Personal Blogs

L185 English For Academic Purposes online.

I did some reading again today from the e-books, just gathering more information. I looked at my 4th draft of my essay and realised I have repeated myself in 2 places, so I edited it a lot. It is important to read an essay out loud,  so you can then see where you are going wrong. Now, I have room for a few more words, but I must choose carefully what I will include. After that I will make a reference list,  before I forget where I quoted from!

Hoping to get this finished before Easter,  then I will return to it again, after the break.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Scrumptious !

We now know that Climate change is causing adverse effect on the environment worldwide, as well as in the Uk, with flooding and pollution in both urban and rural areas. Therefore, it is essential to have the appropriate drainage systems inland, as well as in rural locations.
Let me just mention Hydro electricity, which is also  an important source of renewable energy. This  infrastructure is indispensable  both in the present time as well as the future. Waterways are the ideal location for the purpose of harnessing hydro electric power.

Besides these obvious environmental benefits
• There are other advantages too, such as the environmental rewards, that come from attracting diverse species such as birds animals and plants. Flora and fauna that grow in wetlands will enhance the area,  a variety of birds that arrive here will regard these sites as a second home until it gets too cold. These  diverse  plants, birds and animals adds to the desirability for other species to settle, and consequently the animal and plant life increases in the area.

Secondly What are the Economic Benefits?

Attractive Waterfronts create pleasant  places for people to visit, providing community assets and improving the quality of life in these locations.

The advantages are many, such as, cycling and walking along footpaths and tow paths, visiting coffee shops, museums and nature reserves, these are just some activities that are on offer.
The natural beauty of such environments attracts visitors to the area with  Tourism- from both national and international visitors, which brings employment and business opportunities thus boosting the local economy.
Studies show the figure of £500 million per annum was arrived at, and income from tourism was estimated at £1.2 billion per annum. So quite significant in terms of the economy.*

Thirdly what about the Health Benefits?

The Health benefits of waterways and Canals- are Numerous. Watersports with opportunities for canoeing and boating, leisure centres for swimming and gym. Towpaths for walking and cycling, so plenty of possibilities for exercise, fresh air and keep fit.
Cities are often unhealthy places to live, with heavy traffic, pollution, noise, violence and social isolation. Canals, rivers and green spaces  on the other hand provide healthy recreation in peaceful surroundings, which is good for the mental health.

So there is the urgent need therefore, for Urban Green Spaces such as traditional parks and gardens.
also ‘green corridors’ 
'Green habitats’  green roof tops and vertical farms. These all make use of the spaces afforded by modern cities and are essential for exercise and good health of the city dwellers.
Whatever their forms, urban green spaces, provide a wide range of valuable environmental services,  with economic and health benefits to city dwellers for very little cost.

Green areas such as these have to be protected.

The need for the maintenance, of such green spaces and green corridors is indisputable.
The consequences  of reduced funding support for these green spaces,  would have detrimental effects. Because  these sites would fall into neglect, become unhygienic rubbish  tips,  and can even be dangerous places to walk through.

To conclude. Three aspects have been explored, that of-  environment, economy and health,  all of which are imperative  for future generations, to continue to enjoy canals and rivers, and for all our citizens,  for Touristic activities, Health benefits, and in the wider context, of the "Conservation of the environment."

Source Open Univesity

My vegetarian meal today is-  Ravioli Parcels containing cheese & truffles with a salad and green olives. Grated Lincolnshire poacher cheese.

'Deforestation' is an interesting subject and I am still in the process of learning. I enjoy learning about all the different aspects of the environment.

In the back garden we planted some daffodils. The top picture was earlier on in the year when it was colder. Now all the miniature daffodils have come out. The bottom picture is some flowers that come up each year. It is lovely to see them, these are like old familiar friends who you are always glad to see!

The sign post reminds us to have hope in God and never to give up!

Source Open University.

L185.  I have submitted my  TMA04 presentation this morning on Canals and Rivers!

I could have waited much longer but my nerves just got the better of me and I wanted to send it off straight away. I could have tinkered a bit more with it,  but it might not have made a great difference!  I managed to get the whole presentation in under 5 minutes, I think it was about 4 minutes 50.something. By myself I used to get it a bit over 5 minutes so that wasn't good enough, so I managed to speak a bit quicker this time!
I feel I did ok all things considered! Now I have to wait for the results to come back. In the meantime I will be reading up on the TMA 05 the final TMA!  This next one is about deforestation. I have really enjoyed these subjects of 'Health"  and   'The Environment' it has been most enlightening!

God is our father, so let us rely on him all the more and he will bring us through, so have hope and trust in God!
And we shall overcome!
Because He is our Good Father.
         📖 🕯🙏

In the Woodlands

It was misty this morning as I walked to the park, which is only a few minutes from where I live. I noticed there were still some white snow drops, white crocus and purple crocuses, minature yellow daffodils, pretty blue star shaped flowers called Amsonia were growing in the little woods on the perimeter of the park.

Amsonia flowers.
I walked the footpaths through the park and sat down to rest and have a fruit drink at the picnic table. The grass looked tidy and neatly cut as I looked out across the green field. I could hear lots of birdsong nearby, but they were not landing on the field or the park. 

The picnic bench

The Spinney wood had birds in the trees and I saw plenty of Magpies, wood pidgeons and crows in the treetops. I sometimes like to feed the birds with a few bread crumbs,  but today they did not want to come down.

There were a few mothers on the far side of the park with very young children playing  in the children's play area. I decided to walk the full length around the park's perimeter, then I crossed over and walked down cemetery lane. 

Trees in Park

As I walked along,  I saw a rabbit scurrying past, then it went quickly into the undergrowth leading to the cemetery. I passed through a hole in the fence to the cemetery too,  but I couldn't see the rabbit anywhere. I felt like Alice in wonderland following the rabbit!  The cemetery  is not very big,  but it has some very interesting trees in there. It was not long until I saw a pair of squirrels there,  together they were jumping from tree to tree around the whole length of the cemetery!

At last the squirrels finally landed in someone's back garden!  A lot of people put some nuts out for them, or they sometimes eat food from the bird tables.

I finally got to the very end of the cemetery, I then walked down a footpath that leads to the woodland. There used to be a bench in there, right in the centre, but they had to remove the bench as older teenagers from the nearby estate used to gather there to smoke at night. It is a pity because I often used to love to sit there quietly, listening  to the birdsong. It is still possible to walk through the woodland along the little footpaths and out at the other end.

But there is nothing really like it, to be just sitting perfectly still,  in the peaceful wood, on a bench,  listening to beautiful birdsong it was so calming! The trees all touching each other and forming a lovely leafy canopy overhead.
Oh well never mind everything changes I suppose!

Anyway, I enjoyed my walk today, but now I have to get back to studying and rehearse my TMA04 presentation!

Walking through the cemetery.

Waterlilies white and pink
Floating in the stream
Damsel flies and dragonflies
Go there to dream.

Gill Burrell