EarthShare

07/12/2025

This is so sad. I just hope that farmers and other landmanagers can put their heads together and find a way forwards.

Conservationists say changes, coupled with underfunding, will curb take-up and leave less land protected for nature

04/12/2025

This is a very interesting article for us, given that we use nitrogen fixing plants at Polwhele for the same purpose. I guess we should ask, why we might plant non-native ones, when there are so many native ones? We do use some Mediterranean NFs in place of gorse for good reason. More friendly to children. I assume gorse is just as good though and probably provides better structure and protection for nesting wildlife and insects and has better resilience against wind and salt burn. What are your thoughts?

Nootka lupins, introduced in the 1940s to repair damaged soil, are rampaging across the island, threatening its native species

18/11/2025

✨ Medlar Magic in Cornwall ✨🌳

Most people don’t know that medlars are one of the quirkiest fruits in the orchard. Traditionally, they need bletting before eating. That’s the process of letting them soften and overripen, usually after a touch of frost, until their flesh turns rich and spreadable.

But here in Cornwall, mine are ripening beautifully right on the tree without any cold bletting at all! The flavour is subtle, almost like a toffee apple, with a gentle sweetness that feels perfect for autumn. 🍏🍯

I will be experimenting in the kitchen: turning my medlars into a silky purée with cinnamon, ginger, and egg yolks, then baking them inside puff pastry. The result, I hope, a golden parcel of spiced, caramel-like fruit that tastes like a forgotten medieval dessert rediscovered. 🥧✨

If you’ve never tried medlars, don’t be put off by their reputation — they’re a hidden gem.

05/11/2025

🌸 Blossom in November? Nature’s got a surprise for us this Bonfire Night! 🔥🍎🌸

Remember, remember the 5th of November… but this year, it’s not only fireworks lighting up the sky — it’s apple and cherry trees in bloom! Yes, you read that right. Fresh blossom in autumn. But why?

Here’s what’s going on:

Unseasonably warm autumn weather can confuse fruit trees. Many varieties need a period of cold (called “chilling hours”) to trigger dormancy. If that cold snap doesn’t come, or is followed by a warm spell, trees can mistakenly think it’s spring again.

Climate change is shifting seasonal cues. Warmer Octobers and Novembers are becoming more common in the UK, disrupting the natural rhythm of plants and trees.

Some varieties are more sensitive to temperature swings. Early bloomers like cherry and apple trees are especially prone to this kind of “false spring” behavior.

While it’s a beautiful and surreal sight, it’s also a gentle reminder of how our environment is changing. So if you spot a blossom this week, take a moment to enjoy its delicate beauty — and maybe snap a photo. Nature’s putting on a different kind of show this November.

Have you seen any surprise blooms in your area? Share them with us! 🌿📸

05/11/2025

Huge shoutout to the amazing NTC Open Spaces teammates Jay and Matt! 🙌

The Habitats team is incredibly grateful for your tremendous help today — from clearing beautiful open pathways to expertly installing 4 new sleeper benches. That brings us to a total of 6!

✨ 3 benches now sit proudly at the top, offering what will be a stunning view over the food forest in time, and a place to escape the heat, while 2 more provide a perfect resting spot halfway down the project.

Your hard work and dedication today has made a real difference. Thank you! 💚

23/10/2025

Just a collection of photos of trees, shrubs, other plants and seeds we are growing at our nursery plot for the permauculture gardens. Most lovingly reproduced using cuttings taken by volunteers.

23/10/2025

🌱 Update from the Permaculture Gardens 🌱

Our nitrogen-fixing trees are entering dormancy, turning brown as they prepare for relocation from the nursery area. Sadly, their move may be delayed…

Last week, we experienced an unexpected setback: around 50 chestnut tree stakes were stolen from the gardens. The 4th theft of materials in 2 years. These stakes are essential for supporting the young trees against wind damage — and without them, we simply can’t move forward. We currently lack the funds to replace them.

We’re doing our best to investigate and recover what was taken. If you have any information or would like to support us in any way, we’d be incredibly grateful.

14/10/2025

Slinky D**k has been on the move at Polwhele. Our swales seem to be quite popular with local amphibians.

09/10/2025

🌱 Nothing goes to waste at Polwhele. We strive to ensure nothing leaves the site. Loss of resources means waste — loss of nutrients, materials, carbon, and potential. That’s why, when swaling, we repurpose the cut turf to create half-moon berms around our trees for:

🌿 Water retention – These semicircular raised mounds of soil help trap rainwater and runoff, allowing it to soak slowly into the ground. This is especially vital in drought-prone areas, where every drop counts.

🌳 Soil enrichment – By keeping moisture near the roots, berms reduce the need for irrigation and help trees thrive naturally.

🌍 Erosion control – Berms prevent water from rushing downhill, protecting the landscape and preserving topsoil.

♻️ Resource recycling – Instead of removing turf, we transform it into a regenerative feature that supports tree health and ecosystem resilience.

🌾 Soil rebuilding – Once in place, these berms can be backfilled with mulches to help rebuild soil structure and fertility lost to erosion over the years — turning a problem into a solution.

At Polwhele, every action is intentional. Every scrap of soil, every blade of grass, every drop of rain — it all stays, it all serves a purpose. 🌳

03/10/2025

Squishy Squash, the Doorstep Green Toad.

03/10/2025

The day Sqishy Squash, the Doorstep Green Toad came to visit Polwhele. Squishy Squash is around the side of a tennis ball and will soon be attaching her ribbons of spawn to marginal plants at the stream and ephemeral pond edges. We usually see the girls in the water with the boys in December.

01/10/2025

A bit of swale shaping today. Swales are great for drainage, flood mitigation and below ground water retention. They are also great on a south facing hillside for critters like these assumed (yellow legged mining bees). Please feel free to correct if wrong woithout properly identifying them.