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Headlines from week beginning 17 July 2017 |
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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Helping communities claim their local greenspaces and parks.
Giving communities the tools to create better places, written by
Groundwork.
Groundwork has worked with local communities for 35 years to make
where they live greener and better places to be. In our experience, we
know that one of the most successful, sustainable ways of doing this is
to empower people to be the part of the change they want to see where
they live. There’s a wealth of evidence to suggest that we’re at risk of finding
ourselves back in the ‘bad old days’ where our parks and open spaces
become unattractive, uninviting and, in extremis, unsafe places to be. This year's Love Parks Week - July 14-23 – is an opportunity to
demonstrate just how much our country loves parks. So let’s get the
whole community telling us why, to help us protect them for future
generations.
More on Love Parks Week here. You think your site would benefit from a “Friends of” group but don’t
know where to start? What is a Friends of group? Usually a group of people who voluntarily work to maintain, improve
and (often) promote a green space. With thanks to Leeds City Council who helped us with the article.
Poll reveals the call of wild places to visitors
– John Muir Trust
As tourists flock to Scotland’s scenic outdoors for the summer
holidays, a clear majority would be put off visits by industrial
development New research released by the Trust has highlighted the potential
benefits for Scotland’s tourism industry of protecting the country’s
unique Wild Land Areas from industrial-scale development. Quinag courtesy of Kevin Lelland A survey carried out by YouGov on behalf of the Trust reveals that
the majority of Scottish adults – 55 per cent – are “less likely” to
visit scenic areas in Scotland if they contain large scale
infrastructure, like commercial wind farms, electricity transmission and
super-quarries. Just three per cent said they were “more likely” to visit such areas,
while 26 per cent said that the existence of large scale developments
would make “no difference” to their decision to still go to scenic areas
anyway. Of the remainder, 10 per cent were undecided, while six per cent
expressed no interest in visiting scenic areas at all.
New opportunities for young Londoners to work with wildlife
- London Wildlife Trust A new partnership to help young people get involved with nature
conservation People from backgrounds under-represented in the conservation sector
will be given special opportunities to get involved in wildlife projects
thanks to a team of organisations led by the London Wildlife Trust.
Keeping it wild Credit: Abigail March A series of action days will introduce young people aged 11-25 years
to their local wild species and habitats and give them a taste of urban
conservation. Participants will work towards a John Muir Award, under
the guidance of the John Muir Trust, while youth engagement charity
Headliners will work with young people to produce films about wildlife
and nature. Britain's leading youth volunteering and social action charity,
V•Inspired, will recruit young people for the Keeping It Wild programme,
with help from youth club charity London Youth, which represents 300
youth organisations across the capital. The two organisations will help
participants develop their own social action projects in their local
green spaces.
Threatened native species finds safety in Lincolnshire
– Environment Agency Refuges have been set up in the county for the country's only native
species of crayfish
Efforts to protect the UK’s only native species of crayfish have seen
almost 600 specimens moved to protected new homes in Lincolnshire. The endangered white-clawed crayfish have been transferred to two
secluded locations, chosen for their potential as safe havens. Known as ‘Ark Sites’, the carefully selected refuges have all the
characteristics needed for the crayfish to establish a thriving colony,
including good-quality water, suitable habitat, and an isolated
location. Most importantly, they will be safe from the threat of their
non-native counterparts, the North American Signal crayfish. This
invasive species out-competes our own for food and habitat, and carries
a fungal disease that devastates native populations. Dr Chris Extence, Environment Agency team leader for Analysis and
Reporting, said: Bringing our native crayfish into the safety of an Ark Site is vital
to protecting them from these threats, safeguarding their long-term
survival and stability.
Conservation work is helping to protect our precious moorland
– University of Manchester Work to protect the iconic moorland of the Peak District and South
Pennines is having a positive and statistically significant effect on
the
Monitoring (University of Manchester)
Greener Greenways project recognised as best practice case study
- Sustrans Our UK-wide Greener Greenways project has been identified as one of
five best practice European case studies that highlight planning and
The 'Green Active Travel Routes' case
studies were identified by not-for-profit design and landscape
architecture practice Here and Now, on behalf of the Central
Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT). The Central Scotland Green Network Trust are currently promoting and
publicising the case studies to communicate the value and benefits of
combining green infrastructure with active travel routes. Green active travel routes combine natural planting or water systems
with paths for people on foot or by bike, creating attractive places and
journeys for both people and environment. According to the Central Scotland Green Network Trust: "Green
Active Travel Routes deliver a range of benefits. From environmental
improvements including increased habitat, biodiversity and climate
change resilience, to improved health and well-being for people. They
can be retrofitted or newly planned, integrating green infrastructure
and provision for active travel from the start."
Quantifying the environmental cost of fishing on the seabed
– Bangor University Trawling contributes 20% of the global landings of fish caught at
sea, hence it is an essential means of providing food for millions of
people. Bottom trawling is used to catch fish and shellfish that live in or
near the seabed. Despite its importance, bottom trawling causes variable
amounts of physical and biological change to seabed habitats, and can
induce structural and functional changes in seabed communities.
Understanding the ecosystem consequences of trawling is important so
that we can reduce negative impacts on the seabed through appropriate
management measures. An international collaboration of scientists conducted a global
meta-analysis of 70 comparative and experimental studies on the effects
of bottom trawling, to estimate the rates of depletion and recovery of
seabed biota following bottom trawling. The researchers were able to
quantify the relationship between the reduction of seabed animals and
penetration of the fishing equipment into the seabed. Lead author Professor Jan Hiddink from Bangor University (UK) said:
“We found that otter trawls penetrated the seabed 2.4 cm on average and
caused the least amount of depletion of marine organisms, removing 6% of
biota per trawl pass on the seabed. In contrast, we found that hydraulic
dredges penetrated the seabed 16.1 cm on average and caused the greatest
depletion, removing 41% of the biota per fishing pass.”
Killer congestion blighting air quality in regional cities, study warns
– IPPR The UK's regional cities are in breach of the legal limits on air
quality by up to 150%, threatening the lives of children and adults,
report warns. Government, councils and transport bodies must back radical action to
improve air quality, ahead of the publication of DEFRA’s Clean Air
Strategy later this month. Focus should be on incentives for drivers to upgrade to electric cars
and roll-out of hydrogen powered trains in the North as part of a
Northern energy revolution, study concludes. The government must do much more to address the crisis of toxic fumes
killing thousands in the UK’s regional cities, including phasing out
diesel vehicles and introducing incentives for purchasing electric cars,
according to a new study. The warning comes in the latest report from leading think-tank IPPR
North, which explores the North of England’s future transport energy
needs. Current trends estimate that congestion in the North will increase by
3 per cent annually, 'Gearing up for the transition: The role of
transport in a Northern energy strategy' notes — but cautions that even
by 2030, on current projections, only 5 per cent of UK cars will be
powered by electricity rather than petrol or diesel, threatening the
government’s aspiration for the UK to be the world-leader in clean air
cars.
Moray ospreys translocated to Basque Country
– Forestry Commission Scotland Forest Enterprise Scotland's Aberdeenshire team has been involved in
a five year project to help restore breeding Ospreys to the Basque
The FES team has been working with renowned conservationist Roy
Dennis, of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, who has been collecting
chicks under a SNH licence to translocate to Spain’s Basque Country,
where no Ospreys have bred for a century or more. The release site, the Urdaibai Estuary near Bilbao, is used by
Ospreys during their passage to and from Scotland so was considered a
suitable site for a re-introduction by the Basque osprey group.
As well as providing a gene pool for re-introductions to other
countries, this partnership has also protected existing nests and so
helped Ospreys consolidate their numbers and spread in Scotland. Alan Campbell, Environment Ranger with FES team, said: “This has been
a great project to be involved in. It feels really good to know that we
have helped reintroduce these magnificent birds to another part of the
world where they have been struggling to hold on. Roy has been weighing,
measuring and ringing osprey chicks on the national forest estate for
many years, but over the past five years, when there has been more than
one chick in a nest, the larger chick has been selected for
translocation.”
Theft of the food plant and caterpillars of the rare swallowtail
butterfly from internationally important nature reserve
– Norfolk Wildlife Trust
Swallowtail caterpillars on milk parsley by Elizabeth Dack Chief Executive, Brendan Joyce said, “This is an appalling wildlife
crime to dig up these rare plants from an internationally important
nature reserve and deliberately take rare swallowtail butterfly
caterpillars. Britain’s vulnerable wildlife faces enough challenges
without people callously exploiting precious plants and animals for
commercial or personal gain. It is very unlikely that the plants
or the caterpillars will survive for any significant amount of time away
from the reserve. The police are currently investigating the
incident and we would urge the public to contact the police if they see
swallowtail butterflies in an unusual or previously unknown location or
if they are approached to purchase any butterflies or plants.” Following the news this week that The Lynx UK
Trust has submitted an application to Natural England to bring six of
the wild cats from Sweden to Kielder Forest.
NSA rejects procedures behind Lynx UK Trust release licence application
– National Sheep Association With Lynx UK Trust having submitted a formal application to Natural
England for a release licence for lynx into Kielder Forest,
Northumberland, the National Sheep Association (NSA) is continuing to
raise serious concerns around processes and proposals adopted by the
body. Responding to the announcement, NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker
says: “NSA has been strongly opposed to what Lynx UK Trust is calling a
pilot release since its inception, with serious concerns around the way
the organisation conducted its consultation process to questions around
whether current law would even allow such a release to take place.”
TCV in partnership with Dementia Adventure –
TCV TCV is proud to work in partnership with Dementia Adventure to expand
outdoor activity for people with dementia. Award-winning charity Dementia
Adventure has received nearly half a million pounds from the Big
Lottery Fund to help people living with
Image: TCV Dementia Adventure delivers short breaks and holidays, training,
support and research to improve the lives of people living with dementia
and their carers. This new grant will be used to grow the scale of their
work, encouraging other organisations across the UK to adopt this in
their communities. "We know that people living with dementia can benefit emotionally,
socially and physically from activity outdoors. Engaging with nature can
improve quality of life, build confidence and help lessen the impact of
the dementia. Each group will be equipped with practical skills and confidence to
deliver enjoyable outdoor activities for more people with dementia
including animal assisted therapy, gardening and nature and park walks.
Research has shown this to be beneficial in reducing feelings of
isolation and an unnecessary decline in well-being.
Farming Minister George Eustice MP visits Hampshire farm to see how
wildlife can thrive on a farm growing oats for our breakfast cereals
- Wildlife Trusts The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, George
Eustice MP, visited Hampshire on 7 July and met farmer, Nick Rowsell,
who grows oats under the Jordans Farm Partnership with The Wildlife
Trusts and LEAF. This tranquil landscape of rolling chalk downland is vital for
nature’s recovery and the farm lies within the Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust’s Faccombe Woodland to Kingsclere Downs Living Landscape.
Semi-natural lowland grasslands like chalk downland is one of the most
threatened habitats in the UK. So much had been ploughed up but this
part at least is being returned to its former glory. Nick produces oats for Jordans on rolling downs and hills alongside
providing great food, shelter and breeding sites for rare birds like
stone curlew and woodlark. Pollinators also thrive thanks to the seed
mixes being used. The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has
advised Nick how best to manage land for these species and willow tit,
Duke of Burgundy butterfly and rare arable flowers so creating bigger,
better and more joined-up habitats for wildlife. The Jordans Farm Partnership is a great example of how wildlife and
farming can work together, but to thrive on future will require
continuation of government schemes like Countryside Stewardship. The
Minister was urged to provide certainty for farmers by opening
application windows for Countryside Stewardship before we leave the EU
and to retain such schemes post-Brexit.
Best summer ever for Hummingbird Hawk-moths?
- British Trust for Ornithology We’re on track for a record summer for Hummingbird Hawk-moth
sightings in Britain, with more recorded in gardens this June than in
previous years, as found by British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Garden
BirdWatch survey.
Reports of Hummingbird Hawk-moths in gardens are at a record high for
this stage in the season (seen in 2.3% gardens in June compared to an
average of 0.5%) according to the thousands of citizen scientists that
take part in the BTO’s Garden BirdWatch survey. The moths have been seen
across the UK, but there are particularly high reporting rates in the
south and the east of England.
Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership launched
- John Muir Trust Public, private, community and NGO landowners join forces to restore
Highland Perthshire natural woodland. The Trust and four
neighbouring landowners and a woodland charity have launched a new
project to create a vibrant, native woodland landscape spread across 50
square kilometres in the area between Loch Rannoch, Loch Tummel and Loch
Tay. Representatives from Forest Enterprise, Highland Perthshire
Communities Land Trust (Dun Coillich), Dalchosnie & Kynachan Estate and
the Scottish Wildlife Trust were joined by Woodland Trust Scotland and
the John Muir Trust at the foot of Schiehallion on Tuesday 18 July to
celebrate the birth of the initiative. Dr Liz Auty, the John Muir Trust’s property manager at East
Schiehallion, and a key player in the formation of the partnership,
said: “We have a long term vision to turn this vast upland area into a
living breathing landscape of native trees, woodland corridors,
flourishing wildlife and picturesque footpaths. This project, we
believe, can start to turn this landscape into a marvellous asset for
the local community and a precious legacy for our children and
grandchildren.” Each partner will take forward different elements of the project. The
John Muir Trust is spearheading the replacement of non-native conifers
with broadleaf woodland and Scots pine. Seedling regeneration will be
supported by sensitively sited fencing, allowing aspen, birch and rowan
and willow – currently held in check by browsing – to reach their
potential. The Trust also plans to improve habitats for black grouse,
willow warblers, wrens, whinchats and other species.
Beavers’ unique ability to restore landscapes revealed
- University of Stirling Beavers’ exceptional ability to re-create diverse wetland landscapes
that are home to a wide variety of species, has been revealed by
researchers at the University of Stirling. A new study, partly-funded by Scottish Natural Heritage and published
in the international journal Science of the Total Environment, is the
first to fully measure these environmental benefits over time.
Scientists looked at the effects a small group of beavers had on a
wetland in Tayside originally drained for farming. Over a period
of 12 years, local plant richness rose by 46% and the total number of
different plants recorded more than doubled. Species which normally grow
in areas with high nitrogen levels decreased, indicating a return to
more natural soil conditions. Stirling’s Professor Nigel Willby, said: “Wetlands are tremendously
important environments for biodiversity. They also serve to store water
and improve its quality – they are the ‘kidneys of the landscape’.
However, the world’s wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate – the
latest estimates suggest that almost two thirds have been lost since
1900. Beavers are renowned for their engineering skills, like dam
building, and are now being considered as tools for restoring wetlands.
They have been reintroduced widely, including in Scotland, partly for
this purpose and our findings demonstrate the surprisingly large
benefits they can bring to biodiversity.” Between 2003 and 2015, the beavers constructed 195 metres of dams,
500 metres of canals and an acre of ponds, surrounded by a mosaic of
vegetation which increased in complexity by 71%. 400 years after being hunted to extinction in the UK, beavers were
re-admitted to Scotland last year, based on experience from trial
reintroductions. SNH will use the findings of this study to inform
discussions about how the animal can be integrated within the Scottish
countryside. Access the paper: Alan Law, Martin J.
Gaywood, Kevin C. Jones, Paul Ramsay, Nigel J. Willby,
Using ecosystem engineers as tools in habitat restoration and rewilding:
beaver and wetlands, Science of The Total Environment, Volumes
605–606, 15 December 2017, Pages 1021-1030, ISSN 0048-9697, doi:
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.173.
New light on the secret life of badgers -
University of Oxford, WildCRU Badgers are more sociable than often thought, with implications for
how they transmit disease according to Oxford University researchers. Using security tracking technology more commonly used to protect
museum artwork, the new research has revealed fresh insights into the
animals’ social behaviour. Previous studies have fuelled the assumption that badgers are a
territorial and anti-social species, living in exclusive, tight-knit
family groups, known as ‘setts’. This picture of the mammal’s social
system led to the belief that they actively defend territorial borders
and consequently rarely travel beyond their social-group boundaries.
Some culling and vaccination programmes now rely on this perception,
considering badger society as being divided up into discrete,
impenetrable units. The findings, published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution, reveal
that badgers travel more frequently beyond these notional boundaries
than first thought, and appear to at least tolerate their neighbours. Understanding day-to-day wildlife behaviour is critical to solving
problems related to conservation and disease management. These issues
are particularly relevant to badgers, because of their controversial
role in the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to cattle in the UK and
Ireland. An interdisciplinary team of Zoology and Computer Science Researchers
from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, used active Radio
Frequency Identification Technology (aRFID) to ‘tag’ and monitor the
movements of badgers in Wytham, Oxfordshire. The team discovered that
the level of connectivity among badgers from different social-groups,
was not as expected. Professor David Macdonald, Director of Oxford University’s Wildlife
Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), said: ‘The private lives of
badgers turn out to be almost as hard to understand as those of people –
but after 25 years of trying, supported by extraordinary technologies,
we’re nudging closer to an understanding that is not only intriguing but
also, for example in the context of bTB, useful.’ Read the paper (open access): Ellwood
SA, Newman C, Montgomery RA, et al.
An active-radio-frequency-identification system capable of identifying
co-locations and social-structure: Validation with a wild free-ranging
animal. Methods Ecol Evol. 2017;00:1–10. doi:10.1111/2041-210X.12839
Buried alive: Aquatic plants survive in ‘ghost ponds’ under agricultural
fields - University College London Aquatic plants in ‘ghost ponds’ are able to survive more than 100
years buried beneath cropped agricultural fields, according to new UCL
research. Ghost ponds are abundant across many agricultural regions, often
visible as damp depressions, areas of poor crop cover, or changes in
soil colour. Many UK ponds were filled-in during agricultural land
intensification that took place after the 1950s.
At the start of 20th century, there were an estimated 800,000 ponds
in England and Wales, but it is thought that less than a quarter of
these now remain. However, the UCL study, published in Biological
Conservation, highlights that it is possible to ‘resurrect’ these buried
habitats from the seeds and eggs stored within their historic sediments. “We have shown that Ghost ponds can be resurrected and remarkably
wetland plants lost for centuries can be brought back to life from
preserved seeds” said lead author Emily Alderton (UCL Geography). “Ghost ponds often make poor agricultural land as it is very
difficult to completely drain a pond and stop it collecting water.
Re-digging these sites is a brilliant away of returning vibrant pond
habitats to the landscape without any loss of productive land” added
Emily. Read the paper (open access): Emily
Alderton, Carl Derek Sayer, Rachael Davies, Stephen John Lambert, Jan
Christoph Axmacher,
Buried alive: Aquatic plants survive in ‘ghost ponds’ under agricultural
fields, Biological Conservation, Volume 212, 2017, Pages 105-110,
ISSN 0006-3207, doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.004.
HS2 latest - 94 ancient woods face damage -
Woodland Trust The Environmental Statement for HS2's Phase 2a (from West Midlands to
Crewe) has now been published, and the the loss to ancient woodland is
far worse than we anticipated. We are horrified to learn that:
This is a huge increase, as previous route announcements suggested 2
ancient woods were to be lost (6.5 hectares). This is on top of the 63 woodlands that will be
impacted by Phase 1, and at least another 17 woods along the
proposed Phase 2b (East and West) routes. This now brings the potential total of woods suffering direct loss or
some damage to 94.* The current figure may still rise further as the
ancient woodland inventory is updated and more route details are
confirmed.
Growing better trees faster - University of
Oxford A new research collaboration could significantly increase the quality
and economic productivity of one of the UK’s largest crop outputs, Sitka
spruce conifer trees. Using a breeding technique called ‘genomic selection’, researchers
from the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh and from Forest Research,
an agency of the Forestry Commission, hope to accurately identify, at a
very early age, fast growing trees with superior timber quality. In
doing so, the ‘Sitka Spruced’ research initiative could improve the
economic value of future spruce plantations in the UK. In addition, by
enhancing the quality of the wood, harvests are more likely to meet the
changing construction specifications required to build our houses. The Sitka spruce is the UK’s primary timber species, with over 35
million Sitka trees planted in the UK each year. It is the third largest
crop by area of cultivation in the UK, after wheat and barley, and
accounts for around £1bn of the industry’s £2bn annual revenue. Fast
growing and suited to the moist climate of western and northern Britain,
the species produces a versatile white wood, with uses from paper
making, to building construction. It takes around 40 years from
planting before most Sitka spruce trees are harvested, and only a
proportion of those trees meet the stronger, higher value construction
grades. The project will scan hundreds of trees for variations in their DNA
and then match those variations with fast-growing trees that produce
superior timber. This will enable scientists to screen the DNA of the
trees, to identify the fastest growing, with the best quality timber. Genomics is not GM, Genetic Modification, but instead exploits the
huge variation that occurs naturally within a species. If successful,
the same technology could potentially be used to screen trees for other
properties, such as how they cope with challenging environments, for
example, how they adapt to dry or nutrient-poor sites, and for
resistance to insects and disease.
Record year for rare black-winged stilts -
RSPB
Mud flats at low tide (image: Gordon Langsbury) An elegant, black and white wader bird with long, bubble-gum pink
legs, black-winged stilts have become a more common sight in recent
years as they move from their traditional nesting grounds in southern
Europe in search of wetland habitat to raise their young. However,
fledglings are still extremely rare in the UK with only a handful of
successes in the past decade. RSPB Cliffe Pools in north Kent proved to be the most productive site
for black-winged stilts this summer as two pairs fledged an impressive
seven chicks. A further two young fledged from RSPB Ouse Washes in
Cambridgeshire, with a final four coming from a nest in Norfolk making
it the most successful breeding season for stilts in the UK.
Managing change is the name of the game for nature conservation under a
warmer climate - British Trust for
Ornithology New research suggests the populations and distributions of ¾ of 3,000
plant and animal species in England are likely to be significantly
affected by climate change by the end of the century.
Dotterel by Peter M Wilson Conversely, wasps, bees, ants and many southerly distributed species
such as Dartford Warbler and emperor dragonfly were thought likely to
thrive in response to warmer temperatures and would be able to colonise
new areas assuming suitable habitats are available. A more detailed
study of 400 species included information on population trends, and took
into account other factors known to make species more vulnerable to
climate change, such as restriction to small, localised populations.
This more comprehensive assessment found that taking into account these
other factors slightly increased the proportion of wildlife at risk from
climate change (35%), with 42% likely to have opportunities to expand. The report emphasises the need for conservation action to increase
our wildlife’s ability to survive climate change. Potential
beneficiaries of climate change will not be able to expand their range
if they lack areas of suitable habitats to move into. Action is
therefore needed to protect and enhance networks of semi-natural
habitats for species to colonise. Direct management may help otherwise
threatened species to adapt to a warmer climate. Read the paper: James W. Pearce-Higgins,Colin M. Beale,Tom H. Oliver,Tom A. August,Matthew Carroll,Dario Massimino,Nancy Ockendon,Joanne Savage,Christopher J. Wheatley et al A national-scale assessment of climate change impacts on species: Assessing the balance of risks and opportunities for multiple taxa. Biological Conservation https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.035
Join the Great British Wildflower Hunt!
People have less contact with wild flowers than previous generations.
There are fewer flowers around us and we seem to have less time to enjoy
them. But taking part in the Great British Wildflower Hunt could change
all that. It’s a great way to enjoy flowers, whether you’re familiar
with them or not. And by letting Plantlife know what you’ve found,
you’ll help our work. Wild teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) The mauve flowers appear in a band that gradually
'moves' up the flowerhead as new blooms open and old ones close. You can
collect the flowerheads and dry them.
Read the article in full and find out more about the Wildflower Hunt
including how to take part.
On with today's news and defra have been
busy.
The Unfrozen Moment - Delivering A Green Brexit
- defra Secretary of State Michael Gove sets out his vision on the future of
our natural environment in a speech at WWF's Living Planet Centre
Click through the read the speech in full. Response:
Creating a new gold standard for the environment – the Secretary of
State’s keynote speech today - The Wildlife
Trusts The Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Gove, promised to
deliver a “green Brexit” in a keynote speech today and said that leaving
the European Union provides a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to reform
farming, fisheries and land management. The Wildlife Trusts welcome the passion and commitment in Mr Gove’s
speech – it’s extremely heartening to hear a Secretary of State say that
he cares about the environment and wants to make commitments to
enhancing it using “gold standard” policies. Particularly welcome are
promises to tie future farm support to environmental improvements. Over the last 40 years, a staggering 56% of species across the UK
have declined. Fifteen percent of species are in danger of disappearing
altogether. The need for change is pressing. Joan Edwards, Director, Public Affairs, The Wildlife Trusts, “It’s
encouraging to hear a Secretary of State speaking so positively about
improving the environment. This ambition comes at the right time - our
country’s wildlife has never been in so much trouble, but there are huge
opportunities ahead to improve how we look after our environment. We’re
very much look forward to working with Mr Gove and Defra to help
strengthen protection and enable recovery for our wildlife, seas and
countryside”.
Response:
Woodland Trust response as Michael Gove talks about a 'Green Brexit' Responding to today's speech on the future of the environment by the
Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Gove, in which he stated
the importance of woodland creation and need for policies and incentives
to stimulate it, Woodland Trust chief executive Beccy Speight, said:
“Only a month ago we were calling for fresh thinking to arrest the
12,000 hectare shortfall in woodland creation and today’s announcement
could herald the change needed. Farm payments which reward environmental
protection and enhancement can only nurture more integrated land
management, in which trees play a crucial role. Whether for flood
alleviation, improving soil quality or enhancing animal welfare an
increase in trees planted, in the right way, can support measures which
benefit the public, farming and the economy. Alongside yesterday’s
Defra confirmation of £13m in grants being available this autumn and
today’s land management vision presented by the CLA there seems to at
last be an appetite to revolutionise our outdated approach to the
countryside.”
Response: The
future of the countryside is green -
Countryside Alliance In his speech Mr Gove outlined his vision for the countryside and
future ongoing support for farming. He recognised that “seventy per cent
of our land is farmed” and our “beautiful landscape has not happened by
accident” but is the result of active management. Mr Gove made clear
farmers will only get payments for environmental goods and enhancing
rural life. The Countryside Alliance was particularly pleased that Mr Gove recognised the role farmers and land managers play in managing the countryside and the specific need to support upland farmers by protecting the “human ecology”. Upland farming is impossible without subsidy and it provides public benefits which could never be met by the market. This is something we have long been concerned about and recognising the role upland farmers play in managing and maintaining some of our most iconic rural landscapes is vital.
Environment Secretary pledges action on ocean plastics
- defra The Environment Secretary has set out how the government is
protecting our oceans. Environment Secretary Michael Gove pledged action to reduce plastic
waste choking our oceans as he set out his ambition for the UK to lead
the world in environmental protection. Around eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into oceans each
year, posing a serious threat to our natural and marine environment –
experts estimate plastic is ingested by 31 species of marine mammals and
over 100 species of sea birds. As
new figures published today (21/7/17) revealed more than nine
billion fewer plastic bags were used since the government introduced a
5p charge, an 83 per cent reduction, the Environment Secretary set out
further plans to prevent other sources of plastic finding their way into
our oceans and seas during a speech entitled ‘Delivering a Green Brexit’
today. Mr Gove confirmed legislation will be introduced this year to ban the
sale and manufacture of microbeads – tiny pieces of plastic that are
easily swallowed by marine life – in cosmetics and personal care
products such as toothpastes and shower gels. Speaking at WWF UK on Friday morning, Environment Secretary Michael
Gove said: " Eight million tonnes of plastic are discarded into the
world’s oceans each year, putting marine wildlife under serious threat.
In October 2015, the government introduced the 5p carrier bag charge.
Figures released today show that policy’s enormous success – nine
billion fewer carrier bags distributed since the charge was introduced,
a fall of 83 per cent. More than £95million raised from the charge has
been donated to environmental, educational and other good causes. Last
year the government launched a consultation on banning microbeads in
personal care products, which have such a devastating effect on marine
life. We are responding to that consultation today and we will introduce
legislation to implement that ban later this year. But there is more we
can do to protect our oceans, so we will explore new methods of reducing
the amount of plastic - in particular plastic bottles - entering our
seas, improve incentives for reducing waste and litter, and review the
penalties available to deal with polluters - all part of a renewed
strategy on waste and resources that looks ahead to opportunities
outside the EU."
Banning the use of microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products
- defra Consultation outcome We want to know what you think about our plans to ban the manufacture
and sale of cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads. We are also looking for evidence of the effect of other sources of
microplastics on the marine environment. This will inform future UK
actions to protect the marine environment.
Download the summary of responses document (pdf)
Response:
Microbeads ban is great news, but plastics problem is still enormous
- Greenpeace Commenting on the government proposal published today to ban
microbeads from personal care and cosmetic products, Greenpeace UK
oceans campaigner Louisa Casson said: “The UK government has just
proposed the strongest ban on microbeads in the world to date. This is
great news for our environment and a positive sign of Britain’s global
leadership on ocean plastics. It’s crucial that ministers have left the
door open to broadening the ban in future"
£13 million fund to increase England's woodland
- defra The next round of the Woodland Creation grant has been confirmed. A £13 million fund to help landowners plant more trees to protect
wildlife, boost the timber sector and reduce flood risk will soon open
for applications, Forestry Minister Thérèse Coffey confirmed today
(20/7/17). Farmers, foresters and land managers across the UK will be able to
apply for up to £6,800 per hectare to plant, weed and protect more trees
when application forms for the next round of the government’s Woodland
Creation grant are made available in September. The fund – part of the Countryside Stewardship scheme – will help
plant more than 3 million trees, creating 1,900 hectares of new woodland
and contributing to the government’s ambition to plant 11 million trees,
with a further one million in towns and cities. Guidance and application forms will be available in September, with
the application window opening in January 2018. A range of grants are available to support the creation of new
woodland and sustainable woodland management, with Forestry Commission
online advice available on the application process.
A £10m fund to restore peatland opens for applications
- defra Applications are being welcomed to fund peatland restoration
across England £10 million grant scheme to restore England’s iconic peatlands has
officially opened for bids, Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey
announced today (21/7/17). In England, peatlands cover 11 per cent of the country and provide a
key habitat for birds such as the merlin, dunlin and golden plover. They
provide 70 per cent of the country’s drinking water and store more than
3.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. But it is estimated as much as
four fifths of our peatland is in need of restoration. Funding will be made available for schemes that restore upland and
lowland peatlands, create habitats for vulnerable wildlife, reduce flood
risk by slowing rain water flow and increase carbon capture. The government fund is in addition to the £4 million Defra has
already allocated to existing Natural England peatland restoration
schemes across the country, from Cumbria to Cornwall, which have raised
water levels for mosses to thrive and seen rare species replanted. Bids with the greatest potential for greenhouse gas mitigation and
projects that deliver better value for money and maximise environmental
benefits will be favoured. The scheme is for capital works and is open
to everyone outside central government and their agencies. 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. The closing date for applications will be 20 November 2017 and
applications will be made via Defra’s
e-tendering platform And also for Scotland:
Funding available now to restore Scotland’s peatlands
- Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) today urged land owners, managers,
farmers, crofters and estates to apply for funding to help protect
precious peatlands.
From Shetland to the Solway more than 20% of Scotland is covered by
peat – an area almost the same size as Wales. Peatlands provide multiple
benefits when healthy. Restoring these magnificent peatlands has been made possible thanks
to additional Scottish Government funding of £8million which will see
another 8000 hectares of damaged peatlands start their road to recovery
this year. The Peatland Action Fund, run by SNH and launched in April, has
already had more than £4million of applications but wants further
applications before the closing date at the end of October. Restoration techniques start with ‘rewetting’ of peatland, mostly
through ditch blocking. This reconnects peatlands with water catchments,
helping to slow river flows and, in some cases, ease downstream
flooding. Other restoration techniques being trialled include peat hag
re-profiling, re-vegetating bare peat and forest to pre-existing bog
recovery.
News from organisations other than defra
(it's been another busy day!)
£1.23 million National Lottery award to support biodiversity training
- Field Studies Council Field Studies Council, FSC, are delighted to have been awarded a
National Lottery grant of £1.23 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund
(HLF) for their exciting new BioLinks project.
(Image: FSC) FSC aims to involve existing and new biological recorders in the
project, hoping to extend not only the number of active natural history
observers but also increase their age range and diversity. Over the five
year project BioLinks will work across the West Midlands region and
London and South East to engage with 2,500 volunteers, delivering 480
training courses and 33 events.
West Pennine Moors becomes largest protected wildlife site in a decade
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust
West Pennine Moors (image: Alan Wright, via Lancashire Wildlife
Trust) The West Pennine Moors is a fabulous place for all of us. It is about
100 square miles of moorland north of Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and Bolton,
and it is surrounded by millions of people. The Lancashire Wildlife Trusts Head of Conservation, Tim Mitcham said
“We are thrilled by this news. The West Pennine Moors are an incredibly
important area for nature conservation and to have this level of
protection designated is a significant step forward”
Scientific Publications Dayer, A. A., Lutter, S. H., Sesser, K. A., Hickey, C. M. & Gardali,
T. (2017)
Private Landowner Conservation Behavior Following Participation in
Voluntary Incentive Programs: Recommendations to Facilitate Behavioral
Persistence. Conservation Letters. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12394
Chadd, R. P. et al (2017)
An index to track the ecological effects of drought development and
recovery on riverine invertebrate communities. Ecological
Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.06.058
Nathan Brown, Frank van den Bosch, Stephen Parnell, Sandra Denman Integrating regulatory surveys and citizen science to map outbreaks of forest diseases: acute oak decline in England and Wales. Proc. R. Soc. B 2017 284 20170547; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0547. Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe, Tobias Preis, Helen Susannah Moat
Using deep learning to quantify the beauty of outdoor places. R.
Soc. open sci. 2017 4 170170; DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170170. Lonnie Mikkelsen, Line Hermannsen, Kristian Beedholm, Peter Teglberg
Madsen, Jakob Tougaard
Simulated seal scarer sounds scare porpoises, but not seals:
species-specific responses to 12 kHz deterrence sounds. R. Soc. open
sci. 2017 4 170286; DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170286
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Keep
it Wild campaign highlights potential tourism risk from industrial
development of Scotland’s scenic areas
Delivered
by a new exciting partnership comprising London Wildlife Trust, John
Muir Trust, Headliners UK, London Youth and V•Inspired, the ‘Keeping It
Wild’ programme aims to enthuse and involve young Londoners from diverse
backgrounds - not currently engaged with nature - in protecting and
promoting the wildlife in their own local neighbourhoods.
On
the move: Environment Agency monitoring officer Emma Holden helps
transfer native crayfish to a protected Ark Site in Lincolnshire, safe
from the threat of invasive Signals (Environment Agency)
environment,
research recently launched by The University of Manchester and the Moors
for the Future Partnership has confirmed.
delivery
of green and active travel infrastructure.
Country
of Spain.
Norfolk
Wildlife Trust has reported the uprooting and theft of five milk parsley
plants from its nature reserve at Hickling Broad. Most if not all of the
milk parsley plants had rare swallowtail butterfly caterpillars feeding
on them and the plants were deliberately removed from the site to
acquire the caterpillars. Milk parsley (Peucedanum palustre) is a
scarce, vulnerable and declining, internationally-protected plant found
mainly in East Anglian marshland. It is also the only plant (a
relative of roadside cow parsley) that the green and black striped
caterpillars of Britain’s largest butterfly, the swallowtail will feed
upon. The swallowtail butterfly is extremely rare and also only
found in the wild in the fens of the Norfolk Broads. 
dementia
get outdoors and retain a sense of adventure in their lives. We are
delighted that TCV will be one of the organisations working in
partnership with them to help deliver a range of specially developed
outdoor activities.
Hummingbird
Hawk-moth by Jill Pakenham via BTO
Image
shows the site transformation one year after beavers were introduced
(a), and then 11 years later (b) (University of Stirling)
Ghost
ponds (Image courtesy of Emily Alderton, via UCL)
Usually
found in Southern Europe, a record 13 black-winged stilts have fledged
in the UK from nests across Kent, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, including
nine on two RSPB reserves after years of conservation work to create the
ideal marshy habitat for them. 
A
newly published paper in the journal Biological Conservation assesses
the impact of climate change on the distribution of over 3,000 British
plants and animals across 17 taxonomic groups. Given a 2°C increase in
average global temperature by the 2080s, over a quarter (27%) of species
were judged to be at high to medium risk of losing a substantial
proportion of their currently suitable ranges, whilst just over half
(54%) could significantly expand their ranges. The most vulnerable
species were northern and upland species, including birds like the
Dotterel and Red Grouse, flowering plants such as crowberry, and damp
loving mosses and liverworts.
Do
you love wild flowers? Would you like to know more about them? And help
save them for the future? Then check out the Great British Wildflower
Hunt, says Plantlife’s Jane Gazzard 
The
Flow Country (image: SNH)
Thanks
to money raised by National Lottery players, BioLinks will support,
signpost and mentor existing and new natural historians who volunteer
their time. This will help them to help them to become more proficient
biological recorders. It will provide more taxonomic training for
underrepresented species, especially those that are difficult to
identify. Species focused on will include beetles, snails, true flies,
ants and wasps.
The
West Pennine Moors is the largest new site of special scientific
interest (SSSI) notified by Natural England since 2004, covering a total
of 76 square kilometres between Chorley, Blackburn, Bolton and
Haslingden in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
