The North Downs have more than one habitat. A lot of people don’t realize that because they’ve only visited part of it. However, by paying close attention and spending more time in that area of the country, it becomes much easier to see that there is a variety of wildlife to take note of. Because these environments are so different from one another, they can support all kinds of creatures and plant life. It makes the North Downs a fascinating place to visit and spend time examining. If you like nature, North Downs is the place to go.

Some of the most beautiful of the places available are woodlands. These cover a lot of the area, and they’re home to creatures and plants that you just might not see that many other places. Years ago, though, there was a lot more to the woodlands than there is now. Human clearing has removed a large number of trees, and they haven’t come back. They’ve been kept down by continued clearing and haven’t been given the opportunity to grow into large forests again. The areas that are still woodland, though, offer a lot of beautiful trees like oaks and chestnuts.

Most of the area today is grasslands, both chalk and otherwise. These grasslands are home to plants and animals that wouldn’t survive well in the woodland areas. The grasslands support a lot of insects like butterflies and dragonflies, and they’re a great sight to behold when walking or hiking in the region. Almost anyone who likes nature will appreciate what the grasslands of the North Downs have to offer, and that’s also true of people who enjoy studying specific plants and animals, of which there are many to be found.

The woodlands and grasslands aren’t the only options for habitats. There are also cliffs and other types of habitats there. The cliffs offer an opportunity for exposed chalk and plants that rarely grow anywhere else. This makes it a great place for people to study plants and animals that they just might not be able to find anywhere else. It can also make it very enjoyable for people who just enjoy nature, even if they don’t categorize it or study it to the extent that others do.

Because there are so many different habitats on the North Downs, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The flora and fauna that the area provides are worth study, and if it wasn’t for them, they might not be able to survive. The grasslands and the woodlands are the perfect places for plants and animals to thrive for years to come.

Since the beginning, flowers have held places in man’s heart and his abode. Greeks and Romans outdid each other in the lavish use of flowers. Their banquet floors were strewn, ankle-deep, with flowers and floral scents filled the air because of a belief that their fragrance purified the atmosphere and minimized intoxication.

Housewives in the olden days, like their modern counterparts, saved on marketing money to buy a nosegay or a bunch of roses for the house. The scented helleborne was preferred because it was used to break the spells of witches and magicians.

Even ruthless conquerors, mighty kings, and skeptic philosophers had their gentle moments among their flowering plants. Of the ancient kings, the Aztec Montezumas were fervent flower lovers and maintained a kingly garden of exotic plants. When Montezuma, the younger, was conquered, his entire kingdom was wrested from him. One historical account said “Poor Montezuma… The entire story of gardening does not afford a more pathetic picture than this great emperor begging that before his life will be taken, he be allowed to see his flowers once again.”

Persians favored the rose and the narcissus blossoms. One Caliph named El-Mutavekkel so passionately loved roses that on every blooming season, he reportedly wore nothing but rose-colored clothes and had his carpets sprinkled with rose water.

The Indians were likewise flower children. Samarkand was known for its vast tulip fields while Lahore was given entirely to rose planting. When lilacs bloomed, flower rites were held during which time the streets were covered with narcissus and tulip flowers. They dedicated the month of June to the rose while July was devoted to the lotus, India’s reigning flower.

And because flowers were essential to the lives of men, flowers stood as symbols of nations. The rose was the national emblem of England, Honduras and Iran while some others are: Italy – Lily, Japan – Chrysanthemum, Russia – Sunflower, Brazil – Cattleya, etc.

Various messages were also conveyed by flowers. The red carnation means “my heart aches for you,” in which case the recipient may either answer “I confess my love’ by sending a moss rose bud, or foil the design by sending a dried up white rose which is a way of saying “you leave me cold.”

Nowadays, amorous admirers signify “I love you” by having the florists deliver three long stemmed red roses to the girl.

Other symbolisms attached to flowers are: azalea for temperance, sunflower for false riches, wallflower.1or fidelity in adversity, scarlet poppy for fantastic extravagance, blue violet for modesty, etc. A rather peculiar connotation affixed to the Aztec marigold is that of “vulgar mind.”

We can respond to this explosion of information by becoming even more dazed to the extent where our own initiatives become paralysed, or we can feel motivated to accomplish what it is that we consider is worthwhile and will bring us personal life satisfaction.

Once we have determined a purpose for our creative efforts we would be best to realise that we should have Nature onside. Nature has the power to create new life. It directed our growth and mended our bodies when hurt. It causes sunrise and sunset and allows us to enjoy all that the earth beauties on offer. It is willing to co-operate with us in our desire to cultivate particular plants and living things. Nature commands that we sleep so it can repair our bodies and our psyche. It orchestrates all our body functions, even the heart- that we do not have to keep beating. There are so many miraculous events that prove to us the power, intelligence and benign aims of Nature that assure us of our continued welfare and well being on this planet.

Sometimes we may question what we see or know of Nature’s acts and processes when we observe a weak creature being overtaken by another for food. We may wonder that there was no better way than to decree that the male penguin endures the terrible months as he sacrifices every comfort for the precious egg warmed at his feet. We are distraught when death overtakes the young.

We each have our own times of chafing against what is inevitable and against what we perceive as unfair or even cruel, but our responses will not alter Nature’s rules and nor would we want that to happen as we depend upon them and must continue to intelligently co-operate and abide by them to the extent that we find possible. For Nature is the ultimate authority.

Nature, with its mysterious powers and purposes remains supreme and performs the miracle that no doctor can explain satisfactorily. A surgeon can take pride in the mechanics he has mastered, but is humbled before nature’s healing of tissue that follows. In this and many other spheres of human experience Nature proves best.