A couple of months ago a new law was brought in to reduce environmental damage caused by plastic waste (specifically plastic carrier bags). The law is quite simple: from now on, as a deterrent, all shops have to charge for plastic bags at the checkout. At the time (and to my surprise given that we are all supposed to want to care for our environment) the internet was peppered with cries of protest from shoppers. There were even a couple of legal challenges mooted, based on the ‘fact’ that the law couldn’t apply to carrier bags printed with shop or company logos as this was therefore not a service to customers but free company advertising. I’m not sure what’s happened to this particular complaint but I’m happy to say that things seem to have quietened down now.

It’s a good law and it certainly seems to be working, yet I do have one regret: those of you who have been reading this blog since I started it a year ago might have noted my delight in ‘witches knickers’ (see Sub Braccae Veneficas – Weds 25th Feb) and this season the crop of these delightful flowers has been substantially reduced. Today’s image (bottom left) is in fact the first bloom I have found of this exotic variety this winter.

I console myself with the knowledge that the world is a marginally better place for this piece of legislation and, after all, there’s still plenty of crap remaining out there to photograph.