Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page, written for young people by young people

Dorset is home to miles of countryside which must be valued and protected in a time when humans are destroying the natural world.

Climate change has now caused Mediterranean butterflies to flock to the southern coast of England, to places such as Dorset this summer.

The pea blue, or long-tailed blue butterfly is just another species which has become a victim of human activity.

World War Two campaigns have been made redundant, but it is now when they can be resurrected.

For instance, ‘Dig for Victory,’ could encourage people to grow their own food, reducing the amount of food to be transported and wasted; ‘Make do and Mend’ could also help to reduce waste in the materialistic world in which we live.

Furthermore, ‘Turn That Light Out’ could encourage people to save energy. Whilst these slogans initially where used for different meanings, they can be used to help fight the battle between humans and nature.

Dorset’s land can be used effectively to rescue ecosystems. The increasing population in Dorset has resulted in more houses being built.

These new hoses may swallow countryside, but if they are sustainably built, they can support the increasing population as well as the environment.

One thing that is missing from the plans of new housing estates are allotments. Allotments could act as a hub for the communities in the housing complexes; gardening is a leisure activity and studies have shown that it is good for people’s mental health.

Therefore, allotments could be the key to reduce the country’s mental health and environmental crisis. People can once again ‘Dig for Victory’.

By James Sullivan

To make a contribution to Dorset Echo Voices, email alex.cutler@dorsetecho.co.uk