For the first post in my new blog, I've thrown-back to a time when the health of the ๐ wasn't, but should have been, top of mind.
I was one of a merry band of eco-warriors studying Environmental Science at Aberystwyth University in the wilds of west Wales. Powered by beans and clad in knitted leg warmers, we explored the environs of the Ceredigion coast, hills, and hinterlands.
For my, hand-typed ๐ฎ, final year dissertation, I dug into the role of conservation in farm management, and undertook a very early on-farm analysis of the effect of herbicide ๐ฆ and fertiliser แ แ drift on the diversity of hedgerow and woodland flora ๐ณ๐ฟ
The images below, shot on my trusty Nikon FE film camera, show the spray drift capture methodology and the front pages of my report.
The results of the experiments were unsurprising; and showed statistically-significant amounts of herbicide and fertiliser drift from the cropped areas into the hedgerows and woodlands.
In related lab tests, the levels of drift were shown to be destructive to the broadleaf plant species in these areas, which would result in simplification of the biodiversity of the non-cropped farm areas.
The conclusion for how farm biodiversity might evolve wasn't great, reflecting how input-intensive farming systems have taken their toll on the U.K.'s wildlife since then.
Nowadays, I work in the fields of food and drink, and have worked on change projects with many businesses that have roots in the land, sea, and produce. It's my focus as we try to clear the overgrown path to a tastier ๐, healthier ๐, more sustainable ๐ food future.
