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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
No certification, no sale of rodenticides from 1st October 2016
– Barn Owl Trust According to latest government figures, 87% of
Barn Owls contain rat poison so the following announcement really is
good news… No certification, no sale of rodenticides from 1st
October Here’s our advice on how to
control rats as safely as possible.
Woodland Trust
reveals Tree of the Year contenders 29 of the UK’s finest trees have been revealed by
the Woodland Trust as it searches for the next Tree of the Year. The
shortlisted entries include the dying original Bramley apple tree, a
tree whose trunk has swallowed up a bicycle and the Brimmon Oak, which
will see a road diverted around its base thanks to campaigners.
Bowthorpe
Oak, Bourne, Lincolnshire. Nominated by Sue Cork (image: Julian Height) The Trust, with support from players of People’s
Postcode Lottery, is now inviting the public to vote for their favourite
tree in each region before October 10, with the winners going forward to
the European Tree of the Year competition in early 2017.
New Hen Harriers Satellite Tagging Project Website Launched by HOT The Hawk and Owl Trust have just launched a new
dedicated website to provide details of its Hen Harriers Satellite
Tagging Project – an initiative to help save English hen harriers from
extinction. The website –
hawkandowl.org/HHST/ – will track the actual flight paths of two hen
harriers fitted with satellite tagging ‘backpacks’. In turn the Trust
will publish – with a suitable time delay and disguised location data –
the information up/down loaded to the satellite so that they can monitor
their progress and ascertain an understanding of harrier movement from
their birth areas, their dispersal across heather uplands and their
communal roost sites in winter where they are most vulnerable to
persecution. The project contributes towards a six-point plan,
initiated by the government, to restore the population of English Hen
Harriers which are close to extinction. Under the umbrella of its Upland Stakeholder Forum
(USF) the UK Govt. Dept. Defra established a hen harrier sub-group with
the remit of looking “specifically at the issues surrounding hen harrier
populations in England”. The Hawk and Owl Trust is providing active support
to two actions within the six-point plan: 1.
Monitoring of populations in England and UK and 4.
Nest and Winter Roost Protection. As part of this recovery plan Natural England, on
behalf of the Hawk and Owl Trust, have recently satellite tagged two
juvenile female hen harriers from the Scottish borders. The satellite data received, when the tagged
harriers have left their natal area, will be displayed on our new
website where you will be able to follow the fortunes of the Hen
Harriers, which have been named Sorrel and Rowan.
'Green exercise’ in England benefits health to the tune of £2.2 billion
a year – University of Exeter Physical activity in natural environments, or ‘green exercise’, is
estimated to provide health benefits of £2.2 billion a year to the
English adult population, according to new research published in the
journal Preventive Medicine. Researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School and Public
Health England analysed data from the world’s largest study on
recreational visits to natural places, such as parks, woods and beaches.
They estimated that over 8 million adults in England engage in green
exercise each week, resulting in over 1.3 billion green exercise visits
a year.
‘Green
exercise’ is estimated to provide health benefits of £2.2 billion a year
to the English adult population. Green exercise was defined in the study as nature-based activities of
moderate to vigorous intensity and lasting over 30 minutes. Examples
included dog walking, running, horse riding, outdoor swimming and
mountain biking. Because physical activity needs to be regular and
sustained to benefit health, the team focused on those who reported
regularly meeting government guidelines for physical activity (i.e. 5 x
30 minutes each week). They then worked out what proportion of these
people’s weekly physical activity took place in natural settings and
estimated the benefits to health associated with their levels of green
exercise if sustained across the year. Dr Mathew White, of the University of Exeter Medical School, is lead
author of the research. He said: “We’ve known for a long time that
regular physical activity is good for health and reduces the burden on
health services. We have now worked out approximately how much physical
activity regularly takes place in England’s natural environments and how
much this benefits adult health across the population. Ultimately these
benefits will translate into savings for the NHS, highlighting the need
to both maintain and promote our natural environments for exercise and
health.”
Asian hornet identified in Gloucestershire - DEFRA There has been a confirmed sighting of the Asian hornet in the
Tetbury area of Gloucestershire
Photograph
of the Asian hornet identified in Gloucestershire The National Bee Unit has confirmed a sighting of the Asian hornet in
the Tetbury area of Gloucestershire – the first time the hornet has been
discovered in the UK. The Asian hornet is smaller than our native hornet and poses no
greater risk to human health than a bee. However, they do pose a risk to
honey bees. Work to identify, destroy and remove any nests is already underway,
which includes:
Much maligned false widow spider found in Notts – Nottinghamshire
Wildlife Trust Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has today announced that the false
widow (Steatoda nobilis), thought to be the most venomous
spider in the UK, has arrived in Nottinghamshire following a steady
northward shift in its range. It was found last weekend at the Trust’s
Attenborough
Nature
Reserve by Tim Sexton of Attenborough Nature Centre.
Originally from the Canary Islands, the spider first appeared on the
south coast in 1879 - having been accidentally introduced via shipments
of bananas. For many years it was restricted to the warmer southern
counties however, it is believed that milder winters over the last
decade have enabled the population to expand its range. Speaking about the find Tim said: “Whilst sightings north of
Bedfordshire are still infrequent, the false widow reached
Leicestershire in 2014, so it was only a matter of time before they
appeared in Notts. I’ve been looking for them at Attenborough for the
last year, although before the weekend I had only found their smaller
cousin, known as the rabbit hutch spider (Steatoda bipunctata).”
Viridor launches project to help save endangered wild flowers -
Plantlife New collaboration with Plantlife to help save UK native species
Duke
of Burgundy-butterfly on cowslip. © Mark V Pike/Plantlife One of the UK’s largest recycling and renewable energy
companies, Viridor, is collaborating with international conservation
organisation Plantlife, to help save endangered UK wild flowers. The Natural Capital pilot project, launched during #GlobalGoals Week,
aims to increase the populations of meadow clary, a rare flower which
needs help to prevent it disappearing, as its natural ecosystem has been
lost. The flower species is now found as a native population at
twenty-one locations in the UK. The project will also establish Butterfly Meadows of wild flowers at
Viridor sites to help the UK’s most threatened wildlife group. Through
employee and stakeholder engagement, the programme will nurture and
support flowers, such as Yellow Rattle, Field scabious and Betony and
butterfly species, such as Ringlet, Small copper and Marbled white. This innovation by Viridor complies with the aims of the first global
Natural Capital Protocol, a voluntary collaboration launched on 13 July
by the Natural Capital Coalitionto allow businesses everywhere to
benefit from understanding their relationships with nature and to
contribute to the common good. Viridor will connect nature and climate change to business
operations, people and the community by actively involving regional
operations and employees at various sites. The company hopes to deliver
1,500 hours of volunteering by March 2017. Inder Poonaji, Sustainability Director at Viridor, said: “As nature
becomes more fragmented as increased urbanisation and the demand for
infrastructure grows, less land is available for biodiversity and
ecosystem services. With key species under great threat, there has never
been a more poignant time to implement a project of this nature.
Buglife concern as first Asian hornets confirmed in England Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive of Buglife
commented. ”It’s arrival is of huge concern, our pollinators are
currently in decline from pesticide use, loss of habitat and climatic
change, this voracious predator now could push some species beyond the
tipping point and into extinction. It seems likely to have arrived
as a stowaway, the same way they reached continental Europe. Again the
UK’s lax biosecurity rules are highlighted; routes for invasive species
must be tightened so that these problems species are kept at bay.”
Striking findings for Heads Up for Harriers project this year –
Scottish Natural Heritage The ‘Heads Up for Harriers’ project has recorded
some striking findings this year, despite a noticeable drop in nesting
activity compared to last year.
Hen
harrier on nest with chicks (image: SNH) Cameras have shown four more birds to have fledged
in 2016 compared to 2015, despite fewer nesting attempts. Building on the success of 2015, the Partnership
for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAW Scotland) project was
expanded from five to thirteen participating estates across Scotland.
The thirteen estates participating in the project have cameras installed
on their land to monitor hen harrier nests. The cameras record images
both on the nest and within the immediate area, to help better
understand the reasons for nesting failure and improve hen harrier
breeding success in the future. Despite the greater coverage this
year though, the numbers of nesting attempts, and therefore the number
of monitored nests was down, from last year. There were five successful
nests across three estates, fledging a total of fourteen birds. Last
year, three successful nests fledged 10 birds, with three nests failing
(one due to bad weather and one due to fox predation). Scott Smith, Heads Up for Harrier Project Officer
for the South of Scotland, said “Hen harriers rely predominately on
voles as a food source during pre-laying and throughout the breeding
season. Vole populations are cyclical, with approximately five-year
cycles. Low vole numbers have an adverse effect on hen harrier breeding
numbers and productivity brood counts are also lower during these low
cycles. It appears there was a crash of vole populations in the South of
Scotland this year, which had a noticeable impact on the number of
breeding attempts we have observed.” As in previous years, the nest cameras have proved
invaluable in determining reasons for failure, including a dramatic
example of fox predation on one of the nests in Southern Scotland.
Footage shows five healthy chicks (which appeared ready to fledge) being
attacked by a fox, which visited the nest over the course of three days.
The feisty chicks were able to fend off the fox, but unfortunately one
was fatally injured and found dead near the nest.
SNH and farmers work to save rare Highland newt
– Scottish Natural Heritage The eggs of a rare species of newt have been found
in specially created ponds on a Black Isle farm in the Highlands.
The discovery is significant as it was feared at one point that the
Highland great crested newt was in trouble. The species was shown
by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the University of Salford to be
genetically distinct from those in Scotland and Europe. There are only around 30 known ponds with breeding
Highland crested newts in the region, though habitat creation projects
under SNH’s Species Action Framework (SAF) have led to another three
ponds being colonised within one year. The SAF work with landowners
and land managers resulted in ponds being specially created to form
suitable habitat for the species. The ponds’ design and siting was
based on careful study but even so, the speed with which the newts have
moved into their new homes has surprised and delighted those involved
with the project. Jeanette Hall of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
found the eggs - she was one of the scientists who first helped show
that the newts were native to the Highlands. She said: “The SAF project was designed to help
species that may otherwise have been in trouble, and we are very
grateful to the land managers and farmers who gave so much of their time
and set aside land for these newt ponds to be created. Without them,
this work would not have taken place.” In the past the great crested newt bred in ponds
created for cattle to drink from, but with few such ponds nowadays,
populations have become isolated, leaving the newts vulnerable to
extinction.
Search to find UK's Best Park launched by Fields in Trust A nationwide search to find the country's
favourite local green space nominated and selected by public vote Do you think that your local park, playground or
playing field is the best in the country? Here's your chance to prove
it. Fields in Trust have launched a campaign to find the UK's Best Park,
as voted by YOU! This unique award is open to all public green spaces
across the UK through a simple online nomination. It might be that your
local park is great for a Sunday afternoon stroll, your neighbourhood
playground is a hive of activity for children, or a nature reserve
provides a stress-free space to relax. This is your chance to help your
favourite space gain the recognition it deserves.
Telford
Town Park (image: Fields in Trust) At a time when the UK's parks are seeing a
dramatic reduction in funding for upkeep and maintenance and childhood
obesity is identified as a growing concern, the UK's Best Park award
will highlight the vital role of local parks and green spaces - for
play, relaxation or sport - and help ensure they are protected from
closure or building development. UK's Best Park is a unique award open to all local
green spaces across the UK. A simple online nomination form allows
anyone to suggest their favourite local green space. This will be
followed by a public vote to identify a shortlist with the winner
announced at the Fields in Trust Awards Ceremony on 30th November. Fields in Trust Chief Executive Helen Griffiths
said: "Parks and open spaces are arguably the most universal of all
public services. They are used by the entire community from pre-school
children through to retired adults - our nation's parks and green spaces
are places to enjoy life experiences, whether that's reaching a personal
sporting milestone, teaching grandchildren to cycle, engaging with
nature, having a first kiss or simply walking a much loved dog. "Our Awards help recognise the role that our parks
play in our communities, bringing people together and creating a safe
outdoor environment that everyone should be entitled to. We want to
celebrate them and invite all park users to vote for their favourite
green space."
Final phase of large bog restoration project completed
Fannyside
Muir Cell-bunded pools near Palacerigg Country Park © Dave Beaumont RSPB
via Buglife Wildlife Charity Buglife Scotland and partners
Forest Enterprise Scotland, North Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish
Wildlife Trust have completed the final phase of a large bog restoration
project at Fannyside Muir, near Cumbernauld. More than 80% of Scotland’s bogs have been lost or
damaged in the last 200 years, mainly by drainage for agriculture,
forestry and commercial peat extraction. As part of their
Slamannan Bog Restoration Project, Buglife Scotland have restored over
210 hectares of damaged bog at Fannyside Muir by blocking old ditches
and removing trees to encourage peat-forming Sphagnum moss to recolonise
the site. Over 4100 dams have now been installed and 25 hectares
of conifers and scrub have been removed by volunteers and contractors. Twenty-seven hectares of shallow bog pools have
also been created for dragonflies and other wildlife, including rare
Taiga bean geese that roost on the bog in winter. Prior to
restoration work only 11% of site was in favourable condition (ground
water within 10cm of surface). Following restoration, the
monitored sections of Fannyside Muir are holding an extra 258 million
litres of rain water (on average), and over 90% of the site is suitable
for peat-forming Sphagnum moss to recolonise. The project has provided volunteering and training
opportunities for 56 volunteers, who contributed over 396 volunteer
hours helping with tree clearance, ditch blocking and monitoring.
More than 650 species of invertebrates, plants, mosses, fungi, birds,
mammals, amphibians and reptiles have been recorded from the bog
Scientific publications Josefsson, J., Hiron, M., Pärt, T. & Eggers, S. (2016)
Sensitivity of the farmland bird community to crop diversification in
Sweden: does the CAP fit? Journal of Applied Ecology.
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12779 Davy, C. M., Mastromonaco, G. F., Riley, J. L.,
Baxter-Gilbert, J. H., Mayberry, H. and Willis, C. K.R. (2016),
Conservation implications of physiological carry-over effects in bats
recovering from white-nose syndrome. Conservation Biology. Accepted
Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/cobi.12841
S. L. Cox, P. I. Miller, C. B. Embling, K. L.
Scales, A. W. J. Bicknell, P. J. Hosegood, G. Morgan, S. N. Ingram, S.
C. Votier.
Seabird diving behaviour reveals the functional significance of
shelf-sea fronts as foraging hotspots. Royal Society Open Access
Published 21 September 2016.DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160317 Thomas, V.G., Gremse, C. & Kanstrup, N.
Non-lead rifle hunting ammunition: issues of availability and
performance in Europe
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