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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Barratt Developments and RSPB breathe (wild)life into new build housing
- RSPB Barratt Developments has joined forces with the RSPB to set a new
benchmark for nature-friendly housing developments – the first national
agreement of its kind in the UK. The partnership between the UK’s best known homebuilder and Europe’s
largest nature conservation charity comes at a time when much of the
UK’s urban wildlife is in trouble – with around 60 per cent of bees,
birds, bugs and mammals in decline. The first development to
pioneer the new approach will be at Kingsbrook, Aylesbury Vale, where
2,450 new homes, new schools and community facilities will be designed
to reverse this trend and put nature at the heart of the proposals. The
development is one of the biggest Barratt sites currently in planning. Around 50 per cent of Kingsbrook will be green infrastructure,
including orchards, hedgehog highways, newt ponds, tree-lined avenues,
fruit trees in gardens, bat, owl and swift nestboxes and nectar-rich
planting for bees. The development will also include 250 acres of
wildlife-rich open space, the size of 100 football pitches, accessible
to all residents of the Vale. Barratt Developments and the RSPB have signed an agreement to
incorporate some of the principles developed for Kingsbrook across its
future developments. This will include reviewing its landscaping and
planting guidance to enhance wildlife habitats. Welcoming the partnership, Mike Clarke, Chief Executive of the RSPB,
said: 'With hundreds of thousands of homes needed in the next few years,
now is the time for conservationists and homebuilders to pull together
to ensure the wildlife is boosted rather than ousted in the process. 'We are confident that many positive steps can be taken to build
wildlife into new housing developments, giving nature and people a home
and increasing quality of life, and all relatively simply and cheaply.' Mark Clare, Barratt Developments Group Chief Executive added:
'Working with the RSPB we can make the built environment and shared
areas of our developments as nature friendly as possible and at the same
time, the developments will become more attractive places to live."
New hope for precious land at Lodge Hill -
Wildlife Trusts Lodge Hill area is the only one in the UK to be designated for
nightingales The calling-in (power of the Secretary of State to take the
decision-making power on a particular planning application out of the
hands of the local planning authority for his own determination) of a
decision to build on one of the most important wildlife areas in the
country, home to the largest population of nightingale in England, is
today welcomed by The Wildlife Trusts
A
public inquiry will be held into the Lodge Hill case and according to
the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG): “ministers’
decision will be made after consideration of a planning inspector’s
report and other relevant matters.”
Stephen Trotter, The Wildlife Trusts’ Director, England, said: “We
are pleased to hear the Lodge Hill decision has been called-in and hope
for the right outcome from ministers in due course. The protection and
recovery of the natural environment should be at the heart of all
planning decisions." John Bennett, Kent Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “Kent Wildlife Trust welcomes this decision. We have put in a huge amount of work over a long period to draw Medway Council’s attention to Lodge Hill’s real value – its wildlife. Development here would be a big step backwards in environmental protection. We remain convinced that Medway should be working with the Government and its advisors to find a sustainable solution to their housing need, and we remain willing to help them achieve this.”
Lewis and Harris goose management scheme set for take-off
- Scottish Natural Heritage A new three year pilot project to manage the greylag goose population
of Lewis and Harris has been launched this week, Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH) confirmed today. The initiative sees funding of a co-ordinated shooting effort to
allow islanders to control geese. Its aim is to reduce agricultural
damage seen by crofters and farmers while maintaining a sustainable
goose population. Shooting commenced on 16 February and will continue
through to 31 March. A further round of shooting is planned for the
autumn. This pilot scheme is being trialled in Scotland with the
support of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and is guided by the National
Goose Management Review Group (NGMRG). Similar projects are underway
on Uist, Coll and Tiree, and Orkney. These have growing populations of
greylag geese which cause significant damage to silage and other crops. The aim is a sustainably managed goose population which generates
income for local people. Landowners, farmers and township clerks in
Lewis and Harris have been asked for permission to access their ground
for shooting. Access has been permitted across most of the area in
question. Stornoway-based Roddy MacMinn of SNH confirmed: “It is clear that the
greylag goose population on Lewis and Harris has increased significantly
in recent years. Since we began an annual count in 2010 numbers have
increased by more than 45%, and we now estimate the population to be in
the order of 5850 birds. We are responding to a request from the
local goose management group to help them manage that goose population
to a more sustainable level. The work will be undertaken by
experienced volunteer shooters following established best practice
methods, and overseen by staff within SAC. Our initial target is for an
additional 2200 geese to be shot this year as we aim to deliver a
significant population reduction by 2017.” The project will also trial the sale of goose meat under licence.
Trained hunters and hotels and restaurants will be licenced to sell the
meat generated by the pilot. Butchers and retail premises may also be
licenced if they apply to SNH. This will encourage sustainable use of
the carcasses, give financial benefit and supply a healthy, protein rich
and locally sourced food for islanders.
Police and RSPB appeal for help to identify wildlife criminals
- RSPB In May 2014, a video camera deployed by RSPB Scotland staff to
monitor a goshawk nest at Glenochty, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire on land
owned by Forestry Commission Scotland, and within the Cairngorms
National Park, captured footage revealing a group of men repeatedly
visiting the area in what appears to be an attempt to kill the birds and
destroy the nest. Police Scotland’s Aberdeenshire and Moray Divisional Wildlife Crime
Liaison Officer, Mike Whyte, said "Police, RSPB and other organisations
continuously work together in response to the illegal activities of a
handful of individuals who operate outwith accepted practices. In
this case it is in direct conflict with one of the UK Wildlife Crime
priorities, Raptor Persecution, an offence which by its rural geographic
location is one that is historically difficult to detect". Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland, said: “This
video footage captured by our camera shows what appears to be an illegal
incident involving the deliberate targeting of one of our rarest and
specially protected birds of prey. We are appealing to anybody with
information about this incident to contact the police on 101 or on
Crimestoppers as a matter of urgency. On account of serious concerns
about the impacts of illegal activity on the Scottish goshawk
population, RSPB Scotland is now offering a reward of £1000 for any
information that subsequently leads to a successful conviction in this
case.”
CNPA Statement on Raptor Persecution -
Cairngorms National Park Authority In response to the video footage released today (17/2/15) by
Police Scotland of what appears to be an attempt to target a goshawk
nest in Strathdon, the Cairngorms National Park Authority released
the following statement: "We are extremely disappointed and frustrated to see what appears
to be a clear attempt to target a protected raptor species in the
Cairngorms National Park. The Cairngorms should be one of the best
places in Scotland for raptors. We urge anyone with information
about this incident to contact the police as a matter of urgency."
RDPE programme document 2014 to 2020 - defra
policy paper Formal programme document setting out, in detail, what the Rural
Development Programme for England will achieve between 2014 and 2020. This programme document was adopted by the European Commission on 13
February 2015. It follows the format laid down in the EU Implementation
Regulation (EC 808/2014) . The programme document consists of 19 main Chapters and various
annexes. Download the document here (pdf)
Latest beaver trial reports published -
Scottish Natural Heritage Numbers of beavers living in the wild in Argyll have remained stable
in spite of high kit mortality, according to one of a series of reports
published today (18 February) by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Other
findings were that the beavers have had an impact on rare lichens in the
area but have hardly used local rivers and streams. The four independent scientific studies describe the ecology of the
beavers and their effects on the environment during a five-year trial
reintroduction, which took place in Knapdale Forest near Lochgilphead
and finished last May. Scottish Ministers will decide later this year
whether to reintroduce beavers to Scotland, after considering the
results of the Scottish Beaver Trial along with other beaver research.
The trial was run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal
Zoological Society of Scotland, on land managed by Forestry Commission
Scotland. During the trial the beavers were closely monitored by
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in partnership with a number of other
independent organisations.
Martin Gaywood, from SNH, who led the independent scientific
monitoring of the trial said: “It’s essential that any species
reintroduction project is properly managed and monitored. The
independent monitoring of the Scottish Beaver Trial has helped us
understand how beavers behave in a Scottish environment. We’ll be
sending a report on the trial and a number of other beaver studies to
the Scottish Government in late May. This means that their decision on
the future of beavers in Scotland will be based on the best information
available.” Online copies of the reports are available online.
Update on our Falconry for Schools project -
Countryside Alliance The last academic year for Falconry for Schools was a very busy and
successful one, with the project delivered to 26 schools. Owing to the
popularity of the project and the interest shown from other schools,
there is a current waiting list of approximately 30 schools desperately
wanting the project to be delivered in their school. Two other falconry
centres, one in County Durham and one in Shropshire are also eagerly
waiting to receive their Falconry for schools kits and training and it
is hoped that some schools in Wales and Norfolk will also experience the
programme in 2015. The project is also working with the ‘Artificial Nest Project in
Mongolia School links Programme’, run by Nicola Dixon at International
Wildlife Consultants Ltd. Schools that have gone through the Falconry
for Schools project, are then introduced to the school links programme
on falconry, which joins schools via the internet between the UK,
Mongolia, UAE and USA. This is a fantastic extension to the F4S project.
Dr Nicholas Fox OBE, has also shown his support for the F4S project and
describes the project as ‘a chance for children to get up close to birds
of prey’ and ‘a life changing experience that triggers an interest in
the natural world’. He also describes the relevance to the school’s
curriculum, ‘Maths – how much does a hawk weigh? History – how old is
falconry? Geography – where did falconry start? Children that may have
had difficulties at school can be transformed overnight’. A teacher from a school that were lucky enough to have the birds visit them in 2014, also sent in a letter of support for the project, describing it as an ’excellent short course on falconry’ and ‘an exciting resource’. The school linked the experience to a history project about castles and medieval life and the visit was also relevant to the science work based around the book “The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark”, and adaptations necessary for hunting and catching their prey. By the end of the birds’ visit, the children were able to appreciate a little more the Red Kites hovering over their playing field.
The Environment Agency has moved one step closer to winning its war
against a tiny yet destructive invasive fish
- Environment Agency The Environment Agency has moved one step closer to winning its war
against a destructive invasive fish which has been wreaking havoc in the
country’s lakes and ponds. Topmouth gudgeon outcompete native fish for
food and habitat, and spread disease.
At
their peak, a decade ago, topmouth gudgeon had been found widely spread
across the UK at 23 locations. But after today’s (17 February)
operation, and through the Environment Agency’s targeted removal, there
are now just three remaining sites in England. This is not the first
time that the Environment Agency has led the complete removal of an
invasive species. The fathead minnow was eliminated in 2008 followed by
the black bullhead catfish last year.
Sarah Chare, head of fisheries at the Environment Agency, said:
"Invasive species pose a serious threat to our native wildlife and cost
the UK economy a massive £1.8 billion a year. Topmouth gudgeon are on
our hit list of the UK’s most damaging invasive species and despite only
being tiny have devastating effects on fisheries and angling.
While Britain’s rivers are the healthiest for more than 20 years, rivers
and ponds that harbour non-native species can have their water quality
and ecology affected and could fall short of tough EU targets. It is not certain how the topmouth gudgeon first found their way to the ponds in Hackney but experts believe it is likely that they were dumped illegally. The Environment Agency is urging people who own fish that the apparently harmless action of releasing unwanted fish into a local pond can have disastrous long-term effects on the environment and other animals within it.
Some success for major moorland project -
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust The Langholm Moor Demonstration Project, one of the most important
projects in the British uplands, has published its seven-year review
which outlines what progress this unique 10-year project has made to
date against its key targets. The number of nesting hen harriers exceeded the project target for
2014 and thereby is helping to deliver the objectives of the Langholm
and Newcastleton Hills Special Protection Area notified under the EU
“Birds” Directive. The moor also supports healthy populations of raptors
and short-eared owls whilst black grouse numbers have also increased
significantly. However, red grouse numbers have not yet recovered
sufficiently to allow driven shooting and this has compromised the
desired compatibility between red grouse and raptors. One of the main
objectives of the project is to improve grouse production such that
grouse shooting again becomes viable enough in economic terms to support
moorland management. The project is charged with demonstrating how to resolve conflicts
between moorland management for raptors and red grouse, maintaining the
hen harrier population as a viable component of the Special Protection
Area, increasing the populations of moorland breeding wading birds and
songbirds and extending and improving the heather moorland habitat
beyond its state in 2002. Other salient points from the review are:
The report of the Seven Year Review of the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project is now available on the project’s website.
Fresh aims to protect Uists’ wader birds and stimulate local economy
- Scottish Natural Heritage Internationally important numbers of breeding wader birds help
support the rural economy of the Outer Hebrides, the board of Scottish
Natural Heritage recognised today. The Uists have nesting waders in the form of dunlin, ringed plover,
redshank, snipe, lapwing and oystercatcher. But they have been in
decline since the mid-1980s partly due to predation by non-native
hedgehogs, introduced in the 1970s. Efforts to stem the decline by removing hedgehogs have been in
progress since 2004. Since 2007 the translocation of hedgehogs trapped
by Uist Wader Research (UWR) has been undertaken by Uist Hedgehog Rescue
(UHR), a coalition of animal welfare and wildlife organisations that
supports non-lethal control. The coalition comprises British Hedgehog
Preservation Society, Hessilhead Wildlife Trust, International Animal
Rescue and OneKind. And proposals to mount a fresh drive to help some of
Europe’s most important numbers of wader birds by removal of non-native
hedgehogs from the Outer Hebrides were today backed by community
leaders. Research in 2012–2014 showed that introduced non-native hedgehogs
were predating the eggs (and occasionally small chicks) of these birds
and that this was having a major impact on hatching success on waders in
European Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in South Uist. Wader species
continue to show declines in South Uist. A range of options were
presented to the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Board at its meeting in
Inverness today. These include removal; clearing the hedgehogs from
areas of European importance for wading birds, or leaving the hedgehogs
to breed. “Species such as internationally important, lapwing, dunlin, ringed
plover, redshank and snipe are among those most affected. Action is
proposed to counter the worrying decline in key wader species in the
Uists,” Ian Ross, the SNH chairman, confirmed today. "Managing invasive
non-native species is a high priority in the islands and is recognised
in the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership’s Single Outcome
Agreement (SOA). This would represent not only an investment in the
natural heritage, but also the character, culture and economic future of
the islands. The hedgehogs are a non-native invasive species introduced
by man in the 1970’s and are now having an extremely damaging impact on
nest sites, predating on eggs and chicks.The Board was asked for its
support in principle to develop an EU LIFE funding bid with a view to
starting removal work in 2017 if this is successful. We will now develop
a detailed project proposal aimed at removal of the introduced
hedgehogs.We and our partners are committed to removal of the hedgehogs
which are trapped safely and humanely, and removed from the Uists to the
mainland.”
Isle of Wight childminder receives national recognition for Forest
School play scheme - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (image via HIWWT) A Newport childminder has received national
recognition for helping young children’s development by getting them
active outdoors. Kerry Hiscock, of Lugley Bugs Childcare, received accredited Level 3
Forest School training from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
(HIWWT) in 2014. Kerry submitted evidence to the Government on the
benefits of Forest School, using the example of Jamie - a child in her
care who has now blossomed. Impressed by her work, a government minister has invited Kerry to
share her experience with him and other childcare professionals at a
London event in March. She’s also making the case for more government
funding for disadvantaged children to be able to access this kind of
essential support. Forest School is a unique child-led learning process which supports
all areas of learning and development. Kerry Hiscock, of Lugley Bugs Childcare said: “Childminders have a
key role to play in children’s development - we can get young children
ready not just for school, but also for life. The Trust’s great Forest
School training helped me develop a programme that I’ve seen help
children like Jamie.” Kathy Grogan, HIWWT Education Officer said: “Forest School is a
unique child-led learning process which supports all areas of learning
and development and gives children unrivalled access to nature
throughout the seasons. As practitioners we’re able increase children’s
self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience, enabling them to become
motivated, independent learners. It has been thrilling to assess last
year’s cohort of trainees delivering Forest School in placements across
the Island, and to see local children reaping the benefits. I’m very
proud of all of them and this national recognition is a credit to
Kerry’s work.”
SNH: Advice in planning yields better results for people and nature Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) engagement in the planning system
is delivering benefits for people and nature, its Board heard on
Thursday 19 February. The Board considered material on how SNH ’s performance is helping to
get the best possible development in the right places and create better
places for people and nature. The material included feedback from the Scottish Government, the
views of customers and research on outcomes. Overall, the key findings were:
Ian Ross, SNH’s chairman, said: The planning system provides a key
tool for SNH to make a positive contribution to sustainable economic
growth. The studies show we have played a significant role in helping to
deliver good quality development in the right place.” Download the reports.
Planning for development - customer survey 2014
Measuring SNH's influence on the outcome of development proposals
As National Nest Box Week draws to a close:
New homes for threatened birds across the Galloway Hydro Scheme RSPB Scotland has been working with ScottishPower to give nature a
home along the Galloway Hydro Scheme. Dozens of specialist nest boxes have been put up for birds like pied
flycatchers and barn owls, with nesting ledges providing alternatives
for crag-nesting species such as kestrels and peregrines.
Pied
flycatchers return to breed in the UK’s native woodlands each spring
(Image: Andy Holt RSPB Scotland’s Chris Rollie said: “What woodland birds really need is old trees with cavities and natural holes formed over time, but that’s just what many of our woodlands are missing. By putting up high quality nest boxes, we’re providing the next best thing and supporting many species, some of which are scarce and under threat. Pied flycatchers, for example, are long distance migrants that overwinter in Africa and return to breed in the UK’s native woodlands each spring. Numbers have declined significantly in recent years, especially in England, and our populations in Galloway are becoming increasingly important. Research has shown that populations can be increased by providing nest boxes, particularly ones that offer good protection from predators.” Another issue the scheme hopes to address is the disturbance of owls
and raptors, which regularly nest on or close to Galloway Hydro
installations. By providing them with alternative nesting sites away
from people, it is hoped their chances of breeding successfully will be
improved. Graeme Dickie of ScottishPower said: “We have a long-standing
relationship with the RSPB, who lease wetlands from ScottishPower on
their Ken-Dee Marshes reserve. We also liaise closely over Loch Ken
water levels during the waterfowl breeding season and with regard to
owls and raptors breeding on or near our installations. We are grateful
to the Iberdrola Foundation for its contribution to the RSPB which will
help towards the enhancement of biodiversity in this way.”
Natural injustice
reports, reports on wildlife crime - Scottish
Environment Link A Review of the Enforcement of Wildlife Protection Legislation in
Scotland Eliminating Wildlife Crime in Scotland
Natural Injustice Paper 2 (PDF) Scientific Publication Enticott, Gareth (2015)
Public attitudes to badger culling to control bovine tuberculosis in
rural Wales. European Journal of Wildlife Research DOI:
10.1007/s10344-015-0905-9
McCracken, Morag E. et al Social and ecological drivers of success in agri-environment schemes: the roles of farmers and environmental context. Journal of Applied Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12412 Christopher J. Ellis,
Ancient woodland indicators signal the climate change risk for
dispersal-limited species, Ecological Indicators, Volume 53, June
2015, Pages 106-114, ISSN 1470-160X, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.01.028. Gaston, Kevin J., Duffy, James P., Bennie, Jonathan
Quantifying the erosion of natural darkness in the global protected area
system. Conservation Biology DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12462
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