Banana Skins and the Countryside

Q. Hi

Last time I was in the Yorkshire Dales I absently tossed my banana skin over a wall only to be (good humouredly) admonished by my walking pals that is does not do the countryside any good.

Is this true?

Surely since banana skins are organic matter and bio-degradeable they will just rot into the soil providing much needed nutrients?

Thanks,

Jamie Elkstone, Richmond

A. Banana skins, orange peel, apple cores and bread crusts are all litter

Here's why you really should take these things home (they're usually lighter than when you brought them out at this point anyway - so you can't complain about the weight.)

1. The stuff will rot and will improve the soil. This might, at first, seem like a good thing to do. If, however, you are a rare alpine or arctic plant humming gently to yourself in the breeze on the top of an English mountain, the very last thing you want is for somebody to come and feed the local grass which will grow quickly and shade you out in no time. The stuff you drop takes a long time to rot anyway, particularly in winter.
   
2. The hills do have a resident population of rats, crows, gulls and so on - especially in areas popular with people - because they know that people are incontinent of food. Feeding these will increase their numbers, and they, in turn, will eat wild bird eggs and chicks. Not feeding them will help them achieve a more natural balance. In terms of rodents - they are inside that summit cairn you were sitting on last weekend you know - its by no means too cold for them up on Scafell Pike. Its an easy life - the food just drops through the stones.
   
3. Its a dirty, unsightly, horrible habit and a bad example to children, so don't do it.

Mike Knipe, Crook

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