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Headlines from week beginning 16 March. |
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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Bumblebees shy away from field-facing hedgerows – Plymouth
University Study by Plymouth University suggests pesticides and fertilisers used
on crops are dramatically reducing bees’ potential habitats The pollination service provided by bumblebees on the field-side
boundaries of hedgerows may be limited because farming methods are
having a negative impact on their sources of food, a study has found. Research by ecologists at Plymouth University has shown some of the
most common species of bumblebees are more than twice as likely to visit
flowers on the road-facing side of hedgerows compared to crop-facing
boundaries. Writing in the Journal of Insect Conservation, they say this can be
attributed to the pesticides and fertilisers used on crops, and they are
dramatically reducing the bees’ potential habitats. But they suggest there could be a simple way to address the problem,
by encouraging farmers to leave a greater barrier between their crops
and hedgerows so as to lessen the effects of chemicals and encourage
wildflowers to flourish. Dr Mick Hanley, Lecturer in Terrestrial Ecology in the University’s
School of Biological Sciences, conducted the study alongside
undergraduate Josh Wilkins, and they examined bumblebee habits at 30
sites across Devon and Cornwall. Dr Hanley says: “There have been
hedgerows and field boundaries in these locations for centuries, and
even if you go back 50 or 60 years, you would not have seen this
phenomenon. Both sides of hedgerows would have been flourishing, and
bees and other insects would have been numerous on both sides, but that
was before an increase in the use of fertilisers. Now what you see is
the chemicals having impacted one side, with the hedgerows in effect
acting as a filter to protect the road-facing edge. It decreases the
bees’ sources of food and, therefore, has the potential to impact on
their numbers.” In recent years, the global decline of many different insect
pollinators has been established and this has been largely attributed to
habitat loss and fragmentation, and the direct and indirect impacts of
pesticide use. In the current research paper, the scientists say that organic
farming may offer some advantages for pollinator conservation since it
reduces field margin exposure to agro-chemical inputs. Access the paper here
Sale of Lake District National Park property – Lake District
National Park Authority As part of the Lake District National Park’s ongoing property review,
we invited offers through a formal tender process for eight properties.
The deadline for bids concluded on Thursday 12 March 2015 and the
current status is:
In progressing the tender process we made sure environmental
protection and rights of way would be protected and the public’s
enjoyment of the land would be unaffected in line with the Vision for
the National Park. This forms a key part of our strategy to ensure we
hold on to the right pieces of land for the right reasons and to release
funds for reinvestment and other improvements in the park. 96 per cent
of the park is in alternative ownership, demonstrating we do not need to
own the land ourselves to actively conserve and maintain it.
New Ecologists'
Toolkit enables habitat assessments in the field - Oxford Brookes
University
Brookes Centre for Ecology, Environment and Conservation has
developed an iPad Toolkit for ecologists and environmental consultants,
which enables users to efficiently conduct Phase One ecological surveys. The toolkit enables users to conduct Phase 1 Habitat Survey, which
involves habitat mapping and collecting ancillary data reliably and
efficiently. Such surveys are part of the planning and development
process and are one the most fundamental parts of the ecological
assessment process. The new toolkit removes the need for surveyors to make notes with
paper and pencil in the field before translating them onto digital maps
when they return to their offices. They can create fully colour coded,
spatially referenced habitat maps on the spot, and include valuable
information on the species present in the area. The toolkit which has been developed with the support of funding from
the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) will aid the initial
assessment of the value of habitats undertaken by consultants, wildlife
organisations, local authorities and others across the UK. Maps, data,
photographs and notes from the Toolkit can be exported with minimal need
for post surveying data collation or editing. The Toolkit also includes
detailed information including photo references, distribution maps and
ecology on more than 900 key UK species including plants, birds, mammals
and insects.
New
tool-kit to save open spaces – Open Spaces Society We have launched our campaign to save England’s much-loved open
spaces. We have published an open spaces tool-kit for communities to protect
their green spaces, and have called on planning authorities to respond
positively to requests to save local spaces.
Invitation to take part in neighbourhood plan
for Henley and Harpsden, South Oxfordshire Says Nicola Hodgson, our case officer: ‘The National Planning Policy
Framework [NPPF] has been in place for three years, with its opportunity
to designate land as LGS [paras 76-8]. Yet only a few have been
designated. Moreover it has for four years been possible to list open
spaces as community assets, but few have been registered. The society
wants to make it easier for communities to rescue their threatened open
spaces.’
CT scanning shows why tilting trees produce more sugars for biofuel
– Rothamstead Research
CT scanning reveals that willows’ natural growth reaction to
stress helps produce more sugars for biofuels (image: Rothamstead
Research) A team of researchers at Imperial College London, in collaboration
with Rothamsted Research, have used medical imaging techniques to
explore why making willow trees grow at an angle can vastly improve
their biofuel yields. Using micro-CT scans, the team showed that the
trees respond to being tilted by producing a sugar-rich, gelatinous
fibre, which helps them stay upright. Willows are suitable for widespread cultivation as biofuels because
they produce large quantities of accessible sugar, are fast-growing and
can tolerate harsh environmental conditions, such as windy slopes and
poor soil. In fact, trees grown in harsher conditions or polluted soil
can even produce better biofuel because the sugar they produce is more
accessible, requiring less energy to harvest it. Growing the willow trees at a 45-degree angle simulates this natural
stress, encouraging the trees to produce up to five times more
sugar than plants grown normally. But exactly why and how this happens
has not been clear until now.
UK’s first hedgehog conservation area to be established in Solihull
– Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
UK’s first hedgehog conservation area to be established in Solihull A landmark project launched today (Tuesday 17 March) by Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust has selected Solihull as the location for the UK’s first
dedicated hedgehog conservation area, called the Hedgehog Improvement
Area (HIA). Thanks to funding from the British Hedgehog Preservation
Society (BHPS) the initiative has been developed in response to an
alarming national decline in hedgehog numbers. The HIA aims to bolster
the region’s hedgehog population, inspiring local people and
organisations to take action to help one of the country’s most enigmatic
and well-loved species. "We are delighted to be funding such an exciting and important
project in Warwickshire that will hopefully benefit many hedgehogs.
Simple measures such as ensuring there is a 5" square gap in boundary
walls and fences make a massive difference to local hedgehog
populations. There are many ways people can assist this declining
species and we hope this project will complement our work to highlight
the plight of the hedgehog." At the heart of the initiative will be a 90 hectare ‘Hedgehog
Reserve’, incorporating Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s Elmdon
Park and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Elmdon Manor nature reserve. A
group of volunteer ‘wildlife guardians’ will be recruited to aid in the
management of this area of green space, helping to establish a central
sanctuary from which the hedgehog population will be able to disperse
and inhabit the surrounding area.
Learning outdoors more engaging, says report – Scottish Natural
Heritage Teachers who bring their pupils into the outdoors find it makes their
learning more enjoyable, challenging, active and collaborative according
to a report published today (Tuesday 17 March) by Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH). The study shows that outdoor learning in school and pre-schools has
increased since Curriculum for Excellence was introduced but that
further increases could be made. The survey of nursery, primary and
secondary schools looked at over 1000 outdoor lessons and compared
results from surveys in 2006 and 2014. Learning in green areas like parks, gardens, wildlife areas and
woodland, as well as on residential outdoor trips, particularly
increased children’s engagement and enriched the learning experience in
many ways. Overall, the study found that there was an opportunity to
make more use of local green places to give children time outdoors at
little or no cost. Greg Mannion, one of the report authors from University of Stirling,
said: “Our study shows that randomly sampled nurseries, primaries and
secondaries are now providing more outdoor learning on average than in
2006, but what pupils get varies a lot from school to school and schools
in deprived areas are offering noticeably less time outdoors.” In nurseries, the vast majority of time outdoors was in the grounds, with only occasional trips made further afield. Primary schools increased outdoor learning, especially in school grounds and by going on more residential trips. Pupils in secondary schools have had only slightly increased provision since 2006 but appear to have less opportunity to learn in local areas or in the grounds. An online copy of the report is available here
Minister visits peatland restoration site – Scottish Wildlife Trust The Trust hosted the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and
Land Reform, Dr Aileen McLeod, at Carsegowan Moss in Galloway to see how
the Peatland Action Fund is being used to improve these vital habitats. The work by the Trust at Carsegowan Moss has used a pioneering
technique, known as ‘peat bunding’. This involves using very low
ground-pressure excavators to remove the damaged surface layers of peat.
Deeper peat is then used to build up a low embankment to hold back and
slow the flow of water from the site. Scotland’s peatlands are internationally important forms of habitat,
not only for their wildlife value but also for the wider benefits they
provide to society, including water purification, carbon capture and
storage. Peatlands are particularly fragile and sensitive. It is imperative
that effective management is put in place if they are to continue to
provide all their invaluable services. The restoration and enhancement
of these ecosystems will also increase society’s resilience to climate
change.
New report highlights how productive woodlands can reduce flood risk and
protect our waterways - Confor Planting productive woodland in specific areas of the UK could reduce
the risk of flooding, according to a landmark report published today
(Tuesday 17th March). The study by Confor and Forest Research highlights the role
productive woodland can play in lessening the likelihood of floods - as
well as offering significant potential improvements to the water
environment and a range of additional economic and environmental
benefits. Read the report
here
Momentous legislation for Wales! – RSPB Cymru
The Well-being of Future Generations (WFG) Bill will create a legal
basis for defining and delivering sustainable development in Wales, and
create a better quality of life for future generations. The legislation introduces seven well-being goals which public bodies
must set out to achieve, including a goal, which commits Wales to
maintain and enhance a bio-diverse natural environment. As Katie-jo
Luxton, RSPB Cymru Director, explains: “We are especially pleased that
the Bill recognises the importance of wildlife and nature to human
well-being. What will be critical now is how the Bill is put into
practice and the commitment Welsh Government shows in order to make the
change needed with the support of a new Future Generations
Commissioner.” The recent State of Nature Report showed us that over 3,000 UK
assessed species had declined by more than 60% over the last 50 years.
The WFG Bill places a duty of sustainable development on public sector
bodies in Wales, including on the Welsh Government itself and local
authorities. From now on, public bodies will be required by law to
ensure that they contribute through their ways of working, to meeting
the commitment to halt the biodiversity decline by 2020, and to aid the
recovery of biodiversity.
Gannet numbers increase in northwest Scotland - SNH A study of gannets off the northwest coast of Scotland has found the
birds’ numbers have increased rapidly over the last decade. This news
comes hot on the heels of news in February announcing that the Bass Rock
in East Lothian took over from St Kilda as the world’s largest gannet
colony. The latest results confirm that Scotland – and particularly
northwest Scotland - is an extremely important region for gannets, one
of our most spectacular seabirds. The SNH-commissioned survey found that gannets nesting at Sule Skerry
increased at a rate of more than 47% per year. On the Flannan Islands,
the growth was 7.5% per year. Numbers changed very little on St Kilda
(now the world’s second-largest gannet colony) and Sule Stack. Gannets are Scotland’s largest seabird, weighing between 2.5 to
3.5kg, with nearly a six-foot wingspan. They migrate to the west coast
of Africa, and sometimes further, in the winter. They only lay one egg
and pairs typically mate for several seasons, if not for life. The good
health of gannets across Scotland may be explained by their foraging
behaviour. They can fly for great distances in search of food, and are
able to take a wide range of prey species – features which may make them
more resistant to changes in the marine environment compared with other
birds. They also usually nest at sites which have few predators, have
produced lots of chicks over the past decade, and have high survival
rates. Both Sule Skerry and the Flannan Islands have plenty of unused but
suitable nesting habitat, and this may explain why the number of gannets
in these particular colonies has increased. This contrasts to the stable
numbers on Sule Stack, where gannets already occupy all the suitable
breeding areas. This may lead to gannets establishing new colonies, as
has already occurred at Sule Skerry, and may also be happening at Barra
Head. Eileen Stuart, SNH’s head of policy and advice, said: “Scotland has
internationally important populations of seabirds, and gannets in
particular, so it’s vital that we monitor how they’re faring. The survey
is especially good news as gannets are, like many seabirds, of
conservation concern.” To download a full copy of the report, Click Here
Ancient peatlands to grow again – Natural England
The ES agreements will bring about £15 million of moorland
restoration measures over the coming 3-5 years. They will allow for
changes to management on 39,000 hectares of moorland, such as less
heather burning and a return to traditional shepherding to help improve
the moorland environment. Running through to 2024, the agreements will
bring great benefits to water quality, wildlife, recreation and business
through these restoration measures. Funding from the scheme will be of
great importance in bringing upland Sites of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSIs) into better condition. Natural England’s Chairman Andrew Sells said: The end-result will be
amazing - the peatlands will become active again providing long-lasting
prosperity for the environment and businesses. There will be
improvements for people and wildlife, cleaner water for surrounding
cities, reduced flood risk, better public recreation and increased
global carbon storage. What a fantastic way to work with rural
businesses to undertake necessary regeneration and to harness benefits
from the moorlands, whilst also enhancing the rural economy. The scheme
is also supported by the Moorland Association, which represents many
owners. Peak District representative Simon Gurney welcomed the ambitious
large-scale restoration plans, explaining the extensive experience and
knowledge of land managers would be invaluable to the project’s
long-term goals and success. He added: “By working collaboratively,
changes and improvements can take place while safeguarding the land use
which is essential to the economy of our internationally recognised
moors.”
Earlier flood protection for thousands of homes across England -
Defra Budget announcement: More than 31,000 homes and businesses will be
better protected from the risk of flooding sooner The government is bringing forward more than £140 million of the £2.3
billion six-year flood defence programme announced in December to better
protect more than 31,000 homes and businesses from flooding sooner than
planned. 47 brand new schemes have been given the green light as part of the
long-term investment programme and work will start on another 165 flood
defence projects earlier than previously announced. The 6 year programme represents a real terms increase in expenditure
and will reduce flood risk across the country by 5%. Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: "We’ve already protected
230,000 homes from the risk of flooding and coastal erosion so far this
Parliament. We’re now bringing forward more money to protect thousands
more homes and businesses sooner than originally planned, as part of our
long-term economic plan." Projects include;
Environment Agency Chairman Sir Philip Dilley said: "This programme
of more than 1,500 flood risk management schemes will significantly
reduce flood risk to more than 300,000 properties in England by 2021,
benefiting people, the economy and the environment. Government funding
has also been brought forward meaning that over 30,000 properties will
benefit from reduced flood risk earlier than originally planned.
Path network to boost health, economy, tourism and environment - SNH Thirty new long distance routes are to be added to Scotland’s network
of trails, cycleways and canal towpaths, as part of a national project
to give people more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and travel
sustainably. The National Walking and Cycling project plan was launched today (19
March) by Cabinet Secretary for Planning Alex Neil near the Falkirk
Wheel. It will extend the network by 500 miles over the next five years,
joining up and improving existing routes. Scottish Natural Heritage, Sustrans and Scottish Canals, who are
behind the initiative, want Scotland to develop a strategic path network
on a par with the best in Europe, making it easier for people of all
ages and abilities to get to and enjoy. The paths will offer something
for everyone, from walkers, cyclists and horse riders to people using
wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The project is one of a number of key
developments highlighted in the Scottish Government’s National Planning
Framework. Mr Neil stepped out on the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal to see
some of the benefits for himself and meet the project partners and
representatives from Falkirk Council. The canal towpath is part of the
new John Muir Way, a national cycle route and links to a network of
local paths round Falkirk. Mr Neil said: “Scotland’s extensive network
of long distance routes, national cycleways and canal towpaths is
already much loved and well used. Encouraging more people to enjoy the
natural environment is important for the environment, tourism and
boosting the economy – that’s why the National Long Distance Cycling and
Walking Network is designated as a national development in Scotland’s
National Planning Framework. The Plan will extend the network of
connected, accessible paths and tracks for visitors of all ages and
abilities to walk and cycle, encouraging even more people and visitors
to enjoy the outdoors and to become more active.” Feasibility studies are already underway for a North Solway coastal
path, parts of a ‘Pilgrim’s Way’ across Scotland between St Andrews and
Iona, and to extend the Clyde walkway in Lanarkshire. Major improvements
on canal towpaths have begun and there are also plans to improve
existing long distance routes such as the Cowal Way and the Clyde Coast
path. While work will be carried out over the next five years, the
national development is also long term, with the project plan setting
out a strategy for the network over the next 20 years.
Great British Beach Clean – Marine Conservation Society
5,349 volunteers cleaned and surveyed 301 beaches collecting a
whopping 2,457 bits of litter per kilometre! (image via Marine Conservation Society) Last September's beach clean broke other records, too. There were
more volunteers, more bits of plastic found, more volunteer hours spent
cleaning, and more rubbish removed from the beach than ever before. Now we've got a massive amount of evidence that not enough is being
done to tackle the litter in the seas and on our beaches.
Conservation covenants can help protect our landscapes – Natural
England Conservation covenants could allow landowners to protect their
environment in perpetuity says Andrew Sells, Chairman of Natural
England.
The importance of this country’s treasured landscapes to our economy,
our health and our sense of identity is perhaps greater now than it has
ever been. And yet protecting our natural heritage is often seen as a
long-term investment made unaffordable by society’s more pressing
day-to-day needs. I believe there is a way forward that can help landowners and
communities to protect the many benefits of the environment for
generations into the future. By using an agreement known as a conservation covenant, landowners in
England and Wales could, for the first time, protect their environment
not only during their tenure but in perpetuity if they wished. For example, the owner of some woodland enjoyed by the local
community may wish to leave the land to her children. She wants to
ensure that the woodland is maintained for public enjoyment but doubts
that future generations would share her priorities. A conservation
covenant would achieve her aims. A scheme for conservation covenants in England and Wales was
recommended by the Law Commission in June last year. A conservation
covenant is a voluntary, private agreement between a landowner and a
conservation body – such as Natural England or a local wildlife trust -
to do or not do something on their land for a conservation purpose. Made
in the public interest, it continues to be effective even after the land
changes hands. Conservation covenants operate in other countries such as
Scotland, USA and Canada, but not yet in England and Wales. As Chairman of Natural England I have had the privilege of visiting
some of our finest landscapes and wildlife sites and have been struck by
the generosity and hard work of people who look after these special
places for the greater good of mankind and wildlife. Most of them I’m
sure would love to know that their endeavours provided a lasting legacy
beyond their lifetime. Of course legal protection of our cherished landscape is nothing new,
the biggest stride for conservation in this country coming with the
establishment of the National Parks system in 1949. Further legislation,
environmentally-friendly farming schemes and the designation of Sites of
Special Scientific Interest have all moved things forward. Conservation
covenants would augment these essential protections. They would give
more conservation powers to those closely connected with the landscape.
Is Willow Warbler breeding changing with the times? - BTO
New research by the BTO and the University of East Anglia makes use
of the incredible amount of information collected by volunteers taking
part in the Nest Record Scheme to investigate the consequences of shifts
in timing of breeding for productivity in Willow Warblers. Using
information from nearly 7000 nests collected between the 1960s and the
present day, this study quantifies changes in the timing of laying dates
and seasonal variation in both productivity and timing of breeding (i.e.
the proportion of birds nesting at different points in the season), to
assess the influence of these factors on changes to overall
productivity. In both north-west Britain (where populations are stable) and the
south-east (where populations have declined), Willow Warblers are laying
their eggs earlier, and such early nesting attempts fledge a higher
number of chicks than those laid towards the end of the season. However,
these advances have not lead to an increase in overall productivity, as
while the proportion of early-season nests has increased, the seasonal
decline in productivity in the north-west has reduced and consequently
overall productivity is stable. In the south-east, however, the seasonal
decline in productivity has increased and, despite the advance in timing
of breeding, overall productivity has declined. While shifts in the timing of breeding of migratory species are widespread, this study highlights that the consequences for breeding success at the population-scale will depend on both the seasonal pattern of nesting dates (which will be influenced by the dates that birds arrive from their wintering grounds, environmental conditions for breeding, nest failure and re-nesting) and on seasonal variation in productivity. This means that despite breeding success often being highest at the start of the season, advances in laying dates do not necessarily lead to an increase in productivity. Therefore predicting the population-level consequences of phenological changes requires further research to understand both the mechanisms driving seasonal variation in timing of breeding and its success. Reactions to Wednesday's (18/3/15) Budget by the
Chancellor
The Budget: major milestones on compulsory purchase and rural broadband,
says CLA
Positive step for Pitcairns - UK seas need proper protection too –
The Wildlife Trusts
Alliance welcomes "budget for the countryside" – Countryside
Alliance
UK Government's intention to create marine protected area around
Pitcairn is 'visionary' – RSPB
Chancellor's huge giveaway for oil barons - what about the climate?
– Friends of the Earth
RSPCA welcomes passing of ‘Fly-grazing’ Bill into law
Confor welcomes new £1m forestry fund in budget
Government is leaving some Local Nature Partnerships to wither –
Commons Select Committee
Where LNPs have been successful, they have demonstrated the benefits
of local engagement, harnessing enthusiasm in finding solutions to local
priorities. Where they have not been successful, the solution is not to
impose additional tasks but to re-energise the unfocussed local
commitment.
Chair of the Committee, Joan Walley MP, said: “Many LNPs are starved
of funding and resources, meaning much of the good work in getting them
up and running, is being undone. The whole country—urban as well as
rural—need the natural environment protections that LNPs can provide.
Rather than leave under-performing LNPs to wither away, the next
Government should urgently review LNPs and their funding, and
re-energise the initiative.”
NSA
takes action to discourage release of lynx into British countryside
- National Sheep Association Following the announcement of plans to release lynx into the UK
countryside, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has contacted Natural
England and a leading UK peer to voice its opposition. NSA believes reintroducing lynx after more than 1,300 years of
extinction will pose a real threat to British livestock, and even trial
work with the wild cat will lead to predation of livestock, in
particular, ewes and lambs. Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, has written to James Cross, head
at Natural England, and also Lord De Mauley, Parliamentary
Under-Secretary for Defra. “Our primary concern is that the lynx will
threaten livelihoods and businesses within the farming industry. Ewes
and lambs would be much easier prey than deer because they can’t get
away so quickly,” says Mr Stocker. Sheep farming members have expressed concern to NSA since the
conservation charity, the Lynx UK Trust, announced plans to submit an
official application to Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage.
The charity hopes that, if successful, the lynx would then be
reintroduced into three regions in Aberdeenshire, Cumbria and Suffolk. “We were heartened to receive a speedy response from Natural England,
assuring us that, if and when it receives an application from the Lynx
UK Trust, it will consult ‘all relevant parties’ and consider the
socio-economic impacts of the reintroduction, as well as impacts on the
environment and the animals themselves,” says Mr Stocker. “This is
vitally important, as the project will disrupt vulnerable ecosystems and
challenge the viability of sheep farms. This will, in turn, have a
damaging impact on farmers’ livelihoods and businesses if the lynx prey
on sheep.”
Golden eagle soars again – Scottish SPCA
The bird of prey was returned to the wild last week (Friday 13
March), with the assistance of the RSPB and Raptor World, after eight
months in our care. Colin Seddon, manager at our National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Clackmannanshire, said, "The juvenile golden eagle, who we named Bud, was rescued in August 2014 by a farmer and the RSPB. (image via Scottish SPCA) Bud was found to have soft tissue damage to his wing which took a
long time to heal and unfortunately once he had fully recovered he broke
his right leg in a freak accident. The break was repaired by vet using
an external fixator and as the healing process was very long Bud was
kept with us over winter. It is testament to the expertise of vet Romain
Pizzi and the careful nursing and handling of Bud by our wildlife team
that he made a full recovery. We had to carefully choose the best time
and place to release Bud and, following discussions with David Sexton of
the RSPB and Stewart Millar from Raptor World, we decided to take him
back to a location close to where he was found. It was then a case of
waiting for a reasonable weather window. We didn't want to release him
in a period of heavy rain as he may not have been able to hunt. We also
had to avoid strong winds because, as an inexperienced flyer, Bud would
have been blown away from the release site where support food and
monitoring is being provided by the RSPB. Bud is the first ever golden
eagle we've been able to release back into the wild and everyone
involved is extremely pleased with the outcome. It is rare for us to
rescue golden eagles as there are so few of them in Scotland and because
they tend to live in remote areas they often die before they are found
if they become sick or injured. Bud's rescue and release was very much a
joint operation between the Society, the RSPB and Raptor World, and
without the involvement of these organisations it would not have been
such a success." Some good news for the first day of spring…
Continental Crusader Conquers British Winter – Butterfly
Conservation
(image via Butterfly Conservation) The Scarce Tortoiseshell, also known as the Yellow-legged
Tortoiseshell, is so incredibly rare here that until last year there was
just one previous wild record from 1953 - a single female seen at
Shipbourne, near Sevenoaks in West Kent. More than 60 years later and after several sightings throughout the
country last July, one has been spotted in Norfolk this month. Butterfly Conservation’s Head of Monitoring, Dr Tom Brereton, said:
“This new sighting is a truly historic event as it marks the first time
this stunning butterfly has ever overwintered successfully in Britain.
The record came in on Thursday 12 March from Holt Country Park on the
north Norfolk coast. This area, with its open heathy woodland, provides
suitable conditions for the butterfly, which feeds on Birch sap in the
spring and lays eggs on willows. The butterfly was still present the
next day, but then the weather deteriorated.” The large and beautiful Scarce Tortoiseshell, Nymphalis xanthomelas,
is found from Eastern Europe to China and Japan, but in 2014 an
unprecedented migration event resulted in around 30 sightings of the
butterfly in the UK, in at least 10 different counties. These were
mainly along the East Coast and centred on Norfolk, but some reports
came from as far as Devon, Humberside, Tyneside and the West Midlands. Dr Brereton said: “We've been waiting apprehensively over the last
couple of weeks for news to see if any Scarce Tortoiseshells would
emerge from hibernation following last year’s mini invasion. The
butterfly prefers very cold winters and we weren’t sure if any would
survive our mild season. If more emerge as we head into spring, 2015
could see the first UK-born Scarce Tortoiseshells on record.” …and some happy news for the end of the week. Trust
volunteers happier than most - National Trust for Scotland The first ever study of happiness amongst its volunteers has found
that they are roughly seven per cent happier than the average person,
says the National Trust for Scotland. According to the research which was gathered through a survey of the
conservation charity’s volunteers, around 85 per cent of Trust
volunteers responded positively to the question ‘how satisfied are you
with life nowadays?’, compared to 78 per cent for the UK population as a
whole. There was also a positive response to the question ‘how happy did
you feel yesterday?’ – 39 per cent of Trust volunteers rated their
happiness highly, compared to 32 per cent across the UK, a difference of
seven per cent.
Low, M., Arlt, D., Pärt, T & Öberg, M. (2015)
Delayed timing of breeding as a cost of reproduction. Journal of
Avian Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jav.00623 Gullett, P. R., Hatchwell, B. J., Robinson, R. A. & Evans, K. L.
(2015)
Breeding season weather determines long-tailed tit reproductive success
through impacts on recruitment. Journal of Avian Biology.
DOI: 10.1111/jav.00560 Fijn, R. C, Krijgsveld, K. L., Poot, M. J. M. & Dirksen, S. (2015)
Bird movements at rotor heights measured continuously with vertical
radar at a Dutch offshore wind farm. Ibis. DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12259
Ozerov, M., Jürgenstein, T., Aykanat, T. & Vasemägi, A. (2015)
Use of sibling relationship reconstruction to complement traditional
monitoring in fisheries management and conservation of brown trout.
Conservation Biology.
Fuchs, H. L., Gerbi, G. P., Hunter, E. J., Christman, A. J & Javier
Diez, F. (2015)
Hydrodynamic sensing and behavior by oyster larvae in
turbulence and waves. Journal of Experimental Biology. doi:
10.1242/jeb.118562
McCane, J. D. & Olsen, B. J. (2015) Landscape-scale habitat availability, and not local geography, predicts migratory landbird stopover across the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Avian Biology. doi: 10.1111/jav.00598 Vasconcelos, E. P. et al.
(2015)
Global patterns and predictors of fish species richness in
estuaries. Journal of Animal Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12372 Lewandowski, E. & Specht, H. (2015)
Influence of volunteer and
project characteristics on data quality of biological surveys.
Conservation Biology. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12481 Möldera, A. et al. (2015) Bryophytes as indicators of ancient woodlands in Schleswig-Holstein (Northern Germany). Ecological Indicators. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.01.044
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image:
Oxford Brookes University
Our
tool-kit consists of three handbooks: How to win local green space
through neighbourhood plans; Community assets and protecting open space;
and Local green space designation. We have written to all the English
local planning authorities calling on them to be proactive in
designating land as local green space (LGS) through neighbourhood plans.
Image:
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
RSPB
Cymru today applauds the National Assembly for Wales on passing a
landmark piece of legislation yesterday (Tuesday 17 March) for the
people and wildlife of Wales.
Individual
moorland business owners have signed up to 30 large Environmental
Stewardship (ES) agreements which will see vast expanses of Peak
District and South Pennines peatlands, home to extensive tracts of
semi-natural moorland with upland heath and peat bog, birds of prey and
wading birds, restored.
In
September 2014, our fantastic volunteers broke a 21 year record when
they found 2,457 pieces of litter on each kilometre of beach they
cleaned and surveyed.
Andrew
Sells, Chairman of Natural England 
New
research by the BTO and the University of East Anglia uses information
from the Nest Record Scheme to investigate changes in Willow Warbler
breeding between the 1960s and the present day. Despite advances in the
timing of egg laying, there has been little change in Willow Warbler
productivity over this period.
Local
Nature Partnerships (LNPs) offer an excellent opportunity for local
people to drive local priorities for nature and habitats conservation,
but their resources are under pressure and there is a mixed performance
record between individual LNPs, the Environmental Audit Committee warns.
A
golden eagle found with an injured wing on the Isle of Mull is the first
ever to be successfully released by the Scottish SPCA.
A
spectacular European butterfly has travelled to the UK and for the first
time on record, survived the British winter, Butterfly Conservation can
reveal. 
