Tim Birch

A thought for the day. I saw this stunning poster in a cafe in Sheffield. It says it all really doesn't it.

River Wye granted rights in UK first that could help in fight against pollution 💚 The entire catchment of the River Wye has been formally recognised as a living ecosystem with intrinsic rights in a charter, a UK first that campaigners hope will help save the highly polluted river. The charter was celebrated at a community event at the Hay-on-Wye literary festival on Sunday. It includes the right to flow, to biodiversity, to be free from pollution, to be supported by a healthy catchment, to regenerate, and the right to be represented, described as a “significant step” towards protecting and restoring one of the UK’s most beloved rivers. Herefordshire and Powys county councils have already implemented the charter and it is expected to be adopted soon by Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire, covering the entirety of the Wye’s 130-mile course from its source in the Cambrian mountains in mid Wales to Chepstow and the Bristol Channel. Jackie Charlton, the county council’s cabinet member for a greener Powys, said: “The River Wye is central to our environment, communities and heritage. By adopting this charter, we are making a clear statement that the river’s health matters and must be protected. "This is about working together with partners and communities to restore the river and safeguard it for generations to come.” theguardian.com/environment/20…

@TimBirchWild @SheffCouncil @DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP @ZackPolanski @pesticideaction This poison ends up in our streams and brooks. A 190 day half life. Then folk wonder why Ranunculus and other macrophytes are disappearing. All for what exactly?

@TimBirchWild @SheffCouncil @_OliviaBlake @BBCSheffield @SheffieldStar @sheffgreencity @SheffieldGreens @campaignstrat @DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar @sheffielduni @ChesterfieldBC @D_Times April this year It's going to get up to 31⁰ on Monday, no shade from heat this year thanks to @ChesterfieldBC . Hardly any leaves, no insects, no food for birds. Just a waste of money.

The dangerous impacts of glyphosate stack up. Spraying this chemical on Sheffield's streets @SheffCouncil and across UK is totally irresponsible. A ban is URGENTLY needed @DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP in the UK - many European countries have banned it. @ZackPolanski @pesticideaction

@PeterGilbertUK @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar @sccstreetsahead Hello Peter perhaps we can have a conversation about how to address this issue. From the huge response to my tweet about this people are clearly concerned and outraged this is happening on Sheffield's streets. You can DM me.

@TimBirchWild @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar Remember the battle for Sheffield’s street trees? The same infamous PFI highways contract @sccstreetsahead is responsible for the irresponsible glyphosate spraying. Why are the plants on my wall now poisoned? They have no relationship with your pavement @SheffCouncil.

These are some of wild flowers sprayed with pesticide on Sheffield streets today by @SheffCouncil Harts tongue fern, Forget-me-not, Herb Robert. In a nature reserve we'd delight in seeing them. Why do we poison them on our streets? We need to rethink our relationship with nature

@Nigaly @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar How about manual labour where needed.

@TimBirchWild @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar If you could suggest a better way of controlling weeds at a price people are willing to pay I am sure they would be interested. Brighton council tried not using Glyphosate, it didn’t work, it caused to too much damage to pavements.

@TimBirchWild @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar @SheffCouncil seem to be truly nature adverse. Remember all those trees they needlessly yanked down. Of course... it's all #PartOfThePlan

@isthisit1977 @natalieben @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar Good question. I think the answer is no.

@TimBirchWild @natalieben @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar Are they allowed to spray someone’s front wall?

@audlemagronpaul @JillCollier16 @EuropePAN But all those verges being mowed and sprayed in urban areas could well form part of that interconnection and space. Is it possibly not about funding but practice - and may be cheaper.

@heather_c_c @SheffCouncil @_OliviaBlake @BBCSheffield @SheffieldStar @sheffgreencity @SheffieldGreens @campaignstrat @DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar @sheffielduni @ChesterfieldBC @D_Times What is their rationale for doing this?

@TimBirchWild @SheffCouncil @_OliviaBlake @BBCSheffield @SheffieldStar @sheffgreencity @SheffieldGreens @campaignstrat @DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar @sheffielduni @ChesterfieldBC @D_Times I have in the past via my local councillor but it happens again regardless, recently at Old Brampton. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are working with the council on Wilder Chesterfield and I have contacted them about the ridiculous overpruning of street trees.

@SheffCouncil why you spraying Sheffield streets with pesticides? Im HORRIFIED to see GLYPHOSATE sprayed on our streets by a Council worker. Cities across UK and Europe have banned it. It kills wildlife, is a health risk, cats and dogs can get very sick BAN IT NOW! @_OliviaBlake

@heather_c_c @SheffCouncil @_OliviaBlake @BBCSheffield @SheffieldStar @sheffgreencity @SheffieldGreens @campaignstrat @DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar @sheffielduni @ChesterfieldBC @D_Times What was their reason for doing this Heather? When did this take place?

@heather_c_c @SheffCouncil @_OliviaBlake @BBCSheffield @SheffieldStar @sheffgreencity @SheffieldGreens @campaignstrat @DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar @sheffielduni @ChesterfieldBC @D_Times Have you addressed this with Chesterfield Borough Council? Also suggest you contact your local MP Heather. Please let me know what responses you get and good luck 👍

@TimBirchWild @SheffCouncil @_OliviaBlake @BBCSheffield @SheffieldStar @sheffgreencity @SheffieldGreens @campaignstrat @DefraGovUK @SteveReedMP @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar @sheffielduni This happens in Chesterfield too. Mindless destruction. @ChesterfieldBC @D_Times . Councils are starved of funds but can always find money for poisons or for vandalising trees.

@SarahLouisaColl @RMBCPress @SheffCouncil @LGAcomms @BBCLookNorth @BBCSheffield @itvcalendar @WildSheffield @SheffieldGreens @yorkshirepost @SheffieldStar @esccroads Absolutely agree Sarah. But there are so many roadside verges getting scalped across the UK where there are no safety issues for traffic whatsoever.

@TimBirchWild @RMBCPress @SheffCouncil @LGAcomms @BBCLookNorth @BBCSheffield @itvcalendar @WildSheffield @SheffieldGreens @yorkshirepost @SheffieldStar They do have to be sensible though as on a junction on the A22 yesterday I noticed that there is a complete blind spot where traffic joins a busy A road as the grass is so high on the verge @esccroads

Well done Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council @RMBCPress for putting wildlife first and mowing verges second! Can we please have more of this @SheffCouncil in Sheffield and across ALL Councils in UK @LGAcomms We need to let our verges grow if we want our bees to recover!

@TimBirchWild @SteveReedMP There's an area near Beauchief Ponds that golfers cross to get from one part of the course to another. We were sitting on a bench next to this expanse of flat green grass the other day, and I said 'wouldn't this look so much better if it were covered in wild flowers'. Why not?

@cm_bagot @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar Yes the council worker was wearing full protective gear!!!

@TimBirchWild @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar notice the person spraying is protected from the poisons. but the rest of us including pets and wildlife don't wear masks do they?

@isthisit1977 @natalieben @SheffCouncil @SheffieldGreens @SheffieldStar @Love_plants @DefraGovUK @NaturalEngland @WildSheffield @BBCSheffield @BBCLookNorth @itvcalendar Good point - im trying to clarify this

I must be the only birder in Cork not to have seen a Hoopoe in the last couple of days, but I did find this Alpine Swift this afternoon on the Sheep’s Head near the lighthouse. #birdwatching #birds

@TimBirchWild @RMBCPress @SheffCouncil @LGAcomms @BBCLookNorth @BBCSheffield @itvcalendar @WildSheffield @SheffieldGreens @yorkshirepost @SheffieldStar Essex and Suffolk have trashed their verges already! Scalped ugly roadsides rather than an abundance of wild flowers, bees, butterflies and birds. Councils can't afford to fill potholes but find the money to pay for a man in a tractor to destroy the beauty of nature!