That would be my observation of Climate Change, in a nutshell. However, there is much more to it than that. I feel that people today are much more conscious of how they impact the planet in their daily lives. Words like carbon footprint, ecosystem and ozone layer are well understood by most people now. The practicalities are still a little slow in becoming realities, but we're getting there. When I think of summers and winters, it brings me back to my youth of 60 years ago, growing up in Mallow...

In a field of dreams by the Blackwater, the Bed-Tree always held a special place in our hearts. It was old, yet strong with the wisdom that only old trees possess. From the “bed” area you could continue to the top of the tree and watch the flowing river, as it meandered through the Paddock on its way to the sea. Many a mullet and minnow (which we called “collies”) we caught here in jam jars, as we paddled over the Green Stone. I also recall a crab-tree nearby where we devoured the irresistible crab-apples. We would also sample copious amounts of a certain green leaf, which we called “Bread and Cheese” for some reason, even though it tasted nothing like either bread or cheese!

Back to today and I believe that Governments need to step up in order for things to change. The effects of Climate Change affect everything from waste disposal to transport and everything in between. Thankfully, many young people are active in making us aware of what can happen if things don't change. Most people's attitude to recycling has improved, and, while the arrival of hybrid cars and electric transport is promising, some kind of Government incentive is necessary to encourage these initiatives.

In the past, we had some good practices such as using rainwater, collecting food waste to feed animals, particularly pigs. We didn't use packaging, as loose tea,