When people talk about protecting nature, do you think of exotic creatures or your garden wildlife?
Organisations too often use images of exotic and iconic animals when talking about sustainability and the climate crisis. Think of all those familiar pictures of polar bears, whales and giant panda.
That’s not the kind of nature that most people are familiar with. It makes it look like the problem is something exotic and faraway. It may be a concern for David Attenborough, but not really for them.
The consequences of environmental breakdown can be felt much closer to home. Here in West Yorkshire, it’s the “once-in-a-century” floods that now happen every few years. It’s the moorland on fire in winter and spring. It’s the breakdown of the traditional seasons. It’s the once-common animals, birds and insects that you now rarely see.
But there’s still a lot of wildlife out there, and some good initiatives in place to support and protect it. Seeing what’s around us can help us all appreciate what we’ve got, and what we stand to lose.
A tawny owl might not be up there with a polar bear in the global league table of charismatic megafauna, but you’re much more likely to see one in Huddersfield.
To mark National Garden Wildlife Week, here’s some of my favourite photos of creatures from my own back yard.
