I'm half way through my birthday book called Silent Earth written by Dave Goulson and it made me think immediately of Rachel Carson and her book Silent Spring which had made a big impression on me a few years ago!
He introduces the book with a dramatic sub title "Averting the Insect Apocalypse "
Chapter 2 starts with a quote from EO Wilson American Biologist "If all mankind were to disappear the world would regenerate back to the rich state that existed 10,000 years ago. If insects were to vanish the environment would collapse into chaos"
Chapter 6 quotes Wilson again " Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal "
I am now on chapter 7 The poisoned Land, which builds on the work of Carson with the latest research on the dangers of pesticides and herbicides.!
Of local interest for me is the management of our local wild flower meadow which buzzes with insect life all summer and we have just had a hay cut! Perhaps we should leave it uncut!? I should add that we dont use any herbicides or pesticides!
Back to Silent Earth now.
