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A round up of the top stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Monday 12 December
Scotland’s greenspace in decline? - Greenspace Scotland
A survey published today by greenspace scotland shows that Scots are
using urban greenspaces less often than in previous years. Fewer people
thought their local greenspace was a good place for their children to play
or a safe place for physical activity. That may explain why fewer Scots are
taking a trip to their local park. This could have a significant impact on
our health and wellbeing, as well as the resilience of Scotland’s towns and
cities.
Since 2004, when greenspace scotland first commissioned its biennial
survey of greenspace use and attitudes, the number of people using
Scotland’s urban greenspaces regularly had been rising. The 2011 survey
shows a dramatic decline with the number of people using their local
greenspaces once a week or more often falling from two-thirds (63%) in 2009
to just over half (54%) in 2011.
This decrease in use is mirrored by significant falls in people’s rating
of their local greenspaces as: safe places for physical activity (60% in
2009 down to 49% in 2011); places where you can relax and unwind (63% down
to 50%); attractive places (57% down to 48%); and good places for children
to play (59% down to 52%). This is particularly concerning because the
previous surveys had shown clear upward trends with people increasingly
agreeing strongly that their local greenspaces where good places for play,
physical activity, relaxation. This had suggested that real improvements
were being made to the quality of local greenspaces.
Speaking on the release of the finding, Julie Procter, Chief Executive of
greenspace scotland said: “We’ve been hearing about reductions in
greenspace staffing and management which inevitably was going to make a
difference on the ground but we hadn’t expected this to impact so soon on
people’s use and attitudes to greenspace. Difficult decisions on priorities
have to be taken in these financially challenging times – just as households
have been tightening their belts, so too have local authorities and other
organisations. These survey findings are very timely; they should sound an
alarm and give us all an opportunity to think again about whether the right
decisions are being made. What may seem a relatively easy, low-impact
cost-saving on greenspace now could have a disproportionately negative and
far-reaching impact on Scotland’s health and prosperity.”
Download the full survey.
Ruby tail wasp found in Scunthorpe – the second record in 30 years -
Buglife
Survey data published today reveals the second record for 30 years of the
Ruby tail wasp (Chrysis viridula) and the second most northerly record for
the Roesels bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii) and Kent Black Arches moth
(Meganola albula).
The survey report is part of a wider project by Buglife with funding from
SITA Trust to create and improve habitats on a number of sites across
Scunthorpe.
 Ruby
tail wasp (Chrysis viridula) © Roger Key
Clare Dinham, Buglife Brownfield Conservation Officer said “This three
year project in Scunthorpe is already underway with our exciting bug survey
results being published today. The Ruby tail wasp was found in abundance on
the Tata steelworks site. We believe that the sandy banks and vertical faces
on the site are ideal nest sites for this solitary wasp. This site has great
potential so we look forward to improving it even more for bugs”.
Buglife will be improving five sites across Scunthorpe including sites
managed by North Lincolnshire Council and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust,
all of which are ex-industrial land. One active industrial site – Tata
Steelworks, also included within the project is proving to be an important
site for bugs in North Lincolnshire.
New project probes peat's role in reducing effects of climate change -
North Pennines AONB
A new national project will map the depth and carbon content of peatlands
across England for the first time - and determine how valuable they could be
in helping to reduce the effects of future climate change.
 Taking
peat core samples
The National Peat Survey is a joint project of the North Pennines Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership and Natural England and
represents the first time the extent, depth and carbon content of England's
peat has been mapped.
Despite being a small country England has a wealth of peatlands which are
found across the country from the fens of East Anglia to the Border Mires
and include the vast blanket bogs of the North Pennines. Internationally
acknowledged as important habitats for wildlife, there is now increasing
interest in the carbon that peatlands store and their ability to lock away
ever more carbon when well managed.
Conservationists know that peatlands are huge carbon stores, but there
remains a lot of uncertainty around these carbon estimates. The National
Peat Survey will gather existing and new data to establish just how
important these landscapes are in terms of locking up carbon. The United
Nations Environment Programme estimates that carbon released from degraded
peat contributes to 10% of the global total.
Tuesday 13 December
Welsh Bird List Grows by Two - Birds in Wales
Record number of scarce and rare birds seen in Wales
A new report by the Welsh Records Panel shows that a record number of
unusual birds were spotted in Wales in 2010, including two species never
previously recorded here. A total of 136 scarce and rare birds were reported
during the year, with accurate enough descriptions to be added to the Welsh
records. The previous high was 109 birds in 2008.
An Iberian Chiffchaff, usually found only in Spain and Portugal, sang in
Gwent’s Wentwood Forest for five weeks from the middle of May, and the
following month a Marmora’s Warbler, from the eastern Mediterranean, was
found on the Blorenge, near Abergavenny, only the sixth ever seen in
Britain.
Scotland's white-tailed eagles soar to new heights - RSPB
 2011
has proved another record-breaking year for breeding pairs of Scotland’s
largest bird of prey. White-tailed eagles soared to new heights despite
heavy storms throughout the 2011 breeding season.
Conservationists, and many sea eagle enthusiasts, had been concerned that
the high winds felt across the country in May could have had a detrimental
impact on breeding white-tailed eagles at the vulnerable part of the season
when most nests contain small chicks. Indeed, some nests failed including
that of BBC Springwatch star, nicknamed “Itchy”, who experts fear lost his
chicks in the storm.
However, the bad weather failed to blow the species off course.
Recent survey figures for the 2011 breeding season reveal that there were 57
territorial pairs in Scotland, an increase of 10% on the previous year. A
total of 43 young fledged successfully from these nests.
Official report confirms massive misuse of EU fisheries funds
- Ocean 2012
Billions of euros to promote sustainable fishing are doing the reverse
Brussels - The EU Court of Auditors today published a report damning
costly failures to eliminate overfishing in Europe.
The report found that the multi-billion euro European Fisheries Fund
designed to balance fishing activities at sustainable levels is actually
doing the reverse. Loopholes mean that fleet owners are receiving subsidies
to increase the capacity and fishing power of their vessels, adding to fleet
overcapacity. A small fraction of the money available for scrapping is being
used as intended, with most being spent on vessels that are old or no longer
active.
The court did not stop at criticising the misspending of taxpayers’
money, but highlighted fundamental flaws in the existing fleet adjustment
rules.
The report warns that fleet overcapacity is driving the depletion of fish
stocks, threatening marine life and the viability of fishing sector and
coastal communities. The result is that three out of four European fish
stocks are overfished.
Birdlife Europe, Greenpeace, OCEAN2012, Seas At Risk and WWF are urging
the European Parliament and Council of Ministers to follow the court’s
recommendations. The report shows that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)
reform will be meaningless unless measures are based on a full assessment of
the fishing capacity coupled with deadlines for fleet reductions, the groups
argue.
Read
report (pdf)
Devon’s heathland reptiles get healthy boost - Devon Wildlife Trust
 The
Trust has this month received funding to support a new project which is set
to boost populations of reptiles and amphibians at four sites across the
county.
The project is being undertaken by Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT)
thanks to a grant of almost £50,000 from Biffaward, a multi-million pound
environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT),
which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services through
the Landfill Communities Fund. DWT was able to secure this grant
thanks to generous donations from The Marjorie and Geoffrey Jones Charitable
Trust and Sibelco UK.
The project will run over three years, starting
this month, and will take place at the following DWT nature reserves: Bovey
Heathfield and Chudleigh Knighton Heath in the Bovey Basin, along with
Lickham Common and Ashculm Turbary in the Blackdown Hills.
The programme
of work will help reptiles and amphibians animals by restoring lowland
heathland habitat and enhancing existing areas. Along with this work, ponds,
egg laying heaps and hibernacula for hibernation will be created for a
variety of species including adders, great crested newts and grass snakes.
Squirrel
pox confirmed in Ayrshire - National Trust for Scotland
 Conservation
charity the National Trust for Scotland has today confirmed that a grey
squirrel from Culzean Country Park in Ayrshire has tested positive for the
squirrel pox virus (seropositive).
This is the first time the virus has been found to be present in the area
and its presence represents a concerning leap to the north.
The discovery
of this seropositive animal was made recently by Trust Rangers onsite,
working closely with staff from the Red Squirrels in South Scotland Project
(RSSS) and has been confirmed by expert testers. The squirrel pox virus is
now the single largest threat to red squirrels. The disease is carried by
the introduced grey squirrel, but while it is harmless to them, it is lethal
to our native red squirrel. Once infected with the virus red squirrels
suffer a slow, lingering death dying within approximately 15 days of
contracting the virus.
National Trust for Scotland nature adviser Mr
Lindsay Mackinlay said: “This is a very worrying development as we had until
now hoped that the Southern Uplands, together with the active control of
greys by many concerned landowners further south, were acting as a barrier
and preventing the further spread of this virus north. However, we now know
that there are some other areas in Ayrshire with ‘positive squirrels’, near
Mauchline and Stair, suggesting the disease has spread south-westwards from
there. "
Wednesday 14 December
CCW scoops major Award for work to assess the Welsh coast’s sensitivity to
tidal stream developments
A study, commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales, to assess the
sensitivity of coastal landscapes and seascapes to tidal stream developments
has won the Landscape Institute’s Strategic Landscape Planning Award for
2011.
The study forms a key part of the evidence which CCW will use to advise
Government and marine planners to help ensure that tidal stream energy
devices are sited in the right place, where they cause the least damage to
Wales’ coastal landscapes and seascapes.
Elinor Gwynn, Countryside Council for Wales’ Head of People and Places
said: “Renewable energy developments are likely to play a key role in the
UK’s current shift towards a low-carbon future. CCW is committed to working
with developers and regulators to support the development of marine
renewable energy in locations, and using technologies, that avoid
significant impacts on Wales’ natural heritage, including our seascapes and
coastal landscapes. It is vital that the advice we provide is based on the
best possible information and this Award reflects the importance we attach
to this work.”
The study, commissioned from Land Use Consultants (LUC), has provided CCW
with a pioneering GIS-based tool which identifies the levels of sensitivity
of Wales’ coastal landscapes and seascapes to impacts from tidal stream
developments. The study focussed on areas around Wales where the tidal
stream energy resource is greatest (North West Anglesey, the Llyn Peninsula,
Pembrokeshire and the Glamorgan coast) and covers the coastline as well as
areas out to sea.
Washed up whales - Zoological Society of London
More than 3400 whales, dolphins and porpoises have stranded on UK beaches
over the past six years, reveals a new report published today.
 The
report by the UK Cetacean
Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) details the investigation of
whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans), marine turtles and basking
sharks found stranded around the UK coast between 2005 and 2010.
The CSIP has investigated some of the UK’s most high-profile strandings
during this time, from the northern bottlenose whale that swam up the Thames
in 2006, to the mass stranding of 26 common dolphins in Cornwall in 2008.
The collaborative CSIP, coordinated by the Zoological Society of London
(ZSL) and funded by Defra, Scottish Government and Welsh Government,
recorded a decline in the number of reported strandings of harbour porpoises
and common dolphins on UK shores, but saw a small increase in strandings of
some species like the humpback whale.
CSIP scientists also conducted over
750 post-mortem examinations on stranded animals during the six year period.
They discovered that infectious disease, starvation, entanglement in fishing
gear (bycatch) and bottlenose dolphin attacks on porpoises were amongst the
most common causes of death. Cases of bycatch were still common, but
occurred in lower numbers than during the first half of the decade.
Defra and the Devolved Administrations have recently agreed to additional
funding for a further three years, allowing the CSIP to continue their
investigation of UK strandings- but they can only do so with help from the
general public.
Read the report (pdf)
Update on measures to tackle Bovine TB - defra
The devastating problems caused by bovine TB are to be tackled by a
package of measures which include controlled culling of badgers as part of a
science-led and carefully managed badger control policy. The policy is
expected to be piloted initially in two areas in early Autumn next year,
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman confirmed today.
Nearly 25,000 cattle were slaughtered in England last year alone because
of bovine TB, with the cost to the taxpayer set to top £1 billion over the
next ten years. The problem is particularly bad in west and south-west
England, where nearly a quarter of all cattle farms were affected by the
disease during 2010.
The two pilots, carried out over a period of six weeks, will be closely
managed and monitored to examine how safe, effective and humane a method
this is. An independent panel of experts will be asked to oversee and
evaluate the pilots and report to Ministers, before a decision is made on
whether to roll out the policy more widely.
The Government has today published a policy document, The Government’s
Policy on Bovine TB and Badger Control in England which can be found
together with Guidance to Natural England via
www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/a-z/bovine-tb:
First reactions
Shooting Badgers Is No ‘Magic Bullet’ For Controlling Bovine TB -
Mammal Society
 New
research from Ireland casts doubts over culling policy
A badger cull in England is unscientific, unlikely to lower the incidence
of Bovine TB in cattle, and may even exterminate badgers from local areas,
potentially placing the UK Government in breach of international wildlife
law. That’s the reaction from the Mammal Society to today’s announcement
from Defra on proposals to cull badgers in England.
The Mammal Society - which is the only organisation involved in the study
and conservation of all British mammals - believes the Government should
examine the emerging evidence from a badger study in Ireland showing that
individual animals move greater distances than the Government has allowed
for in its control zones. These movements have the potential to completely
undermine the policy, with badgers needlessly paying the ultimate price.
Marina Pacheco is the Mammal Society’s chief executive. She said:
“Everyone is eager to help the livestock industry control this devastating
disease, but we believe today’s announcement only offers farmers false hope.
The Government has based its culling policy on flawed science, while proper
research seems to have been disregarded in the lurch towards a policy fix.
Perhaps this is not a surprise as the advice of an Independent Scientific
Group on Cattle TB has also been ignored.”
NFU relief at Defra TB announcement
NFU President Peter Kendall has said today’s decision from Defra to
commit to two pilot areas for badger controls as part of its plan to tackle
bovine TB is the right way forward.
Mr Kendall expressed his relief on
behalf of the farming industry after Defra Secretary of State Caroline
Spelman said today that she had listened to all of the evidence put before
her during the lengthy consultation into a government-led TB Eradication
Programme. And she had now concluded that a carefully managed and
science-led policy of badger controls would be introduced.
Mr Kendall
said: “Today is another massive step forward in achieving our end goal of a
healthy countryside – both for badgers and for cattle. I commend Defra for
introducing these two pilot areas to confirm the effectiveness, humaneness
and safety of controlled shooting. We must tackle this terrible disease, a
disease that sees tens of thousands of cattle destroyed each and every year.
The most recent science shows badger controls are absolutely necessary,
together with cattle controls, to get on top of TB. No other country in the
world has successfully tackled this devastating disease without first
addressing the reservoir of TB in the wildlife."
Cull decision is shot in the dark - The Wildlife Trusts
 Image:
Neil Aldridge
The Wildlife Trusts today express disappointment and regret at the
Government’s decision to press ahead with a cull of badgers in pilot areas
in England.
The Wildlife Trusts call on the Government to put biosecurity and
vaccination at the centre of efforts to tackle this disease and avoid
wasting more time and money on a badger cull.
Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said:
“A badger cull is the wrong tool to address this serious and complex problem
and a distraction from other measures to tackle bovine TB. An industry-led
cull with open shooting in the countryside is untested and these pilots will
not provide a scientific evaluation of the impact on bovine TB. The
rationale for any cull of native species needs to be extremely clear and
well proven. We do not believe this is the case with the proposed badger
cull.”
The Wildlife Trusts believe that Defra should pursue the following as a
matter of priority:
• Support landowners to improve on-farm biosecurity
and the deployment of the injectable BadgerBCG vaccine;
• Continue to
develop an oral vaccine for badgers;
• Complete development of a cattle
vaccine and secure change to EU regulation to permit its commercial
deployment.
CLA welcomes confirmation of badger control programme
CLA President Harry Cotterell said: "We are very pleased the Government
has confirmed its intention to allow a badger control programme to begin in
early autumn next year. The CLA backs a controlled cull, carried out by
farmers and landowners, as part of a science-led, well-managed and sustained
bTB control policy. Badger culling, bTB testing, cattle movement control and
removal and slaughter of infected animals are all essential tools to tackle
the disease."
Thursday 15 December
Planned wind farm would kill 214 geese every year - Scottish Wildlife
Trust
The Scottish Wildlife Trust has today (13/12/11) objected to the Clyde
extension wind farm in the Upper Clyde Valley. If consented, the 57 turbine
wind farm could hold the dubious record for the highest risk of collisions
to pink-footed geese in the UK. It is estimated that there will be about
214 pink-footed goose fatalities per year. The wind farm would also cause
significant damage to a European protected blanket bog habitat.
View objection in full. (pdf)
Millions of GM moths could be released to combat crop pests - report the
Telegraph
Millions of genetically modified moths could be released into the
countryside to help kill off crop pests, under plans being considered by the
Government.
A British company has proposed releasing a GM strain of the diamondback
moth, which it has developed, which would reduce the population of the
vegetable-eating insects.
Males carrying a lethal gene would be released which would cause their
offspring to die almost immediately. The subsequent fall in their numbers
could help increase yields for farmers.
Oxitec, the company behind the idea, hopes to begin trials next year but
faces opposition from groups who say the untested technology could threaten
wildlife and human health.
Friday 16 December
'Unique opportunity' for farm study - Lake District National Park
Farmers in the Lake District are being urged to work with the national
park authority and University of Cumbria in a unique land survey case study
which could result in potentially boosting farm incomes and helping to
manage the impacts of climate change.
A partnership project between the LDNPA and university is looking for
Lake District farms – which could be sheep or beef farms - to take part in a
special carbon and land management project.
Farmers who take part in the case study will need to be prepared to have
national park and university staff visit their farms four times each between
February and July next year to carry out specific project-related tasks:
National Park Authority shortlisted - Yorkshire Dales National Park
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has been shortlisted
for a national award for its work in reducing its carbon footprint.
The Local Government Chronicle (LGC) – the local government newspaper –
holds annual awards that pit local authorities against each other in the
quest for a top place in each of 17 categories.
This year the YDNPA has been shortlisted in the Low Carbon Council
category along with six city and county councils
Each of the finalists will give a presentation to the judging panel in
January and the winners will be announced at the LGC Awards on March 14 in
London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
The Authority’s Chief Executive David Butterworth said: “The Authority
exists to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural
heritage of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and we believe climate change
will have the biggest single impact on the special qualities of the Park in
coming years. For that reason we have made carbon reduction an integral
part of our day-to-day work and I am delighted we have been shortlisted for
a national award as a result.”
 The
Eagle Returns - RSPB
A White-tailed eagle in flight
Staff and visitors at RSPB Vane Farm Nature Reserve have welcomed the
first sightings of a White-tailed Sea Eagle to the reserve this season.
Bird ‘H’, a two and a half year old female, recognisable by her turquoise
wing tag, was first seen on Monday 5 December and has shown up daily to
delight visitors since then.
The arrival has come to signal the start of winter for staff at the
reserve, as for the last three years the cold winter weather has attracted
up to three of these magnificent birds of prey to the nature reserve at Loch
Leven, perhaps drawn to the area by the large numbers of wintering
pink-footed geese and other wildfowl on the loch.
Vane Farm Warden, Vicky Turnbull remarked: “During the cold winter
months, when water bodies can freeze up, the eagles can benefit from the
stress this puts on wildfowl and other wildlife who experience increased
mortality at this time of year. Last year we witnessed a Sea Eagle
with a rabbit carcass being repeatedly charged by a fox, obviously hoping to
steal the meal for itself. Hopefully if eagle ‘H’ stays around for a
while, we can witness more of these wildlife spectacles”.
Lock gates of the future: British Waterways helping to save native elm trees
British Waterways is planting 100 native elms trees by canals and rivers
across the country in order to enhance the nation’s natural waterside
heritage.
The elm, which was a favourite riverside subject of 19th century British
artist John Constable, has a long-standing relationship with Britain’s
canals and rivers as their timber withstands wet conditions very well,
making them the traditional material for making lock gates and cills with
for more than 200 years.
Before the 1960s, many millions of native elms had thrived on our soils
for centuries, however more than 90% of them were wiped out in a decade by a
deadly fungus, Dutch elm disease, which is spread by the elm bark beetle.
British Waterways has sourced the elm saplings from The Conservation
Foundation, which has taken cuttings from mature parent elms found growing
in the British countryside, which appear to have resisted Dutch elm disease.
The saplings, which are 50cm tall, will be planted by volunteers working
alongside British Waterways’ environment team.
Adder disappearance in Nottinghamshire 'very worrying' - BBC report
 There
has not been a confirmed sighting of adders in Nottinghamshire for six years
Wildlife experts fear that the adder may be extinct in Nottinghamshire
after another annual survey failed to find any evidence of the reptile.
The last confirmed sighting of the venomous snake in the county was in
Sherwood Forest in 2005.
Nick Crouch, a conservationist, said its disappearance was "very
worrying" as the species was a key indicator of the health of the food
chain.
The wildlife expect has appealed for the public to report any sightings.
Mr Crouch, a nature conservation leader for Nottinghamshire County
Council, said the species was once quite widespread across Sherwood.
Adders are in rapid decline in the UK and experts put this mainly down to
habitat loss and disturbance.
"These snakes require areas of heathland and woodland," Mr Crouch said.
"These areas are being lost or are not being managed properly but quite why
the adder seems to have disappeared in Nottinghamshire is a bit of a
mystery.
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