Nature notes extra: Five things I read this week and a sunset

Plastic Free July

This July, the Marine Conservation Society is challenging you to go plastic free. With more than 8 million tons of plastic dumped in our oceans every year and half of it coming from disposable plastics that are only used once before being thrown away, the MCS wants us all to try and reduce our plastic footprint.

FInd out how you can take up the challenge here

Solitary Bee Week

This week sees a celebration of solitary bees which make up 90% of the 240 species of bee in the UK. They are important pollinators but are increasingly under threat from loss of habitat. Find out more about Solitary Bee Week here  and find out from writer and wildlife gardener Kate Bradbury what you can do in the garden to help these lovely creatures.

Urban Wildlife

As already noted in another post, bumblebees are doing better in cities than in the country. This week, the Guardian's Five column looks at four other species that are thriving in the urban jungle.

Urban Forager

I'm still not much of a forager although I'm getting more adventurous but I don't think I'm quite ready to gather wild food from city streets and canal banks. Chef and forager, Nurdin Topham on the other hand, is chewing pineapple weed in Hackney. Read about him here

Walk for wildlife

Last week I said I'd join a march for swifts. Wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham seems to have heard me as this week he announced a walk for wildlife in London on Sept 22nd. Save the date Nature faces. I'll see you there.

Incidentally, I guess many of you were too busy on Tuesday to catch the beautiful sunset over Tottenham.

So I took a couple of photos for you.