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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Government publishes new anti-littering strategy
- Defra & Department of Transport New Government Litter Strategy for England to curb littering with
proposals for new enforcement, education and community engagement Litter louts could be hit with £150 fines as part of ambitious new
plans to tackle rubbish in England. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom unveiled the Government’s first
Litter Strategy for England to reduce the near £800m burden to the
taxpayer of clean-up costs. Under the new measures, the most serious litterers could be hit with
the £150 fines, while vehicle owners could receive penalty notices when
it can be proved litter was thrown from their car – even if it was
discarded by somebody else. The new motoring rules, which are already in force in London, make
owners liable even if they didn’t throw the litter themselves. Further new measures drawn up by environment, transport and
communities departments include:
Download the Litter Strategy for England (PDF)
Reducing litter: penalties for environmental offences
- Defra Open consultation Seeking views on increasing fines for littering, graffiti,
fly-posting and introducing new fines for throwing litter from vehicles. We want to know what you think about whether to increase the
on-the-spot fines for littering, graffiti and fly-posting in England. We
are also proposing new fines for the owners of vehicles from which
litter has been thrown. This consultation closes at: 11:45pm on 18 June 2017 Take part in the consultation here.
Response:
We welcome country’s first-ever Litter Strategy
- Tidy Britain Group We have welcomed the launch of the Government’s Litter Strategy for
England. The Strategy identifies Eco-Schools, the world’s biggest
environmental education programme, which is run by Keep Britain Tidy in
England, as a key mechanism to educate children and young people about
the impact of litter. Last month more than 300,000 people, including thousands of school
children, took part in Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean,
clearing more than half a million bags of rubbish from our streets,
parks, beaches and countryside.
The Government has recognised the value of this initiative in the
Strategy, not simply to remove litter from the environment but also to
raise awareness that a growing number of people want to see an end to
littering and are prepared to take action. The charity also welcomes the Government’s pledge to introduce
regulations that will allow local authorities to issue penalty charge
notices to the registered keeper of a vehicle if litter is thrown from
it, which will make it easier for local authorities to tackle the
problem of roadside litter, which is difficult and costly to clear. Keep Britain Tidy has been at the forefront of developing and testing innovations to tackle littering, some of which are identified in the Strategy, and we are delighted that the Government has pledged to set up a Litter Innovation Fund to support the development of affordable and scalable solutions that are proven to make a difference. Response:
New national litter strategy will forge a more beautiful and resourceful
England - CPRE The Government has today launched its National Litter Strategy, which
includes a concrete pledge to look into deposit return systems for
drinks containers, measures to tackle roadside littering and greater
analysis of packaging design. With annual litter costs estimated at around £1 billion, it was
essential that the Government sought to tackle this social,
environmental and economic blight more effectively. The strategy was led by Defra in partnership with DCLG and DfT, with
input from an advisory committee of which Samantha Harding, CPRE’s
litter programme director, was a member. Samantha today welcomes the
Government's strategy as a strong vision that paves the way for a
cleaner and more resourceful England. The headline proposals include a Voluntary and Economic Measures
Working Group to study the potential effectiveness of a deposit return
scheme for plastic bottles and other drinks containers, as well as
measures to tackle other types of commonly littered packaging. CPRE
hopes that the group's investigations will provide clear recommendations
to the Government on which measures will deliver the type of positive,
universal change in behaviour delivered by the plastic carrier bag
charge. In similarly significant moves, the strategy lays out plans for an
independent assessment of roadside cleanliness on trunk roads where
responsibility is shared by Highways England and local councils. The
strategy makes it clear that if litter clearance doesn't happen properly
after these assessments then the Government will look at transferring
all responsibility to Highways England. As part of efforts to tackle superfluous, poorly designed or
single-use plastic packaging, the strategy pledges to investigate better
packaging design via a task force set up by the Advisory Committee on
Packaging. This will include looking at design aspects such as
detachable caps on plastic beverage bottles. Related story:
2.5 tonne ocean plastic sculpture installed on doorstep of Coca-Cola HQ
- Greenpeace
This
morning (10/4/17)Greenpeace activists have installed a 2.5 tonne ocean
plastic sculpture on the doorstep of Coca-Cola’s London HQ, in protest
at the company’s role in ocean plastic pollution.
The artwork, Plasticide, was created by renowned underwater sculptor
Jason deCaires Taylor and features seabirds regurgitating plastic amidst
a family beach picnic. Up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enters the
sea every year, and plastic bottles and bottle tops form a major source
of the plastic packaging found washed up on the world’s shorelines. But
major companies like Coca-Cola are failing to take meaningful action.
Download Greenpeace’s report on Coca-Cola’s plastic footprint (PDF)
Puffins that stay close to their partner during migration have more
chicks - University of Oxford Many long-lived birds, such as swans, albatrosses or indeed, puffins,
are known for their long-lived, monogamous, ‘soulmate’ pairings.
Scientists have long understood that in these species, reproductive
performance is influenced by pair bond strength and longevity, with
long-established pairs usually better at rearing offspring. However, in
species like puffins which have to migrate to distant wintering grounds
during the non-breeding season, very little is known about how mates
maintain their pair-bond and behave. Over the course of six years, the team from Oxford’s Department of Zoology, in collaboration with the London Institute of Zoology, used miniature tracking devices called geolocators to track the migratory movements and behaviour of 12 pairs of Atlantic Puffins, breeding on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire. Billing puffins (Image credit: Dr Annette Fayet While pair members migrated separately, their routes were notably
similar during the first part of the winter. Partners would then follow
separate paths at the later end of the season, but synchronised their
timings of return to the colony in spring. A key finding of the
study is that pairs which followed more similar migration routes bred
earlier and more successfully the following spring, showing that there
is a clear benefit for puffins to migrate close to their mates. This
proximity may make it easier for pairs to synchronise their return to
the colony in spring. The findings also reveal that while migrating close to its partner is
key to a puffin’s reproductive success, there are other factors at play.
Female puffins were found to forage more than males, proving critical to
their breeding success the following season. Female puffins that foraged
more over winter were able to lay eggs earlier and rear pufflings more
successfully, most likely because they were in a better pre-breeding
condition. Download the open access publication (PDF)
Police and RSPB appeal for information after red kite found shot in
Bedfordshire - RSPB Bedfordshire police and the RSPB are appealing for information after
a dead red kite was found near Toddington, Bedfordshire, containing as
many as 10 pieces of shot. The bird was discovered by a member of the public at Daintry Wood and
sent for post-mortem examination. Radiography using X-rays, carried out
by Zoological Society of London (ZSL) revealed 10 pieces of lead shot
lodged in the body. Inspector Mark Farrant, who leads the Operation Sentinel Rural Team
which has responsibility for all Bedfordshire wildlife crime matters,
says: “This is a particularly worrying incident against a bird that is
fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. I would ask
anyone with information relating to this or similar incidents to call
Bedfordshire Police.”
Major rights of way deal signed - Yorkshire
Dales National Park The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has assumed
responsibility for an extra 300 miles of rights of way, following a
legal agreement signed with Cumbria County Council. The agreement, which came into effect on the 4th of April, means that
National Park rangers are now formally the first port of call for any
enquiries about rights of way in the extension area. Cumbria County Council will make a one-off payment of £150,000 to the
Authority, to help it carry out its new duties. The YDNPA’s Chairman Carl Lis, said: “This has been a sensitive
negotiation and it has been well handled. Cumbria County Council have
been exceptionally good to work with, and I would like to thank them for
their co-operation. Now the National Park Authority can get on with
maintaining and improving the rights of way network in this beautiful
part of Cumbria. Well maintained rights of way are often cited as one of
the advantages of being in a National Park. Everyone should benefit, as
excellent footpaths help support the local economy and protect local
facilities such as shops, pubs and cafes.” The YDNPA has opened an office in Orton to provide a base for a newly created Western Ranger team. It has the task of making sure the surface of footpaths, as well as bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic, are safe and easy to use.
National
Gardening Week - RHS Theme this year is: Help New Gardeners to Grow During National Gardening Week, 10-16 April 2017, we are encouraging
new gardeners to get involved In Goathland we like to start them young! Our local primary school
recently had a groundforce day which involved the parents, teachers and
children clearing an area of the playground to make a fenced gardening
area. The new plot will have raised beds with vegetables, sensory plants
and herbs. Seating will provide the chance to enjoy the quiet. In his article,
Wildlife Gardening – for biodiversity and people Dr Steve Head,
Wildlife Gardening Forum Coordinator wrote: Gardens are where most
children get their first experience of biodiversity and develop real
sympathy and understanding of environmental issues. Much more
needs to be done to help parents and teachers make the most of this
opportunity and for all, turn a developing interest into action for
their local environment to develop sympathy and understanding of
environmental issues in the young. Studies in many countries
are beginning to confirm the importance of contact with greenspace for
mental and cardiovascular health. Recent case studies have shown
that enhancing biodiversity within cities can reduce vandalism and
misbehaviour, while increasing human interaction and perceptions of
wellbeing. Getting these messages through to health agencies and
planners is a timely and important task.
New ‘top dog’ at New Forest National Park –
New Forest National Park Authority A new four-legged ‘apprentice’ is learning how to be a forest
friendly dog with the National Park Authority ranger team. Cooper the cocker spaniel has his own twitter account where people
can see him going through his puppy training and New Forest adventures,
learning how to behave around the Forest ponies and cattle and not
disturbing rare birds. Research shows an estimated 25% of homes in the South East have dogs
and thousands of dogs are walked in the Forest every day.
Cooper
with owner Dawn Rayment, New Forest National Park Authority People and
Wildlife Ranger (New Forest NPA) Cooper’s owner Dawn Rayment, New Forest National Park Authority
People and Wildlife Ranger, said: ‘As rangers we ask that people are
responsible dog owners – but we often assume people know what that
means. This is a great opportunity to help highlight certain situations,
and people can share the highs and lows of training a forest friendly
puppy with me. Our dogs have many distractions in the New Forest such as
ponies and cattle roaming free on the land. There are also many visitors
enjoying the Forest and not all want to be bothered by other people’s
dogs (and dog mess!). The New Forest is home to some of the UK’s rarest
ground nesting birds which are easily disturbed by dogs running loose.
So it’s important to train our dogs to remain close by and be able to
recall them at all times.’ CJS had an interesting article from Stephen
Jenkinson ‘Walkers with dogs: new approaches to better management’ in
CJS Focus on Access & Rights of Way
Read it here
Eat wild venison to support native woodland birds, says ecologist
– University of Newcastle Wild deer in Britain should be hunted for venison
to drastically reduce their populations and support the re-emergence of
our native woodland birds, according to an academic at The University of
Nottingham. Deer (University of Newcastle) Dr Markus Eichhorn in the University’s School of
Life Sciences, an expert in ecology, said: “Deer populations are at
extraordinarily high levels due to a combination of factors including
the absence of large predators, a decline in hunting and the autumn
sowing of crops that produce winter food for foraging animals. It is
clear from our research that if we want to encourage more woodland birds
then we need to take action to restore the woodland structures they
require but in many areas it will need a drastic reduction in deer to
have any real impact.” Read the paper Effects
of Deer on Woodland Structure Revealed Through Terrestrial Laser
Scanning is published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
Latest figures reveal current state of UK's birds
– RSPB
More
than one quarter of UK birds are in need of urgent conservation effort
with curlew, puffin and nightingale joining the growing list of
threatened species – but there is good news for some, a new report has
highlighted.
The state of the UK’s birds 2016 (SUKB) report - the one-stop shop
for all the latest results from bird surveys and monitoring studies -
highlights how more than a quarter of the UK’s regularly-occurring bird
species are now what conservationists refer to as ‘Red-listed’. Many of these are due to severe recent declines in numbers and/or
range in the UK. And eight are considered at risk of global
extinction. Downward trends for upland species continue, with five added to the
Red List; giving cause for concern. Europe’s largest and most
distinctive wader – the curlew – has been added to the Red List and is
joined by dotterel, whinchat, grey wagtail and merlin. This highlights
the fact many of the UK’s upland species are in increasing trouble with
the total number of upland birds red-listed now 12.
Responding to the report David Bullock, head of nature conservation
at the National Trust, said: “Many British birds are in trouble. But the
report also shows is that where conservationists and farmers work
together to restore habitats we can bring beautiful birds like the cirl
bunting, manx shearwater and red kite back from the brink.” The National Trust last month committed to creating 25,000 hectares
of new ‘priority’ wildlife habitats across England, Wales and Northern
Ireland.
Why green spaces are good for grey matter –
University of York Walking between busy urban environments and green spaces triggers
changes in levels of excitement, engagement and frustration in the
brain, a study of older people has found. Researchers at the
Universities of York and Edinburgh say the findings have important
implications for architects, planners and health professionals as we
deal with an ageing population.
The
study is part of a larger project looking at mobility, mood and place
and the role of the urban environment in promoting lifelong health and
wellbeing. One of the volunteers taking part in the
experiment. (University of York) The aim of the study was to understand how older people experience
different urban environments using electroencephalography (EEG),
self-reported measures, and interviews. As part of the experiment, eight volunteers aged 65 and over (from a
wider sample of 95 people aged 65 and over) wore a mobile EEG head-set
which recorded their brain activity when walking between busy and green
urban spaces. The research team also ran a video of the routes the people walked,
asking the participants to describe “snapshots” of how they felt. The
volunteers were also interviewed before and after. The volunteers
experienced beneficial effects of green space and preferred it, as it
was calming and quieter, the study revealed.
Newcastleton Wildlife Watch Group is best in Britain
– Scottish Wildlife Trust Newcastleton Wildlife Watch Group has been named Group of the Year
2016.
The
group is an after school club that has met every Friday since 2013. Most
of the members are aged 5-12, with a number of young people aged from
14-20 also taking a leadership role. They won the award by impressing a
panel of expert judges with their enthusiasm for the natural world. Newcastleton Wildlife Watch with their bug hotel
(image
©
Gilly Fraser via SWT) Our People and Wildlife Officer Catherine Leatherland said: “The
judges were blown away with the entry and a number even asked if they
could join the group! Newcastleton Wildlife Watch is a shining example
of how to engage young people with the outdoors, by giving them a say in
planning sessions and involving them fully in their activities.” In 2016 they took part in a wide range of activities including
guddling for fish on Liddel Water, building bug hotels, and maintaining
a wildlife-friendly garden in the grounds of the village primary school. Leader Wendy Patterson said: “Our group gives youngsters an
opportunity to re-connect with nature. Not only are they learning about
their local wild places and how to conserve our native wildlife, they
are all learning life skills like cooking on an open fire, safe tool
use, problem solving and team work.
Butterflies Crash In Fourth Worst Year On Record
- Butterfly Conservation UK butterflies suffered their fourth worst year on record in 2016
with the majority of species experiencing a decline in numbers, a study
has revealed. A mild winter followed by a cold spring contributed to conditions
that saw both rare and widespread species struggle despite many parts of
the UK enjoying a warm and dry summer. Some 40 of the 57 species studied recorded a decline compared with
2015, the annual UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) led by Butterfly
Conservation, the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), British Trust
for Ornithology (BTO) and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
revealed. The highly threatened Heath Fritillary had its worst year on record
for the second year running, while the Grizzled Skipper, Wall, Grayling,
White-letter Hairstreak and White Admiral all recorded their worst ever
years.
Heath
Fritillary (image: Will Langdon, Butterfly Conservation) Research suggests that the UK’s increasingly mild winters are having
a negative effect on butterflies as they may lead to increased disease,
predation or disruption of overwintering behaviour. Some species bucked the trend to record reasonable years. The
previously extinct Large Blue, one of the UK’s rarest butterflies,
recorded its second best year on record with numbers up 38% on 2015. The
butterfly has responded to conservation work to improve the specific
grassland habitat that it relies upon to thrive and has showed a
significantly increasing population trend since its reintroduction in
1983. The widespread and migratory Red Admiral recorded a rise of 86%
compared to 2015 and the Clouded Yellow, another mainly migrant species,
saw its numbers rise by 35%.
Professor Tom Brereton, Head of Monitoring at Butterfly Conservation,
said: “Worryingly, not even the pleasant summer weather of 2016 was
enough to help butterflies bounce back from a run of poor years. The
results show that butterflies are failing to cope with our changing
climate and how we manage the environment. As butterflies are regarded
as good indicators of environmental health this is hugely concerning for
both wildlife and people.” Footage of the Large Blue and Wall, (credit: Butterfly Conservation) Proposed merger between LEAF and FACE announced - FACE A proposed merger between two of the leading farming and food
educational organisations, LEAF (Linking Environment And
Farming) and FACE (Farming & Countryside Education), has been announced
today (Wednesday 12th April). The vision for the proposed merger is to increase the impact and
capability of the two charities’ work in improving education and
understanding of farming, food and the environment. The proposed merger will serve to combine the strength and expertise
of the two organisations, to help drive forward an efficient and
effective strategy that will directly improve education in and
appreciation of, agriculture and food production. Both organisations have charitable status, have worked on projects together such as Countryside Classroom and LEAF’s Open Farm School Days and share many common goals. LEAF and FACE are working closely together to ensure that the proposed merger meets all necessary legal requirements and complies with all the required procedures and recommendations set out by the Charity Commission. It is currently anticipated that subject to contract, due diligence and the proposed merger meeting all the necessary legal requirements, that the agreement will be signed during the summer of 2017.
Download the f
Tracking Scotland’s changing landscape -
Scottish Natural Heritage A new way of tracking and reporting on Scotland’s ever-changing
landscapes has been launched today (Wednesday) by Scottish Natural
Heritage. Scotland’s Landscape Monitoring Programme (LMP) is accessible on
SNH’s website allowing anyone to follow how our dynamic landscapes
change over the years. Scotland’s landforms have been shaped over thousands of years by a
combination of natural processes and human activities. Over time, this
has helped create the regional character and strong sense of place that
the different parts of Scotland have, as well as the diverse and
wonderful scenery that we see today and for which Scotland is rightly
famous around the world. Landscapes continue to evolve, strongly influenced by the choices
that society makes about built development and land management. The LMP
will set out a robust baseline and the information gathered through time
will provide an accurate picture of change and help our understanding of
Scotland’s changing landscape. Led by SNH, the national programme has been developed working closely
with a wide range of partners, through research, data review and pilot
project work. Pete Rawcliffe, SNH’s People & Places Unit Manager, said: “Our
landscapes are an important part of our natural and cultural heritage.
In contributing to our health and well-being, they help make Scotland a
better place to live, work and visit. Our spectacular scenery is also an
important economic asset, attracting investors, businesses, visitors and
tourists, even Hollywood film makers, and providing jobs and helping to
grow the economy. “Scotland’s Landscape Monitoring Programme will help us to maximise
these benefits and allow us to better assess how our landscapes are
changing in a meaningful, practical and economical way. This will help
us to identify key trends and their causes, and their significance in
terms of how people feel about them and respond to them.”
Environmental DNA helps protect great crested newts
- University of Kent Research by the University has revealed how tiny amounts of DNA
(eDNA) released into water by great crested newts can be used to monitor
the species. This can bring benefits for its conservation, and help
protect great crested newts from major construction projects.
Pair
of Great Crested Newts (image: Brett Lewis, University of Kent) It has also revealed, for the first time, how great crested newt eDNA
varies throughout the year in relation to population size and
environmental factors. PhD student Andrew Buxton and a team from the Durrell Institute of
Conservation and Ecology in the University’s School of Anthropology and
Conservation studied great crested newts on the Canterbury campus, where
there are eight identical ponds. Surveying the newts every 14 days throughout the year, Andrew Buxton
and his team mapped the amount of DNA in the water as it changed through
the seasons in relation to the number of newts and their behaviour –
from their arrival in March through their breeding season in May, until
the start of hibernation in October. During breeding, the newts are very
active and release a lot eggs, sperm and DNA into the water. This
results in a peak in DNA towards the end of the breeding period, which
may be the best time to take water samples to detect the species. Read the paper: Andrew S. Buxton, Jim
J. Groombridge, Nurulhuda B. Zakaria & Richard A. Griffiths
Seasonal variation
in environmental DNA in relation to population size and environmental
factors. Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 46294 (2017)
doi:10.1038/srep46294
National Forest Inventory: tree cover outside woodland in GB
- Forestry Commission (official statistics) Areas under canopy, numbers of features and mean sizes of wooded
features and individual trees outside National Forest
Inventory woodland. Reports on the areas and numbers of small woods, groups of trees,
lone and hedgerow trees outside of main National Forest Inventory (NFI)
woodland, with statistics broken down by category and sub-category (NFI
woodland has a minimum size of 0.5 hectares.) Areas and lengths of
hedgerows are also covered. Statistics are reported for GB, England,
Scotland, Wales, individual NFI regions within England and Wales, and
separately for urban and rural areas. Overall purpose is to quantify and
characterise tree features outside woodland in GB for use in such areas
as carbon sequestration, resource evaluation, tree pest and disease
modelling and characterisation of urban and rural environments.
Online analytical tool launched to aid invertebrate conservation - Natural England Natural England and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology launch
analytical tool to aid conservation efforts on almost 12,000
invertebrates. Natural England and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) have
launched a new online database and analytical tool called Pantheon,
which helps us better understand conservation status and habitat-related
traits of invertebrates.
From
the weevils perched on the leaves of our trees to worms burrowed deep in
the earth beneath our feet, invertebrates play a crucial role to improve
the ecology of our natural environment. Green tiger beetle on Thursley Common National Nature Reserve
(image: Natural England)
Pantheon is a fantastic example of how we are pushing the boundaries
of science and IT to benefit invertebrate conservation. Researchers,
ecologists and land managers will have access to a wealth of data. This database will play an important role in identifying trends to
better protect our natural environment. Pantheon was developed to assist invertebrate nature conservation in
England. Users import lists of invertebrates into the database, which
then analyses the species, attaching associated habitats, resources and
conservation status against them. This information can then be used to assign quality to sites, assist
in management decisions and prompt further other ecological study. This
database will help site managers, researchers, ecological consultants
and is also available to the public.
Easter survey reveals the need for faster action on peat-free gardening - The Wildlife Trusts As the nation’s gardeners prepare for spring, a new survey reveals a
lack of real choice for consumers looking for peat-free composts at
garden centres and other outlets. It highlights the need for more
determined action to phase out peat use from the gardening industry and
to protect wild peatlands.
Gardening
(image: Tom Marshall) In March, 238 volunteers responded to a survey by Friends of the
Earth, Plantlife, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts. They found that: • only 19% of almost 1,300 products on sale were clearly labelled as
peat-free; • a third of respondents did not find peat-free compost clearly
available; • half of respondents who checked prices found peat-free compost to
be more expensive than peat-based options; • there was often little awareness or concern about the impact of
peat among retail staff; • most respondents reported a lack of product choice, price incentive
or clear labelling to encourage consumers to buy peat-free. The survey results show how difficult it still is for amateur
gardeners to buy peat-free. This is despite the high profile of the
peat-free gardening issue in the 1990s and early 2000s, the availability
of quality peat-free alternatives and repeated commitments by the garden
industry and UK government to phase out peat use. While commercial peat extraction from Britain’s bogs has been
reduced, our use of peat in gardens is now degrading bogs elsewhere. In
2015, more than half of our peat came from Ireland and around 7% from
elsewhere in Europe (primarily the Baltic States) – leaving a third
(around 700,000 tonnes) from peatlands in Scotland, England and Northern
Ireland. Peatland is home to a variety of scarce and unique wildlife, and
provides vital services for people. Peat bogs store vast amounts of
carbon, which must kept in the ground to avoid contributing to climate
change. A loss of only 5% of UK peatland carbon would be equal to the
UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. These bogs also act like a sponge,
soaking up rainwater, and can help to reduce flood risk. Hare today gone tomorrow: can you tell your mad march hare from your Easter bunny? – The Mammal Society Join in the Mammal Society’s annual hunt for Easter Bunnies and Mad
March Hares this Easter weekend. The Mammal Society is appealing for the
public to record sightings of rabbits and hares and help target
conservation efforts in the UK.
Both
rabbits and hares are a regular sight in the countryside and are
relatively easy to spot compared with many other mammals. Rabbit (image: Padraig Kavanagh)
The Mammal Society is currently reviewing the conservation status of all British Mammals and is also producing a new Atlas – the first in 20 years – showing where mammals are found. In addition, the Moors for the Future Partnership are monitoring long term changes in the distribution of rabbits, brown hares and mountain hares on the moorlands of the Peak District and South Pennines, potentially providing a very visual indication of the impact of climate change on our uplands.
BASC Scotland warns against tighter legislation on deer population management - BASC BASC is warning against tighter controls on deer population
management in Scotland after a parliamentary report outlined
recommendations that could radically affect the current voluntary
approach. Despite a decline in deer numbers in the last 10 years, the Scottish
Parliament’s Environment, Land Reform and Climate Change Committee has
recommended consideration of a “statutory duty of sustainable deer
management”. This move, facilitated by the immediate effect of the use of powers
under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, could mean that Scottish
Natural Heritage (SNH) would intervene or lead on deer management
planning, requiring land owners and deer managers to submit numbers to
be culled. Dr Colin Shedden, BASC Scotland director, said: “This report
recognises the progress that has been made in recent years with respect
to sustainable deer management, both in the uplands and the lowlands.
However, it also states that a “step change” is still needed especially
with respect to reducing deer impacts on the natural heritage. The
prospect of new legislation, moving away from the current voluntary
approach, may see land managers compelled to cull more deer than they
would have otherwise wished as well as a review of the current close
season for red deer stags."
Fields in Trust welcomes new API report into playgrounds Fields in Trust welcomes a new report from the Association of Play
Industries (API) into the state of England's playgrounds and supports
calls for increased investment that will positively impact the health
and wellbeing of children and young people.
Playground
(image: Fields in Trust) Fields in Trust Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths, said: "Play is the
first step children take towards physical literacy and an active
lifestyle and therefore investing in play spaces and securing their
future should be a priority in combating the negative health impacts of
a sedentary population. Parks and playgrounds are vulnerable to closure
in these challenging times and it's important that we revalue the
enormous contribution they make to our communities." The report, published on Thursday (13/4), cites findings from the
State of UK Public Parks 2016 report which found that 92% of local
authority park departments have experienced budget cuts in the past
three years and 95% of parks managers expect there to be further
reductions in the next three years. New research by the API found that 65 local authorities closed a
total of 214 playgrounds between 2014 to 2016 whilst a similar number of
closures were reported to be planned for the period to 2019. Reasons
cited for closures included budgetary concerns, outdated equipment and
anti-social issues. Read the
Nowhere to Play report from the Association of Play Industries
New £10 million fund to restore peatland -
Natural England A £10 million grant scheme to restore England’s iconic peatlands has
been launched by the Government today (14/4). Peatlands cover 11 per cent of England’s landscape and provide a
fantastic habitat for a wide range of birds such as the merlin, dunlin
and golden plover. They also provide 70 per cent of our drinking
water and reduce greenhouse gases by locking away at least 3.2 billion
tonnes of CO2. The £10 million will be available for wildlife trust and charity
projects to re-wet mosses, bring back missing plants and restore a
thriving habitat to our peatlands across the country. This is in
addition to the £4 million Defra has already allocated to existing
Natural England peatland restoration schemes in England. The
funding will be available for projects that restore upland and lowland
peatlands to their natural state, increasing their capacity to prevent
carbon entering the atmosphere, reduce flood risk by slowing the flow of
rain water and create habitats for vulnerable wildlife. The scheme will open in May and funding will target sites with the
greatest potential for greenhouse gas reduction. Projects that deliver
better value for money and maximise environmental benefits will be
favoured for funding. Funding will be available for three years
from April 2018 as part of Defra’s £100 million of capital funding for
direct investment in projects that support the natural environment. More
details, including how to bid for grants, will be provided when the
scheme opens for bids.
Red-listed thrushes turn to gardens - BTO Blackbirds were the most commonly seen bird in gardens during 2016,
according to the annual results of British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO)
Garden BirdWatch. Good numbers of the Red-listed species Song Thrush and
Mistle Thrush during the winter also provided a treat for Garden
BirdWatchers. However, some birds did not fare as well and 2016 saw the
lowest ever numbers of Greenfinches in gardens.
Mistle
Thrush (Image: Jill Pakenham) The weekly records of BTO’s Garden BirdWatch allow us to track the
yearly peaks and troughs of garden wildlife, and the annual results show
a mixed picture for garden birds in 2016. The year started well, with a
lot of bird activity and a bumper year for Siskins, which were reported
in 27% of gardens in March, compared to an average (of all previous
years) of only 18%. The proceeding mild winter is likely to have helped
overwinter survival and high numbers of Wrens and Coal Tits were seen in
gardens early in the year. However, in early summer we were hit by outbreaks of rain, which we
believe had a detrimental effect on our breeding birds. We know that
many birds suffered from a poor breeding season in 2016, and preliminary
results of the BTO Nest Record Scheme show that 12% fewer Blue Tits
fledged the nest compared to the five year average. From the summer
onwards, there were fewer sightings of some commonly seen species such
as Blue Tits and Great Tits in gardens and we are interested to see
whether numbers will recover in 2017. BTO Garden BirdWatch annual results for 2016 are available here. And finally just because - well Easter and
meerkats!
Easter
surprise for meerkats - ZSL London Zoo
Animals
enjoy egg-citing Easter hunt at ZSL London Zoo Zookeepers have shelled out on an egg-stravagant surprise for ZSL
London Zoo’s meerkat mob to enjoy – as they get ready to celebrate the
Easter weekend. While children all over the country will scramble to indulge in
chocolate eggs this Sunday, the Zoo’s meerkats (Suricata suricatta) woke
up today (April 13) to find their own Easter treats: hollowed out papier
mache eggs hidden all over their enclosure, filled with tasty fresh
veg. Zookeeper Veronica Heldt, said: “While there was no chocolate for our
inquisitive meerkats, we prepared an Easter egg hunt for the clan. This
encourages them to seek out treats hidden in the foliage and forage for
food, mimicking how they would seek their food in the wild. We like to
find fun ways for the animals to join in the festivities.” (images: © ZSL London Zoo
Scientific publications Støstad, H. N., Aldwinckle, P., Allan, A. & Arnold, K. E. (2017)
Foraging on human-derived foods by urban bird species. Bird Study
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2017.1311836 Morganti , M., Rubolini, D., Caprioli, M. Saino, N. & Ambrosini, R.
(2017)
Rainfall, but not temperature, negatively affects the growth of Blue
Tit Cyanistes caeruleus nestlings. Bird Study Warren, P., Hornby, T. & Baines., D. (2017)
Habitat use, nest-sites and chick diet of Grey Partridge Perdix
perdix on hill farms in north east England. Bird Study
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2017.1306485
Steger, C., Butt, B. and Hooten, M. B. (2017), Safari Science: Assessing the reliability of citizen science data for wildlife surveys. J Appl Ecol. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12921
Jacob M. Peters, Nick Gravish, Stacey A. Combes
Wings as impellers: Honey bees co-opt flight system to induce nest
ventilation and disperse pheromones
L. M. Aplin, J. Morand-Ferron
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