h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

... I've been enjoying reading your journals.

It seems rude to read without saying so but it doesn't feel right to start conversations in your thoughts.

I love the thoughtfulness in the journals, the connection with nature in them, and the sense of peace that often comes through. Here in the UK life is far too fast and crowded and we're almost blind to nature.

Hello, Johnredbear. I,too, would like to add that I feel honoured to be allowed to share in your thoughts and I have enjoyed reading your writings. You have a very good command of English and everything you say is quite understandable.

Thank you for this. You make me feel more confident in writing my thoughts and in speaking to others here. I have not so much education in a classroom but have tried to read a lot of different things.

You are too kind to me. I am grateful. I understand that even in the large cities there are hawks and such that prey on pigeons and there are many different birds that migrate in seasons. Nature is all over and in the towns is hard to see and hear for all of the distractions of noise and the doing of life. I do not wish to preach. I hope I do not sound as though I am being a teacher. You may tech me, are there squirrels in UK? If so they should live wherever there are trees. Nature is everywhere. Sometimes I look at persons and imagine what manner of creature they would be, what is their animal spirit. It is sometimes amusing, there have been times when it made me wary of them.

Hello John Redbear!

Yes, there are squirrels in England, two kinds, but, alas, the red squirrel is a rare thing, whereas the grey squirrels are so numerous as to be comfortably part of daily life even in the towns.

What country are you from?

I shouldn't have made such a sweeping statement about being blind to nature in the UK perhaps, but it feels to me that although you are right in saying Nature is everywhere (and thanks for the reminder), nature is so tamed here I don't think full appreciation is possible. The largest predator left is a badger.

For instance, many people dislike sparrowhawks and magpies because they kill the small birds they put food out for in their gardens. The thing is, Nature comes as the whole package. In my opinion. You can't pick and choose which bits to like and have. Predator species are necessary. (Perhaps the human species has got so out of hand that it's killing off the planet because we've removed too many of the species that were once above us in the food chain ... Perhaps.)

You don't come over as preaching, simply as putting down your thoughts.

Squirrels are dear little things. The red squirrel/grey squirrel problem is a difficult one. The grey squirrel is an introduced species, it is steadily driving out the red and it is doing considerable damage in woodlands by gnawing the bark off trees... You know what? I've just realised the real problem is the lack of a predator to control its number. So, I don't know if it's right or wrong for humans to step in and fill the gap by trying to control the grey squirrel population. I'm torn when it comes to the issue of introduced species here. I can see the spread of successful species as a natural thing to be allowed but also feel drawn to preserve indigenous species whenever they're under threat.

What you said about animal spirits is interesting. I took part in an online story a while back, I became a lammergeier in it and was surprised how comfortable a fit that was .

I am in origin from Canada. I am now in US. I was raise in three languages and am best in English. I was raised in French,Anishinaabe, and English. I have most problems with what my daughter calls syntax and grammar. Also with babbling on! (I joke!?).

What is lammergeier? Also I lke the way you see nature. I too think in much the same way. I am not happy about animals going where they were not except by the actions of men. I ahve seen fish piopulation destroyed to replce them with another kind so that government can make money from people that want fishing for the replacing ones. We should not be as the creator except to care for nature and use of it with wisdom and balance of need. What you have said is wise about predators, and the way of them as well as prey. It is sometimes a hard thing to see how balancing of wild things is done. I have much distress when I see or hear things suffer but it is also suffering to starve and to be hungry in the Winter snows. I see nothing at waste in the wild and try to follow that way when I receive from the wild even to the use of sinew and boneswhen I have need. Of course this all is only my way and may not be right in anothers eye even if his eye is good. I have always been glad that in nature one is on his own ability, nature does not care. It does not want to harm us or help us it has no desire. I have found it best not to struggle against it but to accept it how it is. Then it is much easier to live in it. Though not always so comfortable or happy.
This is only what I am experienced in living with it.
JR

I like your view of Nature JohnRedbear. Left to its own devices it does very well. It is when humans interfere that the problems start. That is why we have grey squirrels (cute thought they are) when we should only have red squirrels.

I have badgers, foxes, squirrels and many birds in my garden although I live on the edge of a big city. Where I live used to be countryside but over the past forty years houses have been built everywhere and much of the countryside has disappeared. It is very sad which is why I am so grateful that we still have wildlife visiting us daily.

Websailor

hi john redbear
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if more people had the same thoughts on nature and life as you have, maybe the world would a lot better.
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i live on a very large estate, now and then i see a squirrel, a few time a fox, but mostly birds, even a field below where i live,as flocks of seagulls, people say its the morning dew, that makes them think that the field is water.
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im what we call on h2g2, a lurker, someone who takes time to see online a name that stands out, and looks to see who and where they come from.
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your way with words, in the form you write, sort of reminds me of the way in films red indians talk, its a refreshing change to some of the messages and things on h2g2 take care jim-jimcracker7

Jimcracker, I am a cartoon of myself !,I joke! It is new knowledge to me that so many in a place I saw in my mind as people everywhere and noise and no peace for minds have so much love for the living things around them. I sense in some a longing for more. I am seeing much of so many people that I am changing many thoughts about others and my dealings with them who are outside.
JR

johnredbear,

The more crowded the places here, the more people long for a more natural existence and many people encourage and protect wildlife. There are hundreds of groups of people dedicated to the protection of wildlife and wild spaces.

I will find a photo site where people have sent in their wildlife photos and you will see what I mean.

Mine is http://www.flickr.com/photos/websailor/ for a start. I live on the edge of a big city, but there is much to see if you know where to look.

Websailor

johnredbear,

I am not sure if you will be able to get this link but if you do take a look at some of the photos people have posted, to see if we care about wildlife.


http://www.flickr.com/groups/bbcautumnwtach2008/

Sorry, if by any chance you cannot see them.

Websailor