Germaine Greer has suggested the British should give up their love affair with dogs because phosphorous in their faeces damages the ecosystem of her bluebell wood. It’s hard to know how seriously she means this; a lot of her pronouncements in the last decade or so have just been like someone farting loudly in a public place, and then looking defiantly from face to face to see whether anyone will say anything. Or even notice her.
But phosphorous can be a serious problem for ecosystems, especially water systems where it can cause algal blooms. And it is very important to control the main channels through which it enters the environment. That’s why it’s so important to pick up leaves in urban areas.
Yup. One of the main sources of phosphorous pollution is fallen leaves (pdf), especially from the sort of deciduous trees you find bluebells growing beneath.
Pick up after your trees, Germaine.
