We've only got the one environment so we best do our utmost to cherish and protect it. This is the core message of many constituents who contact me. I strongly agree and put the environment at the forefront of my work in parliament and locally.
There are two sides of the environmental coin - what we create ourselves and what we inherit from nature.
The recent Noise Action Week focused on the first. It was organised by the charity, Environmental Protection UK to shout about how peace and quiet is needlessly harmed.
Such initiatives are handy but we need less noise pollution every day. Their advice all boils down to being considerate to each other and treating others as we would like to be treated ourselves.
There's increasing talk about the government making well-being an official measurement on a par with more traditional ways of measuring progress such as growth and inflation rates.
I think this is worth exploring especially if it means that we don't just treat community resources such as libraries, post offices and pubs in simple economic terms but ones that make us more contented and bring us together as communities.
And it is clear that many of us, for example, deeply value our forests which forced a frightened government to back down from its woeful efforts to flog them off to the highest bidder.
I suggest two ways to keep on protecting our forests. The first is to make use of them more. The Durham Wildlife Trust, which covers Gateshead too, has some fairly inexpensive learning events over the summer months on local habitats and meadow flowers and grasses as well as wetlands and moorlands. Details are at www.durhamwt.co.uk
The second is to make our views clear to ministers. An independent panel on forestry is inviting everyone interested in forests and woods to share their views. It advises the government on the future of forests and woods in England and is seeking the widest range of views, interests and expertise. I will tell ministers that they should leave well alone. You can feed in your views at www.defra.gov.uk/rural/forestry/panel
I will certainly shout out loud if they don't heed the clear public view about our wonderful forests and woods.
Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
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