|
A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Bird
Photographer of The Year: Winners announced -
BTO The British Trust for Ornithology in partnership with Nature
Photographers Ltd is proud to announce the winners of the inaugural Bird
Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) competition for 2015. The announcements
were made at BirdFair 2016 during a packed awards ceremony held in the
main events marquee and hosted by BTO President and competition head
judge, Chris Packham. Congratulations go to Andy Parkinson from Matlock in Derbyshire for
his unusual and imaginative image of a Mute Swan which united the judges
in their admiration. Andy takes the winning prize of £5,000 and the
title of Bird Photographer of the Year. A jubilant Andy comments,
“Winning the overall title of Bird Photographer of the Year is a massive
honour for me and is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my career. The
standard of entries was exceptionally high and I count myself extremely
lucky that the judges chose my image as the overall winner. I always
strive in my photography to try and produce genuinely unique images,
revealing familiar subjects in different ways, and to show that there is
always a new image and unique angle. This is achieved by spending months
or years working with local subjects, building an encyclopaedic
knowledge of behaviour, light and perspective. I’m delighted that my
endeavours have been so generously rewarded.” Although BPOTY clearly sets out to showcase the stunning photographic
capture of birds, its aims are far wider. The competition will directly
benefit many of the ‘subjects’ of the images by generating income for
British Trust for Ornithology’s conservation research; it further helps
to promote the Trust by extending its profile beyond its current reach.
But it works the other way too. BPOTY aims to promote the artistry of
bird photography and the photographers themselves to the wider
ornithological community, giving them the opportunity to have their work
published and recognised through the competition book, associated
merchandise and exhibition. Six National
Park projects shortlisted for prestigious Park Protector Award
- Campaign for National Parks Throughout England and Wales, there are projects that are having a
significant impact on preserving the beauty, cultural heritage and
biodiversity of our 13 National Parks. Six of these fantastic projects
have been shortlisted for the Campaign for National Parks’ Park
Protector Award This Award recognises, rewards and celebrates exceptional projects
that are making a lasting contribution to the protection, restoration or
conservation of the National Parks of England and Wales. It is
generously sponsored by Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust. The projects have been shortlisted by the judging panel from 26
excellent nominations, all of which are ensuring local communities are
involved in looking after National Parks. The winning project will be
announced in October and receive a £2,000 grant. Caroline Quentin, our new President said, “Learning about all of the
fantastic projects happening across the National Parks has been a
wonderful way to start as President. These projects are the perfect
demonstration of how much people care about National Parks and want to
improve them for the future.” Jeremy Colls from the Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust added, “The
impressive projects showcase a great variety of the work being done in
National Parks. The overriding message is the remarkable level of
volunteer commitment that is evident among the groups taking part. Many
people really do care about maintaining and improving our rural
environment, and convert their passion into action to achieve tangible
results.” The shortlist
Rare cranes fledge in view of passing commuters
- RSPB Cranes are some of the UK’s rarest breeding birds – so rare in fact
that to most people it would be news that these exotic-looking birds can
be seen in this country at all. With just 25 pairs of cranes breeding in
the UK each year – give or take – it is hardly surprising that few
people will have ever seen one in the wild themselves.
It is no wonder then that staff and volunteers at RSPB Lakenheath Fen
nature reserve on the border of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, are
over the moon that this summer: for the second year running, two pairs
of cranes have successfully raised three crane chicks between them on
the reserve. To top it off, these scarce birds, which are very shy and secretive
during the breeding season, have done it all in front of an audience of
commuters on the Abellio Greater Anglia route between Norwich and Ely. Lakenheath Fen Site Manager, Dave Rogers said: “Our two pairs of
crane parents have done us proud. We put a lot of effort into creating a
great home for them here at Lakenheath Fen and they have repaid us by
raising a total of three chicks between them for the second year
running. The fact that people have been able to spot them from the train
as it passes the reserve has only added to the excitement."
Concerns over planned Coul Links golf course
- Scottish Wildlife Trust The Trust has expressed serious concerns about plans for a golf
course at Coul Links near Embo in Sutherland. Our Chief Executive Jonathan Hughes said: "It’s almost inconceivable
the proposal has got this far. This is a Site of Special Scientific
Interest, an EU Special Protection Area for birds and one of the few
remaining stretches of coastline around the Dornoch Firth retaining a
wild landscape feel. Allowing
another sand dune SSSI to go the way of the benighted Trump development
at Menie Links would be an unforgiveable and tragic loss of a protected
area. The Scottish Wildlife Trust will do all it can to ensure this
special place is protected for future generations."
Find out more about our concerns about the proposed golf course at Coul
Links
Caroline Quentin joins Campaign for National Parks as President
- Campaign for National Parks On becoming President of Campaign for National Parks, Caroline
Quentin said, “I’m thrilled and excited to be working with this
important charity. I think National Parks are a valuable national asset
and I want to encourage everyone to use them and enjoy them. They need
to be protected for future generations.” Caroline Quentin lives just outside Exmoor National Park in the South
West and has always loved the outdoors and countryside. The Parks contain some of our most beautiful countryside, treasured
heritage and rare wildlife. And 90% of people say National Parks are
important to them. However, since they were first created in the 1950s,
damaging planning proposals for mines, roads and other large scale
developments have been allowed to go ahead, chipping away at their
protected status. Speaking about the challenges National Parks faced, Caroline
continued, “They need to remain relevant. I don’t think they should be
pickled in aspic. The Parks need to change with the times so they meet
the needs of our children and our children’s children. During my time as
President, my mission will be to make the National Parks even more
beautiful, lived in and loved than they are now.”
Great news for autumn lovers - experts predict a dazzling display this
year! - Forestry Commission This year we can expect a feast for our eyes as early as
mid-September with impressive displays of vibrant autumn colours
predicted by Forestry Commission England. This is great news for those
who wish to give their wellbeing a boost before the winter months, with
96% of people saying that beautiful autumn colours improve their mood in
a recent survey!
Japanese
maples displaying stunning autumn colour on Pheasant Ride, Alice Holt
Forest
Andrew Smith, the Forestry Commission’s Director at Westonbirt, The
National Arboretum in Gloucestershire explains: “The abundance of
rain we experienced in spring, coupled with above average sunshine has
meant a great growing season for trees as it allows them to build up
plenty of sugars in their leaves. It is these sugars that produce the
rich autumnal colours when they are absorbed back into the tree to help
them survive winter. Autumn’s foliage displays are certainly
affected by the weather and this year we have our fingers crossed that
it should be good for producing a great autumnal colour display. It will
depend a bit on the weather in September but the ground work has been
laid for a good show.” New badger cull imminent: The Wildlife Trusts call for end to flawed policy - Wildlife Trusts The Wildlife Trusts will oppose any decision by Natural England to
grant new licences for culling badgers and will call on the Government
and the newly appointed Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsom, to overrule
and reverse this decision immediately. Paul Wilkinson, The Wildlife Trusts’ Head of Living Landscapes, says:
“The Wildlife Trusts believe that the control of Bovine TB in cattle
should be the main focus of everyone’s efforts to control this problem.
The evidence shows that badgers are not the primary culprits in the
spread of TB in cattle: the primary route of infection is via cow-to-cow
contact. A vaccine for cattle should be a priority. The Government has
failed to develop one for TB. UK Cattle are already vaccinated for up to
16 diseases* - why should TB be different?” Paul Wilkinson continues: “Opinion polls clearly show that the public
is overwhelmingly against the killing of badgers and it is an extremely
costly for the taxpayer and poor value for money. The 2013-14 culls in
Gloucestershire and Somerset cost the taxpayer more than £4.9 million in
policing costs. This is equivalent to the annual salary costs of over
120 police officers over a two-year period. The results of the previous
badger culls indicate that this policy is flawed and unsupported by the
evidence. Culling has been shown to be more expensive, less effective
than other Bovine TB (bTB) control mechanisms and the free-shooting of
badgers has been shown to be an inhumane method of killing.”
UK public overwhelmingly back EU rules to protect bees and nature,
YouGov survey reveals - Friends of the Earth The British public are overwhelmingly in favour of keeping or
strengthening EU rules that protect our natural environment - including
Britain’s under-threat bees - a new YouGov survey for Friends of the
Earth published today reveals. The environmental campaign group is calling on the UK Government to
guarantee that its Brexit strategy won’t lead to a weakening of
environmental protections. The YouGov survey revealed:
The survey also revealed that those who voted to leave the EU were
also strongly in favour of maintaining or increasing the protection for
nature that is currently provided by EU legislation, and linking farming
subsidies to environment protection. See the results in full (PDF)
Rights of Way Report released - Exmoor
National Park Recent surveys show that 93% of Exmoor National Park’s public rights
of way are open and easy to use. The surveys are carried out by
volunteers following nationally agreed criteria. Ceri Rapsey, rights of way support officer says: “Our Rangers and
Field Services Team have been working hard to improve the rating and the
result shows a continued increase over recent years. We are very
grateful to our fantastic volunteers who help us to survey the paths.
Our rights of way network is one of the special features of Exmoor and
is key to unlocking the immense potential for outdoor recreation within
the National Park. Along with our Access Land and permitted access, it
offers unrivalled access on foot, horseback or bicycle for everyone to
enjoy.” The definitive rights of way network extends to almost 1,000km/621
miles, comprising footpaths 438km/272m miles, bridleways 464km/288 miles
and Restricted Byways and Byways Open to All Traffic 64km/40 miles
within the National Park. In addition to this there are 376km/233 miles
of permitted paths and 18,000ha of Access Land. Access the full The Rights of Way & Access Annual Report 2015/16.
Schoolboy’s work on grouse moor lands inaugural BASC award
- British Association for Shooting and
Conservation A schoolboy from Dumfriesshire has won BASC’s first Young Shot
Conservation Award after building a bird hide to show visitors how good
moorland management benefits biodiversity. James Farrer, 16, was working as part of the Making the Most of
Moorlands Project on the Langholm grouse moor. James also set up a
number of feeders and boxes for various bird species and helped raise
funds for the project with a sponsored walk. James said: “I was delighted to win the award. I am interested in
conservation and hope to have a future career in land management and
conservation. I also wanted to increase the public’s understanding of
moorland biodiversity and how gamekeepers look after the environment.” Ian Danby, BASC’s head of biodiversity, said: “The intention of this
competition was to motivate young conservationists and was prompted by
an idea from our Young Shot Ambassadors, so it is extremely gratifying
to see it succeed. These youngsters, who are the future of conservation
and shooting, should be congratulated for their hard work.” Good news for two RSPB Reserves: One:
RSPB nature reserve another step closer to becoming largest of its kind
in the UK A recent handover of land has set an RSPB reserve on the way to
becoming the UK’s largest created reedbed, thanks to a groundbreaking
30-year partnership project between the RSPB and construction materials
company Hanson. Hanson has handed over a further 96 hectares of land to the RSPB,
transforming a sand and gravel extraction site into a wildlife-rich
wetland. This is part of an ambitious project to create a 700 hectare
nature reserve at Ouse Fen in Cambridgeshire through restoration of
quarried land to wildlife habitat. It is the largest planned nature
conservation restoration scheme of its kind in Europe. The new nature reserve is already providing a lifeline for bitterns,
a rare bird that came close to extinction in 1997, with 10 'booming'
males present at Ouse Fen in 2015 - twice as many as expected. The new
land will double the size of Ouse Fen, making it cover 218 hectares,
which is larger than 200 football pitches, and will provide a much
larger area for bitterns and other scarce species such as marsh
harriers, otters and water voles to thrive. Once complete, the site will incorporate eastern England’s largest
reedbed, recreating some of the extremely rare habitat which has almost
been lost in Britain over the last 400 years. The site has the potential
to be of international importance for reedbed wildlife, supporting some
of the largest populations of bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers
in the UK. Two:
RSPB given exciting new role in Budby South Forest The RSPB will now take on an important new role in the management of
Budby South Forest from 1 August. Natural England, who until now had been overseeing the management of
the site in partnership with the RSPB and Thoresby Estate, has now
transferred full management responsibilities to the RSPB, entrusting it
to continue to care for the site’s precious wildlife and ensure people
remain physically and emotionally inspired by the heathland. The heathland is a unique home for nature, and forms half of the
Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve (NNR). The open habitat is home
to protected and sensitive birds such as nightjars, yellowhammers and
woodlarks. Bare sandy soil provides egg-laying habitat for bees, wasps
and black oil beetles, and acts as basking and feeding areas for common
lizards. Sherwood’s last remaining herd of wild red deer is occasionally
glimpsed on the open heath. Budby South Forest is one of the few areas of Open Access Land in
Nottinghamshire. By continuing the management of this exceptional site,
the RSPB will be able to ensure good levels of access to the heathland
for the public whilst also providing a secure home for nature. The RSPB
is also leading a consortium of partners who will take on the
conservation management of Sherwood Forest Country Park in 2018. MPs urge Government to ban microbeads in cosmetics - Environmental Audit Committee Cosmetic companies should be banned from using plastic microbeads in
bathroom products - like exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste and shaving gel
- because of the marine pollution they are causing, the cross-party
Environmental Audit Committee has demanded. Environmental Audit Committee Chair Mary Creagh MP: "Trillions of
tiny pieces of plastic are accumulating in the world's oceans, lakes and
estuaries, harming marine life and entering the food chain. The
microbeads in scrubs, shower gels and toothpastes are an avoidable part
of this plastic pollution problem. A single shower can result in 100,000
plastic particles entering the ocean. Cosmetic companies' voluntary
approach to phasing out plastic microbeads simply won't wash. We need a
full legal ban, preferably at an international level as pollution does
not respect borders. If this isn't possible after our vote to leave the
EU, then the Government should introduce a national ban. The best way to
reduce this pollution is to prevent plastic being flushed into the sea
in the first place." Microplastic pollution comes from the fragmentation of larger pieces
of plastic waste, small synthetic fibres from clothing and the
microbeads used in cosmetics and other products. It is estimated that as
much as 86 tonnes of microplastics is released into the environment
every year in the UK from facial exfoliants alone. Most large cosmetics companies have made voluntary commitments to
phase out microbeads by 2020. However, the Committee found that a
legislative ban would have advantages for consumers and the industry in
terms of consistency, universality and confidence. The Committee would
like to see a national ban on microbeads by the end of 2017. Documents View the interactive report summary
Read the report conclusions and recommendations
Read the full report: Environmental impact of microplastics Response:
MPs recommend a ban on microbeads - joint
statement by the Marine Conservation Society, Environmental
Investigation Agency, Fauna & Flora International, and Greenpeace UK An estimated eight million tonnes of plastic goes into our seas every
year – and microbeads in household products including face scrubs,
toothpastes and detergents are a part of this problem. There was already
huge public support for a ban on microbeads – with over 300,000 people
backing our campaign – and now there’s political support which crosses
party boundaries. As a coalition of organisations sounding the alarm about the harm
that microbeads can cause to marine life and our oceans, and even
potentially to human health, it’s great that the Environmental Audit
Committee has heard that loud and clear. With companies dragging their feet on this issue, it’s now time for
Theresa May’s Government to take comprehensive action on this crucial
issue by banning any microplastics in household products whichcould end
up going down the drain and into our seas. Crucially, any legislation must be fully comprehensive to avoid the
loopholes we have seen in company commitments. By removing these
loopholes, the UK could show genuine environmental leadership and go
beyond the US microbeads ban, which has various limitations around which
types of ingredient and product it applies to.
Project gives rural economy a boost - Natural
Resources Wales A £10.8m project to boost the Welsh economy and create jobs through
its landscape and wildlife has delivered impressive results. The Communities and Nature (CAN) project was managed initially by the
Countryside Council for Wales and later Natural Resources Wales (NRW),
and was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The project invited ideas from the Welsh environment sector to
develop visitor infrastructure and attractions in the Welsh countryside
whilst simultaneously allowing more disadvantaged groups to benefit
through employment, training and volunteering opportunities.
Many of the ideas selected not only enhanced existing facilities and
created new ones but also created sustainable jobs and small rural
businesses. Helga Dixon, CAN Project Officer for NRW, said: “It has been
incredible to see how staff at Welsh wildlife and countryside
attractions have been able to devise new features and build business
enterprises on the back of them with only a little stimulation, advice
and funding from us. Even more amazing has been the opportunities given
to the unemployed and disadvantaged groups to work and learn new skills.
We made it a condition of funding that each project had to include such
opportunities, and it was left with the project managers to develop.
That proved to be a good move as it allowed people to come up with a
wide variety of creative solutions.” In total CAN helped create 31 new jobs, 11 new business enterprises, opened up 440 kilometres of paths and led to more than 1.7m visits to the Welsh countryside.
Report shows Scotland's seal numbers rise -
Scottish Natural Heritage Harbour seal numbers around Scotland’s coast have increased over the
last five years following years of decline, according to survey results
published today (Thursday 25/8) by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Harbour seal (image: © SNH/Lorne Gill) However, the latest counts continue to show a clear east – west
divide in fortunes for the protected species. Scotland-wide August seal surveys are carried out over an approximate
five-year cycle on behalf of SNH by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)
at the University of St Andrews. The latest report presents results of
2015 surveys carried out in Shetland, the Moray Firth, the Firth of Tay
and on Scotland’s southern coasts, completing the current round-Scotland
survey that started in 2011. John Baxter, Principle Marine Adviser with SNH, said: “It’s great to
hear that harbour seal numbers on the west coast are doing so well but
it’s of real concern that numbers on the east coast remain at historical
lows. It’s still not clear what’s causing the decline but we’re
continuing to work with colleagues at Marine Scotland and SMRU to try to
get a better understanding of what is going on. These surveys are
important to help monitor seal numbers and inform whatever management
decisions are taken to help protect the harbour seals. This year (2016)
we will be surveying Orkney, where numbers have been declining for a
number of years, and the east coast of Scotland, as part of a three-year
programme to cover the whole of the Scottish coastline.” Access the report: SNH Commissioned Report 929: Surveys of harbour and grey seals on the south-east (border to Aberlady Bay) and south-west (Sound of Jura to Solway Firth) coasts of Scotland, in Shetland, in the Moray Firth and in the Firth of Tay in August 2015
New research into mountain wind farms identifies major risk to visitor
economy - Mountaineering Scotland Mountaineering Scotland has quantified the impact wind farms located
in mountain landscapes have on hill-walking behaviour for the first
time. In a survey of members, over two thirds (67%) stated that they
prefer not to see wind farms when in the mountains and 22% said that
they avoided areas with wind farms when planning their activities. Mountaineering Scotland has published a report into the impact wind
farms have on the behaviour of mountaineers and hill walkers as part of
the evidence base the organisation uses when opposing the small number
of wind farm planning applications that it believes would cause
irreparable damage to Scottish mountain landscapes if allowed to go
ahead. Over 1400 Mountaineering Scotland members, mostly hill-walkers,
responded to a survey which sought their views on a range of subjects,
including the organisation’s policy on protecting mountain landscapes
from insensitive developments. The 23% of members who avoid areas with
wind farms or go less often compares with just 2% who said they were
encouraged to visit the mountains more often because of wind farms. Mountaineering Scotland Chief Executive, David Gibson said “This
survey gives us some important evidence about the real impact wind farms
in inappropriate mountain locations can have on the behaviour of hill
walkers and potentially other mountain users – but the impact goes more
widely than this. If hill walkers avoid visiting areas affected by wind
development then local communities will lose the money hill walking
visitors bring to shops, places to stay and other visitor-related
businesses. A 20% reduction in hill walkers could easily make the
difference between profit and loss for small enterprises in mountain
areas across Scotland.” David continues, “Hill-walkers are likely to be particularly
sensitive consumers of landscape. They are therefore a barometer in
terms of identifying wider tourism impacts from wind farms. Mountain
recreation is a significant tourism market in Scotland. Walking tourism
was estimated to bring in £627m to the Scottish economy in 2008 – more
than all other nature-based tourism combined – and 15% of all tourism
spend.” This is the only survey which has ever asked Scottish hill walkers
and mountaineers how wind farms impact on their current mountaineering
activities. In a previous survey in 2013-14, 56% of members anticipated
avoiding areas with wind farms in the future.
Farmland failings - Wildfowl and Wetlands
Trust Today (Thursday 25/8) the Government released figures that find the
life ebbing away from the English countryside. Many of DEFRA’s
natural environment indicators are showing positive trends – carbon,
air quality, connection with nature – but the picture in our farmland is
one of biodiversity desertification.
The number of surface water bodies in good condition fell from 25% in
2010 to just 20% last year. Much of this deterioration can be attributed
to pollution—pesticides, fertiliser, sewage and slurry—seeping from
farmland into our water supplies. This is not to say that farmers are not good custodians of the land.
Many invest in their land with love and care, nurturing nature wherever
they can. Brexit brings uncertainty for protection of our natural world, but
one clear opportunity is the chance to jettison the relics of the
post-war production paradigm that have been locked into the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) for so long. It is time to design an
Environment, Landscape and Food policy that will deliver food security
and help make us rich in nature. As part of the EU, we receive about £4bn every year for farming
subsidies. It is time to redirect that money to reward farmers for the
full range of services they deliver—looking after our soil, air, water,
landscapes and wildlife. No longer should the lion’s share of subsidy be
linked to land-holding. Instead, we should ensure that we make the
polluter pay and that those who provide public goods are paid.
Natural health service: older people could benefit from green
prescriptions - James Hutton Institute Green prescribing by doctors and other health professionals could be
a valuable way of helping older people reap the benefits of outdoor
recreation. The idea is among a number of recommendations contained in a
new report commissioned by the Scottish Government and authored by James
Hutton Institute social researchers, examining the barriers older people
face getting out and about. Outdoor activity has been shown to be beneficial for physical and
mental health and wellbeing, but older people are less likely to take
part. Speaking on a visit to a Forest Enterprise Scotland project for
elderly people with dementia in Falkirk, Environment Secretary Roseanna
Cunningham said: “Scotland has a spectacular natural environment and I
want to ensure that its many health and social benefits can be enjoyed
by young and old alike. This research shines a light on the barriers
faced by older people and identifies a number of ways of maximising
opportunities for outdoor recreation in both rural and urban areas.
There is already a whole host of activities available across Scotland,
such as local walking groups or this excellent Forest Enterprise
Scotland project, which are aimed at increasing access to our great
outdoors. Earlier this week I was also delighted to confirm the Central
Scotland Green Network Development Fund is now open to applicants, which
is one way we’re helping communities to develop accessible greenspace
that is close to people’s homes. We want to make the most of our
‘natural health service’ and so the Scottish Government will now look at
these recommendations very carefully with our delivery partners
including Forest Enterprise Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and
local authorities.” John Nugent, Senior Medical Officer, Scottish Government said: “The
benefits of exercise are well documented, but it can sometimes be a
challenge to find a form of exercise that is both enjoyable and readily
available. Using Scotland’s ‘natural gym’ to walk, run or cycle, is an
ideal way for all ages to combine exercise with an appreciation of
Scotland’s natural beauty.” Dr Margaret Currie, from the James Hutton Institute's Social,
Economic and Geographical Sciences group and co-author of the report,
said: “We have been able to identify a number of potential
interventions, such as green prescribing which should be integrated with
existing initiatives like health walks that offer opportunities for
overcoming social and motivational barriers. It may be useful to tailor
interventions to suit people of different abilities and preferences, and
to target people at key moments of life change such as retirement, or
friends or spouses passing away.” Access the report: Access to outdoor recreation by older people in Scotland
Scientific Publications Correll, M. D., Wiest, W. A., Hodgman, T. P., Shriver, W. G.,
Elphick, C. S., McGill, B. J., O'Brien, K. M. and Olsen, B. J. (2016),
Predictors of specialist avifaunal decline in coastal marshes.
Conservation Biology. doi:10.1111/cobi.12797 Alexandra Bähring, Andreas Fichtner, Karin Ibe, Gudrun Schütze, Vicky
M. Temperton, Goddert von Oheimb, Werner Härdtle,
Ecosystem functions as indicators for heathland responses to nitrogen
fertilisation, Ecological Indicators, Volume 72, January 2017, Pages
185-193, ISSN 1470-160X, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.08.013.
|
|
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. |