|
|
|
||||||
|
Headlines from week beginning 9 July 2018. |
|
A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Hive of activity to raise awareness of Bees' Needs
- Defra Bees' Needs Week is back for the third year running from 9 - 15 July The Environment Secretary Michael Gove will attend the launch of Bees’
Needs Week today on Carnaby Street, which has been renamed ‘Carnabee
Street’ to raise awareness of the campaign. Defra has partnered with Carnaby
London, the leading West End shopping and dining destination to kick
off the week of bee and pollinator action from government, conservation
groups, industry and retailers to raise awareness of the campaign and
the ways people can help save the bees. Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “Bees and other pollinators
are vital contributors to the beauty of our landscapes, our economy and
our £100 billion food industry. It is inspiring to see such a wide range
of organisations celebrating these essential creatures for this unique
Bees’ Needs campaign - showing us that all of us can play a part and
help pollinators to thrive.”
Lifeline for plunging wildlife as important hay meadows saved in the
Peak District – National Trust
View across the new farmland acquired by the National Trust in
the White Peak (National Trust / Michael Scott) The National Trust has purchased 186 hectares (460 acres) of
wildflower-rich farmland in the Peak District - securing a potential
lifeline for plunging butterfly and bee populations. As Britain marks National Meadows Day, the conservation charity
reveals details of a £2.15million deal to secure the equivalent of 260
football pitches worth of wildflower-rich hay meadows and wildlife rich
grassland. The £2.15 million purchase is the largest farm land acquisition by
the charity since it bought Trevose Head in Cornwall in 2016. The Trust was able to raise the money for the land in the heart of
the White Peak thanks to legacies left to the Trust by generous
supporters. It will now work with partners to join up 1,342
hectares (3,316 acres) of nature friendly landscape. The 80 hectares (198 acres) at High Fields at Stoney Middleton and
the 106 hectare (262 acre) farm at Greensides near Buxton are home to
the most diverse range of grasses and flowers, plus an enormous range of
insects and invertebrates, small mammals and birds, creating an
eco-system that supports a complete food web. These types of species rich grassland need protecting because of the
massive decline between the 1930s and 1980s when 97 per cent were lost
due to the intensification of farming. This decrease has continued
in areas like the Peak District, despite its National Park status.
Japanese knotweed - not such a knotty problem?
– University of Leeds Ecologists can find no evidence Japanese knotweed causes significant
structural damage.
Automatically refusing mortgages on properties where Japanese
knotweed is found is out of proportion to the risk posed by this
invasive species, new research has found. Ecologists from global infrastructure services firm AECOM and the
University of Leeds have carried out the most extensive research to
date. They assessed the potential of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
to cause structural damage compared to other plants. Japanese knotweed is a notorious non-native species in the UK, and
elsewhere in Europe and North America. Now recognised as one of the most problematic weeds in the UK and
Ireland, it is known to have a range of negative environmental impacts. In the UK, Japanese knotweed is widely believed to pose a significant
risk of damage to buildings that are within seven metres of the
above-ground portions of the plant – the so-called ‘seven metre rule’ –
due to its underground shoots, known as rhizomes. When identified in homebuyers’ surveys, mortgage lenders often
require evidence that a treatment programme is in place to control
Japanese knotweed, entailing significant expense for sellers. The stigma associated with the plant means that property values can
be affected, even after action is taken to control it. As well as setting out to test the accuracy of the seven metre rule,
researchers examined the risk from multiple lines of evidence. All
reached the same conclusion. The research involved:
Living close to nature and spending time outside has significant and
wide-ranging health benefits - according to new research from the
University of East Anglia. A new report published today (6 July) reveals that exposure to
greenspace reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease,
premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure. Populations with higher levels of greenspace exposure are also more
likely to report good overall health – according to global data
involving more than 290 million people.
Lead author Caoimhe Twohig-Bennett, from UEA’s Norwich Medical
School, said: “Spending time in nature certainly makes us feel
healthier, but until now the impact on our long-term wellbeing hasn’t
been fully understood. We gathered evidence from over 140 studies
involving more than 290 million people to see whether nature really does
provide a health boost. The research team studied data from 20 countries including the UK,
the US, Spain, France, Germany, Australia and Japan – where Shinrin yoku
or ‘forest bathing’ is already a popular practice. ‘Green space’ was defined as open, undeveloped land with natural
vegetation as well as urban greenspaces, which included urban parks and
street greenery. The team analysed how the health of people with little access to
green spaces compared to that of people with the highest amounts of
exposure. “We found that spending time in, or living close to, natural green
spaces is associated with diverse and significant health benefits. It
reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature
death, and preterm birth, and increases sleep duration. People living
closer to nature also had reduced diastolic blood pressure, heart rate
and stress. In fact, one of the really interesting things we found is
that exposure to greenspace significantly reduces people’s levels of
salivary cortisol – a physiological marker of stress. This is really
important because in the UK, 11.7 million working days are lost annually
due to stress, depression or anxiety. Forest bathing is already really
popular as a therapy in Japan – with participants spending time in the
forest either sitting or lying down, or just walking around. Our study
shows that perhaps they have the right idea!”
Long term use of some pesticides is killing off dung beetle populations
– University of Bristol New research led by scientists at the University of Bristol has
uncovered that long-term use of some pesticides to treat cattle for
parasites is
Image: University of Bristol Researchers studied 24 cattle farms across south west England and
found that farms that used certain pesticides had fewer species of dung
beetle.
Dr Bryony Sands, from the University’s School
of Biological Sciences, who led the research, said: “Dung beetles
recycle dung pats on pastures, bringing the nutrients back into the soil
and ensuring the pastures are fertile. Damage to dung beetle populations
is therefore concerning, and could result in economic loss for farmers.” This is the first landscape-scale study to show that long-term use of
the pesticides has negative impacts on dung beetle populations on farms.
Professor Richard Wall, a co-author on the study, first discovered
30 years ago that pesticide residues in dung could kill these important
beetles. Dr Sands added: “It is now clear that long-term use of these
pesticides could cause declines in beetle biodiversity on a large
scale.” The study, published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems &
Environment, also found that pesticides known as synthetic pyrethroids
were less damaging to dung beetles than macrocyclic lactone pesticides. These are generally thought of as a safer alternative for farmers who
want to protect biodiversity on their farms. Dr Sands said: “Although these chemicals do appear to be less
damaging, farms that used them still had a smaller proportion of certain
dung beetles, which are very important in removing dung from pastures by
burying it. Read the paper:
‘Sustained parasiticides use in cattle farming affects dung beetle
functional assemblages’ by B. Sands and R. Wall in Agriculture,
Ecosystems & Environment.
Birds flock back to ‘mink free’ Hebrides –
Scottish Natural Heritage Terns, waders, divers and ducks are ‘flocking back’ to their native
Outer Hebrides, following the success of a complex and challenging
17-year programme to eradicate the American mink and its devastating
effect on native wildlife. Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham said: “The
successful removal of non-native mink from the Hebrides is a significant
achievement, and is the result of the sustained commitment and effort of
all the staff involved.
“I am delighted that we are already seeing positive results, bringing
the return of the seabirds and wading birds which the islands are
world-famous for. This will provide a real boost for nature tourism in
the Hebrides.” Mike Cantlay, Chair of Scottish Natural heritage said: “We are
delighted that all the hard work has been successful for the nature of
the Hebrides. Mink – an invasive non-native species - prey on ground
nesting birds and fish. With major funding from the EU Life programme,
at the project’s height a team of just 12 core Scottish Natural Heritage
staff worked as teams of trappers to remove mink, and help bring back
native birds to one of the remotest, wildest landscapes anywhere in
Scotland.” At 3,050km2 - an area twice the size of Fife - the remote Hebridean
location meant significant challenges for the project to overcome.
Hundreds of islands contribute to a coastline of approximately 2,500km
-15% of Scotland’s total. Over 7,500 freshwater lochs - around 24% of
Scotland’s total – helped invasive mink grow to dense populations rarely
reached in their native North America. Scottish Natural Heritage Area Manager for Argyll and the Outer
Hebrides, David Maclennan said: “Invasive species are one of the
greatest threats to the beauty and variety of our nature. But the
Hebridean Mink Project shows that we can take on invasive species – and
win. It is fantastic to start welcoming back our native species. A range
of factors are likely to be at play, but local people are telling us
that a mink free Outer Hebrides is having a hugely positive effect on
wildlife and the economy.”
Search for salmon – Scottish Government New research to improve monitoring of wild salmon stocks. Young salmon populations will be mapped out through the first-ever
national electrofishing survey, which will provide a statistically
robust measure of their numbers across Scottish rivers. Between July and September biologists and volunteers will carry out
electrofishing as a method of capturing and counting fish at more than
800 randomly selected sites across 27 regions. Electrofishing uses
equipment with electricity flowing through it, to capture the fish, and
will be carried out by trained teams without injuring the young salmon. The project - jointly funded by the Scottish Government, SEPA and SNH
- will provide an accurate estimate of numbers of young salmon in
Scottish rivers, while also providing fisheries trusts and boards with
valuable information to supplement extensive local surveys, which many
have conducted for decades. Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “We are already
assessing the populations of adult salmon but this new national survey
is a significant milestone, which will help us estimate the numbers of
young salmon in our rivers.”
New proposals to support Welsh farmers unveiled
– Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs Lesley
Griffiths has today launched a consultation on a new Land Management
Programme to support Welsh farmers post-Brexit, replacing the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP). The latest Welsh Government Brexit paper, Brexit and our Land,
proposes two new large and flexible schemes to replace Basic Payment
Scheme (BPS), Glastir and other parts of the Rural Development
Programme. The programme will consist of the following two schemes:
All land managers will have the opportunity to benefit from the new
schemes, not just those currently receiving CAP. However, people will
need to do things differently in return for this support.
Krill fishing companies back call to protect Antarctic Ocean
– Greenpeace Cambridge, UK – A Greenpeace campaign to protect the Antarctic Ocean,
backed by 1.7 million people globally, has received the unprecedented
support of the vast majority of krill fishing companies operating in
Antarctic waters. The move was announced at Greenpeace’s Antarctic
360° event in Cambridge, UK, attended by scientists and
Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem, who joined Greenpeace’s expedition to
the Antarctic in January 2018. This major announcement from a group of the largest krill fishing
companies will see nearly all krill companies operating in the Antarctic
voluntarily stop fishing in huge areas around the Antarctic Peninsula,
including ‘buffer zones’ around breeding colonies of penguins, to
protect Antarctic wildlife. Krill is a small crustacean which is a
keystone species in the Antarctic food web, eaten by penguins, seals,
whales and other marine life. The companies have also pledged to support the scientific and
political process for the creation of a network of large-scale marine
protected areas in the Antarctic, including areas in which they
currently operate. The companies are all members of the Association of
Responsible Krill harvesting companies (ARK), and represent 85% of the
krill fishing industry in the Antarctic.
England's lucky omen? It’s our tern now – rare sea bird visits Farne
Islands for first time since 1966 – National
Trust A rare seabird is being billed as a World Cup lucky omen today (10
July) after
being spotted for the first time since 1966 – just as England’s
footballers bid to repeat the nation’s heroics of that same year.
Image: National Trust The bird - coined "Gareth" in tribute to England manager Southgate -
was seen on the remote Farne Islands off Northumberland where the
conservation charity monitors over 90,000 pairs of nesting sea birds
including four species of tern, puffins, razorbills, gulls and
guillemots. Although a common sight in the South Atlantic and on tropical islands
across the equator the sooty tern is rarely spotted in the UK, with just
26 confirmed sitings in the British Isles with the last recorded siting
off the coast of North Wales in 2005.
Impact of natural greenhouse emissions on Paris targets revealed
– Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Global fossil fuel emissions would have to be reduced by as much as
20% more than previous estimates to achieve the Paris Agreement targets,
because of natural greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and
permafrost, new research has found. The additional reductions are equivalent to 5-6 years of carbon
emissions from human activities at current rates, according to a new
paper led by the UK’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement aims to keep “the global average
temperature increase to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and
to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above
pre-industrial levels”. The research, published in the journal Nature Geoscience today [9th
July], uses a novel form of climate model where a specified temperature
target is used to calculate the compatible fossil fuel emissions. The model simulations estimate the natural wetland and permafrost
response to climate change, including their greenhouse gas emissions,
and the implications for human fossil-fuel emissions. Natural wetlands are very wet regions where the soils emit methane,
which is also a greenhouse gas. The methane emissions are larger in
warmer soils, so they will increase in a warmer climate. Permafrost regions are those which are permanently frozen. Under a
warming climate permafrost regions begin to thaw and as a result the
soils begin to emit carbon dioxide, and in some cases methane, into the
atmosphere.
“Empty promises, missed opportunities and increased destruction” –
Woodland Trust tells MPs HS2 must step up its game
- Woodland Trust
HS2 will destroy more than 10 hectares of ancient woodland on
Phase 2. (Photo: WTML) Some 23 per cent more destructive than the first phase from London to
Birmingham, the next 40 mile stretch of the project from the West
Midlands to Crewe, will see 10.2 hectares of ancient woodland lost.
Veteran trees, hundreds of years old, are also threatened. The Trust will today give evidence to the High Speed Rail (West
Midlands-Crewe) Bill Select Committee. Trust ecologist Luci Ryan said: “There have been huge failings on the
part of HS2 Ltd and we expect the select committee to address these. No
veteran trees should be lost for short-term works to help build the
scheme, such as temporary roundabouts, haul routes and even the
provisional moving of a bridle way. How little do we value nature if
we’re not even going to fully commit to protecting our most important
old trees? Tree planting is also an important consideration. All trees
used to compensate for ancient woodland lost should be sourced and grown
in the UK. At the moment HS2 Ltd might well source the seeds from
elsewhere in Europe which could pose a risk of disease. We source the
millions of the trees we plant each year from the UK, so why shouldn’t a
major infrastructure project like HS2? It both supports UK growers and
is sensible for biosecurity reasons too. Despite all the warm words we
are hearing from government about protecting ancient woods and trees, in
reality it’s not being delivered on the ground. This is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that the level of destruction on Phase 2a
between Birmingham and Crewe is now as bad as ever."
Bowie joins the Cuckoo class of 2018 - BTO As part of its hugely successful Cuckoo project the British Trust for
Ornithology (BTO) has just launched 10 new birds, bringing the number of
Cuckoos that are currently being tracked to 14; one of which has been
named Bowie by wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham. Bowie the Cuckoo, named after one of Chris’s favourite musicians
David Bowie, was tagged on Tuesday 22 May, 2018 in Bolderwood, New
Forest, Hampshire. On 12 June his tag transmitted outside of the UK for
the first time and showed that he had left the New Forest and was in
France, just to the south of Orleans; Bowie’s migration journey
had commenced. He is currently north of Montlucon in central France and
around 600km from his tagging site.
A boon for bees as Environment Agency trials pollinator project
- Environment Agency
The beloved bumblebee is one of dozens of species set to benefit from
an Environment Agency project to improve habitat for pollinators. A pioneering pilot scheme in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire sees
Environment Agency teams adapting their routine work in a bid to boost
biodiversity. The project seeks to create more habitat for mining bees - like this one - as well as bumblebees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators (image: Environment Agency) The teams, who maintain thousands of kilometres of river and
reservoir banks that serve as flood defences, have been experimenting
with the frequency and timings of maintenance work, like grass-cutting,
on the banks to see what best preserves the wildflowers and herbs bees
need. They have also compared the results of removing the grass-clippings
or leaving them in situ – and have found that removing them helps plants
like clover, ox-eye daisies, dandelions and buttercups flourish. This season marks the third year of the 5 year pilot – and also marks
the third annual Bees
Needs Week, an initiative by government, conservation groups,
industry and retailers to raise awareness of simple things anyone can do
to support pollinators, like growing more flowers and leaving patches of
their garden to grow wild.
National Lottery cash reviving run-down Gothic cemeteries as public
greenspaces and wildlife havens - Heritage
Lottery Fund Historic cemeteries are usually associated with bereavement or gothic
horror. However, today Victorian cemeteries across the UK are being
revived as places for local communities to relax, unwind and enjoy the
natural environment, thanks to National Lottery investment. The investment has helped revive mausoleums, chapels, tombs, graves
and the biodiversity of historic cemeteries across the UK, creating
places for local communities to relax, unwind and enjoy nature. New grants totalling £6.2million has helped Sheffield General
Cemetery Park; Belfast City Cemetery; and Sir Joseph Paxton’s London
Road Cemetery, Coventry. Brompton Cemetery, which is one of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’, will
be the first to reopen in July, following National Lottery investment. Sheffield General Cemetery Park; Belfast City Cemetery; and London
Road Cemetery, Coventry have been awarded more than £6.2m of National
Lottery cash to be revived and restored for the benefit of their
local communities.
White beak sedge not seen for a century
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust
White beak sedge by Mark Champion And by coincidence, it was found as the Great Manchester Wetlands
Partnership have been reintroducing white beak sedge to Risley Moss. Wigan Reserves Manager Mark Champion said: “Following the
reintroduction of white beak sedge onto Risley Moss around a month or so
ago, I today had a visit with flora expert Josh Styles to Astley Moss to
assess suitability for reintroduction for a suite of species formerly
recorded there. One of these species was actually white beak sedge. To
our absolute amazement, we stumbled upon two plants of white beak sedge
amongst the population of round-leaved sundew. These plants, bar the
reintroduced population at Risley are the first seen in the county for
around 150 odd years. We are overjoyed at this discovery, which shows
the re-wetting work by Lancashire Wildlife Trust and it partners at
Natural England is starting to pay dividends now as the habitat is
improving and the rarer species a colonising. We concluded that the
population was regenerated by native Astley stock from the seedbank,
which lies under the soil. Although we did not see any more than these
plants, it is probable that white beak sedge may exist on other, less
accessible parts of Astley Moss.”
Geological Records Reveal Sea-Level Rise Threatens UK Salt Marshes,
Study Says Sea-level rise will endanger valuable salt marshes across the United
Kingdom by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, according
to an international study co-authored by a Rutgers University–New
Brunswick professor. Moreover, salt marshes in southern and eastern England face a high
risk of loss by 2040, according to the study published online today in
Nature Communications. The study is the first to estimate salt-marsh vulnerability using the
geological record of past losses in response to sea-level change. An international team of scientists, led by former Rutgers-New
Brunswick Professor Benjamin Horton – now acting chair and a professor
at the Asian School of the Environment at Nanyang Technological
University – found that rising sea levels in the past led to increased
waterlogging of the salt marshes in the region, killing the vegetation
that protects them from erosion. The study is based on data from 800
salt-marsh soil cores. Tidal marshes rank among Earth’s most vulnerable
ecosystems. “By 2100, if we continue upon a high-emissions trajectory,
essentially all British salt marshes will face a high risk of loss.
Reducing emissions significantly increase the odds that salt marshes
will survive,” said study co-author Robert E. Kopp, a professor in the
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Rutgers–New Brunswick and
director of the Rutgers Institute of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric
Sciences. Kopp led the development of the study’s sea-level rise
projections. Read the paper: Benjamin P. Horton, Ian
Shennan, Sarah L. Bradley, Niamh Cahill, Matthew Kirwan, Robert E. Kopp
& Timothy A. Shaw
Predicting marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise using Holocene relative
sea-level data Nature Communications 9, Article number: 2687 (2018)
New Dragonfly Species for Britain - British
Dragonfly Society
Yellow-spotted Emerald photo by Andrew Easton.
The Yellow-spotted Emerald (Somatochlora flavomaculata) can
be identified by its metallic, dark emerald coloration and the yellow
triangular patterning that mark the sides of its body. The species is
native to the fens, and other wetlands, of continental Europe, with
populations from northern France to the eastern-most edges of their
distribution in Siberia and Mongolia. Similar to Butterflies, some Dragonfly species are known to be able
to travel long distances. While Yellow-spotted Emerald is not known for
migrating long distances it is thought that prolonged easterly winds
during the spring and summer may have helped transport it overseas.
Records show that the appearance of non-native Dragonfly species in
Britain is increasing.
Invasive plants adapt to new environments, study finds
– University of Stirling Invasive plants have the ability to adapt to new environments – and
even behave like a native species, according to University of Stirling
research. A study has found that the behaviour of invasive plants changes over
time – meaning plants of the same species act differently if they arrive
in their new environment at separate times. Scientists studied the characteristics of monkeyflowers (Mimulus
guttatus), which first arrived in the UK from North America 200
years ago. They compared the behaviour of monkeyflowers long-established
in Scotland with those introduced recently for the purposes of the
experiment. Significantly, they found that the long-established plants were
bigger and produced more flowers and more clones than those recently
introduced. In comparison, the study showed that the genes of plants
recently introduced are not well-adapted to deal with the UK
environment. Dr Mario Vallejo-Marin, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Natural
Sciences, led the work alongside PhD student Pauline Pantoja. “Our study shows that invasive plants – in this case, the
monkeyflower – become increasingly adapted to new environments thanks to
natural selection,” he explained. “If we compare monkeyflowers that have been here for the last 200
years with those from North America today, they are completely different
plants. It appears that, over time, the plants seem to become natives of
their new home. In other words, these results suggest that invasive
populations of plants are better suited to live in their new home than
new arrivals from the native range.”
Parents have 'no time' to take kids to the park
– Keep Britain Tidy
The research reveals that children in Britain visit outdoor spaces an
average of three times a week, with four out of five parents (80%)
admitting they would like their child to spend more time outside. When it comes to barriers to children spending time outdoors, the top
reason given by parents was that they don’t have time to take their
children to the park. As a result, classic outdoor skills children often learn in the park
could be on the decline, with the research indicating that over a third
(34%) of children have never learnt to ride a bike, and almost half
(49%) have never climbed a tree.
A pioneering new ‘glow in the dark’ path installed in Bridgend forms
part of a network connecting homes, schools and local businesses.
The 300 metre path, which runs through the Woodlands playing fields
to link up Brook Vale with Llwyn Gwern, has a photo-luminescent resin
surface that harnesses UV light during the day so that it can emit a
gentle light to help make the route visible in the dark. From Llwyn
Gwern, the traffic-free route continues through to Pencoed Comprehensive
School and Croesty Primary School, forming part of a wider scheme to
improve active travel access in Pencoed which has been funded from the
Welsh Government’s Safe Routes in Communities programme. The initial idea for a path through the fields came from a young
pupil at Croesty Primary School. Head teacher Martin Kaye said: “Our
pupils always enjoy the opportunity to travel on two wheels so are keen
participants in the Active
Journeys programme which is delivered in our school by Sustrans and
Bridgend County Borough Council.” The scheme has been developed by Bridgend County Borough Council in
partnership with Sustrans, the schools and the local community access
group, with support from Redrow and Halo Leisure. Hailing the new path
as a shining example of how to encourage residents to choose more active
forms of travel over cars.
Minister acknowledges moorland management’s role in helping prevent
wildfires - BASC BASC has joined other rural organisations in welcoming the
government’s recognition of the role of controlled heather burning in
responsible moorland management to minimise the risk of uncontrollable
wildfires.
Image: BASC BASC, the Countryside Alliance, Moorland Association and National
Gamekeepers’ Organisation have urged Defra to ensure that lessons are
learnt from the devastating moorland fires of this summer to ensure that
there is consistent and responsible management across all heather
moorland. Controlled burning is a vital part of any management – it reduces the
fuel load and encourages healthy heather which benefits wildlife without
damaging the underlying peat. Also welcome is the government’s
restatement of its commitment to the restoration of our blanket bogs,
which is also vital to ensuring greater resilience of moorland to
uncontrolled wildfires. Scientific Publication Siviter H, Koricheva J, Brown MJF, Leadbeater E. Quantifying
the impact of pesticides on learning and memory in bees. J Appl
Ecol. 2018;00:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13193 |
|
|
|
CJS is not responsible for content of external sites. Details believed correct but given without prejudice. Disclaimer: the views expressed in these news pages do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CJS. |
|
|
Image:
University of Leeds
Image:
University of East Anglia
having
a significantly detrimental effect on the dung beetle population.
Mink
project Tern chick (SNH)
The
sooty tern, usually only found in the tropical seas of the Seychelles,
was spotted by National Trust rangers 3,500 miles from home just days
before the nation's semi-final showdown with Croatia.
Loss
of ancient woods and trees will hit new heights today (11 July) unless a
group of MPs orders HS2 Ltd to urgently upgrade its plans.
The
project seeks to provide and protect valuable habitat for bees
A
plant has been found on Astley Moss, 150 years since it was last
recorded there.
A
Yellow-spotted Emerald Dragonfly has been seen for the first time ever
in Britain.
To
mark the launch of #LoveParks Week today, we are calling on parents
across the UK to make time to visit their local green space with their
child, as research shows a whopping 75% of children would like to spend
more time outdoors.
Image:
Sustrans
In
response to a written parliamentary question from Anne-Marie Trevelyan,
MP for Berwick upon Tweed, the Defra Minister, Dr Thérèse Coffey, noted
that burning in accordance with the law and the Heather and Grass
Burning Code can help to reduce fire risk. The government also
recognises the work being done by moor owners and managers – working
with government in restoring peatland.
