Through 2020 - June

Two things seem to feature largely this year – the weather and the Pandemic.

Weather: After the first two days with sunshine and mid 20’s, cloud, wind and occasional showers and lower temperatures followed for three days, then real barrel-filling rain. Changeable is norm for Britain so some sun, some cloud, some rain followed – plus sunny intervals!!! From the 14th temperatures climbed to the mid to upper 20’s for the next week – plus some overnight rain. Seriously changeable! From the 20th the temperature started climbing and in the following week at least four days it was in the low 30’s! Finished the month with sun and cloud, i.e. sunny intervals. A very mixed month with rain, mostly showers. medium temperatures that broke loose and exceeded 30 degrees a few times.

Nature: With the weather being as it was, as I wrote to a distant friend at the end of the month, ‘the garden doesn’t know what to do with itself, it’s looking better than it’s ever done. Yes onions lifted, potatoes all lifted, broad beans all picked, runner beans and French beans being picked, gooseberries in abundance, rhubarb in abundance, tomatoes going orange every day, couldn’t ask for more.’ It seems like it’s been a perfect June as far as growing things is concerned. Flowers, shrubs & bushes all bursting colour in abundance.  Bird life has been changing. A pair of blackbirds have just had their second brood, a large gold finch family has been destroying the peace at regular intervals. a family of seven long-tailed tits have turned up and the rest of nature just does its thing.

Nationally: June was a month of restrictions starting to be lifted but the emphasis was briefly taken off the Pandemic by demonstrations against racism:

1st – some primary schools reopen for Reception, year One and year Six.

3rd – a significant increase in sleeping problems reported by Kings College London

6th – Racism: Thousands turn out for continued anti-racism protests across the UK in London, Manchester, Leicester, and Sheffield following the death of George Floyd, in May, despite calls from the Health Secretary for people not to attend mass demonstrations in breach of lock-down rules

7th  Racism: statue of 17th century merchant, slave trader, Edward Colston is pulled down by anti-racism protesters in Bristol

8th – new arrivals to Britain to self-isolate for 14 days.

9th – plans for all primary children to return to school before summer holidays dropped.

12th - Figures released by the ONS show the UK economy shrunk by 20.4% in April, the largest monthly contraction on record

13th – Racism: large opposing protesters clash in London

15th – face coverings on public transport now compulsory

15th – small retailers now allowed to open

16th - Oxford University reports that a major trial of dexamethasone – a cheap, widely available corticosteroid medication – shows it can significantly reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients.

19th – alert level reduced from 4 to 3

19th - The UK's national debt exceeds 100% of GDP for the first time since 1963

25th – masses of people descend on beaches in Bournemouth area

25th – hottest day of year recorded

29th – spike in Covid cases in Leicester means a shut-down from 2nd July