contamination risks. This is often things like

 - plastic cutlery and plates on picnics and in school canteens, when reusable ones from home would be easy to take instead, and easily washed to use again. 

- delivery packaging from supermarkets. If you've been lucky enough to 'bag' *ahem* a supermarket delivery slot, you may have noticed they are not using reusable containers anymore, and are relying on plastic carrier bags a lot more. 

- takeaway containers not only from your normal Chinese or fish and chips shop, but also from restaurants and cafes who are now offering a new 'lockdown' takeaway service. Most of these are (recyclable) plastic or (non-recyclable) polystyrene containers, many of which are not disposed of properly when the meal is over. 

The reduced choice and availability in supermarkets has also contributed to the issue. Many people who would have chosen the 'plastic free' produce now have now option but to buy the cellophane wrapped broccoli and the huge 1kg bag of carrots instead of buying loose. 

​Masks are a new challenge in waste generation circles: A growing demand (which will continue to grow next week with it becoming compulsory to wear masks in supermarkets), a complex material, and a very visible one when some people simply cannot be arsed to dispose of them properly. Some people even have been flushing them down the toilet.

Masks need to be put responsibly in the bin; They are made from a mix of materials, including plastics, and cannot be recycled. Masks often end up thrown on the floor when used, left available for wildlife to eat and to create an eyesore in public areas. I know I've seen some on the pavements in my local area, and in green areas...

​And marine pollution doesn't escape either. The Guardian reported 'more masks than jellyfish' recently. 

How can we combat this?

- Report littering and flytipping to your local council. You can often just fill out a quick form online and they generally clear up the issue within a few days, if you're lucky. 

​- Social media the hell out of irresponsible plastic littering! I found this on Instagram recently, specifically for plastic gloves litter on beaches >>>

 - It is still safe to litter pick, if you wish, but I'd strongly recommend using gloves and a litter-picker if possible (the grabbing stick kind). 
​
​- Now the recycling centres are open again, make full use of them if your recycling is overflowing. This will leave more space in your refuse bin for things like masks and rubber gloves which cannot be recycled. 

- Make sure your mask is binned - and stays in the bin! If the bin is overflowing, take it home with you and dispose of it there.

 - Use reusable masks 

On the plus side, waste carrier Veolia has reported a 30% increase in recycling since lockdown began, and the materials are 'cleaner' too, with fewer waste items contaminating the bins and boxes. This is a big win, let's hope it continues!

​You may have seen this striking photo from Oceans Asia. Possibly does more with the image than my 100s of words here. 

Throw nature a bone - not a mask - and dispose of your waste properly, folks!

Lou x

I made huge strides last year in going plastic-free. We started having a milkman, buying soap in bulk, using laundry soap nuts and much, much less cling film. 

Finding the right shampoo and conditioner has been a hard mission to complete, but I've finally done it. My hair is fairly dry and curly, frizzy if I don't use a serum or mousse. It's never been oily, happily, and I was using a scaled down version of the Curly Girl Method with liquid products before I moved to bars. I would wash my hair twice a week and condition every night. That soon changed.

LUSH - 3/10
I started on a whim at a Lush store. The staff recommended a 'jungle' shampoo bar and a curly hair friendly conditioner. These smelled good but were both TERRIBLE. The bars didn't  lather up at all and I felt like I wasn't putting anything at all in my hair... which didn't feel especially clean afterwards and got greasy quickly. Added to that, I found them a little more expensive, but justified that by saving on postage by grabbing a bar when I was at the Mall anyway. However, the colours weren't too nice and there was very limited selection.

SUDSMK - 5/10
I totally fell in love with this small home based business. The owner lives a few houses down from where I used to live, for one thing! Anyway, the bars from Suds were better at lathering up some soap but still not much. After around 3-4 weeks my hair adjusted and wasn't  greasy any longer, but El Husbandio not-so-tactfully said my hair smelled like an old mop. Thanks. I hadn't noticed so it couldn't be THAT bad, could it?! My main problem with these bars was the bogey-looking lumps they left behind in the tub after a wash. Ick. One plus point has been added just because when your delivery arrives, the artisan maker has handwritten an inspirational feel-good quote on the box. Nice touch!

ETHICAL SUPERSTORE - 9/10
Until now, I thought I'd just have to settle with a 5/10 satisfaction level. I now use a shampoo from Faith in Nature and a conditioner from Friendly Soap, both available at Ethical Superstore - the same place I get my soap nuts, so I can whack it all on one delivery charge, too. The bars are £5.79 and £4.95 respectively, very reasonable, and they're a clean white/cream colour with no lumpy bits. They both lather up properly, and have a decent level of scent. 

My shampooing has increased in frequency (now every other day) but these bars last so well, and conditioning every day keeps on top of any grease building up. 

Find the bars here >> https://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/category/beauty-health-and-wellbeing/hair-care/

I'm proud to be plastic-free and all natural with my shampoo and conditioner! I've already started giving bars as gifts, look out, friends and family!

Lou x

 
So why my focus on cling film? I have known for a long time that cling film is an environmental devil in sheet form, but I haven’t done much about it. Cling film is just so darn useful, available, and easy! It is however, not recyclable, and not really reusable. The stickiness of the cling seems to be a single use thing. Cling film, incidentally, can also be really dangerous when it’s heated (like in a microwave), but we never do this, as the chemicals in it leach into the food. Another good reason to drop the cling, though!
 
How did I cut out cling film, then? Well, I didn’t do it alone. I made sure El Husbandio was on board. Essentially, I hid the cling film box. This not only reminded us not to use the cling film, but put it out of sight so we didn’t even consider it, nine times out of ten.
 
I also had amazing support from one of my best friends, Louise (yep, there’s been a Terrible Two for over 20 years now!) who lives in Switzerland. She’d clocked my cling film challenge announcement on Facebook and recommended using beeswax wraps – see photos below – and I replied I had considered them, they were just a bit pricey at £15 each. The star that she is, Louise posted me some almost without delay.
 
Note for you creative types: You can make your own beeswax wraps – try this method from the Moral Fibres blog. 

My Baking Addiction: by Jamie, who self-certifies herself as someone who bakes too much. I love it!

The Environment Agency has a great blog, for scientifically minded people and those who are not so - always hot on subjects affecting the UK's environment and beyond.

A new find: A Cranky Flier. Brett, the blogger, writes regular posts sharing his three favourite links to travel news on the web - among other great content.

A dear friend and past colleague of mine writes a fab mental health blog. Take a look at WYSE THOUGHTS, and say hi to Paul.

Gray (with an 'a') Matter has some great stories, always something interesting to read and learn here. A recent favourite of mine was the post on beautiful metro stations you can find across the planet.

Huffington Post has a Good News blog - brings warm feelings from around the world.

Let me know if I've missed your favourite!

Lou x

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 Christmas shoppers are back at Cribbs Causeway, two minutes from where I work . The schools are starting to go on holiday so the kids are flooding in to see Star Wars at the nearby cinema. Work 'do's are filling restaurants around the retail parks. 

The other evening it took me 25 mins to get to the M5 junction on my way home, when it normally takes 5 mins. 

Congestion is Bristol is getting to a limit I am not enjoying, so what do I suggest? I am no transport planner, but I do drive and I live in Bristol, so here's my two penny's worth. 

​
Work with local businesses

Congestion is worst at either end of the working day. Creating safe cycle storage and changing facilities at offices helps to reduce congestion – as does allowing for home working and staggered start and finish times. In Nottingham a workplace levy for businesses with lots of parking spaces has generated much-needed cash to fund alternatives and will help reduce traffic.

Introduce a congestion charge

London's congestion charge was implemented in 2003 and has been a success, reducing traffic volumes by just over 10%. 

Sort out the buses

The routes, certainly in Bristol, can be fragmented and illogical. Established hubs are not used as well as they could be, and there may be a case for large scale re-routing to make rides more efficient and cover more areas. One friend of mine takes 90 mins to get to work (on a good day), and he lives in Bristol. I used to commute from Swindon and it only took me 55 mins. That's not right!!

Open up old train lines

I would LOVE to go to work on the train - extra napping/reading/writing...working time, and no angry drivers. So many areas in Bristol are way off the train lines which currently exist, with many others closed and forgotten. I'd certainly use the Henbury station if it reopened! And surely Cribbs Causeway could do with something train-like, closer than Patchway...?

Give away free helmets and bike locks

One of the things that might put people off cycling and therefore remain driving is the cost of a helmet and a lock to secure their bike. The two together could cost upwards of £45 and can be quite an investment. However, both items are essential for riding, so funding free helmets and locks may act as a good incentive. 

Promote bus apps more

There are some great techy options to help you plan your route on public transport, but many people don't know about them. For Bristol buses I recommend the app 'Travel West Bus Checker' You can put your postcode in for your starting point and destination and it does the rest. 

Install more bike rails for securing your bike 

When I biked into town for dinner a month or two ago, I struggled to find a spot to safely park my bike. I ended up going several streets over from the restaurant I was meeting El Husbandio in - hardly ideal. It would also help with businesses - business relations and residents who live in popular areas: fewer 'eyesore' bikes attached to railings on the shop/house fronts. 

A single transportation body across the city

Coordinated and well-planned, well-timed projects for transport improvement should be run by one independent body, in my view. This will make development easier, possibly making it cost less, and would pool resources into one key place. 

More enforcement against banned drivers and uninsured drivers 

This would get a good percentage of drivers off the road!

Rewards for walking the short journeys

Reward schemes are big business nowadays - could log local journeys when you would have used a car but walked/biked and receive vouchers.

Cut train ticket and bus ticket prices

Nuff said. 

Raise the driving age to 18

Now school is compulsory to age 18, there is not a need for young people to drive so much. Argument was they might need it for work after 16, but that's no argument now. I would have hated this suggestion when I was 17 and driving, but it would knock down the number of drivers, and potentially make the roads safer too. 

What do you think?

Lou x

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Ugly sunsets - there are no such things. 

And I've Googled it.

​There's a photo saying 'I give up finding an ugly sunset'.

There's a song.

And there's an Adobe colour scheme. 

There's no actual sunsets which are ugly. 

And that's pretty un-ugly in itself. 

Lou x

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I made it - it's only the third time I've cycled to work from the new house, and I think (hope!) it's getting easier. That 25 minute uphill ride is challenging, I'll say that!_

Still, I wanted to use this opportunity to signpost you, lovely readers to my travel blog, Born to be a Tourist. I have a category on that blog roll on cycling, which, if you're reading this post, you may enjoy. It's loosely linked to travel as I've been around a lot on it (Wales, Gloucester - more to come!), but it's full of fun stuff. Take a look!

So... did you cycle to work today?

Lou x

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Volunteering to promote Recycle Week at work partly involved me sending out a daily email crammed full of tips and info on recycling, and how we can do more to minimise our impact on the environment at home and in the workplace. 

Monday All about the money! (The company I work for saves £1000 a year recycling our waste instead of binning it!)

Tuesday was about re-purposing things to avoid throwing them away. For example, an old colander makes a great hanging basket. 

Wednesday I encouraged people to donate unwanted household items and selling them online - how to find your local charity shop, advice on Gumtree, eBay etc. 

Thursday This email was about paper recycling, as this is the most common form of waste we produce in the office. 

And today, Friday? I'm focusing on food waste. The banana bread I baked especially for today demonstrated how to use up some fruit turning brown at home, putting bananas to good use, even when they're past their best. 

The Telegraph reported bananas are 'the most wasted food' in the UK. They estimate that 1.4 million bananas are thrown away EVERY DAY.

So next time you think about throwing away your browning bananas, why not embrace the idea of loving it a little further an making a delicious cake?

Read more about reducing banana waste here!

And I have to say, my cake's gone down very well this morning! 

Find out more about Recycle Week
Twitter @recycle_now
They're on Facebook too.

Lou x

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