Category: Environment

Hot Weather Poem

Today I wake up to another day when the temperatures are expected to hit 30 degrees in England. Historically the average June temperature was 15 degrees in June (looking at various sources) but it appears that average is going to be overridden. Here is my hot weather poem to get you thinking about this.

Feeling warmer,

Jumpers coming off.

Bright sunny skies,

A hayfever cough.

Rivers looking lower,

Loch Ness is drying up.

Crops turning yellow,

Wondering, ‘What’s up?’

Lollies and ice creams,

Barbeques galore.

Burning campfires,

Wildfires will soar.

Sneaky UV rays

Peeling off my skin,

Forget about the causes,

Just take it on the chin.

Sunny weather,

Rain thunderous now and then.

Flash floods happening,

Dreadful yet again.

Massive cities smothered,

In dirty, choking smog.

Was it their pollution

That caused it all along?

Do we take responsibility

For the warming we create?

Or simply let it happen,

Till we’re in a right old state?

Let’s call this a wake up,

Let’s take some action right away!

We cannot simply brush it off,

Or we’ll have no planet on which to stay!

Final Thoughts

After days of choking smoke in New York, how can anyone deny climate change? The new heatwave in the UK has come sooner than last year and will no doubt cause problems, including crop destruction and water shortages… again.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my hot weather poem. I hope that you might drop a comment with your thoughts on this issue. Have a look at my Greener Spaces article and the other Climate Change Collective posts for more info on global warming and suggestions. Perhaps also follow my blog for similar future content.

Why Greener Spaces Matter

This month the Climate Change Collective are discussing the need for green space in urban areas and its increasing erosion. The lead post by Krista at A Sustainably Simple Life, talks about personal experiences of climate change. It suggests ways that urban areas can improve their impact on the environment.

Check out this brilliant, informative post for yourself:

Climate Change Collective: How green spaces help our planet

Merging Towns

In my local area, it is clear that there is a demand to build more homes. A small estate that was built in 2005 has now blossomed into a massive development which is as big as a town. Previously green spaces have been replaced by roads, houses and retail outlets.

My childhood town used to have a gap between itself and neighbouring villages but now has extended across its green belt. Not only has it joined up to the next village but that village has now connected to the next town. Where I used to drive through pockets of countryside, I now just see houses all the way.

Is This The Way Forward?

We have to consider future planning for homes and the impact it has on the countryside. Towns are concrete jungles which absorb sunlight and increase run-off during storms. Flooding will become more of a problem as we build estates and remove woodlands and plants. Surely there are ways we can involve and integrate plants in our developments, by creating planted roofs, planting more trees and leaving lots of green space between streets.

Check out the interesting and relevant article by Krista and Alison and be sure to drop a comment. What are your thoughts on greener areas in towns and cities? Do you think there is more to be done to stop urban sprawl?

The Climate Change Collective is a group of enthusiastic bloggers who discuss climate change and make suggestions for being more ecofriendly. If you would like to join us please drop me a message and I will pass on your details.

Basel – A Hidden Gem

My blog is a lifestyle site and so now and again I share my experiences of travelling around Europe. My last outing was at Christmas when I visited wonderful Antwerp, which I mentioned in my Five Favourite European Cities article. Now I want to talk about another hidden gem that I am currently exploring – Basel in Switzerland.

Getting To Basel

The Eurostar screen illustrates how trains pollute far less than planes.

My regular readers will be aware that I like to travel by land and sea as much as possible. This is mainly because I believe that planes are one of the biggest direct causes of pollution in the upper atmosphere. I stopped flying 9 years ago but haven’t let it stop me enjoying travelling.

For this journey, I popped over to Paris on the Eurostar and then changed stations from Paris Nord to L’Est. I then took a one and a half hour train to Strasbourg before hopping onto a one hour train to Basel. Travelling through Strasbourg made me realise I need to spend some time there soon, possibly during Christmas time.

Getting To Know Basel

This hotel looked lovely.
The city centre was interesting and was accessible by frequent trams.

When I got off the train at Basel SSB railway station, I decided to walk the 20 minutes to the hotel rather than get on public transport. It was a great choice as I was able to check out some of the highlights of the historic city centre. It was, however, exhausting as there was a large hill running up to where our hotel stood. This was brilliant for my step count, though. Especially after spending hours on trains.

The colourful streets reminded me of Salzburg and were lined with trees. Many of the hotels and houses had plants climbing up them, making the whole place feel green and cosy.

Basel film festival was on in a group of theatres and cinemas.
Statues, fountains and trees line the streets.

After settling into the hotel, I walked back into the centre and found myself next to the famous Basel Munster Cathedral and overlooking the River Rhine. Plenty of restaurants, bars and shops lined the streets of this intriguing place.

Basel Munster – Cathedral
Munsterplatz – part of the old town

Final Thoughts

Just a few hours into the holiday and I was already starting to fall in love with beautiful Basel. Look out for more of my posts about my experiences in Basel as I look back on my time in this intriguing European hidden gem.

Thank you for reading my blog post. Please consider following my little blog for future reviews, travel pieces and environmental articles.