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offices throughout the UK on the second Thursday of each month. The most
recent issue is displayed below. Advertising from £80 (valid from 1/1/12 until
30/6/12).
NB: All paid UK jobs appearing here also appear as Standard Free Linage
adverts in CJS Weekly.
If you are interested in a particular ad please contact the advertiser,
not CJS, telling them where you saw their ad.
Countryside Jobs Service Monthly
The leading monthly for countryside jobs in the UK
Published on the second Thursday every month – 12 January 2012
CJS is endorsed by the Scottish Countryside Rangers
Association, the Countryside Management Association and NATUR, the
Welsh Institute of Countryside and Conservation Management
CJS
also sponsors CJ Snail at Durrell and Naturenet at www.naturenet.net and
supports Leukaemia Research.
Director
Salary £41 616- £45 196
The Malvern Hills Conservators wish to appoint a Director to work with
the Board to set the Strategic Direction for the organisation and manage the
staff and volunteers to implement the practical day to day management of the
Malvern Hills and commons.
The Malvern Hills Conservators
A unique statutory body set up by Acts of Parliament 1884-1995.
Responsible for the management of the Malvern Hills and commons
under their jurisdiction comprising 1200 hectares in the heart of the
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
29 members of the Board are elected or appointed locally.
The Role
The Director will be responsible for all aspects of the Board’s work
including the management of its land, employees, administration, finance and
develop and implement policies.
The challenge is to lead a dedicated team to manage the Board’s land to a
high standard of conservation, amenity and public access.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust is the county’s largest environmental charity,
working for the protection and enhancement of Norfolk’s wildlife and wild
places.
We are seeking experienced individuals to be responsible for all day to
day duties at our Visitor Centres including opening & closing, retail sales,
managing volunteers, customer service, cash handling and record keeping.
Previous experience essential. Knowledge of nature conservation and
Norfolk wildlife desirable.
Full time posts: 5dpw £1,260 per month at Ranworth and Hickling. Part
time post at Holme Dunes 2dpw £475 per month.
Posts run from 26 March to 4 November 2012.
Before Applying for further information about all positions visit
www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/jobs or for application pack send a SAE
(£1.08 stamp) to Debbie Fuller, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Bewick House, 22
Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1RY. Please state which post/s you are applying
for.
Closing date for applications 23 January 2012
Registered charity no. 208734
Job Title: Door to Door Membership
Recruiters
Hours: Flexible to suit – from 10 per week, ideal for flexible weekend /
evening / summer work.
Location: Coventry, Solihull, Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth, Stratford
upon Avon, Nuneaton, North Warwickshire, (own transport desirable).
The role: Could you inspire people about wildlife, conservation and the
work of the Trust? We are looking for enthusiastic, committed people with
excellent communication skills to become part of our recruitment team.
No hard sell is involved.
Sales or fundraising experience and an appreciation/knowledge of wildlife
would be an advantage but are not essential as full training and support is
provided.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is the leading environmental charity for
Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, supported by its 23,500 members.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has a positive approach to equality and
welcomes applications from all sectors of the community
Assistant
Consultant
Location: Woodford Valley, Salisbury.
Salary: £16K to £18K, depending on experience.
We are seeking an assistant consultant for the assessment, design and
delivery of river related works including erosion control and aquatic
habitat enhancement.
The successful applicant will supply general technical assistance to both
the Consultancy and Operations teams.
Countryside
volunteers are being offered the chance of free training to improve
their skills and gain a nationally recognised qualification with Smart
Training, one of the UK’s largest specialist training companies.
Volunteers claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support
Allowance (ESA) can benefit from full Government funding, which means that
training is free of charge.
Two courses are now available in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol
and Surrey:
Level 3 Diploma in Countryside Management – covers a
variety of subjects relating to a career in conservation, sustainable
development and the environment including estate skills and the principles
of wildlife populations, ecology and conservation. The course takes up
to 18 months to complete through weekly tutorials.
Level 3 Diploma in Volunteer Management – aimed at those
who manage or supervise volunteers, this course helps increase awareness of
the way volunteers are managed and improves effectiveness and confidence.
Tutorials are held once a month and it will take 12 months to achieve the
qualification.
Smart Training has 17 years’ experience of delivering quality training, a
team of highly experienced tutors and an outstanding pass rate of 85%. See
www.smart-training.com/management or call Gary Hunnisett on 0845 177
0695 for more information.
Operations
Manager
Location: Woodford Valley, Salisbury.
Salary: £28K to £35K, depending on experience.
We are seeking an Operations Manager for the delivery of river related
works including erosion control and aquatic habitat enhancement.
The successful applicant will lead the day to day running and development
of the operations team working in close liaison with the consultancy team
and reporting directly to the Managing Director.
Intermediate
apprenticeships in Horticulture or Trees & Timber (Arboriculture)
If you are a land-based employer, now’s the time to take on an apprentice
aged 19 plus. Between JANUARY and APRIL 2012 you can enjoy a reduction
of between 30% and 50% on the cost of the programme.
Reap the rewards of investing in an apprenticeship – improve quality,
business productivity, staff morale and achieve business goals.
Our programmes are tailor-made and endorsed by leading employers in the
land-based sectors, and our success rates are above the national average.
Apprentices earn as they learn and gain real work experience whilst
attending college on either a day or block release basis only.
Training for apprentices aged 16–18 remains FREE.
Apprenticeships are offered at our college centres in Enfield, Crystal
Palace Park and Gunnersbury Park, with excellent training locations
including a 30-acre country estate and grounds in parks across London.
As London’s specialist provider for training in the green industries, we
are renowned for the provision of high quality training.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. "
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.
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.
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:
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 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."
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 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."
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.
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.
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:
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.”
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”.
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.
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.
Monday 19 December
Monday 19 December - this is our last news update
until Monday 9 January 2012
Lorry tracks prove an unlikely home for northern colony of rare
water-plant.
Endangered tassel stonewort provoked a flurry of conservation activity
when it was discovered deep in the Yorkshire Wolds in a pool formed where a
lorry drove across a road verge. With such an unusual plant popping up in
such an insecure habitat, a group effort was soon underway at the secret
location to ensure its survival.
Yorkshire-based ecologist Martin Hammond spied the unfamiliar plant last
year, and with the help of national experts confirmed it was the endangered
tassel stonewort. The new colony was discovered in one the Wolds’ many Sites
of Special Scientific Interest, so Martin contacted Natural England adviser
Chris McGregor and they cast their net wide to find partners to help protect
the plant. The Million Ponds Project stepped into the breach, offering
advice, support and a grant funded by Biffaward. The brawn came from North
Yorkshire County Council’s Countryside Volunteers group, Natural England
staff and a BTCV work party, who dug seven small, shallow ponds close to the
colony. Another two ponds were dug by machine on neighbouring land, and some
invasive vegetation was removed from the original roadside pond. The ponds
will be grazed to maintain the open conditions that tassel stonewort
requires, and will be monitored over the coming years to assess the success
of the colony.
Today, £19m of funding to restore public parks across the UK has been
announced by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund
(BIG).
HLF has awarded confirmed funding of £11.3m to restore seven parks from
Fife to London, while HLF and BIG have jointly awarded £7.8m to a further
four parks in Goole, Manchester, Brighton and Crawley.
Carole Souter, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “Parks
are an important resource whatever the time of year, even in the winter
months when our natural inclination is to stay at home curled up on the
sofa. Our parks are invaluable to people’s well being and an integral part
of local communities. The Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund are
working with local authorities and communities to ensure that public parks
continue to receive the essential investment they need to safeguard their
future.”
Nat Sloane, England Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “These historic
parks are at the heart of their local communities; by investing in parks we
are making them safer, cleaner, protecting the environment and most
importantly help communities connect with each other and improve
opportunities for local people to get the most from their park. This is a
lovely example of where Lottery funding adds value and reaches into parts of
local life for which it is so valued by restoring and maintaining these
wonderful spaces to ensure that they continue to bring joy to generations of
local residents and visitors alike.”
RSPB and Buglife to work in partnership to protect more farmland wildlife
in the East of England.
The RSPB in the East this week announce a new partnership with the
Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Buglife, to enable both organisations to
provide more advice on wildlife friendly farming in the region. The
partnership hopes to significantly increase the number of farmers across the
region receiving advice on bug-friendly farming methods, and provide a
one-stop-shop to help them protect a wider variety of wildlife on their
land.
Buglife is working to protect a range of rare farmland invertebrate
species in the East of England including the Shining ram’s-horn snail which
is found in ditches and the Large garden bumblebee that needs
wildflower-rich meadow land and wetland
The CET from time to time receives recognition of the valuable work we
do, the things that we achieve and the activities we offer. Sometimes these
are in the form of testimonials from visitors, of the formal kind from a
visiting teacher or celebrity to those from children who have simply had a
great time. Sometimes there are recognised awards. All are a reward to all
those involved with the Trust, in whatever capacity, and who believe in what
we do… and we put some of them on the website.
Southern
Scotland is seen as a key area in protecting the country's red squirrels
An "intensive" action plan has started to tackle a squirrel pox outbreak
around the River Tweed in Berwickshire. Traps are being offered to the
public in order to catch and kill grey squirrels in the area. The virus has
no apparent effect on the greys but is invariably fatal to their red
counterparts. Scotland is one of the UK's last red squirrel strongholds,
with the south of the country seen as being on the frontline of conservation
efforts. The organisation said post mortem examinations had confirmed the
outbreak around the River Tweed. The public has been advised not to put out
garden feeders as a measure to help stop the disease spreading. Estates on
both sides of the river have already removed a number of the animals.
Dr
Ian Edwards said the loss of this oak tree was "a tragedy"
The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh has been counting the cost of this
week's severe weather.
Hundreds of panels have been smashed in glass houses. The garden is
repairing them as quickly as possible, but it will take much longer to
replace more than 40 trees blown over in the storms. They include some
specimens which were hundreds of years old, and others which were important
in the history of the collection. They include a Chinese Tree of Heaven
which was collected at the beginning of the 20th Century by the pioneering
plant hunter Joseph Rock.
Dr Ian Edwards from the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh (RBGE) told BBC
Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "it's very sad to see some of my
personal favourites, everybody's favourite trees, that have been damaged."
He said the damage was the worst he could remember in almost 30 years of
working at the garden.
A study into the effectiveness of hedgerow management options in
agri-environment schemes (AES), such as Environmental Stewardship in England
(ES) has found that cutting hawthorn hedges every three years, or in late
winter, can substantially increase resources to benefit wildlife.
The most popular ES options in England currently specify cutting
hedgerows once every two years, while standard practice outside the scheme
is for annual trimming. An alternative ES option involves cutting once in
three years.
“These emerging results have national and even international implications
as there are an increasing number of countries implementing AES or other
forms of hedgerow management regulations,” said lead author, Dr Joanna
Staley. Dr Staley continued, “Going forward, we are broadening the research
to cover a wider range of hedgerow species and across more sites to allow us
to generate robust evidence to help improve future policies.”
The
latest reforms to modernise the management of wildlife in Scotland come into
force today (1 January). The second commencement order of the Wildlife and
Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 introduces a new offence of
vicarious liability in relation to the persecution of wild birds. This
offence allows for the prosecution of those minority of landowners or
managers who fail to take the appropriate steps to ensure their employees
and contractors act within the law. The legislation also includes measures
for a new hare close season, changes to the deer act and snaring law
Rural business leaders will have a hotline to the heart of Government
through the creation of new Rural and Farming Networks, Agriculture Minister
Jim Paice announced today (4 January). This means that they will be able to
directly shape future rural policies.
Fourteen networks representing different areas of England have been set
up to identify and feed back local issues and concerns straight to the heart
of Government, in order to make policies more rural-friendly.
The Networks bring together people from rural communities, rural
businesses and the food and farming industries. They will make a direct link
between rural areas and the Government, creating new opportunities to
develop better and more targeted policy.
Each group will be a point of contact providing feedback to Defra on the
impact of local emergencies – such as flooding - so that the right
kind of assistance can be provided to keep businesses running.
Examine the history and different types of woodlands and learn about the
management techniques used to maintain and enhance the woodland habitats
as well as aspects of management planning. Held at a well established
woodland reserve, analyse the different management styles between this
and two other nearby woodland sites in South London.
Community Engagement and Environmental Education
03/03/2012 OCN Level 1 - Introduction to
Forest School 2 days
OCN Level 1 - Introduction to Forest School - the first step towards
using Forest Schools' approach to learning outdoors. Develop skills,
activities, and safe working practice with people who care about young
people's development and the environment.
03/03/2012 Risk Assessment for Community
Groups 1 day
As part of the new Community Groups training programme, this course
follows on from the Leadership Skills training. Risk Assessments are a
key part of a group’s responsibilities and this event will shows how to
make them suitable and sufficient in easy steps.
Developed through the National Wildlife Trusts by a team of
experienced professionals, this course harnesses decades of commitment
to quality volunteer management, development and support. Suitable for
those who support, recruit and supervise volunteers, this course is an
interactive and engaging look at the skills and knowledge needed to
support volunteers within any organisation. 9.30-4.30. Lunch included.
06/03/2012 Working with 'Friends of…'
Groups 1 day
This event is designed for environmental professionals whose work
involves setting up & working with ‘Friends of …’ groups, such as
community forest staff, rangers, project managers, field & project
officers, woodland officers, rural community council & local authority
staff.£114/£168 + VAT
06/03/2012 Learning Outside the Classroom &
Leading Environmental Activities 1 day
Learn how to promote, plan and deliver an informative, successful, safe
and inclusive guided walk. Discover how to identify common errors,
practice how to avoid them and then design and deliver an individual
guided walk at a local Nature Reserve.
Providing practical, down to earth advice for people wanting to make
sure that their community event is a success. Covers issues which are
common to all types of events such as planning & preparation, the health
& safety of staff & people attending the event, publicity & working with
contractors & artists.£114/£168
+ VAT
08/03/2012 Working with Secondary Schools
through the National Curriculum 1 day
An introduction to the National Curriculum at KS 3&4, including
opportunities & requirements related to environmental education &
Sustainable Development Education. Explore case studies of successful
partnerships between organisations & Secondary schools linked to the
National Curriculum, & see examples of resources developed to meet the
needs of Secondary schools & the National Curriculum. £114/£168 + VAT
08/03/2012 Engaging black & minority ethnic
groups in the outdoors 1 day
Join some of the most creative and experienced
people in the business to bring learning to life and try a range
of tested approaches that will give you inspiration and ideas
that you can adapt and use in your own practice. Booking
essential. £150.00 non-members, £120.00 members
19/03/2012 Working with Challenging
Behaviour 3 days
Hands-on learning in a wood allowing
development of self confidence & achievement. Through
encouragement, inspiration & positive outdoor experiences,
Forest Schools involves regular visits to the woods in any
weather! This course is the qualification required to lead a
forest school. Suitable for those with some experience of
working with children/ your client group.
30/03/2012 Introduction to Geography
Fieldwork for Secondary Teachers 3 days
Dr. Alex Pollard of the RSPB in an illustrated talk, tells us about
the RSPB’s success in establishing this wonderful fishing eagle in Wales
after years of persecution and habitat destruction. £2, children FREE
Part of a series of birdwatching events along this traffic-free
route. We will focus on the birds of the wooded central section of the
cycle route between Bangor and Glasinfryn.
16/03/2012 Identifying Birds by Sight and
Sound 3 days
A day learning how to fly a Harris hawk and a barn owl, how to handle
and train them, what equipment to use and the history of falconry.Leader Andrea & Paul Keyland £95 inc. lunch etc. (7 places only)
Identification and Field Survey Skills -
Herpetology, Fish and Invertebrates
02/03/2012 Dolichopodidae - the Long-legged
Flies 3 days
One of the biggest migration spectacles around takes place under
cover of darkness at a nearby pond. Observe as toads, sometimes in huge
numbers, migrate to their spawning grounds. The peak numbers will depend
on weather and season, so come more than once to see them in all their
glory.
One of the biggest migration spectacles around takes place under
cover of darkness at a nearby pond. Observe as toads, sometimes in huge
numbers, migrate to their spawning grounds. The peak numbers will depend
on weather and season, so come more than once to see them in all their
glory.
With newt expert Julian Thompson, we will learn about newt biology,
ecology, and survey methods, then go outside to study some newts
(probably palmate newts) ourselves by torchlight.
One of the biggest migration spectacles around takes place under
cover of darkness at a nearby pond. Observe as toads, sometimes in huge
numbers, migrate to their spawning grounds. The peak numbers will depend
on weather and season, so come more than once to see them in all their
glory.
One of the biggest migration spectacles around takes place under
cover of darkness at a nearby pond. Observe as toads, sometimes in huge
numbers, migrate to their spawning grounds. The peak numbers will depend
on weather and season, so come more than once to see them in all their
glory.
With newt expert Julian Thompson, we will learn about newt biology,
ecology, and survey methods, then go outside to study some newts
(probably palmate newts) ourselves by torchlight.
28/03/2012 Great Crested Newts and
Licensing for Surveys 1 day
Designed for those looking to further develop their skills and
experience, this course can stand alone or act as a progression from
Mammal ID events. Course begins with a practical trapping session and
includes examination of the most suitable survey techniques for various
scenarios, legal requirements. Prices start from £80.75.
05/03/2012 Riversearch - Otter Survey
Course 1 day
Learn how to identify Otter (& Mink) field signs, droppings
(spraints), footprints & feeding remains. Covering ecology of Otters in
lowland areas & habitat features that Otters use. Includes an outdoor
session walking approx 1 mile on rough grassland & footpaths. No dogs.
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. 10 am – 1 pm Requested
Donation: £15
Designed specifically for consultants or those looking to move into
consultancy, this course provides in depth advice and guidance, focusing
on legislation and covering badger ecology and survey techniques.
Includes a field trip to identify setts and field signs and introduces
mitigation and planning issues. Prices start from £102.00
10/03/2012 Riversearch - Otter Survey
Course 1 day
Learn how to identify Otter (& Mink) field signs, droppings
(spraints), footprints & feeding remains. Covering ecology of Otters in
lowland areas & habitat features that Otters use. Includes an outdoor
session walking approx 1 mile on rough grassland & footpaths. No dogs.
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. 10 am – 1 pm Requested
Donation: £15
17/03/2012 Recording and surveying for Polecats 1 day
Ideal for all levels of experience,
this one day practical course, delivered by The Mammal Society Chairman,
Johnny Birks, provides an introduction to methods for recording and
surveying this increasingly widespread but little-known mammal, which is
currently on the Biodiversity Action Plan. Prices start from £80.75.
Ideal for beginners, this one day event delivered by experts at
Tiggywinkels is an informative introduction to ecology, behaviour,
health and advice on providing hedgehog habitats. Including chance to
get hands on with some of Tiggywinkles’ permanent residents, looking at
handling and unrolling techniques under supervision. Prices start from
£80.75.
Ideal for all levels of experience,
this is an enjoyable, detailed and highly informative event, delivered
by Dave Williams, Chairman of The Badger Trust who has many years of
experience working with and around badgers. Topics include field signs,
sett recognition, surveys, monitoring, legislation and persecution.
Prices start from £80.75.
Identification and Field Survey Skills - Plants and
Habitats
10am - 12/12.30pm. An early Spring Walk to see the new life emerging
after winter in a beautiful hidden park with extensive woodland. Meet at
the National Trust car park near Nympsfield Map ref: SO 797012. Dress
warmly & bring a warm drink. Families are welcome & booking is
essential.
An introductory level course, relevant to both
consultancy and conservation. Our day long course includes: introduction
and background to Phase 1 habitat surveys, field experience of
identifying and recording habitats, basic identification of dominant
plant species and preparation of habitat maps in the classroom.
22/03/2012 Identifying Mosses: an
introduction 2 days
Mosses are a large and daunting group of wonderful plants. Learning
to identify them is a big job and so this course aims to be a taster
which will introduce the main groups and a few common key species which
are useful to know.
24/03/2012 Putting Wildlife on the Map:
Introduction to Biological Recording 1 day
This five-day course covers all aspects of coppice management From
assessing and planning areas to cut, felling and grading rods as well as
learning the basic techniques involved in making coppice products. The
course takes place in a working coppice woodland and is subsidised by
Wood Fuel East. Cost £190
This two-day course will provide sufficient information to enable you
to lay a length of hedge in the Midland (also known as the bullock or
standard) style. It will provide both theoretical guidance & a hands-on
opportunity to learn how to do so.
Practical Countryside Skills involving machinery
06/03/2012 PA1 Safe Use of Pesticides & PA6
Hand Held Applicators 4 days
This is a five day training course designed for beginners. Tuition
covers the regular operator maintenance required for rear handled
chainsaws in workshop and field conditions. It will cover the necessary
theory and practical skills required to enable felling small trees up to
380mm in diameter.
20/03/2012 Trimmer & Brushcutter
Maintenance & Operation (Lantra Awards Integrated Training Assessment)
Experienced Operator * 1 day
For those who know the technique, scythes are much more pleasant to
use than strimmers, especially the Austrian model that you will be
using.Come and spend a day
learning how it’s done.Leader:David Mason £65 inc. all refreshments.
If you're running professional courses or events during 2011 and would
like details to be included here and in the online Training Directory
click here for more information,
email your details or brochure to us or for further information please
contact Helen.
Additions to other sections of Training Directory
this month
Capel Manor has listed two Land and Countryside
Management longer courses, Level 3 Diploma in Countryside Management and
Level 2 Diploma in Countryside & Environment
Three Level 2 Diplomas in Work-based Environmental
Conservation with BTCV Manchester, Cumbria and Lancashire have been added,
BTCV North Yorkshire also listed level 1 & 2 Diplomas in Environmental
Conservation all in the Land and Countryside Management longer courses
section.
Capel Manor also listed a Level 3 Certificate in
Forestry & Arboriculture and Level 1 Award in Woodland Skills both within
the Arboriculture section as well as a RHS Level 3 Certificate in theory &
practical of plant growth, health & propagation on Horticulture pages and
an Apprenticeship in Environmental Conservation on the Ecology section
Norfolk
Wildlife Trust
Countryside
volunteers are being offered the chance of free training to improve
their skills and gain a nationally recognised qualification with Smart
Training, one of the UK’s largest specialist training companies.
Bird
Survey Techniques for Ecological and Environmental Professionals Training
Course - Stirling 8th & 9th Feb
Ruby
tail wasp (Chrysis viridula) © Roger Key
Taking
peat core samples
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.
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. 
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). 
The
report by the UK 
New
research from Ireland casts doubts over culling policy
Image:
Neil Aldridge
There
has not been a confirmed sighting of adders in Nottinghamshire for six years 
Southern
Scotland is seen as a key area in protecting the country's red squirrels 
Dr
Ian Edwards said the loss of this oak tree was "a tragedy" 
A
typical English Hedgerow
The
latest reforms to modernise the management of wildlife in Scotland come into
force today (1 January). The second commencement order of the Wildlife and
Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 introduces a new offence of
vicarious liability in relation to the persecution of wild birds. This
offence allows for the prosecution of those minority of landowners or
managers who fail to take the appropriate steps to ensure their employees
and contractors act within the law. The legislation also includes measures
for a new hare close season, changes to the deer act and snaring law