more art for the bees more

reasons to save these http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20114359

and treat yourself to some of these

flora riders

These guys ~

Spied near Embankment, London

Parkland Walk [& graffiti]

I recently discovered the Parkland Walk; a beautiful glimpse of country side running through north London.  Following an old railway track, it is in two parts.  The first (south) begins in Finsbury Park and leads you along to Highgate.  You know you've reached the end of the section as you are met with two towering archways, boarded up:

I couldn't resist climbing up the side of them through all the over-growth to see how it looked from up there:

 You have to join back with reality and walk along the main road for a couple of minutes until you get to Highgate Wood.

Having never been there before, I took a long meander around and fell in love with the small but charming reminder of a greener way of life.  It was a sporadic hot day last month that I went; so was happy to discover an in-use drinking fountain there too:

 Straight out the other side of the woods you pick the north section of the walk back up.  This leads you to Alexandra Palace and you can see from the photo below the climb you are making as the old track ascends:

 I loved spotting the old remnants of the train track as I went along.  For the majority of the walk the trees are so tall they meet in the centre above you.  There really was something quite enchancted about it all.  The London traffic was barely audiable for the most part, which really added to the escapist effect.

 Not only is it an attractive wildlife walk, but there is also the reminder of a modern day influence and some amazing graffiti can be seen along the way. 

My favourite spots was first of all this wall, just as the north section ends and you enter Alexandra Palace park. It was obviously brightly sprayed at one point but since painted over this green colour. With weathering the paint has begun to peel back in places and reveal glimpses of the colour beneath:

 In the south section of the walk there are even more treasures.  Something about this tree's roots, enclosing around the remainders of a red brick wall, really grabbed my attention:

In the final stretch back to Finsbury Park are numerous archways demonstrating a world of street art:

 Not to mention this fella - I really want to know what he is doing there!

For more info on the history of this walk see http://www.parkland-walk.org.uk/

It's a great way to spend a day or free afternoon, touch back with nature a bit.  I took some reading and enjoyed the sun in Alexandra Palace park once I got there, before heading back.

WWF Earth Hour

The WWF Earth Hour was last night - 8.30 - 9.30pm.
After a struggle of a cycle home; face-on pushing through the wind, on big London roads for 14miles (took me an hour fifteen though); I was ready to relax.
It was so calming to switch of my lights, curl up by candle light and have some zen time.

Sprung

WWF Earth Hour 2012

Every year, I think I'm going to take part in the WWF Earth Hour. 

It's basically an hour, where everyone turns their lights off and comes together to celebrate our world.
It's a demonstration of energy saving and 'doing our bit' for the environment. 

Obviously one hour in a year is not going to have much impact; but it's the statement, the proof that we do not need to consume & use so much energy.
And it's just seems quite nice to do.

Have a little looky at this video & let them explain it better!

So I've (finally) just signed myself up!

FIND OUT MORE & SIGN YOURSELF UP HERE

Knitting by candle light, anyone...?

Fairtrade Fortnight + Vivienne Westwood Appreciation

Fairtrade fortnight has started today!

One of the cutest shops I've found was a few years ago in Harrogate... A little fairtrade shop being run by a darling elderly lady in the archway of an old church.  The curved, rustic walls were climbing with handmade jewellery, finger puppets, bags and all sorts.  I'm still so in love with this hand crafted bangle I got myself:

Another fave 'ethical buy' of mine is this t-shirt dress I got last year from People Tree.  Fairtrade, organic cotton and very, very cool...

 It was exclusively designed by Vivienne Westwood -

with some of her wise words on it to boot:

On the subject of the great Dame herself; this artical on her in last week's Metro (20th Feb) put a smile on my face:

 'We are so conformist, nobody is thinking.  We are all sucking up stuff, we have been trained to be consumers and we are all consuming far too much.'

Couldn't agree more with her!

Maybe buying a few less 'unnecessaries' and spending a smidge of that extra money on fairtrade products could make such a difference. 

We're talking food & clothes here - who doesn't like buying either of those?

It's all about consumer power!

How about buying some 'moral coffee' (as a good friend of mine likes to call it...), get some fairtrade bananas in the fruit bowl, go treat yourself to a nice big bar of chocolate (made from tasty fairtrade cocoa) and have a little clicky on the link I've posted below.

Without wanting to like I'm getting into a rant I shall end here and go make myself a nice cup of afternoon tea.  Fairtrade tea - of course...

CHECK OUT MORE ABOUT TAKING A STEP TOWARDS FAIRTRADE