Ever since recycling of goods became a widespread, commercial enterprise, skeptics have hailed the process as worthless. Many argue that the emissions from recycling are greater than that of producing virgin paper, or that the emissions from the transportation of recycled goods outweigh the carbon saved by not cutting down trees.

As I stand at the sink doing the dishes, I look out into the garden to see Mrs. Blackbird hopping across the lawn, busily plucking up tasty worms from the ground. Our Blackbird ‘couple’ are out there every day along with a friendly robin, a noisy crew of sparrows and some dopey looking pigeons.

Our garden is typical of suburbia, a modest 70ft long and less than manicured due to years of garden football and a northerly aspect. I’m a keen gardener, and whilst my flower beds look in pretty good shape, our grass is a long way from being a utopian striped green lawn!