2022 in a nutshell - stats, opinions, updates and goals

Happy New Year!

We hope you are all enjoying the last day of 2022 (or whatever day you are reading this on). Today we are going to be looking back on 2022 and setting goals for 2023.

2022 in stats

48 posts

3191 views

most viewed post: The Amazon Rainforest part 4

best posting month: October

worst posting month: March

166% increase in views compared to last year

How was it for us?

Elsie:

I really enjoyed this year from about May. After some behind-the-scenes changes, we managed to get so many more posts out and writing them felt a lot less stressful. I also really enjoyed the experience of having a guest blogger (click here). My favourite posts to write were the Pride Month post and the 'how trees communicate' post. They both required quite a bit of background research, which was fun and interesting.

Freya:

Although I haven't written on here as much as I was hoping this year, I have loved still being a part of this blog and the community around it. I've learnt so much through writing and reading posts, and it has been a very eye-opening experience for me, as some of the topics I had very little prior knowledge on. My favourite post to write was about how I made my own t-shirt yarn, as it was so interesting to see my two passions of caring for the environment and knitting and crocheting combine.

MK:

I am really happy I could be part of this blog. The people writing it are truly special and care so much about the future of this earth. I enjoyed writing for you and seeing the blog views rise. My favourite post to read was probably the paper industry one and I really enjoyed writing the endangered animals series. Unfortunately, I will not be continuing to write here next year because life is going wild, but I will keep following it. The others will continue the endangered animals series for me, I really enjoyed writing the first three posts on it, hopefully, you liked them.

I read a definition of the word sun in a very old dictionary the other day,

Sun; a fountain of light.

Stay strong guys, and don't ever stop fighting for what is right, I won't either.

Goodbye, MK

Zoë:

I have really enjoyed writing on the blog, especially in the earlier part of the year. I've especially enjoyed writing my Green Pets series as it's something I'm so passionate about (and I love my house plants a little too much!). My favourite of the Green Pets posts was "Green Pets: so I almost killed Mr darcy...| how to keep the faith when caring for your plants". I also really loved getting to know my fellow blog editors better so thank you for all being so awesome! Next year, I hope to write more discussion posts and continue making lots of graphics!!

Important info for 2023

We will still be posting every Saturday.

We also have three new series starting this year:

Monthly quiz

The Top Tips Vote has come to an end. The new series is a monthly quiz. Hope you enjoy it.

Energy comparison

There are so many different ways to produce electricity, so in this series, we will dive into as many as possible and decide how good (or bad) each one is for the environment.

The life of a ...

I miss doing the animal of the week, but it was a bit too much doing it every week. So this series goes into the life of 10 different animals from around the globe. If you have any animal suggestions, then you can get in touch with us or write them in the comments. I would love to cover the animals that you actually want to hear about.

Older series including inspirational people, green pets and 10 Endangered Animals, will continue into 2023.

We look forward to seeing you next week with the first quiz.

Your Green World Blog Team💚

Comments

The life of ... an alcon blue butterfly

Hi everyone, Today we are going to be looking into the life of an alcon blue butterfly (Phengaris alcon). After mating, the females lay their eggs on marsh gentian, a blue-coloured wildflower. The eggs can only be laid on these flowers, as this is what the newly hatched caterpillars will eat. Although in some alp regions, they can also be found on willow gentians, a close relative of the marsh gentian. Once the caterpillars have hatched from the eggs, their main predator and danger are the ants that swarm below. But high on their plant homes, the caterpillars are safe. However, this isn't where the alcon blue caterpillars are going to stay forever. Eventually, they drop down to the ground using silk strings. With no protection, they are soon dragged off by the ants. The most amazing part is, the alcon blue caterpillars give off the same scent and chemicals as the ant larvae. So the ants take the caterpillars back to their brood chamber, wher...

Eco system Galápagos: Part 1 Geography

Hello and welcome to the first post about the Galapagos Islands. Currents and Winds The volcanic islands of Galápagos started to form 4 million years ago. Where they lie, is unique. They are situated directly on the equator, on the Nazca tectonic plate. The Galapagos Islands are on the crossroads of three currents. The cold South Equatorial Current flows westward towards Galapagos. The warm Panama Current runs in from the north. And finally, the deep sea Cromwell Current runs from the west. The Galapagos Islands are also where the Northeast Trade Wind meets the Southeast Trade Wind. Galapagos Hotspot 21 Volcanoes make up the Galápagos Islands with 13 still active. The reason for this volcanic activity is a giant hotspot under the island. A hotspot is a gigantic column of super heated molten lava, rising up towards the surface. It is immense; at least sixty miles (97 kilometers) across and 1800 miles (2897 kilometers) deep. It connects the islands to ...

Animals 11-15 in our '50 incredible animals' series

Hello, We have another five amazing animals for you today. Enjoy! 11. Dhole This is a dog species which looks rather like a red fox . They are difficult to put into any of the dog subfamilies. They aren't foxes, nor wolves, nor domestic dogs. Dholes are fast runners and live in packs of 5-12 individuals. Although sometimes, different packs will join forces to become a pack of 30 or more individuals! However, these super packs are broken up after a successful hunt. The different packs rarely attack each other as neighbouring packs are often closely related. Dhole packs live in burrows with multiple entrances. They can be found in eastern and southern Asia. They eat wild berries, insects and lizards and as a pack hunt deer, rodents and other wild mammals. Interestingly, unlike other dogs, they rarely kill by biting at the throat. They are also good swimmers! 12. Irrawaddy dolphin The Irrawaddy dolphin can be found in coastal areas of south a...

June 2021 Factfile - some news from the past month, animals and our first plant of the month!

Hi Everyone! We’re terribly sorry for missing last month’s fact file (May). We have all had a busy few months. This is actually the May fact file coming out very late. The June fact file is cancelled. Because of this, this factfile contains news from both months. We are very sorry for the delay in this post. As announced in our last factfile, this post has a new feature to it; plant of the month. We hope you'll enjoy it! News: Sierra Leone has sold a rainforest for a Chinese Harbour Sierra Leone has sold 250 acres of beach and protected rainforest for £39m to build an industrial fishing harbour. It was home to many animals, including several endangered species. This will also have a disastrous impact on local communities, tourism and as I've already mentioned, the environment. Just click here - It's an article about all the environmental disasters that happened in May. It shocked me. Red Squirrels were born ...

How much do you know about trees? - Quiz

Hello, This month's quiz is all about trees. Questions: What is the name of the network that trees use to communicate? a) the mycorrhizal network b) the mythcorhinia network c) the symbocommunial network How much of the amazon rainforest has been lost due to deforestation in the last 50 years? a) 12% b) 17% c) 23% True or False? Over 75% of land-based species are found in forests? How much carbon do tropical forest contain? a) 230 gigatons b) 280 gigatons c) 330 gigatons In California, there is a rather strange tree that has survived 13 000 years by cloning itself. What species? a) Pin oak ;b) English oak c) Palmer's oak True or False? The oldest surviving tree species, Gingko trees, have been around since just after the meteor that killed off the dinosaurs struck. Where do acacia trees grow? a) cold and ha...

Sustainable food choices challenge

Hi everyone, Welcome back to our second challenge! Today we're talking about sustainable food choices. 1. No meat on Mondays challenge The production of meat, especially beef, is resource-intensive and contributes significantly to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. By dedicating one day a week to plant-based meals, you can decrease your carbon footprint and help to reduce the strain on natural resources. This challenge encourages a more sustainable and ethical approach to food consumption, gaining a better understanding of the environmental impact of meat production. Reducing meat intake is also associated with health benefits, including lower risks of heart disease and certain cancers, making it a win-win for both your personal well-being and the planet. 2. Local / seasonal eating challenge Choosing local and seasonal foods is important in helping to reduce the environmental impact of food production and transporta...

The life of ... Atlantic salmon

Hello everyone, Today we're talking about Atlantic salmon. Atlantic salmon are found in the north Atlantic and the rivers that flow into it. They can grow up to a meter long and are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN . Atlantic salmon start their lives in rivers. The pea-sized eggs are laid in autumn and hatch in April or May. The tiny salmon are called alevins. They feed on aquatic invertabrates and eventually devolop into parr. Parr are easily recognised by destinictive patterns and markings on their flanks. After up to several years, the parr develop a silvery sheen. These replace those characteristic parr markings. Their bodies change in preparation for the salt water and they are now called smolts. They swim downstream with the current all the way to the ocean. In the deep sea waters, the smolts feed on crustaceans and small fish for 15-50 months. However they are hunted by a number of predators including, sharks, seals and of ...

10 animals on the edge of extinction you didn't know about no. 9 - South Island takahē

Hello Today we’re talking about the South Island takahē, porphyrio hochstetteri . They are flightless birds, endemic to New Zealand. Takahē are brightly coloured and weigh 2.3-3.8 kg. They have red legs and a large red beak. Their feathers are coloured blue and green. They have wings, but these are only used during courtship or rivalry displays. They are territorial, with one family’s territory reaching anywhere from 4 ha to 100 ha (0,04-1km^2). Pairs will live in the same territory each year. They breed once a year and will raise 1-3 chicks (normally 2) each year. Both parents raise the chicks together. In the wild, takahē live in native grasslands and have a lifespan of 16-18 years. If snow covers the ground then they will move into nearby forests. They eat tussock grasses, sedges and sometimes rushes. But they are opportunists, so they will occasionally go for insects or even ducklings and...

Coral reefs

Hello! We would love to introduce you to the topic of coral reefs and especially coral reef bleaching, as it is a greatly ignored but certainly significant topic. Have fun! 5 coral reef facts 1. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet and is 2300 km long! 2. Less than 0.1% of the world's ocean surface is covered in coral reefs. 3. At least 25% of all marine animals live there. 4. Coral reefs are often known as the rainforests of the ocean. 5. In 1 square kilometre of coral reef, up to 35 tons of fish can be 'produced'. The 5 biggest coral reefs in the world 1. Great Barrier Reef (near Australia) 2. Red Sea Coral Reef (near Egypt, Israel and Djibouti) 3. New Caledonia Reef (Pacific Ocean near New Caledonia) 4. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (near Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras) 5. Florida Reef (Atlantic Ocean/Gulf of Mexico near Florida) What is coral? Coral is actually made up of small anim...

10 Animals on the Edge of Extinction No. 10- The Javan Rhino

The Javan rhino is listed as the 1st animal on WWF’s list of the 10 world’s most endangered animals, and I for my part, had never heard of it! If you hadn’t either, we’re changing that now. A bit about the rhino’s lifestyle The Javan rhinos are now exclusively found on the island of Java in Indonesia, but were once found in vast regions of northeast india and Southeast Asia. They have a dark grey colour which looks almost black when wet, and their (often pink) skin folds look a bit like plated armor. Both males and females have lower incisors which resemble tusks that they use to fight. Males have one relatively short horn of about 25 cm (10 inches). Javan Rhinos live in tropical forests, marshy areas and in the thick bush. They are mainly browsers and eat over 100 plants species they find in the forest, weigh between 900 and 2300 kg (1984-5071 pounds) and are between 3 and 3.2 meters (10- 10.5 feet) long. How endangered are we talking? Javan rhinos are the most ...

Green World

Search This Blog