Fields of gold: Global warming brings sunshine harvest
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sunflowers are creeping into the English countryside. Sights like this, near the village of Eltisley in Cambridgeshire, are expected to become more common if global warming is here to stay.
At present the huge flowers are still a rare crop, with a handful of English farmers growing less than 6,000 acres in all. They thrive only south of a line between Bristol and the Wash.
Dan Bull, manager of Croxton Park Farm, grows his to provide birdseed. The bulk of Britain's modest output of seeds are crushed to make oil for cooking, or for blending into margarine and other spreads.
Mr Bull has planted 30 acres of sunflowers as a "break crop", to give the soil a rest from wheat and barley. He finds they need little fertiliser and herbicides, can be harvested with a conventional combine, and bring in pounds 200 an acre - less than other crops, but not a trivial sum.
There is only one hitch. Drivers on the nearby road stop, tramp through his barley and take photographs. ``They're a pretty crop, which seems to please Joe Bloggs,'' he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments