Global warming is clearly something to take seriously.
In December 2007 this blog reco
rded the earliest sighting of primroses and snowdrops during a decidedly balmy month.
rded the earliest sighting of primroses and snowdrops during a decidedly balmy month. In January 2009 it reported a prolonged cold spell during which temperatures in England reached -11C and all the pipes and automatic waterers at RectoryReserve froze for an inconveniently long period.
(The Global Climate Conference took place shortly before Christmas 2009: one of the disappointments was that participating countries could not agree to measures to limit global temperature increases to l.5C.)
Just short of a year later Britain is experiencing "the most prolonged period of cold weather" in over 30 years with temperatures fluctuating between 2C and - 15C; salt and gas supplies, say the pundits, may run out and transport networks across the country are crippled. Business groups are warning that the "big freeze" could cost the economy up to £2 billion and up to 40% of the workforce face being stranded at home!
At the risk of sounding repetitive, glo
bal warming is clearly something to take seriously!
bal warming is clearly something to take seriously!We have had snow, on and off, since the middle of December. The outdoor water supply has been frozen since the week before Christmas and, at the beginning of this week, the supply pipes started 'popping' off under the force of the cold.
It is all very picturesque and, if ones dresses accordingly, not that bad (compared with, say, the gloopy mud which preceded the snow) apart from the extra hour or two spent, each day, carrying cans of 
water around the curly coat's quarters; the chickens may be complaining about cold feet but the ducks are perfectly happy - as long as a good fairy breaks the ice on the pond each day ... which so far she has managed to do, just... and Samson has promised Precious a new sledge which he seems to feel would be a far, far better use of the fence posts.......
water around the curly coat's quarters; the chickens may be complaining about cold feet but the ducks are perfectly happy - as long as a good fairy breaks the ice on the pond each day ... which so far she has managed to do, just... and Samson has promised Precious a new sledge which he seems to feel would be a far, far better use of the fence posts.......Meanwhile, we learn that the shooting of certain species such as coot, waterhen and woodcock (which, since Christmas we obviously take a keener interest in.....) has been temporarily banned in Scotland owing to an ancient
law which 
prohibits the shooting of certain game during periods of extreme cold. The BGiatW and I were surprised that shooting around here continued despite the first of the snows. We were even more suprised shortly before Christmas when it continued despite the fact that we were virtually snowed in at home and had to be collected by the Gamekeeper. Now we are wondering whether forecasts of the biggest snowfall for 20 years, expected tonight, will put paid to the 4 days of shooting we are booked to 'beat' at over the coming weekend.......... Surely that will stop even the most intrepid Guns from pursuing their sport......??????
prohibits the shooting of certain game during periods of extreme cold. The BGiatW and I were surprised that shooting around here continued despite the first of the snows. We were even more suprised shortly before Christmas when it continued despite the fact that we were virtually snowed in at home and had to be collected by the Gamekeeper. Now we are wondering whether forecasts of the biggest snowfall for 20 years, expected tonight, will put paid to the 4 days of shooting we are booked to 'beat' at over the coming weekend.......... Surely that will stop even the most intrepid Guns from pursuing their sport......??????We will report in due course.....
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