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Today's top stories, click on the headline to read more. CJS News, pick of today's headlinesCJS's pick of the countryside and wildlife news, updated weekdays. Sign up here to receive our daily briefing.We tweet many more headlines and scientific papers than we have space to include here or in our publications, please have a look at our twitter timeline to see all articles of interest.
If you've followed a link from a story which is no longer on this page please try either the Week's News page, for items from this last week, or Archive for earlier articles.
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”.
Resonse:
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”
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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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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.
