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Headlines from week beginning 3 July 2017. |
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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
UK takes key step towards fair new fishing policy after Brexit
- Defra The Government has announced it will withdraw from the London
Fisheries Convention.
As part of moves to prepare the UK for the opportunities of leaving
the European Union, the Government will officially begin withdrawal from
the London Fisheries Convention. Commercial Fishing Boats in Weymouth harbour (Defra) The London Fisheries Convention, signed in 1964 before the UK joined
the European Union, allows vessels from five European countries to fish
within six and 12 nautical miles of the UK’s coastline. It sits
alongside the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which allows all
European vessels access between 12 and 200 nautical miles of the UK and
sets quotas for how much fish each nation can catch. On Monday the UK will notify the other Member States signed up to the
London Fisheries Convention, triggering a two-year withdrawal period –
in a similar way to the Article 50 letter which began a two-year
withdrawal from the EU.
More Green Belt being lost without tackling housing crisis
– Campaign to Protect Rural England 425,000 houses now planned for Green Belt, of which more than 70% are
unaffordable The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) today reveals a
significant increase in houses planned for the Green Belt, and yet most
of these houses will be unaffordable to those who need them.
Walkers in Bath’s Green Belt (CPRE) In total, 425,000 houses are now planned for Green Belt land. This is
an increase of 54% on March 2016, and the biggest year-on-year increase
in building proposed in the Green Belt for two decades. Green Belt in
the North West, West Midlands and South East is under particular
pressure. Furthermore, Government funds are handsomely rewarding the
development of Green Belt land the Government supposedly promised to
protect, but without delivering the much-needed affordable homes the
funds were designed to encourage. CPRE estimates suggest that the
Government’s New Homes Bonus initiative will reward councils with £2.4 billion for
the proposed 425,000 new homes.
Learning about bats on farmland thanks to National Lottery funding
– GWCT A new project that aims to improve the conservation of bats on
farmland has been launched by a charity in Fordingbridge after getting
the go-ahead for National Lottery funding.
Pipistrelle bat (wwwlauriecampbellcom) This crucial work will be done through focused surveys on 15 farms
and the findings will help to advance current knowledge of bat farmland
ecology by identifying key habitats for farmland bat conservation. Farmers, landowners and conservationists will be educated on ways in
which to improve foraging habitats for bats as well as being provided
with valuable information on the distribution and abundance of bats on
farmland. Bat populations declined significantly in the UK during the 20th
century due to roosting and foraging habitat loss, these declines were
in part caused by agricultural intensification. Bat roosts in Britain are protected under legislation, but foraging
sites are unprotected making them susceptible to land use changes. But the GWCT strives to establish exactly which habitats on arable
land are attractive to bats today and promote these habitats to farmers
to aid bat conservation.
Beetles on the Brink - BIAZA The Deep launched a company and community-wide initiative to grow
tansy plants in a bid to save a true Yorkshire gem. The tansy beetle is an endangered species throughout its global
range, with the largest population found along the banks of the River
Ouse in Yorkshire. The Deep and other members of the Tansy Beetle Action
Group (TBAG) are working with BugLife, an invertebrate conservation
charity, to manage protected areas for this species and expand their
range by planting more Tansy plants.
Nicknamed the ‘Yorkshire Gem’ due to its stunning metallic green
colour, this beetle is now a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP)
species, which means that government bodies have a duty to protect it.
The tansy beetle is dependent on the tansy plant for survival, using it
both as a food source and an egg laying site. It is only able walk a
maximum of 200 metres and if a clump disappears, it can be a perilous
journey for this flightless beetle to move from plant to plant. Volunteers from the Environment Agency, the University of Hull
Horticultural Department and staff from The Deep and The Deep’s Business
Centre have kindly committed a windowsill, conservatory or greenhouse to
raising these plants. Now nearly 400 have been successfully grown. These
plants are currently being cared for by The Deep’s husbandry department
until they are ready to be planted out later in the month.
National Meadows Day was on Saturday 1 July.
Wild flowers, plants and fungi play a fundamental
role for wildlife, and their colour and character light up our
landscapes. But without our help, this priceless natural heritage is in
danger of being lost. Plantlife is the organisation that speaks up for our wild plants, lichens and fungi. From the open space of our nature reserves to the corridors of government, we’re here to raise their profile, celebrate their beauty and to protect their future. Join us in enjoying the very best that nature has to offer. Find out about Plantlife and read their articles here
New snorkel trail launched in North Harris –
Scottish Wildlife Trust A new snorkel trail has been created in North Harris to help visitors
and local people experience life below the waves. The North Harris Snorkel Trail showcases six stunning beaches and
bays where beginner and advanced snorkellers can see an impressive
Plumose anemones © Paul Tyler The self-led trail has been developed in partnership with the North
Harris Trust as part of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas
programme. It is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the National
Marine Aquarium, and has been inspired by the North West Highlands
Snorkel Trail, which was launched by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in
2016. North Harris Trust Ranger Daryll Brown said: “Every year we have an
increasing number of people visiting Harris to see our abundant wildlife
and this new snorkel trail is an exciting way to help create an even
richer experience. The trail is designed to show off our diverse range of marine life
and habitats. I hope visitors and locals alike will explore the trail,
have fun and be inspired to learn more about issues facing our marine
ecosystems.”
Greening the city – a measurement for a mindful environment
- University of Bradford Scientists at the University of Bradford have developed the world's
first Tranquillity Rating Prediction Tool (TRAPT), a scientific process
for measuring how relaxing urban environments and public spaces are. In a new paper published in the Urban Forests and Urban
Greening journal, lead researcher Professor Greg Watts believes that the
tool could help planners, architects and environmentalists to understand
what the impact of ‘greening’ measures like introducing trees, hedges or
additional vegetation could have on urban spaces. It is hoped that in
time the tool could allow users to optimise green spaces as part of the
property development process, all before a spade hits the ground or to
rejuvenate run-down suburbs and town centres. Read the paper here: Watts, G. (2017)
The effects of “greening” urban areas on the perceptions of tranquillity.
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.05.010
The Mystery of the Yellow Fish – Surrey
Wildlife Trust Striking yellow fish stickers have been appearing on pavements in
Surrey this week as part of a new campaign to raise awareness about
pollution in the county’s waterways. Children from St Martin’s C of E Primary School in Dorking helped fix
the stickers on kerbs next to surface water drains in the Meadowbank
area, which feed directly into the nearby Pipp Brook.
Image: Surrey Wildlife Trust “The Yellow Fish campaign aims to highlight to people just how close
their drains are to rivers, streams and ponds and to encourage them to
think twice about pouring toxic things away,” said Glen Skelton, Surrey
Wildlife Trust’s Wetlands Officer. “Even tiny quantities of some
chemicals such as petrol or paint can have a huge effect on wildlife.
When invertebrates in rivers or streams are impacted, there’s often a
knock on effect for fish and bird populations. So look out for the
yellow fish symbol in your local area and please remember – only rain
down the drain!”
The Holkham Estate to manage the Holkham National Nature Reserve after
receiving ‘Approved Body Status’ from Natural England Natural England announced today (Monday 3 July) that one of the UK’s
leading rural estates, the privately-owned, Holkham Estate, has been
awarded Approved Body Status under Section 35 of the Wildlife and
Countryside Act. This will make Holkham one of a select few privately
owned estates in England to hold this status and follows a lengthy
application process. This special status will enable the estate to
manage the Holkham National Nature Reserve, which has until now been
managed by Natural England. National Nature Reserves (NNRs) include some of the best examples of
England’s wildlife and geology. There are 224 National Nature Reserves
in England covering 94,000 hectares. Natural England manages 143 of the
National Nature Reserves on its own, or jointly with others, and the
remainder are managed by Approved Bodies. Section 35 1(c) of the
Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 empowers Natural England to approve
other organisations, known as Approved Bodies, to manage National Nature
Reserves. The reserves were established under the National Parks and
Access to the Countryside Act 1949, which specified that they were for
“preserving flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features of
special interest in the area and/or for providing opportunities for the
study of, and research into, those features.” The Natural Environment &
Rural Communities Act 2006 extended the role of NNRs to include the
provision of opportunities for public enjoyment of nature and/or
open-air recreation.
New app created to engage new audiences with wildlife conservation
– People’s Trust for Endangered Species A new Mammals
on Roads app for iOS9 and above, and Android 7, has been created to
enable sightings of Britain’s mammals to be recorded on the move,
allowing wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES)
to identify changes in population numbers and help conservation. The app is free, easy to use, and boasts charming graphics of a whole
host of mammals, from hedgehogs and hares, to badgers and bats. There
are also informative audio descriptions, providing useful background
information and insights into the lives of these creatures. David Wembridge, Surveys Officer at PTES explains: “Data gathered
from Mammals on Roads is vital to conservation work. The survey has been
running for over 15 years, which allows us to compare data year on year,
and identify where we need to focus our conservation efforts.” The new app is part of PTES’ Mammals on Roads survey, which takes
place annually between July and September. To take part, members of the
public are asked to record sightings of Britain’s mammals – dead or
alive – during car journeys of 20 miles or more on a single day, outside
of built up areas – perfect for summer road trips or family holidays!
Wildlife project is great for young people’s health
– Lancashire NHS Trust Wildlife project is great for young people’s health Young people in Lancashire can get involved in an exciting project
that will boost their mental health and physical wellbeing whilst
improving green spaces in the local community. Myplace is an exciting and innovative collaboration between
Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and The Lancashire Wildlife Trust
and is funded by close to £1m in Big Lottery Funding that is
administered by the national ‘Our Bright Future’ campaign for young
people. The Myplace project encourages young people aged 13 – 24 years old to
explore the environment by offering opportunities to participate in
eco-therapy based activities where they can develop new skills, increase
their self-esteem, build resilience and improve their own
self-confidence. By getting involved in activities outdoors young people
can reduce their stress levels, prevent mental health problems and
improve their concentration and mood. Sue Moore, Chief Operating Officer at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation
Trust said:
It’s not easy being green – London Assembly
The capital’s green spaces provide environmental, physical, mental,
social and economic benefits for Londoners.
The Mayor has committed to improving access to green space – in his
election manifesto he pledged to make more than 50 per cent of the city
green and to ensure that all children have access to nature. The London Assembly Environment Committee launches the report, ‘Park
life: ensuring green spaces remain a hit with Londoners’ today (Tuesday
4 July) which looks at what measures should be taken to protect and
improve the capital’s green spaces. Read the report
here
Updated standard for forest management –
Forestry Commission The governments of the UK have today published their updated standard
for sustainable forest management. The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) - the reference standard for forest
management in the UK - sets out requirements and details the conditions
that must be met when felling trees, carrying out woodland operations,
and receiving grants. It applies to all woodland, irrespective of who owns or manages it. The Standard ensures that international agreements and conventions on
areas such as sustainable forest management, climate change,
biodiversity and the protection of water resources are robustly applied
across the UK.
Government approval secured for employer led and designed Arborist
Apprenticeship standard – Arboricultural
Association Industry leaders congratulated on launch of employer led and designed
Apprenticeship standards With Government approval secured for the new Trailblazer
Apprenticeship standards for arboriculture, forestry, horticulture and
landscaping, those employers involved in the initiative are being
congratulated on their success. Businesses from across the four sectors
have developed a suite of new apprenticeships that meet the needs of
today’s and tomorrow’s arboriculture, forestry, horticulture and
landscape sectors. Since the start of the project in 2015 more than 40 employers, 8
industry bodies and 18 training and assessment organisations have
successfully worked together under the leadership of Richard Trippett of
Bartlett Tree Experts, Geraint Richards of the Duchy of Cornwall and
Neil Huck of Ground Control to develop the standards for the Arborist,
Forest Operative, and Horticulture/Landscape Operative apprenticeships.
In addition, a new standard for Horticulture and Landscape Supervisor
has been approved and their assessment plans and training specifications
are being developed.
£600,000 boost for rare wildlife on Orkney –
RSPB RSPB Scotland gives thanks to funders, supporters and local community Some of the UK’s rarest wildlife has been given a big boost, it was
announced today, thanks to funding from Coastal Communities Fund, Orkney
LEADER and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, for an ambitious project on
one of Orkney’s islands.
Curlew (image: Steve Round)
Sarah Sankey, RSPB Scotland’s Orkney Manager, said: “We are really
grateful for all the funding and support we have received for this
ambitious project. Starting a wildlife-friendly farming operation at
Onziebust on Egilsay will help to safeguard the future of rare and
threatened wildlife such as corncrakes, curlews, lapwings and great
yellow bumblebees. But we are also excited about the unique
opportunities the project will provide for local people to learn,
volunteer and experience wildlife on Egilsay including enhancing their
skills in areas such as wildlife-friendly land management and wildlife
recording through the training programme. We hope that the project will
help to raise awareness of the importance of Egilsay and all of Orkney
for wildlife and contribute to the hugely important wildlife tourism
sector. We look forward to working with groups and individuals across
the county in the coming months”. Orkney is also an incredibly important home for breeding waders,
including curlews, redshanks, lapwings, oystercatchers and snipe.
Despite accounting for less than 0.5% of the UK’s land area, Orkney is
home to more than 10% of the breeding population of some species.
Badger vaccination resumes - Berks, Bucks &
Oxon Wildlife Trust Three Wildlife Trusts, including the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife
Trust (BBOWT), have resumed the vaccination of badgers against bovine
tuberculosis (bTB), one year after vaccine supplies dried up. A new supply of vaccine has been obtained by BBOWT, Derbyshire
Wildlife Trust and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust following several
months negotiating supplies and obtaining permission from the Veterinary
Medicines Directorate to import the InterVax TB vaccine.
BBOWT’s badger vaccination programme resumed this week and will
continue through the remainder of the vaccination season, which runs
until November. Badgers will be trapped and vaccinated in a 15km2
project area around the nature reserve at Greenham Common in West
Berkshire, before the team moves to nature reserves in west Oxfordshire.
Find out more
about BBOWT's badger vaccination programme.
In December 2015, the World Health Organization announced that there
was a global shortage of TB vaccine for humans. This meant that The
Wildlife Trusts had to suspend their badger vaccination programmes
during 2016.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has been carrying out the badger
vaccination programme across Derbyshire since 2014, working with farmers
and landowners.
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust will begin vaccinating badgers on a
large area on the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire border imminently.
Vaccination will continue until autumn and will build on previous work
which began in 2015 to build TB immunity in Nottinghamshire’s badgers.
Bringing an ancient landscape back to life –
London Wildlife Trust London Wildlife Trust receives £699,000 from National Lottery players
to revive the Great North Wood Throughout the Middle Ages, across a large swathe of south London, an
ancient wooded landscape provided timber, charcoal and firewood for the
capital, and a home to wildlife and nature.
Now falling under the ownership and control of many different
landowners and managers, the Great North Wood is subject to a variety of
modern pressures such as overuse, fly-tipping and inconsistent
management – but the Trust is determined to ensure that this special
Living Landscape* is recognised and valued, before it is lost
forever. With strong community involvement, this project will focus on
resident woodland species such as woodpeckers, purple hairstreak
butterflies, stag beetles, oak and hornbeam trees; with surveying,
guided walks, and family activities such as minibeast hunts and teddy
bear picnics. Conservation work will also enhance ancient woodland areas
and help people discover them. The Great North Wood project is only possible thanks to support from
National Lottery players through a £699,000 grant from Heritage Lottery
Fund (HLF), with further support from the Mayor of London, Veolia
Environmental Trust, the Dulwich Estate, and Dulwich Society. London
Wildlife Trust will be working closely with borough councils in Bromley,
Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark, throughout its duration.
New survey reveals the mysterious creatures living in your garden
– RSPB The RSPB is calling on people to get outside this summer to uncover
the mysterious creatures that are living in their back gardens by taking
part in the Wild Challenge. Latest wildlife survey shows that hedgehog, foxes and moles were
among the most common creatures seen in gardens across the UK last year. A new survey has revealed that hedgehogs, foxes and moles are among
the most common creatures that are making their homes in back gardens
across the UK, with the RSPB calling on people to get outside this
summer to uncover the mysterious creatures that are living in their
outdoor spaces. Results from the survey of more than 139,000 UK gardens revealed that
hedgehogs had been seen in over 60 per cent. Worryingly, one-quarter of
gardens didn’t record a sighting of the spiny mammal throughout the
whole of last year. This pattern was apparent across all four countries,
with the figure rising to around 30 per cent in Scotland and Northern
Ireland. Moles spend most of their lives alone, either digging extensive
networks of tunnels or hunting for food only occasionally coming to the
surface. Unsurprisingly these elusive creatures escaped the gaze of the
majority of participants, with close to half not recording a sighting of
one or one of their more familiar mole hills. Great crested newts
followed a similar pattern with the secretive reptile being spotted in
only five per cent of lucky gardens. Foxes were the most common visitor to gardens across the UK with one
being recorded in 70 per cent of gardens, while other creatures like
slow worm, grass snake and stag beetle were seen by far less. Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientists, said: “Often the
wildlife we see in our garden is the first experience we have with
nature – whether it’s a robin perched on the fence or a hedgehog
snuffling around looking for its next meal. Unfortunately, the sights
and sounds of wildlife that was once common to us are sadly becoming
more mysterious to people. “There are simple things we can all do to make our gardens perfect of
wildlife. From creating a feeding station for birds or hedgehogs to
digging a small pond to help amphibians, these easy activities can help
turn your garden into a wildlife haven.” To learn more about the RSPB Wild Challenge and to see how you can
take your firsts steps on your own wildlife adventure, visit
www.rspb.org.uk/wildchallenge
Transport Investment Strategy for England shows no sign of prioritising
cycling and walking - Sustrans Today (Wednesday 5 July) the Government announced its new Transport
Investment Strategy for England. Responding to the announcement Jason Torrance, our Policy Director
said: “Whilst balancing investment between strategic and local roads is
welcome, the Transport Investment Strategy for England shows no sign of
the UK Government prioritising everyday travel choices and increasing
levels of cycling and walking, leaving Local Authorities to pick up the
mantel of improving air quality, health and congestion with alternatives
to car travel.”
Mystery of birds’ movements at sea solved -
RSPB The five year project GPS-tracked over 1300 breeding seabirds of four
species from a number of colonies in Britain and Ireland allowing
conservationists to predict where seabirds from all of the region’s
colonies go to find food The new maps will be used to assess potential impacts from offshore
wind farms, pollution and other human activities on breeding seabirds,
helping to protect these threatened species Experts have used GPS-tracking and computer models on an
unprecedented scale to map where British and Irish breeding seabirds go
to feed, revealing unique insights into the distribution of these
enigmatic species.
NFU joins call to put rural issues on government agenda
– NFU Government needs to focus on developing rural-proofed policies both
now and
The Rural
Coalition has organised a parliamentary reception to launch its 2017
Rural Coalition Statement on Thursday. It is letting government know
that it is available as a sounding board for government policy. Above all, its members want a Brexit deal and domestic policy agenda
that works for rural communities. NFU Deputy President Minette Batters, who will be attending the
event, has highlighted the importance of a government which works for
both farmers and growers and their rural communities. She said: “The
strength of the Rural Coalition is that it brings together key rural
partners where we have common goals to promote more effective rural
policy and where we can act to share good practice.”
Scientific publications Shwartz, A. et al (2017)
Scaling up from protected areas in England: The value of establishing
large conservation areas. Biological Conservation.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.016 Narango, D. L. Tallamy, W. W. & Marra, P. P. (2017)
Native plants improve breeding and foraging habitat for an insectivorous
bird. Biological Conservation.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.029 Whytock, R. C. et al (2017)
Bird community responses to habitat creation in a long-term, large-scale
natural experiment. Conservation Biology. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12983 Nichols, P., McCallum, A. & Lucke, T. (2017)
Using Ground Penetrating Radar to Locate and Categorise Tree Roots Under
Urban Pavements. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.06.019
Wilkes, R. et al (2017)
Intertidal seagrass in Ireland: Pressures, WFD status and an assessment
of trace element contamination in intertidal habitats using Zostera
noltei. Ecological Indicators.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.06.036
Mitchell, R. J. et al (2017)
Forty years of change in Scottish grassland vegetation: Increased
richness, decreased diversity and increased dominance. Biological
Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.027 Kortmann, M. et al (2017)
Beauty and the beast: how a bat utilizes forests shaped by outbreaks of
an insect pest. Animal Conservation. DOI: 10.1111/acv.12359
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CJS is not responsible for content of external sites. Details believed correct but given without prejudice. Disclaimer: the views expressed in these news pages do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CJS. |
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The
United Kingdom will take an historic step towards delivering a fairer
deal for the UK fishing industry this week by triggering the withdrawal
from an arrangement that allowed foreign countries access to UK waters,
Environment Secretary Michael Gove confirmed today.
Based
on local and city-regional planning policies and new data from planning
consultants Glenigan, CPRE’s annual Green Belt Under Siege report shows
that more than 70% of houses proposed for development are not expected
to be ‘affordable’. It also demonstrates that just 16% of houses built
on Green Belt land since 2009 outside local plans were classed as
‘affordable’.
The
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has received a grant from the
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) worth £9,400, which will enable them to
investigate agri-environment scheme habitat requirements of bats in
Hampshire and Dorset.-BIAZA.jpg)
Tansy
Beetle (BIAZA)
variety
of marine life including crabs, jellyfish and starfish.
The
‘Yellow Fish’ initiative is a Surrey Wildlife Trust project, funded by
the Environment Agency. The Trust is working with schools, businesses
and community groups in the Dorking area to spread the word about the
importance of good water quality for wildlife.
London’s
parks and green spaces face an uncertain future due to limited funds.
The
project, led by RSPB Scotland, aims to start a wildlife-friendly farming
operation on Egilsay to increase numbers of rare and threatened species
such as corncrakes, curlews, lapwings and great yellow bumblebees.
BBOWT
set up a Mammal Project in April 2014 to vaccinate badgers on key BBOWT
nature reserves. Several BBOWT staff trained with the Animal and Plant
Health Agency (APHA) to be able to carry out badger vaccinations in a
safe and humane way.
The
post-Brexit, according to leading rural campaign groups including the
NFU.
