Going Green Podcast, Video blog and Daily News

  🦋 More Than Half of Britain’s Butterflies Are in Decline – Should We Be Worried? There’s something wonderfully reassuring about spotting a butterfly in the garden. It’s one of those small moments that says: all is still well with the world . Unfortunately, the latest findings from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme suggest that reassurance may be misplaced. 📉 The Headline: A Quiet Collapse More than half of Britain’s butterfly species are now in decline . Not just rare, specialist species tucked away in remote habitats—but also some of the familiar garden visitors many of us grew up with. That’s a big deal. Butterflies are what scientists call indicator species . In simple terms: 👉 If butterflies are struggling, the wider environment probably is too. 🌿 Why Are Butterflies Declining? The causes are not mysterious—and that’s part of the frustration. 1. Habitat Loss Wildflower meadows, hedgerows, and rough grasslands have been disappearing for decades. These aren’t just “messy ...

  Is Summer Getting Longer – and What Does That Mean for Going Green? Every year now, someone says it by about the middle of April: “Blimey, it feels like summer already.” Then by late September someone else says, “This is ridiculous – it’s still summer.” At first this sounds like standard British weather grumbling. But there is a serious question underneath it: is summer actually getting longer? The answer is a bit awkwardly British: yes and no . Meteorological summer is still June, July and August. Nobody at the Met Office has quietly moved August into October. But the warm season – the period when temperatures, plants, pollen, pests and human habits all behave in a summery way – does appear to be stretching. Research published in 2026 found that summers in many cities are arriving earlier and lasting longer, with an average increase of about six days per decade across the cities studied. Meanwhile in the UK, the Met Office says the leaf-on season in 2024 was seven days longer...

  Solar Fence Panels – Power from Your Garden Fence Yesterday it was all about rainwater fences … today we take it one step further.  Why not turn your humble garden fence into a mini power station? The Idea: Vertical Solar on Your Fence Most of us think of solar panels living happily on rooftops. But fences? They sit there all day doing very little apart from keeping the dog in and the neighbours out. So why not make them earn their keep? By mounting solar panels vertically on south-facing (or even east/west) fences, you can generate a surprising amount of electricity—especially in spring and summer when the sun is higher. Does It Actually Work? Short answer: Yes… but with a twist. Vertical panels produce less peak power than roof panels BUT they can generate more evenly throughout the day And they can be excellent in winter when the sun is low In fact, in countries like Germany , balcony and fence-mounted solar systems (often called plug-in solar ) are becoming very p...

  Rainwater Fences – The Garden Trend You Didn’t Know You Needed You’ve heard of solar panels. You’ve probably heard of rainwater harvesting. But rainwater fences? Yes… they’re a thing. And like many good ideas, they sit somewhere between ingenious eco-solution and “why didn’t I think of that?” What is a Rainwater Fence? In simple terms, a rainwater fence is: A fence designed to capture, channel, and reuse rainwater. Instead of rainwater just soaking into the ground (or worse, disappearing into drains), the fence: Collects water (from rain or nearby surfaces) Channels it using gutters, chains, or containers Delivers it slowly to plants, soil, or storage Think of it as a fence that’s quietly watering your garden while you put the kettle on.  Why It Matters (Especially Now) With the UK seeing: More intense rainfall Longer dry spells Increasing pressure on water supplies Rainwater fences help: Reduce water waste Lower your reliance on mains water Improve soil moisture natural...

 Summer Feeding: Are We Helping or Harming Our Garden Birds? Just when you thought you were doing your bit for nature—out comes the bird feeder, topped up with seeds and peanuts—along comes the RSPB with a surprising twist: Ease off the feeders during summer. Yes, really. What’s the Issue? During spring and summer, garden birds aren’t struggling for food in the same way they do in winter. In fact, nature provides a rich buffet: Insects (essential for chicks) Caterpillars and larvae Natural seeds and berries But when we provide seed and nut feeders , birds tend to gather in large numbers in one place —a bit like a crowded pub on a Friday night. And that’s where the problem begins. The Hidden Danger: Disease Spread When birds cluster together at feeders: Droppings contaminate feeding areas Bacteria and parasites spread easily Diseases such as trichomonosis can take hold Species like greenfinches have already seen serious population declines linked to fee...

Paris ditched cars… and something remarkable happened From traffic jams to café culture A few years ago, parts of Paris looked much like any busy European capital: clogged roads, honking horns, and air you could almost chew. Today? Cyclists glide past, children walk to school safely, and cafés spill out onto streets that were once dominated by traffic. This transformation didn’t happen by accident. Under Mayor Anne Hidalgo , Paris has: Removed tens of thousands of car parking spaces Built hundreds of kilometres of protected cycle lanes Pedestrianised large areas of the city centre Restricted older, more polluting vehicles And perhaps most importantly… they stuck with it. What actually changed? 1. Cycling exploded Cycling in Paris didn’t just increase — it surged. Some routes now carry more bikes than cars at peak times. 2. Cleaner air Air pollution levels have dropped significantly. Fewer diesel cars = fewer particulates = healthier lungs. 3. Streets became plac...