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Headlines from week beginning 28 January 2019 |
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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
Nature and people to benefit from a £2.6 million environmental project
in West Yorkshire – National Trust Work has started on a two year £2.6 million natural flood management
project in West Yorkshire led by the National Trust to help protect
homes and nurture wildlife
The aim is to reduce the risk of flooding to over 3,000 homes and
businesses in Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Marsden and surrounding areas. Taking learnings from the conservation charity’s success with a
similar scheme at the Holnicote Estate in Somerset, this will be one of
the biggest investments of its kind to date in England. The work at Hardcastle Crags and Wessenden Valley, part of Marsden
Moor, both cared for by the National Trust; and Gorpley Reservoir,
looked after by Yorkshire Water and the Woodland Trust; will use a
combination of natural interventions to slow the flow of water along the
Colne and Calder river catchments. With £1.3 million growth deal funding from the Leeds City Region
Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and £1.3 million either in funds or in-kind
support from other partners including The Forestry Commission, Moors For
The Future partnership, Environment Agency, Woodland Trust, Yorkshire
Water, Calderdale Council and other community groups, plans include the
planting of 151 hectares of new woodland at Gorpley Reservoir and in the
Wessenden Valley, the restoration of 85 hectares of peat bogs, heath and
Molinia (moor grass) and the construction of over 650 “leaky dams”. Over 3,000 metres of fascines (bundles of brushwood) will also be dug
in to help stabilise stream banks and slopes, and new areas of land will
be fenced for sustainable grazing by sheep and cattle. All partners have been working together as part of the White Rose
Forest Partnership. New woodlands planted will help grow the White
Rose Forest, part of the new Northern Forest.
More cycling could prevent 34,000 life-threatening illnesses in seven
major UK cities by 2040 – Sustrans An estimated 34,000 incidences of eight life-threatening conditions,
including Type 2 diabetes, stroke, breast cancer and depression, would
be prevented in seven major cities between 2017 and 2040, if cycling
increased at rates like those seen since the millennium in London.
Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, has today published a
first of its kind report which looks at what the health, economic and
environmental benefits of cycling could look like by 2040 in seven UK
cities: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Greater
Manchester and Newcastle. “Transforming
Cities: The potential of everyday cycling” is based on data from
Bike Life, the largest assessment of cycling in UK cities, and
highlights the impact of doubling cycling trips every eight years
between 2017 and 2040. The modelling follows the UK Government’s Cycling
and Walking Investment Strategy which seeks to double cycling in England
by 2025. It has estimated that more than one billion cycling trips would take
place in 2040 in those major cities, which is an eight-fold increase
from 123 million trips. This would:
New environmental scorecards reveal good news but gaps in water company
five-year plans – Wildlife & Countryside Link Blueprint for Water publishes environment assessments of water
companies' PR19 business plans. New scorecards, analysing how successful water company plans for the
next five years are likely to be in protecting and improving the
environment, have been published today (Tues 29 Jan) by Blueprint for
Water, part of the Wildlife and Countryside Link nature coalition. This
environmental review of the firms’ plans comes just days before OFWAT
publish their Initial Assessment of the Business Plans on 31 January
2019. The scorecards, and the detailed analysis behind them, reveal a mixed
picture in terms of environmental ambition and commitment in the
business plans published by England’s water companies in September 2018.
Blueprint for Water says they have seen a ‘positive step change in
environmental ambition from the water sector’ in this planning cycle
compared to the previous PR14 business plans. However, despite progress
by the water sector, the analysis has highlighted key areas which need
action from companies; including:
The review of the companies’ main business plans revealed that, of
the water-and-sewerage companies, Northumbrian Water, South West Water,
and Anglian Water best meet the environmental benchmarks set by the
NGOs. Northumbrian Water, South West Water and Southern Water do best in
terms of their ambition on those common commitments required by OFWAT
that are most relevant to the environment. Southern Water and Wessex
Water have the greatest number and coverage of bespoke performance
commitments relevant to the environmental measures set-out by the
coalition.
Today (Tues 29 Jan) sees the launch of a new online toolkit that
provides advice on managing woodlands for wildlife, in particular rare
and declining species that are dependent on woodland habitats. The
Woodland Wildlife Toolkit is aimed at anyone who owns or manages a
woodland, or advises others
about woodland management.
The Woodland Wildlife Toolkit contains three main tools: Search your wood’s wildlife to help you:
Assess your wood’s condition to get an overview of the condition of
your wood’s habitats and identify any issues you may need to address. Woodland guidance for practical advice on management techniques,
information on woodland management issues and legal considerations. A
series of species factsheets provides summary information for all the
species in the toolkit. Data behind the toolkit has been sourced from a wide number of
sources which are detailed on the website. Examples include data from
the Bat Conservation Trust, British Trust for Ornithology, Butterfly
Conservation, Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, British Lichen
Society, British Mycological Society, Fungus Conservation Trust,
People’s Trust for Endangered Species, and the National Biodiversity
Network.
Year of Green Action launches with record volunteer fair
- New Forest National Park Authority he nationwide Year of Green Action has kicked off in the New Forest
with a record-breaking turnout for the National Park’s volunteer fair. The fair saw 750 budding volunteers head to Lyndhurst Community
Centre on Sunday (27 January) to browse hundreds of opportunities from
50 local groups. Organisations in attendance included Exbury Gardens,
Butterfly Conservation, the Forestry Commission and the National Trust. Many attendees were volunteering to help improve the environment or
pledged to take individual small actions to mark 2019 as the Year of
Green Action. This is a year-long drive to get more people from all backgrounds
involved in projects to improve the natural world and mark
the 70th anniversary of National Parks.
Scottish pine martens repopulating Welsh mountains
Picture copyright Edward Delaney The Pine Marten Recovery Project has been led by the Vincent Wildlife
Trust under licence from SNH and in full compliance with the Scottish
Code for Conservation Translocations. Between autumn 2015 and 2017, a total of 51 pine martens were
translocated from FES woodlands across the highlands to the forests of
Cambrian Mountains in mid-Wales. Kenny Kortland, Species Ecologist with FES, said: “Pine martens are
fairly abundant in many forests of the national forest estate, so we
could easily spare some for this fantastic project. However, the Trust
was very careful to assess the robustness of the donor population before
trapping took place. The majority of the animals that were released in
Wales very quickly claimed home ranges for themselves and they are
establishing a thriving population. Kits have been born every year since
the first release so it looks like the pine martens’ return to Wales has
been an unqualified success!”The programme’s success in Wales has been
very well supported and assisted by the local community, which is
encouraging people to come to the area and visit the dedicated pine
marten information centre and pine marten viewing hide.
Plastic in Britain's seals, dolphins and whales
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory Microplastics have been found in the guts of every marine mammal
examined in a new study of animals washed up on Britain’s shores. Researchers from PML and the University of Exeter examined 50 animals
from 10 species of dolphins, seals and whales – and found microplastics
(less than 5mm) in them all.
Endangered sharks being eaten in UK
- University of Exeter Endangered species of hammerhead and dogfish are among the sharks
being sold as food in the UK, researchers have revealed. University of Exeter scientists sampled shark products from
fishmongers and chip shops, as well as shark fins from an Asian food
wholesaler in the UK. The majority of chip shop samples (usually sold under generic names
like huss, rock salmon and rock eel) were spiny dogfish – a species
“endangered” in Europe and “vulnerable” worldwide. The fin samples included scalloped hammerheads – “endangered”
globally and subject to international trade restrictions. The researchers have called for more accurate food labelling so
people know what species they are eating. “The discovery of endangered hammerhead sharks highlights how
widespread the sale of declining species really is – even reaching
Europe and the UK,” said Dr Andrew Griffiths, of the University of
Exeter Read the paper: Microplastics in marine mammals stranded around the British coast: ubiquitous but transitory? Scientific Reports
New Volunteer Group to stand up for Verges -
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Verging on Wild (VOW) is a new volunteer group in the county, set up
to protect the Roadside Verge Nature Reserves (RVNRs) and generally
improve the care and diversity of the verges of Herefordshire.
33 RVNRs were designated, mostly in the 1970s and they have been
managed sporadically over the years partly by Herefordshire Wildlife
Trust, partly by local people. Some RVNRs have not been managed well and
been delisted because they have been overtaken by coarse grass, brambles
and other invasive species. In recent years, the RVNRs have become more
neglected than ever and an unsympathetic verge mowing regime is
contributing to a loss of diversity across the county and is damaging
some of these special sites. Today there are 18 RVNRs remaining. For example, at Stretford Bridge
there is a long stretch of hay meadow flora, near Callow there is a
small patch of green hellebore and in the woods above Wigmore, there is
a woodland verge with herb paris and greater butterfly orchid. These all
need different kinds of management and we are looking for interested
volunteers who are willing to be Verge Guardians to look after their
local reserve.
Rising to the challenge - ancient hillforts and wildlife to be given new
lease of life - National Trust Thirteen majestic iron age hillforts and 332 hectares (820 acres) of
their surrounding landscape across Dorset and Wiltshire are to be given
a new lease of life as part of a generous award of £800k made to the
National Trust by Postcode Earth Trust, raised by players of People’s
Postcode Lottery. The £800k award will be used to fund two other National Trust
conservation projects, along with continuing support for Heritage Open
Days. The £100k project will help protect all 13 Scheduled Monuments,
dating from over 2,000 years ago, which are of national importance not
just for their archaeology, but for their diverse fragile habitats which
are homes to threatened butterfly species including the brilliantly
coloured Adonis blue, the small Duke of Burgundy and the orange, yellow
and brown chequered marsh fritillary. The unusual sites include Hambledon Hill and Hod Hill in Dorset date
from 5,500 to 2,000 years ago. At Hambledon an iron-age hillfort was
built on the main hill. The defences can still be seen today and
together with its three ramparts encircling the hill is one of the most
impressive archaeological earthworks in southern England. The work to be carried out ranges from erosion repairs to paths and
ramparts to improving fencing so that cattle can graze in the summer and
sheep during the winter. Volunteers will help with ragwort removal in
the summer months, and there will be green hay spreading at some sites
to enhance the diversity of wildflower populations.
Gove kicks off Year of Green Action - defra Environment Secretary Michael Gove calls on people across the country to join together to improve the natural world.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove today (31/1) calls on people
across the country to join together to protect the environment. Speaking at ZSL London Zoo this evening, the Environment Secretary
will launch the Year of
Green Action – a year-long drive to get more people from all
backgrounds involved in projects to improve the natural world. He will also allocate £10 million to help children from disadvantaged
backgrounds better access the natural environment, with grants awarded
to projects that will create greener school grounds and increase the
number of school visits to local parks, wildlife sites, care farms and
National Parks. The Environment Secretary called on everyone to play their part and
back the Year of Green Action – from businesses to gardeners and
government itself. It will provide a focal point for organisations, individuals,
communities and businesses to learn more about their environmental
impact and take action to reduce it.
New ‘Nature Friendly Schools’ to help ‘green’ hundreds of school grounds
and bring thousands of children closer to nature
- Wildlife Trusts £6.4m funded project to improve children’s wellbeing, learning and
care for the environment. The Wildlife Trusts is leading a new and ground-breaking programme –
‘Nature Friendly Schools’ - to bring thousands of children closer to
nature. Teachers will receive training to link outdoor learning to the
National Curriculum, students will visit local nature reserves or parks,
and have the opportunity to experience wildlife on their doorstep
through new nature areas in school grounds. Announcing the programme at the launch of the Year of Green Action,
Nature Friendly Schools are part of a £10million boost to connect
children with nature. Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“We’re thrilled to be heading a consortium to bring many thousands of
children closer to nature in schools. Our children deserve better than
to be cooped up all day. We know that contact with nature lowers anxiety
and is good for learning and social skills, so it’s really exciting to
be working closely with schools to build teachers’ confidence in getting
their pupils outdoors. Children will have the opportunity to experience
wildlife on their doorstep and further afield through hands on
activities in their school grounds and local green places, and the
chance to experience residential field trips. Teachers and children will
be able to use our natural world as a resource to help with the National
Curriculum and experience all the joy and better health that being
outdoors can bring.” Led by The Wildlife Trusts, the Department for Education funded
four-year project partnership involves YoungMinds which leads the fight
for children and young people’s mental health; Groundwork which
transforms young people’s lives in the most disadvantaged communities;
Sensory Trust, experts in ensuring children with special needs enjoy
access to nature; and the Field Studies Council, which inspires
environmental education through first-hand experiences on residential
courses.
Hello from the new-look National Lottery Heritage Fund!
We will still be investing millions of pounds each year in
inspirational heritage projects, large and small, right across the UK. And we will still be investing National Lottery money in the full
breadth of our diverse heritage. From historic places of worship,
castles, and factory buildings and people’s rich stories, through to
public parks, natural landscapes and native wildlife. We will keep people at the very heart of all the projects we fund –
after all, it is people who bring heritage to life and make it
sustainable for the future.
New-look National Lottery Heritage Fund unveils plans for the next five
years A major devolution of decision-making across the whole of the UK is
at the heart of new plans to distribute more than £1billion of National
Lottery money to the UK’s heritage over the next five years. Our new approach
Report finds Scottish raven population healthy
- Scottish Natural Heritage A report published today reveals that raven populations in Scotland
are in a healthy condition. The report, published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), was
commissioned to ensure the number of licences issued to control ravens
won’t affect the population in the long term.
There has been an increase in the Scottish raven population of over
50% over the past 20 years, with Scotland holding the majority of the UK
raven population. (image: SNH) Robbie Kernahan, SNH’s Head of Wildlife Management, said:
Download the full report from here.
Canna and Sanday map out the future -
National Trust for Scotland The inner Hebridean islands of Canna and Sanday have emerged as world
leaders in the application of digital mapping technology. Owned by conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland, they
are now the subject of the most detailed mapping exercise ever
undertaken of any islands anywhere on the planet. With project funding generously donated by its Members’ Centres in
London, Argyll and Angus, the Trust commissioned Glasgow-based GeoGeo to
carry out a drone survey of the island in November 2018 using an
ultra-high definition camera with the aim of pinning down the exact
locations of archaeological features. The drone not only achieved
this but also revealed hitherto unknown archaeology. The images have been processed to create a minutely detailed 3-D map
of Canna and Sanday, which is even capable of being used in a 3-D
printer to create scale models of the islands. Derek Alexander, the National Trust for Scotland’s Head of
Archaeology said: “We’ve previously recorded archaeology on Canna and
Sanday which proves that there were inhabitants as far back as the
Neolithic but this survey gives us information and detail we just
haven’t had until now. We’ve been able to obtain exact plots of known
sites but also recorded the extensive traces of cultivation, such as rig
and furrow field systems that range in from the Bronze Age onwards.
At its peak in the 19th century, agriculture on Canna and Sanday was
capable of supporting a population of 400. The detail is simply
astounding – aerial surveys for archaeology have been around since the
end of World War Two but this new technology takes everything into a
completely new realm, being considerably more detailed, affordable and
flexible. My colleagues in the Trust were blown away by the results and
the possibilities of this technology – the cameras allied to
‘self-learning’ software will be able to help us do things like seabird
counts, as well as habitat and coastal erosion monitoring that are
currently expensive and labour-intensive.” And finally: Everyone is 'enjoying' a snow day so here are some happy Asian short-clawed otters at London zoo revelling in the white stuff!
Join in the snowy fun with ZSL London Zoo 18,000 residents, by
booking tickets now at www.zsl.org
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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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devastated
by the Boxing Day floods of 2015.
Image:
Sustrans
Woodland Wildlife Toolkit launched
Forest
Enterprise Scotland staff are celebrating the success of a pine marten
reintroduction programme in Wales, after helping to source and capture
specimens from across Scotland.
(image:
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust)
We
have a new name – The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It’s a new chapter
for us, although much of the great work we do remains the same. 
SNH
issues licences to control ravens when they are causing serious damage
to livestock, particularly lambs.
