Arnside Tower

This Fifreenth century stone defensive tower was built to protect the people living here from raiders coming down the sea coast from the north. 
In the foreground is Tower Farm, a dairy farm from which the milk goes, I am told, to make cheese. Unusually the Tower is I believe still owned by the owners of the farm.
The shot is taken from the south eastern edge of the summit of Arnside Knott. I had walked up there with Mrs. K and her professional botanist friend. I have to admire their enthusiasm for spending a cold January Sunday morning recording the position and health of uncommon wild plants. But every contribution to nature conservation is vital.
I have just finished reading Silent Earth. The Insect Apocalypse.
It records in detail how humankind continues to destroythe natural world without realising the dire consequences for our ability to feed the ever growing population. People can understand some of the consequences of global warming - the storms and floods,droughts and fires.
But there is less appreciation of the consequences of the destruction of the natural world and in particular of insects which are vital for pollination and many other factors on which our lives depend. And yet the industrialisation of agriculture, the huge use of insecticides and fertilizers and the destrction of the rain forests are on a scale which is as threatening to our future as climate change.
A very large reduction in bees, butterflies and moths has already taken place. The trouble is that younger people do not realise this as they believe that the world as they find it now is the same as it has always been.
Time for a cup of tea.