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Headlines from week beginning 11 March 2019 |
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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Volunteers plant 3,500 trees in six week as National Park celebrates
Year of Green Action - North York Moors
National Park Volunteer groups in the North York Moors are planting more than 3,500
trees in six weeks, as the National Park marks the start of the
government’s ‘Year of Green Action’.
The mammoth task comes at the start of the government’s ‘Year of
Green Action’, which calls for people across the country to join
together to improve the natural world.
Alasdair Fagan, Woodland Creation Officer at the North York Moors
National Park Authority, said:
Dormice, squirrels, birds and other wildlife along the Montgomery
Canal are being given a major habitat boost thanks to our
hedgerow-laying project.
Hedge-laying training group (image: CRT) This training will now equip them with the knowledge and skills to
re-invigorate hundreds of yards of overgrown vegetation boundaries
between canal towpaths and farmers’ fields which are in need of some
TLC. The Guilsfield Arm of the canal has not been used for boating for
many decades and is now designated as a Site of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the number
of rare species of flora and fauna which have colonised it. protecting
wildlife is a key priority for the Trust. Trust ecologist Stuart Moodie explained: “The Montgomery Canal is one
of Britain’s most important canals for wildlife. The creation of
verdant, healthy hedges is vital for protecting wildlife habitats as
well as providing an effective stock-proof barrier between agricultural
land and the canal towpath.
Magic million – and over 61,000 in Wales! -
Woodland Trust Woodland Trust hits free tree milestone, and 61,755 of these trees
will be planted by 356 organisations throughout Wales this planting
season. The Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw) will give away one million trees to
schools and communities for the first time in a single season, with the
millionth tree hitting the ground in the first two weeks of March. The Trust says it highlights a growing desire amongst the public to
plant trees and to care for the environment.
Beccy Speight, Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust said: “We’ve
been close to hitting one million free trees for schools and community
groups for several years, but this is the first time we’ve ever sent out
that magic number in a single season. It’s a real milestone for the
Trust and we’re proud to have achieved such a momentous task. Sending
out one million trees has been a huge task but it’s one that our team
and the tree nursery fully embraced and were delighted to achieve. Our
network of woodland creation champion volunteers play a vital role in
the delivery of projects such as this; extending our reach by engaging
with communities, inspiring and educating them on how to plant and tend
to trees to ensure they survive. We’re ready to take on the challenge of
sending out even more free trees next season, helping even more people
make a change for the better where they live.” If you would like to apply for free trees in the coming season get
your application in soon, as the scheme is once again proving to be
extremely popular. Tree packs are allocated on a first-come-first-served
basis. You can apply for between 15-420 trees depending on the space you
have available and your requirements. Packs are: hedge, copse, wild
harvest, year round colour, working wood, wildwood, wildlife, and urban. Apply for your trees at
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/freetrees
Tree killer hiding: Novel insect vectors and host trees harbor the Dutch
elm disease - Natural Resources Institute
Finland Researchers from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and
the University of Krakow have revealed novel and unexpected insect
vectors and host trees for the Dutch elm disease, a deadly and
devastating fungal disease of elm trees. Global trade and climate change
enhance the risk of new exotic insect and fungi introductions. The researchers conducted the most comprehensive survey thus far on
the fungal associates of hardwood-infesting beetles in Central Europe,
and found Dutch elm disease pathogen (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi)
from the elm-infecting beetles as well as from beetles on European ash (Fraxinus
excelsior) and oak (Quercus robur). The result was
unexpected, because until now only Scolytus bark beetle species
attacking elm trees have been considered the main vectors of the
disease. “This study shows that the Dutch elm disease pathogen is hiding in a
plain view, in association with such vector insects and host trees that
have been neglected in previous studies. Our results suggest that the
pathogen host and vector range in forest ecosystems in Europe is much
broader than previously thought. It is clear that this finding
complicates the Dutch elm disease eradication and control attempts even
further,” highlights Dr. Riikka Linnakoski from Luke. Access the paper: Robert Jankowiak,
Beata Strzałka, Piotr Bilański, Magdalena Kacprzyk, Piotr Wieczorek,
Riikka Linnakoski,
Microplastics found in reef-dwellers off Scotland’s west coast
- Marine Conservation Society Scientists have discovered tiny plastic fibres inside starfish and
sea worms at the remote Mingulay Reef Complex off the west coast of
Scotland. The find was made in the East Mingulay Marine Protected Area, which
was designated in 2012. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh,
who looked at preserved specimens from the last 16 years, says it
highlights how widespread ocean littering has become. Calum Duncan, MCS Head of Conservation Scotland, said: “These latest
shocking results highlight the scale of the challenge of preventing
plastic getting into the ocean, and of trying to eventually remove all
the plastic already there”. Laura La Beur, a research student based at the University of
Edinburgh’s, School of GeoSciences, said: “It’s really surprising to see
the amount and range of microplastics in these deep reefs. We don’t yet
know what impact small microfibres will have on the deep oceans, but
caution is needed to prevent putting the seas under more stress.”
Public Health England publishes air pollution evidence review The review aims to create a ‘clean air generation’ of children, and
make sure new developments are clean by design. Public Health England (PHE) has today, Monday 11 March 2019,
published a review
of evidence on how to improve air quality in the United Kingdom. The review informs local and national government on actions to
improve outdoor air quality and health. Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the
UK, with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term
exposure. There is strong evidence that air pollution causes the
development of coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and
lung cancer, and exacerbates asthma. Professor Paul Cosford, Director of Health Protection and Medical
Director at PHE, said: “Now is our opportunity to create a clean air
generation of children, by implementing interventions in a coordinated
way. By making new developments clean by design we can create a better
environment for everyone, especially our children.”
Public Health England’s air quality review a significant step forward
– Sustrans response Today Public Health England has published air quality interventions
evidence review, which outlines a set of recommendations on how the
Image: Sustrans Dr Andy Cope, Director of Insight, Research & Monitoring at Sustrans,
the walking and cycling charity, who has contributed to the Review said:
“This review is a significant step forward in providing clear guidance
to tackle all forms of air pollution, including road transport
emissions. We need radical changes in the way we travel. There is a
growing body of evidence that shows investing in and encouraging walking
and cycling can make a major contribution to reducing roadside air
pollution. The challenge now is to connect the evidence to legislative
changes, and to practical measures.”
Farmer Confidence Drops as Agri-Environment Schemes Fail to Deliver
- Tenant Farmers Association The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has expressed its deep concern
that confidence in agri-environment schemes amongst tenant farmers in
England is waning due to poor administration by Natural England and the
Rural Payments Agency (RPA). TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn said, “There have been many
different types of agri-environment scheme since they were first
launched in England just over 30 years ago. They have always been
well supported by the farming community, which has welcomed working in
partnership with the Government to deliver outcomes for landscape and
biodiversity. However, that partnership is now been placed under
tremendous strain due to the shambolic way that Natural England and the
RPA are administering schemes currently”. With some 14,000 historic Environmental Stewardship payments
remaining outstanding and around 8000 Countryside Stewardship payments
for 2018 awaiting processing, many farmers are losing patience. “People are trying to run businesses and are working to tight budgets
and cash flows. It is particularly galling when DEFRA talks about
the need for farmers to enhance their productivity when its own agencies
are unable to fulfil contractual requirements for payments. It is
especially important for tenant farmers to be paid on time given the
absolute requirement upon them to make regular rent payments to their
landlords,” said Mr Dunn.
UK wild newt species free from flesh-eating fungus for now… -
Zoological Society of London Private amphibian traders urged to prevent Bsal fungus from infecting
wild populations.
The UK’s wild newt populations seem to be free from a flesh-eating
lethal fungus known to be prevalent in privately-owned amphibians across
Western Europe, a nationwide investigation has found. Scientists from ZSL and our research partners, are now urging private
amphibian owners to enforce strict biosecurity measures to protect the
UK’s wild newt population from the catastrophic devastation that Batrachochytrium
salamandrivorans (or Bsal) could cause. The research, conducted by ZSL, The University of Exeter and the
Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK, published in Scientific
Reports today combined data gathered from skin swabbing more than 2,400
wild newts in ponds across the UK, along with data from newt deaths
reported to ZSL’s Garden Wildlife Health project. The results of the
investigations revealed Bsal was not present in the samples collected. In 2010, the deadly fungus was responsible for a 99% decline in a
monitored population of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra)
in the Netherlands, with population declines expanding into Belgium and
Germany, and led to the extinction of local populations within months of
being introduced.
England's National Parks receive ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award –
National Parks UK
England's National Parks have received the ‘Outstanding Contribution’
award by VisitEngland. A tourism programme aimed at telling the stories of England’s
National Parks to new international audiences has received one of the
country’s top tourism accolades. The English National Park Experience Collection – a collaboration
between National Parks, experience and accommodation providers to offer
a taste of life across the very best of the English countryside –
received the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ award, given by
VisitEngland’s Advisory Board in the award’s 30th anniversary year. Previous winners include BBC Countryfile, Sir Paul McCartney and Her
Majesty the Queen. The programme, supported through VisitEngland’s Discover England
Fund, has seen National Parks across the country come together to offer
immerse experiences as diverse as living like a roman, gin making,
kayaking and treading in the footsteps of National Park Rangers as they
look after some of England’s most treasured landscapes.
Responses to the Spring Statement 2019
announced today (Wednesday 13 March):
Plastics and housing in today's spring statement
– The Wildlife Trusts The government’s spring statement announced today addresses two
subjects that have a big impact on our natural environment – plastics
and housing: Dr Lissa Batey, Senior Living Seas Officer of The Wildlife Trusts
said: "We welcome the Government’s commitment to do more to tackle
plastic waste. We would encourage people to respond to the government’s
consultation on how to use the tax system to encourage responsible use.
Following the success of the plastic bag tax, we feel that a tax on
single use plastics could make a real difference. Every year millions of
tonnes of plastic enters the natural environment and is doing terrible
damage to our rivers, seas and the wildlife that depends on these
habitats.” Dr Sue Young, Head of Land Use Planning and Ecological Networks said:
“If housing development is planned and built in the right way and in the
right place, it can be good for nature: this is good for the health,
wellbeing and economic success of society. It is essential that the
Government’s investment programme in housing protects our remaining
precious wildlife havens, supports the recovery of nature and seeks to
provide people with homes that have access to nature on their doorstep.”
Spring statement - action or inaction on single-use plastics? -
Marine Conservation Society The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a call for evidence around
a tax on single-use plastic in the first ever spring statement. He said
it was part of the Government’s drive to leave the natural environment
“in a better state than we found it.” Mr Hammond said the call for evidence would deliver on the
Government’s promise to tackle the complex issue of plastic littering
and threat to our oceans. He said the call for evidence would cover the whole of the single-use
plastic supply chain from alternative material to re-usable options and
recyclable opportunities. Mr Hammond said it will look at how a tax system on single-use
plastics can drive technological progress and behaviour change “not as a
way of raising revenue but as a way of changing behaviour and
encouraging innovation.” He said there will be investment to develop new greener products and
processes funded from revenues raised. He also said the Government would award 20 million pounds to
businesses and universities to stimulate new thinking and rapid
solutions in this area during the call for evidence. Emma Crane is the MCS Public Affairs Manager: “Whilst we welcome
today’s announcement and the Government’s focus on this issue, plastic
litter is causing damage to our oceans and marine wildlife today and we
would have liked to see the Government go further by announcing a full
consultation on the issue or even better announcing the introduction of
a deposit return scheme or a latte levy. Charging for plastic bags
worked to change behaviour and we need to do the same with single use
plastic. It’s also vital that producers take an active role in the
design and recyclability of packaging. It’s time to act now and
#STOPtheplastictide.”
Spring Statement: Chancellor fiddles while planet
burns - Friends of the Earth Climate change should be at heart of economic policy, not consigned
to the margins Reacting to measures outlined in today’s Spring Statement to help
combat climate change, Friends of the Earth’s head of political affairs,
Dave Timms said: “Instead of putting climate change at the heart of
economic policy-making, the Chancellor is merely fiddling in the margins
while the planet burns. The nation's children are calling out for tough
action to cut emissions, Mr Hammond must listen harder to the lesson
they’re teaching him. “With the government enthusiastically backing more
runways, more roads and fracking, it’s little wonder the UK is likely to
miss future climate targets. The Chancellor should have announced a
massive programme of investment in home insulation and public transport,
instead of pushing the false solution of carbon off-setting for
aviation.”
UK takes step forward in global marine protection
- Defra UK Government backs plans by Ascension Island to designate over
150,000 square miles of its waters as a fully protected no-take Marine
Protected Area. More than half of the UK’s global waters are set to be within Marine
Protected Areas, putting the UK at the forefront of calls to protect 30
per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030. The UK Government has backed plans by Ascension Island to designate
over 150,000 square miles of its waters as a fully protected ‘no-take’
Marine Protected Area (MPA) – closing the off-shore area to any fishing
activity and safeguarding important marine habitats for future
generations. When protected, the new no-take zone around Ascension Island would
bring the total percentage of MPAs in the UK’s territorial waters,
Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to over 50%. This comes as
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has reiterated his call for 30% of
the world’s ocean to be protected by 2030 and called on other nations to
follow the UK’s lead.
Woodcock making a comeback - Game & Wildlife
Conservation Trust
(image: GWCT) This comes as a surprise as there were fears of a poor breeding
season after the dry summer of 2018. It is possible that conditions in spring on the main breeding grounds
in Russia and Scandinavia may have resulted in better chick survival
immediately after hatching, when the young are vulnerable to cold, wet
weather, and that this could have compensated for higher mortality
during the dry weather later in the summer. Summer conditions were also variable across Europe, with central
Russia not experiencing the high temperatures recorded in Scandinavia,
resulting in regional differences in woodcock breeding success. The woodcock influx this year coincided with sudden, widespread
snowfall in Russia during the third week of November, coupled with
easterly winds from central Europe. Dr Andrew Hoodless, a woodcock expert from the Game & Wildlife
Conservation Trust (GWCT), said: “It appears that most areas of southern
Britain experienced good numbers of woodcock. It may have been a
slightly different situation in the north – with reports from Scotland
being more mixed. The contrast between north and south may reflect
different winter weather conditions, but it seems likely that it also
reflects the fates of different breeding populations: with Scotland’s
wintering population consisting of a higher proportion of woodcock from
Scandinavia rather than Russia. It was good to see woodcock numbers
bounce back quickly after the relatively poor season of 2017/18 and many
shoots waiting until at least December to assess numbers before deciding
on whether to have a day at woodcock.”
Keep Scotland Beautiful endorses global commitment to end plastic
pollution -
Keep Scotland Beautiful We are calling time on plastic waste and pollution by endorsing the
Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The New Plastics Economy looks for businesses and organisations to
endorse the commitment to reduce our single-use plastic use, innovate so
all plastics we do need are designed to be safely reused, recycled or
composted, and to contribute to a truly circular economy. Our work at Keep Scotland Beautiful goes a long way to forcing a
change in our habits concerning single-use plastic items already, and
our ambition for this Global Commitment is that we can encourage
organisations across Scotland to join is in ending plastic waste and
pollution today. Through our campaigns such as our Cup Movement, we are encouraging
people to not just change their littering behaviour, but encourage them
to think of sustainable alternatives to plastic and call on businesses
to aid in the recovery and recycling of single-use items.
Appeal to get more people learning in the natural environment
- Natural Resources Wales
The campaign, which runs from 1 – 7 April, encourages teachers,
learning groups and families across Wales to make outdoor learning part
of everyday life. It aims to celebrate and promote the multiple benefits of a classroom
without walls while sharing practical outdoor activities to try at home
or at school. Sue Williams, Senior Education and Skills Advisor for Natural
Resources Wales said: Find out more about the
Wales Outdoor Learning Week here
NE Scotland reaches 1.5 m wildlife records -
Scottish Natural Heritage A speckled wood butterfly has become the 1.5 millionth wildlife
record logged in North East Scotland. Spotted by a local butterfly recorder near Banchory, the speckled
wood butterfly has increased by more than 30 percent in its distribution
and geographical spread across the UK in the last 40 years, and can now
be widely seen across Aberdeenshire.
Glenn Roberts, North East Scotland Biological Records Centre
(NESBReC) Coordinator, said: “This is a phenomenal achievement for our
many ‘citizen scientists’ in North East Scotland. We’re so fortunate to
have such a wide variety of wildlife in the area, and we’re grateful to
everyone who contributed. People are often surprised to hear about the
many kinds of animals that can be found in the area, from owls to whales
to rare fungi. With spring soon to begin there are invertebrates, such
as some butterflies and bumblebees, coming out of hibernation, emerging
from dusty sheds, garages and holes in the ground. Hedgehogs will also
be coming out of hibernation – look out for them in your gardens, in
woodland and on our country roads – even a record of roadkill is
useful.” Denise Reed, Scottish Nature Heritage’s (SNH’s) Tayside & Grampian unit manager, added: “I’d encourage everyone to submit their animal sightings. Every record is important: this information is invaluable to help us learn about and protect animals in the North East.”
Scientific publications Smith, K. E., Weis, D., Amini, M., Shiel, A. E., Lai, V. W. M. &
Gordon, K.
Honey as a biomonitor for a changing world. Nature
Sustainability (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0243-0
Hill, R. et al.
Biocultural
approaches to pollinator conservation. Nature Sustainability. DOI:
10.1038/s41893-019-0244-z Jetz, W. et al. Essential biodiversity variables for mapping and monitoring species populations (open access) Nature Ecology & Evolution (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0826-1
Gillian Gilbert, Fiona S. MacGillivray, Helen L. Robertson & Nicholas
N. Jonsson
Adverse effects of routine bovine health treatments containing
triclabendazole and synthetic pyrethroids on the abundance of dipteran
larvae in bovine faeces. (open access) Scientific Reports
10.1038/s41598-019-40800-6
C.N.Scholten, A.J.Kamphuis, K.J.Vredevoogd, K.G.Lee-Strydhorst,
J.L.Atma, C.B.Shea, O.N.Lamberg, D.S.Proppe
Real-time thermal imagery from an unmanned aerial vehicle can locate
ground nests of a grassland songbird at rates similar to traditional
methods. Biological Conservation.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.03.001
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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. |
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Before
the end of March, volunteer groups made up of members of the public,
youth groups, corporate teams and National Park staff will be creating a
new native woodland near Danby, Whitby, by planting a mixture of oak,
silver birch, hazel, rowan, crab apple, wild cherry, hawthorn and
blackthorn.
In
an initiative funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Trust
staff, volunteers and a volunteer group from Montgomeryshire Wildlife
Trust spent a weekend on the Guilsfield Arm of the canal, near Arddleen
in Powys, learning the ancient art of hedge-laying.
Contents
of the tree packs (Photo: WTML)
government
can improve air quality, including banning cars outside schools,
investing more in clean public transport and foot and cycle paths as
well as introducing road pricing.-Ben-Tapley-ZSL.jpg)
T. helveticus © ZSL - Ben Tapley
Broads
by Kayak (c) Daniel Wildey 
NUMBERS
of woodcock were higher than expected across most of Britain this
winter, with parts of southern England recording numbers well above
average.
Natural
Resources Wales (NRW) is launching the first ever
Speckled
Wood (image: Stuart Graham - W Argyll
