Words about wildlife, wilderness & nature conservation
This year, The British Hedgehog Preservation Society is once again running Hedgehog Awareness Week (HAW) between the 6th-12th May. Designed to raise awareness of the plight of Britain's hedgehogs, the week aims to educate people with regards to how they themselves can help out our spiny friends. Hedgehogs have declined by up to 50% since the beginning of [...]
One of the UK’s most threatened reptiles has been given a boost with the introduction of 21 young sand lizards to the RSPB’s Farnham Heath reserve. With summer just around the corner, sand lizards are looking forward to a brighter future after a project between the RSPB and ARC saw 21 sand lizards given new homes at [...]
Diseases among bird populations are on the increase and, as a growing number of households take to feeding their garden birds, researchers have claimed that bird feeders are contributing to the spread of dangerous pathogens, viruses and bacteria in certain species. Scientists from both the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the British Trust for [...]
The youth nature spotlight series is intended to give readers an insight into the lives, aspirations and motivations of the intrepid and inspirational young people doing great things for nature in the UK. Each post will focus on a different member of the youth nature movement with featured individuals being asked to nominate others they [...]
Invented by conservationists in collaboration with commercial fishermen, a new device is helping longline fishing vessels to be safer for seabirds. What is longline fishing and how does it endanger seabirds? Longline fishing is a commercial activity that involves catching fish such as tuna and swordfish using very long lines of baited hooks. A single [...]
The concept of island biogeography was first laid out by MacArther & Wilson (1967) in a book entitled ‘The Theory of Island Biogeography’. The concept was relatively simple in its key principles; that ‘islands’ that are small are capable of supporting fewer species than larger ‘islands’, and that the further away these ‘islands’ are from [...]
Given the state of the wider countryside and the impact of habitat loss, development and changes in land-use upon bird communities never has it been more important to take proper care of the populations residing in our gardens. Contrary to popular belief, it is vital that we cater for them year-round, not just in Winter, [...]
There is still time this weekend to take part in the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch - a fabulous (and fun) scheme which contributes greatly to the knowledge surrounding our garden birds. Highlighting current trends, increases, decreases and eruptions in avian populations through the power of citizen science. To take part, you only need a [...]
Thinking Country, by Ben Eagle Ben's blog is fast becoming my go-to resource for unbiased, pragmatic commentary on rural issues (particularly those associated with agriculture). Hailing from a farming background and focused on promoting dialogue and thus, bridging the gap between all facets of the environmental community, Thinking Country features opinion, personal musings and guest posts [...]
I am late to the party on this one I am afraid, and there are already many excellent articles out there regarding the rollout of the Natural England sanctioned Hen Harrier Brood Management (or Meddling) scheme. Of these, recent articles by Patrick Barkham, Mark Avery, RPS are all worthy of a read and cover the [...]
This past week, and to an equal mix of fanfare and apprehension, the government released its long-awaited 25-year plan to improve the environment. A full outline of which can be found here, for those interested. I would advise all to have a read. The plan, launched in style by the PM herself, sets out a long-term [...]
Like a great many people, I suspect, the June appointment of Machiavellian, boris-slaying, hardline Brexiteer Michael Gove as Secretary of State for the Environment left me feeling more than just a little pessimistic. Saddened even; following a succession of unsavoury individuals ranging from the plain old bad (Truss), to the stupid (Leadsom), and the downright villainous (Patterson), it seemed [...]
An end to raptor persecution in the uplands In 2018 I want to see an end to the illegal persecution of protected raptors in upland Britain, by any means necessary. However this happens, whether through a ban on the practices responsible for the decimation of England's Hen Harrier's and the suppression of Peregrine and kite [...]
Scotland's reputation as a mecca for wildlife tourists and landscape enthusiasts looks set to receive a welcome boost as Trees for Life joins the thriving European association of rewilding projects. With the conservation charity recently invited to become a member of the European Rewilding Network; placing its tireless efforts to restore the countries unique Caledonian [...]
