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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Hen Harriers
Return to Mar Lodge Estate - National Trust
for Scotland A hen harrier chick was satellite tagged today at the National Trust
for Scotland’s Mar Lodge Estate, following the first successful breeding
attempt on the estate by this iconic raptor species in several decades.
Four chicks were produced in total and one of these has been tagged as
part of the RSPB’s Hen Harrier LIFE project.
David Frew, Property Manager at Mar Lodge Estate said “It is
fantastic news and really exciting to see these birds returning to the
estate for the first time in living memory. We have worked hard to
create an environment where raptors can thrive, and it is great to see
that our approach to management is paying off. The estate is heavily
used by visitors to the Cairngorms and we work hard to balance
conservation, field sports and visitor access and enjoyment. The
presence of raptors, and particularly the return of hen harriers
demonstrates that these objectives can all be balanced given the right
conditions. It is tremendously exciting to see these birds here once
again.” Will Boyd-Wallis, Head of Land Management and Conservation for the
CNPA said, “It is fantastic news that the hen harrier has returned to
breed on Mar Lodge Estate after many decades of absence. We very
much hope that the careful management undertaken by the National Trust
for Scotland alongside other estates in the East Cairngorms Moorland
Partnership and in the wider National Park will lead to many more pairs
successfully returning to the area. It is also very good that
through the LIFE fund, one of the chicks has been satellite tagged.
We will watch its progress with great interest and hope to learn more
about its movements and habits in the months ahead.”
Fly tipping threatens conservation work at Frays Farm Meadows nature
reserve in Denham - London Wildlife Trust Staff from London Wildlife Trust found their way into Frays Farm
Meadows blocked by a mountain of illegally dumped rubbish on Thursday
(14/7) morning. The works entrance to the nature reserve, accessible
from a slip road on the A40, was completely blocked by several
truckloads of waste.
Illegal
fly-tipping at Frays Farm Meadows. Image by Nathan Nelson Despite being next to the busy A40, Frays Farm Meadows is an
important nature reserve, home to endangered water voles, barn owls,
slow worms and a colony of glow-worms. The reserve is so important for
wildlife that is most of it is designated as a Site of Special
Scientific Interest, one of only 37 such sites in the entire Greater
London region. Staff from London Wildlife Trust are working to clear a route through
the rubbish and Highways England has said they will help remove the
discarded waste. According to the Trust, it is fortunate that the dumped
waste is only blocking a work access route and will not directly affect
the wildlife or visitors’ enjoyment of the site. Simon Hawkins, the Trust’s conservation officer for west London said:
“This is very serious episode of flying tipping - it's not a couple of
bags of garden rubbish out of the back of someone's car, but truckloads
of sub soil, rubble, fencing panels, car batteries, large empty blue
drums of cleaning fluid and what looks like the contents of a house.
It's taken up staff time clearing it back so the farmer can get access
to the cattle, and could have cost London Wildlife Trust a lot of money
to remove. Fortunately Highways England have said they will remove the
rubbish because it's blocking their access to the A40 viaduct.'”
Future of public parks inquiry launched -
Communities and Local Government Committee consultation The Communities and Local Government Committee launches an inquiry
into public parks to examine the impact of reduced local authority
budgets on these open spaces and consider concerns that their existence
is under threat. Public parks inquiry The Committee looks at how parks should be supported now and in the
future. This includes studying alternative management and funding
models, such as a mutual or a trust. The Committee invites submission of written evidence to its website
on the following issues:
The Committee would be grateful to receive written submissions by 30
September 2016.
Send a written submission via the public parks inquiry page More information:
Inquiry: Public parks
New WWT report: PM and Environment Secretary urged to plan ahead –
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Children learning how wetlands help to reduce flooding, pollution
and drought (WWT) Families and businesses will be worse off if a Government manifesto
commitment to the environment falls due to Brexit, says the Wildfowl &
Wetlands Trust (WWT). The Government’s proposed “25 year plan for the environment” has been
postponed following the EU Referendum, having already been watered down
from a Government UK-wide plan to just a Defra departmental plan for
England. The plan was supposed to reduce annual costs of environmental damage to businesses and households, by improving our environment. Estimates of these costs for the UK include £15-20 billion from air pollution and £1.4 billion from flood damage alone. much of which is met by our insurance premiums. Water pollution can add up to 17% to water customer’s bills. Water companies in England and Wales spend at least £129m per year to clean farm pollution from our water. Meanwhile the farmers themselves incur an extra £180 million per year in growing costs due to industrial chemicals in the air. A WWT report published
today urges the Government to deliver its promise of a 25 year plan,
and also to make itself accountable to Parliament through an annual
budget statement on the value of the environment, alongside the value of
the economy. In order to fund environmental improvements, the report
cites the Norwegian approach, where companies who deplete the nation’s
natural wealth have to pay towards renewing it through a ‘sovereign
wealth’ fund.
Summers are
getting wetter, soils are less acidic and plant species richness is
increasing, according to long-term environmental studies at ECN sites Changes in air pollution and weather patterns have had marked effects
on the UK’s terrestrial environment over the past 20 years. This is the
main conclusion drawn from assessments of data from several of the UK’s
longest running environmental research sites that comprise the UK
Environmental Change Network (or ECN), presented in a new Special Issue
of the journal Ecological Indicators.
The
special issues includes papers on changes in weather, atmospheric
deposition, vegetation, invertebrates and soils at ECN sites [Photo ©
Forest Research] While UK air temperatures have risen significantly since the onset of
industrialisation (in line with the expected consequences of global
warming), air temperatures at ECN sites showed little net change over
the specific 1993-2012 period studied. Nevertheless nearly all of the
twelve ECN sites experienced marked increases in the amount of summer
rainfall, while the frequency and intensity of rainfall also increased. The effect of large recent reductions in acidic emissions from power stations and heavy industry can be seen in substantial reductions in the atmospheric deposition of sulphur and acidity to all ECN sites. This in turn has stimulated a gradual but widespread reduction in the acidity of non-agricultural soils. Conversely, atmospheric concentrations of ammonia, that is produced primarily from agricultural sources and can have an undesirable fertilising effect on sensitive plant species, showed relatively little change across the network over the monitoring period. The findings are published in Sier, A and Monteith, D. (eds). 2016. Assessing ecosystem resilience through Long Term Ecosystem Research: observations from the first twenty years of the UK Environmental Change Network. Ecological Indicators 68, 1-156
Do bees have accents? – Cardiff University
Pupils
from Llanishen Fach Primary School in Cardiff learn more about Cardiff
University’s bee projects in partnership with Julian Rees, Project
Manager with Pollen8 Cymru. (Cardiff University) A team from Cardiff University hopes to discover whether bees in
Wales have regional accents. The scientists are appealing for recorded sounds from the summer
hives of an estimated 3,235 beekeepers from Holyhead to Chepstow. By collecting photo and video images of bees near plants, the
researchers from the School of Pharmacy hope to work out which types of
vegetation provide the best source of nectar for honey production in the
hive. The School is currently installing a remote monitoring system to a
hive on the roof of Cardiff University’s pharmacy building. The device will allow the pharmacists to listen to the sounds the
School’s own bees make and record factors such as temperature and
humidity. Les Baillie, Professor of Microbiology, said: “It is thought the
sound a hive makes may be influenced by the health of the bees and
whether they are about to swarm.
Cuckoo declines linked to different migration routes to Africa
- BTO When the BTO began ground-breaking Cuckoo tracking research in 2011,
we had very little idea where these birds spent the winter or how they
got there. Our latest research not only reveals this information, but
also shows that Cuckoos’ use of autumn migration routes helps explain
population declines.
Like many migrant birds, the
Cuckoo
is in long-term decline as a breeding bird in Britain, and has been on
the Red List of
Birds of Conservation Concern since 2009. The breeding behaviour of
the Cuckoo has been very well-studied, but until recently, knowledge of
this species’ migratory and wintering behaviour was very limited. In
2011, a BTO team, led by Chris Hewson, set out to change this, using
satellite-tags to track the movements of male Cuckoos breeding in East
Anglia. This study has since been extended to track males from several
other sites across Britain. This work has not only revealed details of
Cuckoos’ migration timings and wintering grounds, but has also showed
“our” breeding birds take one of two routes south to Africa after
breeding. Crucially, differential rates of mortality have been found on
these routes, which strongly correlate with breeding population trends. The study included information from 42 male Cuckoos tagged at nine
different breeding locations in England, Scotland and Wales, and tracked
over 56 autumn migrations between 2011 and 2014. Birds either migrated
southwest via Spain and Morocco (the ‘west route’) or southeast via
Italy or the Balkans (the ‘east route’) before converging in the Congo
basin of central Africa. Birds taking the west route left eight days
later on average than those taking the east route. Interestingly, birds
on the west route were more likely to die before completing the Sahara
crossing, even though their route was 12% shorter to this point,
demonstrating route-specific costs of migration for the first time.
There was no difference in survival during the rest of their southward
migrations, or during their return northward journeys to the breeding
grounds. The differences in survival were correlated with breeding
population changes assessed via two independent datasets – from bird
Atlases in 1988-1991 and
2007-2011,
and from the annual BTO/JNCC/RSPB
Breeding Bird Survey.
The strong relationships found provide the first direct evidence that
conditions encountered during migration can have an impact on breeding
populations.
Blashford Lakes nature reserve celebrates 20th birthday - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust From industrial gravel pits to much-loved wildlife haven in two
decades
A much-loved Wildlife Trust nature reserve is celebrating its 20th
birthday this month. Blashford Lakes nature reserve near Ringwood, draws
some 18,000 visitors from as far and wide as Somerset and the Midlands
to enjoy the wealth of wildlife that both call it home year round, and
pass through on migration. With the support of New Forest District Council and the reserve’s
landowners, Wessex Water and Bournemouth Water, ambitious plans to turn
disused gravel pits into a wildlife haven took shape in the early 1990s.
The Wildlife Trust opened the reserve’s gates in July 1996. Since then, several dedicated staff, with the support of hundreds of
volunteers and generous funding from partners and supporters, have
together transformed the site into a popular wildlife destination in
Hampshire. Today it’s home to a variety of habitats including freshwater lakes
and rivers, woodland and grassland – and thanks to the good management,
wildlife such as otter, deer, and even magnificent osprey can be seen
there.
RSPB Scotland statement on offshore windfarm judicial review decision
- RSPB It was with great reluctance in January 2015 that RSPB Scotland took
the last resort decision to challenge Scottish Ministers’ consents for
four large offshore windfarms in the outer firths of the Forth and Tay.
RSPB Scotland had been working with the project developers and Scottish
Ministers for several years to try and reduce the harm to seabirds.
Unfortunately, consents were granted when thousands of gannets, puffins,
kittiwakes and other seabirds from iconic internationally protected
wildlife sites like the Bass Rock and the Isle of May were predicted to
be killed every year. The Government’s statutory nature conservation
advisors, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation
Committee, had also raised significant concerns about the windfarms. In
these circumstances, RSPB Scotland could not just stand by and let such
devastating impacts on Scotland’s wildlife happen without making a
stand. Regrettably, legal action was our only option. Lloyd Austin, Head of Conservation Policy at RSPB Scotland: “Today’s
judgments are complex and we will therefore need some time to fully
consider their implications, however, RSPB Scotland is encouraged by the
decisions of the Court, which have recognised the huge risks from these
four offshore windfarms on Scotland’s internationally important areas
for seabirds. Although RSPB Scotland’s decision to take legal action was
the right one it is very regrettable that such significant time and
effort was needed to reverse the decisions which put so much of
Scotland’s wildlife at risk. This case demonstrates the critical
importance of clear and effective environmental regulation that is
properly implemented, as well as the importance of access to justice for
NGOs and citizens to be able to ask the courts to scrutinise public
decisions. RSPB Scotland is now keen to work with all parties to ensure
we focus efforts on delivering much needed renewable energy in a way
that does not threaten Scotland’s internationally important wildlife."
A vole
new world ‘Restoring Ratty,’ an ambitious five year partnership project aimed at the reintroduction of water voles to the Kielder area of Northumberland is now set to start, and it has all been made possible by National Lottery players and a grant of £421,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Water vole, photo Jamie Hall, via Northumberland Wildlife Trust The project will establish a sustainable population of water voles within Kielder Water and Forest Park (KWFP), on the upper catchment tributaries of the Kielder Burn and North Tyne above Kielder Reservoir; to achieve this, a team of volunteers and conservationists will carry out a programme of captive breeding and reintroduction of voles to areas with suitable wetland habitat where there is an absence of its main enemy, American mink. The project will start later this month with the recruitment of a project officer and surveys in the North Pennines from which water voles may be taken to establish a captive breeding population to begin reintroduction. Engagement with local communities, volunteers, visitors and wider landowners will be key to establishing a long term future for the water voles and there will be many opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in the project. By the end of the five year project, the team hopes there will be well established water vole colonies at Kielder with the additional hope that this much loved mammal will continue to live in this area in the future. The forthcoming work builds on three years of detailed planning and year-round mink surveys, made possible by thousands of hours of trained volunteer effort, all of which have indicated that Kielder is now a great place for water voles. Graham Holyoak, Project Manager for Tyne Rivers Trust which
successfully led the first phase of the project to establish a predator
free environment for water voles says: “Volunteers gathered over 1000
records with no sighting of mink, which is the water vole’s main
predator, so we are confident that the habitat is now ready for the
re-introduction of water voles to begin.”
Helping the natural world in the East of England
- Heritage Lottery Fund More than £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has been
announced today, to help people across the East of England unearth the
fascinating range of undiscovered natural heritage in the county. Projects in Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex will provide
training in woodland management, develop volunteers' natural heritage
skills and improve the biodiversity of a community wildlife garden,
reconnecting people of all ages with the natural heritage on their
doorsteps. Volunteers and local people will be at the heart of all
four projects. Robyn Llewellyn, Head of HLF East of England, said: “These four
latest projects vary in size and location but what they all have in
common is a celebration of the region’s wealth of beautiful woodlands,
gardens and wildlife. It’s thanks to National Lottery players that we
can continue to raise awareness of such biodiversity and help local
people protect it for future generations.” The four projects are: The Bedfordshire Old Warden Pear Green Fingers Gardening for Wildlife Workshops Reawakening the Ludham Dragon Longest section of England Coast Path opens in Middlesbrough - Natural England Natural England today (21/7) opens the latest stretch of England
Coast Path in Middlesbrough, bringing an economic boost to the region.
England
Coast Path at Staithes © Andrew Best / Natural England Sixty eight miles of sign posted National Trail will give walkers new
and improved access and connect the urban heartland of Teesside to its
open coast. The continuous route starts at Filey Brigg and passes north through
the popular resorts of Scarborough and Whitby, Saltburn and Redcar,
providing stunning views of the North York Moors and coastline. It
follows much of the well-known coastal section of Cleveland Way National
Trail with improvements to the route. Natural England is currently establishing a
2,700-mile path around the entire English coastline by 2020 and work
is already under way on 60 per cent of the route. When completed, it
will be the longest continuous coastal walking route in the world. It
will also become a National Trail – the nation’s finest and most popular
long-distance paths. Natural England’s Chief Executive, James Cross, said: "It’s an honour
to open this section of coast path near my home town in Teesside. This
route showcases the diversity of our coastline, from the views over the
expansive North York Moors and the winding streets of postcard-perfect
villages to our industrial heritage, and diverse wildlife all year
round. We want people to enjoy exploring all of this coast, using a
high-quality, well-signposted route." The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs also today
confirmed that an additional 8 mile section between
Newport Bridge and North Gare - which links the previously open 34
miles of coast path in Durham with the new section opening today – has
also been approved and is expected to formally open next year. Walkers
will then be able to enjoy 110 miles of continuous England Coast Path
from Filey Brigg to South Bents.
Hertfordshire’s birds, bees and butterflies get boost from new
countryside coalition - Hertfordshire
Wildlife Trust
Thrift
Farm in Royston (image: Hertfordshire Wildlife Trust) The Wildlife Trusts and LEAF create unique model for nature-friendly
farming across 44,500 acres, as part of new Jordans Farm Partnership. This summer, eight progressive arable farms in Hertfordshire are
embarking on a new model for sustainable farming and will maintain
nature-friendly corridors on farmland which, if placed end to end with
the other 34 farms taking part around the country, would reach from
Land’s End to John O’Groats - as part of a new partnership to enhance
the natural environment and support farming communities. The new and unique collaboration - involving The Wildlife Trusts,
Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) and Jordans - will promote
sustainable farming practice - and address rural development issues
through The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Known as the Jordans Farm
Partnership, it will create a new model for UK farm sustainability and
set high standards for nature-friendly farming. This summer, all 42 farms across the UK which supply grain to breakfast cereal brand Jordans, will undertake a wide variety of measures to protect water and soil, building on their longstanding commitment to support wildlife on at least 10% of their land. Together, the farms in the partnership manage over 44,500 acres of land. Ten percent of this area will continue to be managed to provide food for farmland birds, pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies and pollinating insects; sustaining landscape-scale wildlife corridors with dedicated habitats, such as ponds and hedgerow highways, for species of significance in the local area.
Illegal bird traps discovered on Deeside grouse moor
- RSPB Scotland RSPB Scotland has appealed for information following the discovery of
illegally-set spring traps in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.
The conservation organisation has commended the actions of two members
of the public who alerted it to a distressed bird caught in a trap they
came across while out walking but is disappointed that, as with many
wildlife crimes, the perpetrators are yet to be identified. While walking down the northern slopes of Geallaig Hill, a few miles
north west of Ballater, on 27th June 2016 two members of the public saw
a common gull floundering on the ground. As they approached the
distressed bird, they saw that it had been caught by the legs in two
traps, later identified as illegally-set spring traps. These traps were hidden beside a dead rabbit that had been used as
bait. The gull appeared to them to be severely injured and was bleeding
profusely. The walkers contacted the RSPB Scotland Investigations team,
and the incident was immediately reported to the Scottish SPCA and
Police Scotland. A Scottish SPCA inspector quickly attended the scene,
and having carefully released the gull, found that it had two broken
legs. These injuries were so extensive that the bird had to be
euthanized. A follow-up search of the area a few days later, carried out by
Wildlife Crime Officers from Police Scotland, assisted by investigations
staff from the Scottish SPCA and RSPB Scotland found no further victims
of these traps. However, clear evidence was found that eight similar
traps had been deployed, attached to stakes and baited with dead
rabbits, in a line stretching two hundred metres across the moor.
It was also evident that these traps had been removed very recently.
Nearby, three dead common gull chicks, close to fledging age, were
found. Police Scotland officers later spoke to a number of people involved
in the management of the land on which the traps were found, but the
identity of who had set the traps could not be established. If anyone
has any information that may assist in establishing the perpetrators of
these crimes, RSPB Scotland is encouraging them to contact Police
Scotland by dialling 101 or the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999. Scottish Gamekeepers Association Statement A Spokesman for The Scottish Gamekeepers Association said: “This is
the first we, as an organisation, have heard about this so we will take
time to make the appropriate inquiries. The SGA is an organisation which
advocates best practice and condemns wildlife crime.”
You’ve been Attenborough’d! - Wildfowl and
Wetlands Trust
This
is the moment naturalist and wildlife presenter Sir David Attenborough
surprised WWT member Lizzie Guntrip by saying hello on a visit to London
Wetland Centre.
David was at the wetland centre in Barnes to launch the 2016 Big Butterfly Count, a nationwide survey of butterfly numbers. But while he was there he took time to meet some of WWT’s most valued people: its members, volunteers and staff. Lizzie, from Sutton in Surrey, said: Next, David met WWT volunteer David Cowmeadow. The two Davids spent
quite a while talking. David A was amazed and impressed that David C has
given his time and efforts to WWT for 12 years, arriving at 6.50am sharp
every morning. And all due to the satisfaction of working with dedicated
people and being part of an organisation which values the natural world
as much as he does. Finally David A was interviewed on camera about the Big Butterfly
Count, which is being support by our wetland centres around the country.
WWT Marketing Assistant Maria Zuckschwert had never conducted an
interview before so was starting right at the top, but she took it in
her stride and conducted a brilliant and professional interview.
Wildlife of West Canvey Marsh to get new homes as part of £250k Thames
Estuary wetland project - RSPB Work to improve and create 59 hectares of new wildlife habitat is
about to begin on the RSPB’s West Canvey Marsh nature reserve as part of
a £250k WREN-funded wetland project in the Thames Estuary, with diggers
due to break ground later this month. The improved area of the reserve will form part of a ‘green corridor’
spanning the north and south shores of the Thames Estuary, which will
see the creation and restoration of more than 80 hectares of coastal and
floodplain grazing marsh – an area equivalent to more than 100 football
pitches. Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh is a wildlife rich
and rare habitat. In the UK it supports internationally important
numbers of wintering wildfowl, as well as important breeding populations
of wading birds, and other species, such as water vole, great crested
newt and scarce emerald damselfly. At West Canvey Marsh, excavators will be used to dig new pools and
channels in the reserve’s grassland, which will provide muddy edges for
waders such as snipe, lapwing and redshank to feed in and wetter ditches
for water voles. The soil generated will be used to build bunds around
the excavated area to retain water, creating a new wetland wildlife
habitat. Natalie Holt, Senior Sites Manager for the RSPB South Essex reserves,
said: “We are really excited to see the diggers arrive. It will be great
to see our part of this fantastic project coming to life, knowing that
we’re helping make more places where nature can thrive. It’s not just
about the wildlife though. Green space is really important for the
people who live here too and West Canvey Marsh is the largest such space
on Canvey Island, so we want to make sure people can get the maximum
benefits and enjoyment from it. The work we are doing will give visitors
new opportunities to have up-close encounters with wildlife, which is so
valuable in today’s world, where finding the time and space to get out
and enjoy nature seems to be more and more difficult.”
Scientific Publications Green, Rhys E. & Pain, Deborah J.
Possible effects of ingested lead gunshot on populations of ducks
wintering in the UK. Ibis DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12400 Blackburn, L., Epanchin-Niell, R., Thompson, A. and Liebhold, A. (2016), Predicting costs of alien species surveillance across varying transportation networks. J Appl Ecol. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12754
Clare H. Benton, Richard J. Delahay, Andrew Robertson, Robbie A.
McDonald, Alastair J. Wilson, Terry A. Burke, Dave Hodgson.
Blood thicker than water: kinship, disease prevalence and group size
drive divergent patterns of infection risk in a social mammal.
Proceedings of the Royal Society: biological sciences DOI:
10.1098/rspb.2016.0798 Mikko Kuussaari, Susu Rytteri, Risto K. Heikkinen, Janne Heliölä,
Peter von Bagh.
Weather explains high annual variation in butterfly dispersal.
Proceedings of the Royal Society: biological sciences .DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0413
Vilija Snieškienė, Ligita Baležentienė, Antanina Stankevičienė,
Urban salt contamination impact on tree health and the prevalence of
fungi agent in cities of the central Lithuania, Urban Forestry &
Urban Greening, Volume 19, 1 September 2016, Pages 13-19, ISSN
1618-8667, DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2016.05.015.
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