climate change – Anne Clark Handmade

Brambles and our Carbon Footprint

This year wild blackberries and brambles are struggling in many areas, as the extreme heat and severe lack of water cause the bushes to “panic”. While this has resulted in a much earlier harvest, the drought conditions mean many berries are shriveling on the branch before fully ripening. I have picked a few and put them in the freezer and hope I will find enough to be able to bake a few cakes. Unfortunately while doing this I managed to lose my new reading glasses amongst the bramble bushes near Aqueduct cottage on the Cromford Canal, so very expensive blackberries!

There are lots of bramble bushes appearing in our local churchyard. I am part of a community group who meet at the church to manage the area for both people and wildlife. As some of the brambles are enormous we have tried to cut back the largest, particularly where people walk and could get attacked by the thorns. We are however leaving areas where the bushes can continue to grow. I have recently having listened to a podcast by Isabella Tree and her daughter Nansy Burrells, from the Wilding project in Sussex https://knepp.co.uk/wildland-podcast/ . This helped me to realise how important plants like brambles, hawthorns and dog roses are for capturing carbon from the atmosphere.

Over the last few years we have heard a lot from the government about the importance of planting trees but not much about the importance of plants like brambles etc. During their rapid growth phase above the ground hawthorn, dog rose, and brambles actively pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it in their woody stems and leaves. Below ground, up to 70% of the carbon captured by woody plants and shrubs is transferred beneath the soil. These plants have aggressive, deep root networks that lock organic carbon into the earth and also provide fantastic habitats for wildlife. I have to admit that because my own garden is small I am not keen on having a bramble patch at home, however I do have a hawthorn bush and let my grass grow long.

I am going to pick some more blackberries while being more careful with my new glasses. I have an idea for a cake that I want to try and if it works well I will post the recipe on this blog.

I will also bake a cake for our local blackberry competition.

Fashion Revolution Week 2026

Fashion Revolution was founded in 2013 in the wake of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh. It was established to advocate for greater transparency, ethics, and sustainability in the fashion industry. The movement is known for its annual campaign, Fashion Revolution Week. This year it took place from April 22nd-28th. Belper’s first Fashion Revolution event took place in 2019, in St Peter’s Church on Friday April 26th. More information can be found on this blog post https://www.anneclarkhandmade.co.uk/fashion-revolution-week/

Clothes manufacturing is a major environmental polluter, responsible for roughly 8–10% of global carbon emissions, which exceeds the combined impact of international flights and maritime shipping

Recently I attended an interesting talk by Dr. Amy Twigger Holroyd, a Professor of Alternative Fashion Systems at Nottingham School of Art and Design. The title of the talk was “Historical Perspectives on Sustainable Fashion: Inspiration for Change” The lecture explored the history of sustainable fashion, providing examples of success stories and cautionary tales, covering materials, reuse, and manufacturing to inspire modern eco-conscious design.

One of the projects Amy has been involved with is the Reknit-Revolution , this involved reworking of existing knitted items using knit-based skills. This work was initially created as part of her PhD research, and has been further developed since. It was showcased at her first major solo exhibition, Units of Possibility: The Reknit Revolution, at Rugby Art Gallery & Museum in summer 2017. I found this most interesting as I enjoy knitting and also really love altering clothes both those I have bought secondhand or things I have had in my wardrobe for many years.

One interesting and unsettling thing Amy said was that although there has been a rise of people buying secondhand clothing, overall clothing consumption remains high, representing a “complementary” rather than “substitutional” shift in consumer behaviour. The global secondhand market is expanding three times faster than the firsthand market however it has not displaced the production and consumption of new garments. This phenomenon, sometimes called “circular economy rebound,” means that consumers often buy used clothing in addition to, rather than instead of, new items. More information about her research can be found here, https://amytwiggerholroyd.com

Below are some examples of clothes I have altered.

The skirt was a skirt I had for a number of years and so I wanted to make it more interesting.

This was a pre-worn jacket I bought from Ebay and then embroidered.

Crochet, Trains and the Ripple Effect Dress

This may sound like a very strange mix so I will try to explain. I learnt to knit when I was young and as a teenager made my own jumpers. I find knitting relaxing, creative and social. I usually carry a small project in my bag so that if I find myself having to wait for an appointment or a meal, I can occupy myself with my needles and yarn. I enjoy knitting on long car, bus and train journeys and even while listening to music in the pub. It can be a way of starting conversations when someone asks what I am making as they are intrigued if I answer, a jumper for a mouse.

Since 2012 I have been using my knitting and creativity as a way of making pieces to be displayed in public.Yarn bombing is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn rather than paint or chalk. It is also called wool bombing, yarn storming, guerrilla knitting, kniffiti, urban knitting, or graffiti knitting.There are several posts on this blog about this.

To get back to the title of this post, I have recently decided to return to crocheting and try to get better at it. It takes up less room in my handbag and I can achieve different effects and patterns with this craft. One recent Sunday afternoon I was sitting in the cafe of the restored Wingfield Station enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to some talented local musicians while practicing making granny squares. The station is on the mainline running from Derby to Chesterfield and is a good place for some train spotting.

A customer came over to me and asked what I was doing and this started quite a long conversation. She informed me of a local community project called the Ripple Effect Dress. This is a creative project inspired by David Attenborough’s ‘Ocean’ film. People were invited to design and make a unique piece to be added to the Ripple Effect Dress. I wish I had known about it in time to take part as it sounds such a fantastic idea. However it will be possible to see the finished dress and be inspired by the work others have done on Friday May 8th. I do not have any more details at the moment but will keep an eye on their social media page Facebook, the Ripple Effect and Instagram. The Ripple Effect Dress

A bit more information about the trains part of this blog. The restoration of the Grade II listed South Wingfield Station, (one of the world’s oldest railway stations), was completed by the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust in late 2023. The project restored the building to its original 1840 appearance, featuring repaired stonework, restored fireplaces, and a new visitor centre in the adjacent Goods Shed. Wingfield Station is open to the public as a heritage centre, tea room, local community amenity, event space and is also available for private and business hire. The cafe is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday, more information and be found here www.wingfieldstation1947.co.uk

As far as the crochet is concerned, I am enjoying getting back to learning this skill but still have a long way to go. I find the website https://attic24.co.uk extremely interesting and helpful.

Insects the Good Bad and the Ugly

Insects aren’t just buzzing nuisances or little pests that invade our homes and picnics, they play an important role in keeping the natural world running smoothly. These tiny winged, crawling and hopping creatures contribute in ways most of us don’t appreciate. Insects, particularly bees, are crucial for pollinating the plants we eat, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Approximately 87% of all plant species need animal pollination, and insects are responsible for most of this.

Insects are the foundation of many ecosystems, supporting a wide range of species and contributing to overall ecological stability. They are a food source for animals, birds, amphibians, other insects, and a potential food source for humans, with some cultures eating insects as a regular part of their diet. They play a vital role in breaking down decaying organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil, which is essential for plant growth.

Insects provide us with products like honey, beeswax, silk, and dyes used in various industries. In short, insects are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting agriculture, and providing various resources, making them vital for human survival and well-being. Insects could survive without humans but we would be wiped out without them.

Last year was a very poor year for UK butterflies, ranking as the fifth worst for since records began. This year there are signs of recovery due to better weather conditions, however the overall picture will depend on the rest of the summer and factors like habitat loss and pesticide use. Following the 2024 results of the Big Butterfly Count, the Butterfly Conservation charity declared a butterfly emergency.

This year they are asking the public for help counting butterflies between July 18th and August 10th. By taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, you can help assess the health of our environment simply by counting butterflies and it only takes 15 minutes. More information can be found here, www.bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/

It is important to remember that the insects we are not keen on, such as wasps have important jobs. Wasps control caterpillars, greenfly, spiders and pollinate food crops.

Trees are Amazing

Trees are amazing, we need them in so many ways. In Japan people are encouraged to spend time de-stressing amongst trees. Japanese doctors promote forest bathing as a relaxing break from hectic urban life. If you’ve been in a forest, listened to the birds and watched the sunshine filtering through the leaves, you’ve already participated in one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental well-being.

Trees help us breathe, they take in CO2 and give out the oxygen we need to live. They keep us cool by absorbing water and releasing it as water vapour and give us shade and shelter. It’s estimated that trees can reduce the temperature in a city by up to 7°C. They also improve air quality and remove pollutants that could otherwise contribute to health problems. I remember seeing a TV programme about a city school that planted trees around its boundaries, air quality improved, the temperature cooled, noise reduced and most importantly children’s health improved. It’s thought the UK’s ancient woodlands absorb 1.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

At St Peter’s Church in Belper we are lucky to have 96 trees, at times when branches and leaves have to be cleared it may not always feel like this. Trees are homes to organisms which range from bacteria to fungi, lichens, free algae, mosses, vascular plants, invertebrate animals, birds and mammals. They are also fun, in the National Trust’s list of 50 things to do before you are 11 3/4 the first is, ‘Get to know a tree.’ When I was younger I loved climbing trees and I had a favourite tree in all the woods local to where I lived.

Scientist now believe trees communicate with each other by a common mycorrhizal network. This is an underground network found in forests and other plant communities, created by the hyphae of mycorrhizal fungi joining with plant roots. Harvard University has done some experiments which confirm that trees are indeed communicating and sharing nutrients through their roots, forming a complex system sometimes referred to as the “wood wide web.”

My favourite tree is the English Oak. Oak trees provide a rich habitat and support more life forms than any other native trees.” A single oak tree hosts 532 species of caterpillars. A single oak tree also shelters 147 species of birds, 120 species of mammals, and 60 species of reptiles and amphibians. Dead trees and logs also provide shelter and habitats for fungi, wood-boring insects, woodlice, beetle grubs, wood wasps, spiders, frogs, toads, hedgehogs and birds. A simple pile of logs can very quickly become a flourishing wildlife community, including, ants, beetles, snails and squirrels. Its is possible to provide a small log pile in the smallest garden and a delight to watch birds such as the wren looking for food in this habitat.

I have noticed King Alfred’s Cake fungi on the trunk of the odd shaped tree on the south side of St Peter’s church Belper. The fungus gets its name from the traditional tale of King Alfred who lived in the 9th century when parts of Britain had been over run by Vikings. The story says that the king was taking refuge from the Vikings in a peasant’s home in 878 AD. He forgot to watch some cakes baking on the hearth and was scolded by the women when they burnt. Looking at the fruiting bodies, it’s not a stretch to see their resemblance to burnt buns. This species is also known as a tinder bracket. It has been used for thousands of years as portable fire lighting material. Once a spark is created by hitting flints together or creating friction between pieces of wood this fungi can easily catch fire. It is said to have been used to carry fire from place to place as it burns very slowly. It may look as though it has gone out but once blown on, flames appear. It is also known as ‘carbon balls’ or ‘coal fungus’.

Dandelions are Important

Like so many familiar wild plants, the dandelion has a rich traditional history. They are thought to have evolved about 30 million years ago, long before humans inhabited the earth. Dandelions used to be woven into spring wedding bouquets to bring good luck, and to dream of dandelions promised a happy relationship. I am writing this blog as earlier this week I dreamt of dandelions and I then discovered April 30th is now officially dedicated to the flower as International Day of the Dandelion.

Children love to blow the seeds of the dandelion clock and it was also used as an indicator of love by those still unmarried. The favourite was ‘he loves me, he loves me not’, a process that also applied to plucking daisy petals, dandelions are in the daisy family. Seeds floating away were thought to carry feelings of affection to the loved one.

The common name dandelion comes from the French dent de lion, meaning lion’s tooth and refers to the dentate leaf edges. The dandelion has many names among them bitterwort, blow-ball, telltime, cankerworth, witch’s gowan, milk witch, Irish daisy, monk’s head, priest’s crown, swine’s snout and white endive. The French themselves have adopted the plant’s traditional reputation as a herbal diuretic, calling it pissenlit – literally, wet-the-bed.

While dandelions are around for much of the year, late spring and early summer is when they are most visible. This year they seem exceptional and I have seen people post strange photos on social media where several have joined together, (both the heads and stems) to create giant flowers. The dandelion you see most often is Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion, however there are more than 230 species of dandelion in the UK and the differences between them are small and very complex.

Dandelions are an early, easily available source of food for pollinators. Bumblebees, solitary bees and honeybees all visit dandelions, along with hoverflies, beetles, and butterflies such as the peacock and holly blue. Goldfinches and house sparrows eat the seeds.

Dandelions are good and useful for us as well. The leaves can be used to flavour salads, sandwiches and teas. The roots are used in some coffee substitutes, the flowers to make wines, dandelion jelly and honey. In the past, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. If you have allergies, you still need to check with your health care provider before consuming any dandelion product.

This year the Wildlife Trusts have called on people to make it a year of the dandelion spring, and I think the flowers themselves must have heard the news as the world seems to have turned yellow. They are so important for pollinators and wildlife. It is worth remembering we cannot survive without insects but if we were wiped out they would be fine, we need these beautiful wild flowers for our survival on earth.

Canaries in the Churchyard

In August canaries appeared in St Peter’s churchyard decorating the railings. The canaries and yellow bunting have been handmade by people to share their concern about climate change. Inspiration has been taken from yellow canaries because they are small, sensitive little birds that were used in the past to warn miners of dangerous pollution such as carbon monoxide.

In the same way the Craftivists hope that their little canaries and images of them sitting quietly in small ‘flocks’ will gently warn and remind us and those in power about the urgent dangers of global warming. Belper is a wonderful community and together we can try to have an impact on our town and the wider world. This is our way of saying we want to live in a world where we take care of nature, wildlife, people and protect our environment from global warming. The ‘Canary Craftivists’ campaign is part of a nationwide initiative run by the Craftivist Collective, who use handicrafts as a form of quiet, kind and attractive activism that they call ‘gentle protest’.

This year the UK has a particularly important role to play to address climate change as it’s hosting the COP26 UN climate summit in November. This meeting, hosted and overseen by Boris Johnson and the UK Government, will be a key moment where world leaders negotiate how they will reduce emissions to protect the environment and stabilise the climate.

As the first country in the world to industrialise, the UK has pioneered and shaped the world as well as contributing to the creation of climate change. The UK Government has an important role in bringing world leaders together to agree a way forward that will help, not harm, the world.

In another initiative this year the Young Christian Climate Network has organised a relay route where young activists will each complete a stage. Instead of a physical baton, each relay group will carry the same message of crucial action needed to reverse climate change. The relay will move from Truro Cathedral, near to where the G7 met, to Glasgow where COP26 will be begin on October 31.

BLUE Campaign

Blue hearts have been used as a symbol for a number of different campaigns. People were asked by some to put blue hearts in their windows to show support for the NHS. One of the campaigns I am most interested in, is the Blue Campaign for wildlife. https://bluecampaignhub.com/ This campaign encourages people to bring their local area to life by gardening for wildlife. We believe that each individual can change their surroundings and help restore UK biodiversity, either in their own garden or by working with councils or schools. Once one blue heart appears, others often follow.

If you would like a healthy garden full of colour and life, re-wilding is for you. It takes less effort than conventional gardening, and all of the plants are already in place, waiting for a chance to grow. You do not need to use wildflower mixes however it can be fun to see what extra plants these might bring.

Sowing wildflower seeds St Peter’s churchyard, Belper

There are a number of specialist websites that I have used. meadowmania.co.uk They have over 30 years’ experience of producing and supplying the highest quality seeds and plants, and they are passionate about British native wildflowers and seed. Rewilding part of your garden is also one very easy step to help restore UK biodiversity with habitats including long grass, hedges and ponds. Another company I have used is Naturescape www.naturescape.co.uk who are based in Langar Nottinghamshire. They have fields of wildflowers that you can walk around and a tearoom worth visiting.

Naturescape, Langar Nottinghamshire

You can start by leaving an area of your lawn without mowing it, when you do this, the native plants in your lawn will start to flourish, providing food and shelter for a wide range of invertebrates, birds, mammals and amphibians. You can do one mow in September once all the plants have seeded, but a completely undisturbed section will lead to a more developed habitat. The idea of the blue hearts on a stick is that if you place them in the area it tells everyone that this is being done to make a difference for wildlife and not because you cannot be bothered.

This garden is part of Belper Open Gardens and the blue heart shows the area being left for wildflowers.

It does not matter what your blue heart is made from but whatever you use may encourage others to do the same. In 2019 St Peter’s Church Belper gave away about thirty blue hearts and packets of wildflower seeds.

The larch

I remember the Monty Python sketch, ‘Number 1 The Larch’, about identifying trees from a distance. However the larch is not a tree I am very familiar with. The European larch is native to the mountains of Central Europe and was introduced into the UK in the early 17th century for timber plantations. It is a unique tree as it is the only deciduous conifer.

I have not taken much notice of the larch, (apart from the Monty Python sketch) but a new interest in making natural teas alerted me to the fact that you can use larch flowers and the needles for tea making. I hadn’t realised that the tree had such pretty pink/red flowers which eventually turn into the small larch cones. It is spring so I went on a hunt to find a larch tree with flowers.

The sad news is that many larch trees are dying from Sudden Larch Death. This disease causes the rapid decline and death of larch trees of all ages. Stem cankers, needle lesions and canopy dieback are all symptoms of Sudden Larch Death in the UK.

Today I searched in a local wood, hoping that if I found a larch, it would be well and healthy. I found a lot of trees but they did not look well to my untrained eyes. The tops of the trees had green leaves coming out but the lower branches had no green or flowers. Many had already been felled and this made me wonder if there is a problem. The colour of the wood was beautiful and I wondered what it is used to make.

Information found on the internet www.timberblogger.com/larch-wood/ says Larch wood is known to have tough, waterproof, and durable qualities. It is mostly used for boats, gazebos, floors, fencing, etc.

Having discovered the beauty and usefulness of the larch, I do hope it survives in the local woods and one day I can find enough flowers to try making tea. Larch trees like to grow in any wet, peat-rich soil. The right soil acidity —neutral to acidic—is also key. Larch trees do not grow well in soils with high pH. The area I discovered was wet with a lovely stream and I was glad that I wore my welly boots. I am now considering what I can look for next to make some natural tea.

Show the Love & Beyond.

St Peter’s churchyard was decorated with green Show the Love, handmade hearts in February 2021. Trees along the paths and the railings were decorated by local people and groups. This was a community effort to join in with the Climate Coalitions call to #Showthelove for our world.

2021 is a very important year for the future of our planet with the UN Climate Summit COP 26 taking place in Glasgow in November. We need the UK to ensure that the Climate Summit is successful and sets us on the path to a safe climate for all. Underpinning all of this is the imperative that global economic recovery is sustainable and doesn’t prevent us from limiting warming to no more than 1.5C.

Because of this the Climate Coalition are encouraging communities to have a Great Big Green Week in September as a call for action on climate change. Here are some of their ideas, ‘From local park clean ups and planting sessions, to concerts and community group stalls, you can plan events to suit your community. For guidance on how you can organise an event or green week, visit greatbiggreenweek.com‘

Already plans are being discussed in Belper and ideas being thought of. The date of the week is from September 18th – September 26th. Still hopefully plenty of time to plan.

I have recently read Rob Hopkins book, From What Is to What If (Unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want). It is full of inspiring stories of communities working together to improve their lives, the places where they live and helping to look after the planet. Rob emphasises how important it is to start by imagining the future you would like and then work out ways of helping that future happen.

We can all do something however small and lots of small things do make a difference. We can also join in collective movements to make sure our Government and local authorities know that we think the issue of Climate Change and the Climate Crisis must be taken seriously.

In the last two years I have changed my gardening habits and have tried to think of ways to garden to help wildlife. In the garden we can make a difference and some of what we need to do actually saves time and money. Last year we only mowed our lawn twice and in between allowed the grass to grow along with the daisies, dandelions and clover. One of the things that really bothers me is how many front gardens are paved over for cars. This could be mitigated with a few pots of suitable bushes and flowers to make a difference for bees and insects .

Another easy thing households can do is to stop using any sort of pesticide as this is harmful to all insects and other creatures who eat the insects. Last year I made my first wildlife pond in an old washing up bowl and then enjoyed seeing it regularly used by birds and frogs. A small effort can give a lot of enjoyment. This year I have gone a little larger by digging a bigger hole and using a liner. On one afternoon I watched starlings, blackbirds and sparrows taking turns to bath. One really important thing we can all do is to be untidy. When we do any pruning I now leave piles of branches under bushes and have seen wrens hopping about looking for bugs to eat.

More advice on gardening for wildlife can be found here, RSPB website and on the Wildlife Trusts website. Watching the birds, frogs, squirrels, bees and insects has given us so much pleasure during the last year of on and off lockdowns.