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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
New Countryside Stewardship Offers open for applications
- Defra New Countryside Stewardship Offers introduced to help more farmers
and land managers protect wildlife and enhance the environment The Countryside Stewardship scheme has opened for farmers and land
managers to request 2018 application packs today (15 January).
Four simpler, and quicker to apply for, offers are being introduced
this year to complement the existing Higher Tier and Mid Tier offers and
open up the scheme to even more farmers and land managers. Unlike
existing offers, all landowners who make a valid application for any of
the four new packages will be guaranteed funding though the scheme. This application window is an opportunity for farmers new to
Countryside Stewardship (CS), or those coming out of previous
stewardship agreements, to sign up for an agreement that will be
guaranteed for its lifetime, to protect wildlife, boost biodiversity and
deliver environmental benefits for their local communities. Earlier this month, Environment Secretary Michael Gove outlined
government plans to replace existing farm subsidies outside the EU with
a new system of public money for public goods. Ahead of this, the
new CSoffers are an opportunity for even more farmers to establish
positive environmental practices on their land and prepare for the
future.
Water voles thriving in the Trossachs –
Forestry Commission Scotland Water voles are recolonising restored wetlands in the Trossachs
thanks to an ambitious re-introduction project. Over 1,000 animals were
released
into 1,700ha of restored wetland habitat on the National
Forest Estate and are now thriving throughout the Trossachs. In
November last year, this project was shortlisted for The
Nature of Scotland Awards which gives recognition to conservation
projects for their excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in
Scottish nature. Image: Forestry Commission Scotland Water voles became extinct in the Trossachs in the late 1980’s due to
habitat loss and predation by American Mink. Since then, Forest
Enterprise Scotland, with help from partners, has carried out a huge
amount of work to restore wetlands and create new riparian areas ideal
for water voles. This habitat network creation has included
clearing trees from burn-sides to allow vegetation to recover, building
over 100 ponds, many miles of ditches, building dams and sowing wetland
seed mixes to enhance the forest for wildlife. The project, which began in 2008, has been a tremendous success with
signs of water voles spreading fast. The water voles originally came
from a development site in Glasgow where ecologists were struggling to
find a home for the animals. The captured water voles were then
bred in captivity by Derek Gow to produce a large population for
release.
Surfers three times more likely to have antibiotic resistant bacteria in
guts – University of Exeter Regular surfers and bodyboarders are three times more likely to have
antibiotic resistant E. coli in their guts than non-surfers, new
research has revealed. Conducted by the University of Exeter, the Beach Bums study asked 300
people, half of whom regularly surf the UK’s coastline, to take rectal
swabs.
Surfers swallow ten times more sea water than sea swimmers, and
scientists wanted to find out if that made them more vulnerable to
bacteria that pollute seawater, and whether those bacteria are resistant
to an antibiotic. Regular surfers are three times more likely to have antibiotic
resistant bacteria in their guts (University of Exeter) Scientists compared faecal samples from surfers and non-surfers to
assess whether the surfers’ guts contained E. coli bacteria that were
able to grow in the presence of cefotaxime, a commonly used and
clinically important antibiotic. Cefotaxime has previously been
prescribed to kill off these bacteria, but some have acquired genes that
enable them to survive this treatment.
The study, published today (January 14) in the journal Environment
International, found that 13 of 143 (9%) of surfers were colonised by
these resistant bacteria, compared to just four of 130 (3%) of
non-surfers swabbed. That meant that the bacteria would continue to grow
even if treated with cefotaxime. Researchers also found that regular surfers were four times as likely
to harbour bacteria that contain mobile genes that make bacteria
resistant to the antibiotic. This is significant because the genes can
be passed between bacteria – potentially spreading the ability to resist
antibiotic treatment between bacteria. Recently, the UN Environment
Assembly recognised the spread of antibiotic resistance in the
environment as one of the world’s greatest emerging environmental
concerns.
It’s time to put a freeze on plastics -
Iceland Iceland
has taken the bold decision to remove plastic packaging from its own
label products by 2023 for one simple reason: because we care. I’m a
keen surfer so I may be more aware than most of all the plastic detritus
in the sea – but we’ve pretty much all watched or at least heard about
Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planetseries, and seen the sort of damage
plastic waste is doing to the oceans. Insidiously, it is also breaking
down into small particles that are being consumed by marine life and
re-entering the human food chain through fish and seafood. The
consequences could ultimately be catastrophic for humanity as a whole,
and as the father of young children I want to do everything I can to
protect their future.
Just consider the facts. Every bit of plastic ever produced still
exists, unless it has been incinerated, and more of it has been produced
in the twenty-first century so far than in the whole of the last one.
We’re dumping a truckload of it into the sea every minute, and it is
going to stay there for hundreds of years. It’s crazy, and it has got to
stop. Clearly someone needs to act – so why not us?
On Monday 15 January Bradford
Council’s Labour group voted not to renew the shooting lease held by the
Bingley Moor Partnership since 2008, reactions to the news
Grouse shooting ban on Ilkley Moor a calamity for conservation, says
BASC BASC has warned that a decision to ban grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor
will be calamitous for conservation in the area. It has been reported that Bradford Council’s Labour group has voted
not to renew the shooting lease held by the Bingley Moor Partnership
since 2008. The Labour group holds a majority on the council and a
decision to ban shooting could now be taken without a full council
meeting. The vote follows three years of campaigning by anti-shooting
extremists who have demanded the end of Ilkley Moor’s status as the last
remaining council-owned moor on which grouse shooting continues.
Bradford Councillors vote to end grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor
– Ban Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor Ilkley, UK – Bradford Council’s Labour Group votes by overwhelming
majority to not renew grouse shooting rights for Ilkley Moor, a move
that has been strongly welcomed by wildlife campaigners. Bradford Councillors voted to not renew controversial grouse shooting
rights for Ilkley Moor at City Hall tonight. The decision, which was
taken by the Bradford Labour Group, is understood to have been supported
by an ‘overwhelming majority’ of those councillors who voted. Bradford Labour is the largest party on the Council and ending grouse
shooting is also backed by Bradford Liberal Democrats, Bradford Green
Party and the majority of Independent councillors.
Environment Agency launches consultation to give communities more say in
how rivers are managed A consultation which aims to give communities and local organisations
more say in the ways in which rivers are managed and maintained, has
been launched today (15th January). The Environment Agency is considering proposals to transfer ‘flood
risk management activities’ on a number of stretches of watercourses to
internal drainage boards (IDBs), lead local flood authorities (LLFAs)
and district councils. This will only happen where the watercourses have
a low level of flood risk, are not associated with major rivers or major
city centres and where the local community supports the change. A transfer would mean that IDBs, LLFAs and district councils can take
on more responsibility for their local flood risk, where appropriate –
by carrying out activities such as maintenance or giving permission to
carry out works. The Environment Agency has been working with partners to consider
proposals to ‘re-designate’ sections of watercourses in a number of
locations. The watercourses will be re-designated from what is currently
known as a ‘main river’ to an ‘ordinary watercourse’ – a change referred
to as ‘de-maining’.
Looking back at a tragic year for cetacean strandings
- ORCA The recent death of a white-beaked dolphin found stranded on the Isle
of Wight occured right on ORCA's doorstep, just across the Solent
from
our main offices in Portsmouth.
With 2017 seeing very high numbers of cetaceans stranding around the
UK and beyond, ORCA wanted to look back at the challenges these animals
face and the factors contributing to these sad deaths. Common dolphins at serious threat of by-catch related stranding In early Autumn, two members of the ORCA team attended a stranding
right on our doorstep in Fareham Creek, where a common dolphin was found
to be in significant difficulty. Both were trained Marine Mammal Medics
and responded as BDMLR volunteers, but despite theirs and others best
efforts, the animal was euthanised. This was one example of a worrying trend of deaths of this species,
with more than 75% of strandings being found to have been caused by
by-catch from fishing activity. In the south-west particularly the last
few years have shown an increase in strandings of common dolphins and is
most closely associated with seabass and albacore tuna pelagic trawlers. A recent study estimated that 3650-4700 individuals were straded by by-catch each year, making this a significant threats to the UK & European population of common dolphins.
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Active Aviemore – natural health service on the doorstep!
– Cairngorms National Park Authority Active Aviemore is a new initiative aimed at making it as easy as
possible for people to move about the town without the need for
motorised transport, and ultimately contributing to an improvement in
health and wellbeing. A new £13.5 million community hospital to service the needs of
Badenoch and Strathspey is due for completion by 2021. This investment
provides an opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of residents
and visitors in Aviemore. Through improved vehicular and non-vehicular
(e.g. walking and cycling) infrastructure the aim is to design an active
community that not only promotes physical activity as part of normal
daily life, but actively encourages everyone to enjoy the outdoors in
Scotland’s largest national park. Image: Cairngorms NPA The project is being led by the Cairngorms National Park Authority in
partnership with Aviemore and Vicinity Community Council, NHS Highland,
HiTrans, Sustrans and The Highland Council. ‘’Being physically active and choosing to walk or cycle is one of the
best ways to prevent or delay health problems in later life. New active
travel facilities such as cycle paths, a better walking environment,
green spaces, traffic management and signage will help deliver an active
community that maximises the contribution of Scotland’s outdoors to a
healthier Scotland” explained David Clyne, the CNPA’s Recreation &
Access Manager. The first phase of the project will be identifying the challenges
faced by people moving around Aviemore, such as safe space for walkers
and cyclists, street clutter, flow of traffic, path condition, lighting
and so on. To get things started, the partners involved in Active
Aviemore want to hear from members of the public what they think – what
are the main issues for moving around Aviemore safely and freely?
Blight on Scottish forests – Scotland’s Rural
College Exotic pine tree species planted next to native Scots pine forests
should be removed to limit the risk of disease to
native
trees, new research suggests.
Scientists from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the University of
Edinburgh have completed an in-depth study to show how increased numbers
of Corsican pine from Europe and Lodgepole pine from North America are
heightening the risk of disease when planted next to native Scottish
pine species. Plant researcher Peter Hoebe (SRUC) and Honorary Fellow Richard Ennos
(University of Edinburgh) have found the widespread planting of exotic
species in dense forests has introduced new races of fungi and raised
the threat posed to native Scots pine. Outbreak The scientists studied genes in fungi attacking pine needles from a
number of locations, including forests around Aviemore, to determine the
diversity and spread of the fungus Dothistroma septosporum.
This disease is responsible for the current outbreak of Dothistroma
needle blight (DNB) in native Caledonian Scots pine populations, as well
as other species. Having found that the widespread planting of Corsican pine and
Lodgepole pine can place native species at greater risk of disease, they
have said that the removal of exotic species from the vicinity of
Caledonian pine populations and the restriction of movement of planting
material are necessary to minimise its impact. To read the full report, click
here.
Social prescribing gets National Lottery boost
- TCV TCV will develop how social prescribing can be used by clinicians
thanks to a £397,000 National Lottery grant from the Big
Lottery Fund the
largest
funder of community activity in the UK. Image: TCV Using the National Lottery grant, TCV will work with NHS
England, local healthcare services, commissioners, academics and
charities to inform when and how social prescribing is used to help
people living with specific health issues, such as mental health
problems and musculoskeletal disorders. This will include developing and
piloting a quality assurance and evaluation framework to measure
different social prescribing models. Social prescribing recognises how social, economic and environmental
factors affect people’s health, where medication alone is unlikely to
provide a sustainable improvement. It connects patients with support in
their local community to help address their health issues holistically
and give them greater control of their own health and wellbeing. TCV’s Green Gym programme, now in its 20th year, is already part of
the social prescribing process, reflecting its positive impact on both
physical health and mental wellbeing. This experience and TCV’s strong
links across the health, academic and the wider charitable sectors, puts
it in an ideal position to deliver this exciting project.
Revitalising Redesdale - Northumberland
National Park Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership has received a confirmed
grant of £1.7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to conserve
and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of Redesdale, in
Northumberland. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, Revitalising
Redesdale will deliver a five-year programme of 12 interlinking projects
which will seek the restoration of historic monuments, conservation and
enhancement of wildlife habitats, and the opportunity for local people
to get involved in archaeological and practical conservation projects. This summer the iconic Ridsdale Engine House will be conserved and
consolidated through the project. This was once part of a 19th century
ironworks which provided the iron used to build the famous Tyne Bridge.
Working with the Redesdale Society, the Revitalising Redesdale team will
also be delivering a local history project to learn more about the
Ironworks and provide new interpretation to tell its story. A similar
project is also planned for High Rochester which will see major repairs
to the Roman Fort and new interpretation. Other projects include £670,000 of improvements across the river Rede
and its tributaries to improve water quality to support the nationally
important population of freshwater pearl mussel and undertake habitat
improvements and measures to address diffuse pollution. Working
across Redesdale, including in partnership with the MoD, 760 hectares of
peatland will be restored and 55 hectares of hay meadow. The
Battlefields Trust will be leading a pioneering community research
project to recreate the medieval landscape at Otterburn to more
accurately identify the site of the 1388 moonlit battle between Harry
‘Hotspur’ and the Earl of Douglas. There are also plans for a
significant investment in the valley’s rights of way network, including
the restoration of the historic Smoutel Ford. New interpretation,
signage and artwork are also planned including innovative new star
cairns and exciting new structure on the Forest Drive to encourage
visitors to explore Redesdale.
Exciting find in Northern Strathspey Wildcat Priority Area
– Scottish Wildcat Action
Snow
and ice can make the winter field season a challenging time: many of our
field sites are remote, and icy conditions can make access extremely
difficult (if not impossible). Like the other Priority Areas, Northern Strathspey has been in the
grips of an icy winter so far, with many forest tracks more like
toboggan runs than footpaths. But winter is the best time of year to
find wildcats, primarily because it is the breeding season and cats tend
to roam more widely (males are looking for females, and female cats are
not tied to kittens at a den site). (image: Scottish Wildcat Action) A cold winter with a layer of snow is particularly good for finding
cats, because they are less able to catch their natural prey and
therefore more likely to visit our baited camera stations. Bait is very
important to attract cats to our cameras because unlike many other
British mammals, wildcats leave little sign of their presence and so we
can rarely rely on field signs to target camera locations. Instead, we
usually choose camera sites based on landscape/habitat features that act
to restrict or funnel animal movement (like predator holes in a long
fence line). But snow has an additional unique advantage: cat tracks! The snow is
an incredibly valuable resource in finding and targeting potential cat
locations, because you can identify cat prints and target your camera
locations.
Scientific publications Šálek, M., Bažant, M. & Żmihorski, M. (2017) Active
farmsteads are year-round strongholds for farmland birds. Journal of
Applied Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13093
Rojas, D., Ramos Pereira, M. J., Fonseca, C. and Dávalos, L. M. (2018), Eating down the food chain: generalism is not an evolutionary dead end for herbivores. Ecol Lett. doi:10.1111/ele.12911
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