Her seminal book was published in the US in 1962 and brought attention to the effects of chemicals like DDT and how they entered the food chain and gradually became more concentrated, killing the top predators and the song birds – hence the ‘silent spring’.

Rachel Carson born in 1907 grew up on the Allegheny River where her mother introduced her to the natural world. At university, she changed from English to Biology and then went on to study zoology joining the Wildlife Service in 1935. This was when she became concerned about the environmental impact of the indiscriminate impact of man-made chemicals on the natural environment.

Her warning was that people need to learn how to live with nature not aim to conquer it. The aerial spraying of crops with DDT mixed with fuel oil was toxic and persistent. She campaigned against the big chemical companies, who in turn tried to discredit her because she was a woman without a doctorate and called her a communist. ‘Silent Spring’ was published in 1962 and came to the attention of President Kennedy. The next year a documentary by CBS gave a graphic representation of the ecological impact and raised public awareness. A White House report led to the phasing out of DDT. Rachel Carson died in 1964 but her legacy through her work is carried on. Sir David Attenborough’s latest book ‘A Life on our Planet’ reviews impacts and changes over his lifetime.

In Britain it was felt that farmers kept to the regulations on pesticides so we did not have same scale of problem as the US. The major oil spill from the stranded Torrey Canyon super tanker in 1967 raised awareness of the quantities of toxic chemicals threatening the environment. The current debate is around the impact of banned neo-nicotinoids on the fall in the bee and pollinator population. The sugar beet crop is being attached by a fly resistant to many other pesticides.

On Wednesday, 13th July Terry Stevens will give a talk on ‘Tyntesfield: the gardens and estate’ at 7.30pm in Kilmersdon Village Hall. Visitors will be very welcome. There are refreshments and a raffle.

Trisha Jordan