H a b i t a t - Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles


Birds
Resources
British Trust for Ornithology Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Birds Directive BirdGuides Bird News JNCC - Birds Natura 2000 Birds by Species Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside Black Grouse UK Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust BirdLife International Fat Birder

Extinction on the horizon for one-fifth of all bird species

More than one in every five bird species on Earth is now considered to be in trouble, according to an annual assessment issued today by BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation organizations working in more than 100 countries.

Environment News Service
BirdLife International

Fresh worries on seabird numbers

Warnings have been expressed that seabirds in Scotland may be facing another catastrophic breeding season.

BBC

Nature notes

Young starlings are out and about. They feed with their parents in parks and fields, usually in flocks consisting of several families.

Times Online


Plants
Resources
The British Lichen Society The Woodland Trust Botanical Society of the British Isles Plantlife Flora locale Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Heritage Trees of Scotland The Postcode Plants Database Forestry Commission

Invasion of aliens threatens Scottish native plant life

The invasion of the countryside by non-native plants has become such a problem that a new horticultural code of practice is to be launched to prevent their spread.

Scotsman.com

From tors to the shore

Where the verges of our country roads and lanes have escaped the strimmers cow parsley and the delicate flowers of wild carrot are showing above the docks and nettles.

this is southdevon

Woodland Trust say talk to us before lopping trees

The Woodland Trust is calling for expert consultation before local authorities are permitted to lop ancient trees.

Grantham Today

Pupils rise to 'tree for all' challenge

The Woodland Trust is offering schools and youth groups across Northern Ireland the chance to apply for a special, free consignment of 30 native trees, enough for a small grove or hedge.

Belfast Telegraph


Marine
Resources
British Marine Life Study Society JNCC Fisheries Marine Conservation Society Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland Shark Trust The European Register of Marine Species The UK Coastal Zone

Dead bottlenose dolphins seen close to fishing vessels in Bay of Biscay

2 dead bottlenose dolphins seen near large fishing fleet off Spanish coast prompting fears that they were likely to have been incidentally caught in the fishing nets.

Innovations Report

Basking sharks ahoy off Cornish beaches

Huge basking sharks have made their first public appearance of the season in Westcountry bathing waters, to the delight of swimmers and divers.

this is cornwall

Large whales return to the south coast after spring break

On 29 May, IWDG member, Andrew Malcolm, who is a regular watcher off Ram Head, Ardmore, Co. Waterford, observed at least five fin whales and another sp. which may have been a humpback, during an "effort watch".

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

Fish 'need stimulation'

Teaching dim-witted farmed fish new tricks could help replenish depleted North Sea stocks, research by the University of Edinburgh has shown.

icLanarkshire

University to research sound effects on dolphins

A bill passed by the U.S. House last week would provide $2.2 million to the University of Hawaii to research the effects of sound on whales and dolphins.

Environmental News Network

Your ocean needs you!
Show your support for the marine bill campaign by signing The Wildlife Trusts’ marine petition online by clicking here.


Animals
Resources
Mammal Society Mammals Trust UK The Deer Commission for Scotland Scottish Big Cat Trust Scottish Badgers International Otter Survival Fund Bat Conservation Trust National Federation of Badger Groups Froglife Herpetological Groups of Britain & Ireland Butterfly Conservation Butterflies of Ireland Spiders of NW-Europe British Dragonfly Society Buglife

Sick badger baiter snared

A Co Down man faces the possibility of a £10,000 fine and three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to a "horrific attack" on a defenceless badger.

Belfast Telegraph

TB tests look compulsory

Compulsory pre-movement testing of cattle for bovine tuberculosis looks set to be introduced after an independent stakeholder group reported to DEFRA that the net benefit of such a policy could be £5.3m in the first year.

FWi
Government News Network

Cattle blamed for TB levels

The region's farm union chiefs have dismissed as "desperate deception" a claim made by a national pro-badger campaign blaming cattle movements around the countryfor high levels of bovine tuberculosis in the South West.

this is southdevon

Man faces heavy penalty for hare coursing

A man who was caught hare coursing faces a possible fine of £5000 or a spell in prison, in what could be a test case in Tayside.

icPerthshire

Training given on how to handle a dormouse

Dedicated volunteers on Exmoor have been learning the correct way to handle one of Britain's most elusive creatures.

this is cornwall

Conservation group welcomes move to rescind cull of wild goats

A decision not to press ahead with a cull of the famous wild goats at a North Devon beauty spot has been welcomed by a leading Exmoor pressure group.

this is cornwall

The harlequin ladybird is the most invasive ladybird on Earth.
Now it's in Britain.
Help monitor its spread here


National
Resources
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Natural Environment Research Council Minerals and Nature Conservation Forum The Wildlife Trusts Wildlife and Countryside Link British Naturalists' Association EnvironmentJobs

Wade into Wildlife Week – and discover a wealth of wondrous wildlife!

The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging everyone to wade into Wildlife Week from 4 to 12 June 2005 and discover a wealth of wondrous wildlife.

The Wildlife Trusts

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


England
Resources
English Nature Countryside Agency Environment Agency Campaign for the Protection of Rural England

Protest staged against plans to dump clay in valley

An action group set up to oppose plans to dump millions of tons of china clay waste into a Cornish valley have staged their first protest.

this is cornwall

Project aims to have a lot in reserve

Plans for a new wildlife tourist attraction are beginning to take shape. The launch of the new Saltholme project, on the outskirts of Hartlepool, was welcomed by nature lovers.

Hartlepool Today

Park wildlife attacked

Well-wishers who work voluntarily for one of the borough's most beautiful parks say its wildlife is under attack from hooligans and marksmen.

icSurreyOnline


Wales
Resources
Welsh Assembly Countryside Council for Wales Wales Biodiversity Partnership Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales Environment Agency (Wales)

Counting squirrels

A project has been launched to find out how many Red Squirrels are left.

this is southwales

River Teifi fish protection bid

Action is being taken to preserve the fishing habitats of rivers in west Wales.

this is southwales

Wildlife priority in £7m road scheme

Majorenvironmental works will be carried out as part of the new Ammanford distributor road scheme.

this is Ammanford


Ireland
Resources
Environment & Heritage Service (Northern Ireland) Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland's Environment All-Ireland review of introduced species

Signs of spring arriving earlier in Ulster

Spring is arriving to Northern Ireland earlier than it did 30 years ago, according to a new survey.

Belfast Telegraph

Pupils go 'wild' for awards

Pupils at Newbuildings Primary School will go wild this Friday when BBC wildlife presenter Nick Baker turns up at the school to make presentations.

Belfast Telegraph


Scotland
Resources
Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Environment Protection Agency Scottish Biodiversity Group Scotland's National Nature Reserves John Muir Trust Scottish Environment News Scottish Wildlife Trust Red Squirrels In South Scotland

Plan to stop illegal pearl trade

Police will work with conservationists in a bid to turn the tide in the illegal trade of endangered mussels.

BBC

7-day event puts wildlife in focus

More than 100 events are to be held across Scotland to celebrate Wildlife Week.

Evening Times


Energy
Resources
DTI Renewable Energy British Wind Energy Association Greenpeace - Renewable Energies Irish Wind Energy Association Yes2Wind Country Guardian Impact of Wind Turbines on Birds Wind-Farm.org Windfarm News

Police called in as Skye islanders go to war over wind farm scheme

Opponents of a wind farm on the Isle of Skye say they have been subjected to a campaign of criminal damage and intimidation by fellow islanders who stand to make money from the project.

Independent
this is north scotland

‘Windfarm would be GB’s disgrace’

It would be a "national disgrace" to build Britain's biggest windfarm on fells near Tebay, the head of a huge campaign group fighting to stop the bitterly contested development has said.

this is the Lake District

'Monsters are nine metres too high'

An investigation has been launched after campaigners claimed Devon's first commercial wind turbines were 9ft higher than originally approved by the planning authority.

this is southdevon

Wilderness group dismayed by windfarm policy

A campaigning group which lobbies to safeguard the future of natural areas has condemned the Government's plans to push forward with a further 2,000 wind turbines.

this is southdevon

Residents prepare to fight against windfarm

Residents have spoken of a "difficult" and "stressful" four months after being left waiting to find out whether a new application will be submitted to build three giant wind turbines on the edge of their Westcountry village.

this is southdevon

Why are the turbines here?

Anyone attending the National Power exhibition held at Felindre, between Ammanford and Swansea, last Friday could not fail to compare it with the exhibition held outside the venue by the protest group, Save Our Common Environment.

this is southwales

Developers change tack

The wind power developers are subtly and slightly changing tack. To try and blunt opposition they are suggesting that if their machines "do not work they can be taken away" and that they will be taken down after 25 years anyway and "the landscape will be as if they had never been".

this is southwales

£20m wave power plan

A pioneering tidal energy project off the coast of Devon is to be expanded with the creation of a £20 million tide turbine farm.

this is southdevon

Farmers discuss fuel with Tesco

Tesco is to meet with British farmers this week to discuss ways of sourcing an ingredient for petrol in the UK which makes the fuel more environmentally friendly.

FWi

Bio energy plant gets £6.5m

The UK'S first bio-energy power-plant backed by about 40 farmers on the Staffs/Shrops border area has finally secured all the £6.5m start-up capital and now only the signing of an electric purchase agreement can delay construction.

FWi


Climate
Resources
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research Southampton Oceanography Centre Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Natural Environment Research Council UK Climate Impacts Programme Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife ENN Special Reports: Climate Change Global Warming: Early warning signs

Will farming landscape look like this?

Farmers in Lincolnshire could soon be forced to grow sunflowers and crops for making baked beans.

this is Lincolnhire

Aviation pollution clouds progress on emissions

Pollution from the country's aviation sector will wipe out all greenhouse gas reductions achieved by other UK industries unless the government acts to check growth in aircraft emissions, environmental group Friends of the Earth (FOE) said on Wednesday.

Reuters

Help produce a forecast of the climate in the 21st century, using your computer -
here


Global
Resources
IUCN - World Conservation Union Convention on Biological Diversity WWF - The global environment network World Land Trust

Call for tighter GM controls

The first register of GM contamination incidents across the world, which includes eight in Britain, is being published today as governments meet to discuss how to protect the environment from unauthorised releases.

The Guardian
Green Consumer Guide
FWi

Cape vlei slowly drying up

Verlorenvlei, a wetland of recognised international importance situated 150km north of Cape Town, is threatened by the over-exploitation of its water reserves and the underground aquifer.

IOL

Tigress killed by speeding train in reserve

A speeding passenger train ran over and killed a tigress in a protected forest reserve in northern India, reports said on Tuesday.

IOL

Ecuador lifts Galapagos sea cucumber fishing ban

Ecuador Tuesday lifted a ban on the fishing of lucrative sea cucumbers from the Galapagos islands in a move that environmental groups have said could threaten conservation efforts.

Environmental News Network

The World Land Trust is a conservation charity that has helped purchase and protect over 300,000 acres of rainforest and other threatened wildlife habitats worldwide. You can help us save even more - here

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
30	31	1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30

Recent issues

Email editor

Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles