Hi,
I suppose that most of us are happy about the warm winter, so far.
However, anyone who rough dug their plot during autumn to allow the frost
and winter weather to break it down has been out of luck so far.
Another problem which will most likely rear its ugly head is PESTS the
weather has been too mild to provide natural control over winter.
There may be another side of the coin whereby predators such as ladybirds
may have survived in greater numbers overwinter and will be active earlier,
so nature may provide a balance after all.
Wishful thinking or sitting on fence?
regards
Cineman

cineman writes
Hi,
I suppose that most of us are happy about the warm winter, so far.

Nope. Not happy at all. Scary. Global warming is bad news for us all,
and this winter is really out of the ordinary.

However, anyone who rough dug their plot during autumn to allow the frost
and winter weather to break it down has been out of luck so far.
Another problem which will most likely rear its ugly head is PESTS the
weather has been too mild to provide natural control over winter.
There may be another side of the coin whereby predators such as ladybirds
may have survived in greater numbers overwinter and will be active earlier,
so nature may provide a balance after all.
Wishful thinking or sitting on fence?

Wishful thinking. If pests get out of control in the summer in a normal
year, all that will happen is that they'll get out of control earlier
this year.


--
Kay

"K" wrote in message
...
: cineman writes
: Hi,
: I suppose that most of us are happy about the warm winter, so far.
:
: Nope. Not happy at all. Scary. Global warming is bad news for us all,
: and this winter is really out of the ordinary.
:
I prefer the bright and cold weather to this continual rain, although the
water supply will never be at risk down here which is good

For a long time I have believed that all this fuss one hears about pests
becoming rampant if there aren't any winter frosts, really is utter rubbish
/ extremely exaggerated... and very much an 'old wife's tale'.

After many years of gardening here, where we hardly get any frost, and snow
is as rare as hens' teeth, I have never experienced such a 'plague'.

Anyway, if it were that much of a problem, how on earth do they ever manage
to grow anything further south, on the Scillies, or more southerly still in
milder regions of the continent?

Best wishes,

Keith


"cineman" wrote in message
k...
Hi,
I suppose that most of us are happy about the warm winter, so far.
However, anyone who rough dug their plot during autumn to allow the frost
and winter weather to break it down has been out of luck so far.
Another problem which will most likely rear its ugly head is PESTS the
weather has been too mild to provide natural control over winter.
There may be another side of the coin whereby predators such as ladybirds
may have survived in greater numbers overwinter and will be active
earlier, so nature may provide a balance after all.
Wishful thinking or sitting on fence?
regards
Cineman

Keith (Dorset) wrote:
For a long time I have believed that all this fuss one hears about pests
becoming rampant if there aren't any winter frosts, really is utter rubbish
/ extremely exaggerated... and very much an 'old wife's tale'.

After many years of gardening here, where we hardly get any frost, and snow
is as rare as hens' teeth, I have never experienced such a 'plague'.

Anyway, if it were that much of a problem, how on earth do they ever manage
to grow anything further south, on the Scillies, or more southerly still in
milder regions of the continent?

Best wishes,

Keith


well I think global warming has a lot to answer for just look at the
insects flying around too many critters for this time of year

Agreed.

I reckon I've been pretty much in touch with the natural world all my life,
and I'm certain that global warming, from whatever cause, is hitting hard,
and importantly, very much faster than many researchers anticipated.

It doesn't take a degree in climateology for anyone with their eyes open to
realise what real problems we'll all face in the very near future.

So the suited, townie politicians better soon get their priorities right:
forget about foreign holidays and fancy 'upmarket' cars... and get back to
the real world - now.

(rant over.. aah, that's better)

Best wishes,

Keith


"The Minister" wrote in message
ups.com...

Keith (Dorset) wrote:
For a long time I have believed that all this fuss one hears about pests
becoming rampant if there aren't any winter frosts, really is utter
rubbish
/ extremely exaggerated... and very much an 'old wife's tale'.

After many years of gardening here, where we hardly get any frost, and
snow
is as rare as hens' teeth, I have never experienced such a 'plague'.

Anyway, if it were that much of a problem, how on earth do they ever
manage
to grow anything further south, on the Scillies, or more southerly still
in
milder regions of the continent?

Best wishes,

Keith


well I think global warming has a lot to answer for just look at the
insects flying around too many critters for this time of year

"Keith (Dorset)" wrote in message
...
Agreed.

I reckon I've been pretty much in touch with the natural world all my
life, and I'm certain that global warming, from whatever cause, is hitting
hard, and importantly, very much faster than many researchers anticipated.

It doesn't take a degree in climateology for anyone with their eyes open
to realise what real problems we'll all face in the very near future.

So the suited, townie politicians better soon get their priorities right:
forget about foreign holidays and fancy 'upmarket' cars... and get back to
the real world - now.

Not a hope in hell, there are plans to increase the runway capacity for
Heathrow, so instead of one plane every minute, we can expect one every 70
seconds.

If this Government were REALLY serious about polution, they would cut the
number of flights out of Heathrow by half, at least.

Alan

In article , Alan Holmes
says...



Not a hope in hell, there are plans to increase the runway capacity for
Heathrow, so instead of one plane every minute, we can expect one every 70
seconds.


I'm sure the environmentalists would consider even such a small
reduction in flights a step in the right direction!

Alan Holmes wrote:

Not a hope in hell, there are plans to increase the runway capacity for
Heathrow, so instead of one plane every minute, we can expect one every 70
seconds.

Erm Alan, not wishing to appear picky, but a plane every 70 seconds is
slightly less than a plane every minute ;-)

Keith (Dorset) wrote:
I reckon I've been pretty much in touch with the natural world all my life,
and I'm certain that global warming, from whatever cause, is hitting hard,
and importantly, very much faster than many researchers anticipated.

Yes, by 10 years too early! 10 years!! Do you realise? And don't say
'whatever cause'. You know why!! We must stop CO2 emmissions
completely. Everyone is responsible. Cheap flights to France, spain
etc. should be banned. Cheap plastic crap imports from China for our
Pound Stretchers shops should be all banned. All supermarket should
stop providing plastic bags. The car industry should be halted. We
should stop all imports from South America (now the biggest beef
provider in Europe as the country cut down trees, 'the world's lungs'
for pastures) and all imports from China. We should demand not to see
asparagus from Peru nor cabbages from Poland in our local shops. Stop
buying these products and local farmers will then have an outlet,
again. Demand decent, clean and affordable public transport. Share your
car with others. Take a boat or train but stop flying! Don't buy
imports but local to UK clothing/shoes. Don't use chemicals, none
whatesoever, in your garden and at home. Buy organic produce only. By
ethical goods, knowing that the extra 10p you spend on a produce will
help the producer carry on producing organically. Buy your produce
locally .... and keep an eye on that big glacier above England. When
that melts, we're going to get really cold again.

It doesn't take a degree in climateology for anyone with their eyes open to
realise what real problems we'll all face in the very near future.

We are facing them now or we wouldn't be talking about them. Ecology
and environmentalism was in the 60s called a hoax to sink the large
manufactures of plastic, cloth, cars and anything relaying on fossil
fuel.

So the suited, townie politicians better soon get their priorities right:
forget about foreign holidays and fancy 'upmarket' cars... and get back to
the real world - now.

Just look at Bush versus Gore, 48% v 49% of the votes at the american
elections. How can you ask for priorities when something like this
happens? It's up to every single individual to make a change, a small
one every month. You don't need to talk about it, just do it and others
will follow. Too many people think that they, by themselves, won't make
a difference. That is not true. I think you would score pretty high in
your energy use footprint Keith! You even think your neighbours could
do something about it. Why don't you talk to them?! Already, I can
remember the first time I used a low energy bulb - look around you now,
everybody uses them!

(rant over.. aah, that's better)

Go ahead Keith, it's good to talk )

La Puce wrote:
Yes, by 10 years too early! 10 years!! Do you realise? And don't say
'whatever cause'. You know why!! We must stop CO2 emmissions
completely.

that would be difficult cuting down is possible but not stopped
completely

Everyone is responsible. Cheap flights to France, spain

Yup true but do we walk there?

Demand decent, clean and affordable public transport

yeah right on

.. Share your
car with others.

too right but what does yer double decker red bus drive on?? let me
guess honey, biodegradeable fuel, right?

Hi Helene (?)

Well... and I thought I was a radical!

Even though we recycle every single thing we can, live in a small house,
hardly ever drive anywehere, switch off the lights everytime we leave the
room, don't leave the telly on standby, refuse carrier bags at Asda - and
grow all our own produce. a wake up call such as yours does make me think
what more 'I' can do... and, where some might be offended, I genuinely thank
you for that.

I say 'whatever cause' as a rather cowardly cop-out on the forum as although
we 'know' what the cause is, I could not quote actual facts and figures to
back up my statement here - I'm not scientific - just a down to earth,
country person who has for decades (I am 52) grieved and become more and
more heartbroken over natural habitat loss, deforestation etc. .... and
nowadays the thought that our 'RECYCLED' plastic milk containers are being
shipped to, and sorted in China!

Very best wishes. We have a lot in common.

Keith




"La Puce" wrote in message
ups.com...

Keith (Dorset) wrote:
I reckon I've been pretty much in touch with the natural world all my
life,
and I'm certain that global warming, from whatever cause, is hitting
hard,
and importantly, very much faster than many researchers anticipated.

Yes, by 10 years too early! 10 years!! Do you realise? And don't say
'whatever cause'. You know why!! We must stop CO2 emmissions
completely. Everyone is responsible. Cheap flights to France, spain
etc. should be banned. Cheap plastic crap imports from China for our
Pound Stretchers shops should be all banned. All supermarket should
stop providing plastic bags. The car industry should be halted. We
should stop all imports from South America (now the biggest beef
provider in Europe as the country cut down trees, 'the world's lungs'
for pastures) and all imports from China. We should demand not to see
asparagus from Peru nor cabbages from Poland in our local shops. Stop
buying these products and local farmers will then have an outlet,
again. Demand decent, clean and affordable public transport. Share your
car with others. Take a boat or train but stop flying! Don't buy
imports but local to UK clothing/shoes. Don't use chemicals, none
whatesoever, in your garden and at home. Buy organic produce only. By
ethical goods, knowing that the extra 10p you spend on a produce will
help the producer carry on producing organically. Buy your produce
locally .... and keep an eye on that big glacier above England. When
that melts, we're going to get really cold again.

It doesn't take a degree in climateology for anyone with their eyes open
to
realise what real problems we'll all face in the very near future.

We are facing them now or we wouldn't be talking about them. Ecology
and environmentalism was in the 60s called a hoax to sink the large
manufactures of plastic, cloth, cars and anything relaying on fossil
fuel.

So the suited, townie politicians better soon get their priorities right:
forget about foreign holidays and fancy 'upmarket' cars... and get back
to
the real world - now.

Just look at Bush versus Gore, 48% v 49% of the votes at the american
elections. How can you ask for priorities when something like this
happens? It's up to every single individual to make a change, a small
one every month. You don't need to talk about it, just do it and others
will follow. Too many people think that they, by themselves, won't make
a difference. That is not true. I think you would score pretty high in
your energy use footprint Keith! You even think your neighbours could
do something about it. Why don't you talk to them?! Already, I can
remember the first time I used a low energy bulb - look around you now,
everybody uses them!

(rant over.. aah, that's better)

Go ahead Keith, it's good to talk )

"The Minister" wrote in message
ups.com...

Keith (Dorset) wrote:
For a long time I have believed that all this fuss one hears about pests
becoming rampant if there aren't any winter frosts, really is utter
rubbish
/ extremely exaggerated... and very much an 'old wife's tale'.

After many years of gardening here, where we hardly get any frost, and
snow
is as rare as hens' teeth, I have never experienced such a 'plague'.

Anyway, if it were that much of a problem, how on earth do they ever
manage
to grow anything further south, on the Scillies, or more southerly still
in
milder regions of the continent?

Best wishes,

Keith


well I think global warming has a lot to answer for just look at the
insects flying around too many critters for this time of year

I don't think we have too many 'critters' in the UK.

Alan

On 17/1/07 22:52, in article ,
"Alan Holmes" wrote:


"The Minister" wrote in message
ups.com...

snip


well I think global warming has a lot to answer for just look at the
insects flying around too many critters for this time of year

I don't think we have too many 'critters' in the UK.

Sure we do. And some of 'em are two legged. ;-)) But with regard to
this, though going off at a bit of a tangent, I did read in a newspaper the
other day that while council offices are keeping quiet about it, rat
populations are growing fast because of the new regime of collecting
domestic food waste just once a fortnight. Without a prolonged cold spell,
that problem can only get worse.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

I reckon that 'most', not 'some' of the 'critters' in the UK are 'two
legged'! Not too many around here though thankfully. Lots of rats though.

(Is a 'critter' necessarily an ill-favoured creature / a pest? Can a dog be
deemed a 'critter' - or just if it bites someone....? I suppose rats must
be the 'mother-of-all-four-legged-critters'?) ...just thinking out loud
there...

The rats like to scudge around in the stone walls around the fields here. We
have all had to stop putting out bird food because, given half the chance,
they even climb up and hang upside-down on nut feeders!

I think the problem would be worse if the weather were to get hard...
wouldn't they come closer to the houses in search of food?

Our cooked food gets chucked into a metal dustbin and left for a year or so
to completely decompose. All the other green waste goes, you guessed it,
into the compost boxes. Whenever I see our neighbours' kitchen-waste bin put
out for collection, I nearly cry. I feel like asking them if instead - I can
tip it on my heap.

Only the thought of having to sort the green from the 'critter bait'
prevents me! ;-)

Keith




"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
On 17/1/07 22:52, in article ,
"Alan Holmes" wrote:


"The Minister" wrote in message
ups.com...

snip


well I think global warming has a lot to answer for just look at the
insects flying around too many critters for this time of year

I don't think we have too many 'critters' in the UK.

Sure we do. And some of 'em are two legged. ;-)) But with regard to
this, though going off at a bit of a tangent, I did read in a newspaper
the
other day that while council offices are keeping quiet about it, rat
populations are growing fast because of the new regime of collecting
domestic food waste just once a fortnight. Without a prolonged cold
spell,
that problem can only get worse.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)