Tag Archives: nature

Beavers should be returned to the Middle East

With the amount of people in the world and the amount of water we need one would wonder do we have enough.

Did you know the Middle East long ago housed Beavers, these creatures created their own ecosystems. There were plenty of wetlands, trees and these networks of rivers and lakes attracted masses of birds, animals and life.

The sad reality is that the Eurasian Beaver once dominant across from Turkey, Syria and Lebanon all the way across Iraq and into Iran. They were hunted into extinction. The people that live there, they called themselves warriors and hunters. Civilisations existed and died all because of that main resource. Water.

Not understanding how important the beaver to the region this vast land simply dried up. Effecting the whole land across and from north to south. The extinction even affected Saudi Arabia all the way down. The land once more abundant now scorched and burned.

There are still a few wetlands in the north of Iraq, but is that nearly now extinct. Is it even possibly to recreate these habitats? I believe it can be possible, but those in the Middle East need to stop they wants for world domination. It would take time to recreate what was lost. But is there anyone out there with the foresight to look at the current situation.

America has a similar issue, they realise the problem of over hunting the beaver and the damage done. Mass fires in California could also help be prevented with the help of the beaver if managed correctly. There has been improvement out there with the reintroduction of the beaver.

Now we will have to wait and see if it’s at all possible if the Middle East can also reproduce the same results.

I can only hope.

Syon House a hidden gem

Often I’ve been to Kew Gardens, which seems to be turning into a yearly ritual, I will walk all the way around. There is a spot I like to sit at and the view has interested me for a while. Right across from this view point is a little-known place called Syon House.

I finally got there and little it is not. It feels hidden away but as you walk down and through the entrance you are greeted with a long driveway up to a house that looks like a castle, that is palatial inside. Owned by the Duke of Northumberland this estate sits in the leafy green Brentford part of London.

The house sits on a former church site and the catacombs still exist under the house. The main entrance of the house The Great Hall is kind of a love story to ancient Rome. You follow through into an Ante Room of a completely different colour scheme, made up of composite marble, like the film studios use today when making film sets. There is a sense of grandeur through-out the house with that ancient Roman Greek design by the famous James Adam who after his grand tour of Italy brought a number of styles back with him.

The Great Hall
The Ante Room

The Anti Room follows through into the Dining Room. This room is far more subtle in colour with white walls and gold leaf designs and the traditional solid oak stained floor. The next room is the Red Drawing Room, far more opulent with an intricately decorated celling. There is a lot softer feel to the room as the walls are lined with material instead of paint. And a large Axminster rug to disguise the hard wood floor.

By now you would have made it through to the Long Gallery serving as a library with many books. The fades of time are very much felt here, the colours are very faded. Was it once a pearl sky blue?

Don’t forget to inspect all the painting on your way around, painted by the famous artists of the day. Plenty of Van Dyke’s around! 

The Red Drawing Room
The Long Gallery

I had viewed many more rooms and then I exited to wonder round to have a look at the Great Conservatory which is on par in design as Kew Gardens, but not as jam packed with plants. Entering this area I was greeted with perfectly maintained grounds, a sea of ferns on one side and a perfect bed of meadow flowers on the other. There are areas of the grounds that need work on, but what a relaxing day out. Although I was worn out by the end.

The reason I call this a hidden gem, well there can’t have been more than 20 people around wondering around. I don’t believe Syon House is advertised and for such a beautiful estate. I guess everyone is at Kew.

https://www.syonpark.co.uk
Brentford, London, TW8 8JF