26-May-2006 - On Friday
2 June 2006, Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart and Environment
Agency Area Manager, Steve Morley, will launch
the United Nations World Environment Day 2006
campaign by ‘Promising the Earth’ at the Botanical
Gardens in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
As well as making their own
promises, they will plant the last plant in a
new drought garden, which has been developed by
the Environment Agency in partnership with the
Botanical Gardens. The garden demonstrates what
can be done to adapt the famous English garden
to the rigours of a changing climate. Six student
gardeners from Birmingham designed the garden
to incorporate drought resistant plants that thrive
with only the minimum amount of water.
Some of the drought resistant
plants in the garden include Big Ears, Amethyst
and Butterfly Blue. The design takes inspiration
from the World Environment Day 2006 promises using
bikes and even a bath as garden features.
Visitors who come to see the
garden and make a promise for World Environment
Day from 11am – 3pm each day between 3 June 2006
and 11 June 2006 will take away with them a ‘goody
bag’ and a free return ticket to the Botanical
Gardens, so they can see the garden grow.
In 2006 we are asking everyone
to Promise the Earth for World Environment Day.
We must change our behaviour to protect our environment
for future generations. Making little lifestyle
changes can have a big effect if everyone does
it, whether you take a shower instead of a bath,
reuse carrier bags or walk instead of using the
car.
Climate change is now one of
the biggest challenges we face. With scientists
predicting more winter flooding and summer drought,
water shortages and hosepipe bans such as those
now being faced in the South of England will become
ever more likely in the Midlands too.
Wise use of water in the garden
is essential if we are to have enough to cater
for our needs in coming years. Gardeners need
to know which plants will thrive in these new
climate conditions.
Steve Morley, a keen gardener
himself says: "Water shortages and hosepipe
bans are likely to become more common in future
and some of the plants we love will not be able
to cope."
"This is an ideal opportunity
for people to see how they can create a garden
using drought resistant plants and, while they
are there, to make a promise that will help protect
the Earth for their children and grandchildren."
Gisela Stuart, Labour Member
of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston added:
"The Government is working hard to achieve
international agreement on tackling climate change.
But we also need individuals to make small changes
to our day to day behaviour to help protect the
environment for future generations. I will be
keeping my promises including having a shower
rather than a bath, putting a water saving device
in my toilet cistern and getting involved in an
environmental project in my local community"
