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


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

"We set mammal traps and moth traps, and caught shrews, bank voles and impressive-looking moths"

It was worth it just for the wildlife at Skomer Island.

Telegraph

Beetle alert on potatoes

A Colorado beetle is believed to have been spotted in Notts, raising fears for the county's potatoes and crops.

this is Nottingham

Rabid bat warning

Cumbrian walkers are being warned to avoid handling sick and injured bats they might find on canal and riverbanks following the discovery of one of the creatures carrying a strain of rabies.

This Is The Lake District

Latest findings on bat lyssavirus in Scotland

Scientists looking for signs of the rabies-like European Bat Lyssavirus in Scotland’s population of Daubenton’s bats have, for the second year, found no live infection, but have detected evidence of past exposure.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Snakes get taste of freedom at last

Bosses at a Norfolk wildlife centre have released more than 20 snakes back into the wild after nursing the hatchlings over the winter months.

Norwich Evening News 24

Ladybird wars – coming soon to a field near you

When you're walking in your garden, fields or local woodland keep an eye out for ladybirds - you could help save one of our best known and affectionately held insects.

The Papers Today

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


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

Look up at the sky. Is it a sparrer? Is it a pigeon? Nah, it's super-peregrine

Peregrine. The very name is wild, wandering, untamed.

Times Online

Feather report

The last blackbirds are singing. We shall not hear that lazy crooning that seems the essence of long, summer evenings until one of them begins again in the dawn next February.

Times Online

Peregrine chicks orphaned after suspected poisoning

Devon and Cornwall police are investigating the apparent poisoning of peregrine falcons in south Devon, which has made orphans of two chicks.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
this is Cornwall

Nesting birds cleared away

Furious residents are demanding answers after builders cleared away two acres of undergrowth, used by nesting birds – more than a month ahead of schedule.

Peterborough Today


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

Cancer hope from the ocean bed

Scientists are developing a powerful new cancer drug thanks to groundbreaking work cloning DNA from animals found deep in the sea.

Scotsman.com

Disturbance of dolphins claim ends up in court

Video footage was played to a court yesterday which it was claimed showed a RAF serviceman deliberately disturbing protected dolphins in the Moray Firth off Lossiemouth.

this is north scotland

Warning over rise in ocean acidity

Political leaders gathering for the G8 summit must wake up to the potentially disastrous and irreversible problem of acidification of the oceans, a panel of leading scientists said yesterday.

Telegraph

Can we recover Nelson’s seas?

Some of the world’s experts in marine nature reserves will be in Plymouth between 3-9 July with English Nature, the Marine Biological Association and other UK organisations to help them learn how they can recover the UK’s marine wildlife.

English Nature

Another weapon emerges in battle against global warming

I went offshore this week for the first time since the early 1980s. We were originally scheduled to visit BP's recently commissioned Clair platform, 75 kilometres west of Shetland.

The Herald


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

Wales home to UK's tallest tree

A fir which towers over Lake Vyrnwy has been named the tallest tree in Wales and the joint tallest tree in Britain.

BBC

Nature notes

Railway embankments are ablaze with the fresh blossoms of rosebay willowherb.

Times Online


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

Change in sight as US makes gesture on climate

Britain last night gave a cautious welcome to moves by US President George W Bush to accept the basic facts of global warming ahead of next week's G8 summit.

Scotsman.com

Blair pressed to isolate US over climate change

Jacques Chirac, the French President, and Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, have joined forces to press Tony Blair to isolate the Americans over climate change at next week's G8 summit.

Independent Online

Personal carbon quotas considered

Plans to limit energy use by giving everyone an individual carbon allowance are being considered by the government.

BBC

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


National/Europe
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

Shambles of green flagship scheme

Farmers' leaders are furious about the latest example of “total incompetence” by Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett's department in introducing a new “green” farming scheme.

the Business

An EU without farm aid? City folk better beware

Jean René Pelluau, a dairy farmer here in the rolling hills north of the Loire Valley, has a message for all the city folk who oppose agricultural subsidies: Buy a machete to hack through the thickets that will overrun the countryside when farmers go out of business.

International Herald Tribune

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


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

David Bellamy sees dream come true at marsh

Conservationist David Bellamy said the restoration of wetland on a Longdon farm was a dream come true.

this is Worcestershire

Bitterns could be booming again in fens

One of the rarest birds in Britain could be persuaded to set up home in a fenland nature reserve, thanks to a grant of more than £500,000.

CEN News

Woodland strategy gets to root of problem

Forestry bosses have unveiled new plans for how trees can help to reduce flooding, tackle the effects of climate change and improve public health into the bargain.

Yorkshire Today

See blaze of colour at hidden treasure

Wyre Forest District Council's Ranger Service looks after some 10 nature reserves around the district.

this is Worcestershire

Crematorium to come back as nature centre

A former crematorium could be converted into a new natural history centre for the city, according to a report.

this is Hull


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

Protests over Mayo pipeline continue

The campaign for the release of the five men who were jailed for their opposition to a controversial Shell gas pipeline in Co Mayo, is continuing over the weekend.

RTE News

Shell and locals disagree over 'constructive dialogue'

Supporters of five men jailed over their objections to a gas pipeline in Mayo have accused Shell of 'spin' after it said that offers to meet for discussions had been spurned.

Irish Independent


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

Minister in pledge to review scheme as MSP complains that paperwork is too complex

Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie has pledged to review the complex paperwork surrounding Scotland's new land management contract scheme.

this is north scotland

Clash over Buchan forest race-track

Residents have vowed to fight plans to build an off-road race track in the heart of rural Buchan.

this is north scotland

Spin-off benefits for rural areas from green energy projects

Scotland's farmers have much to gain from renewable energy projects.

this is north scotland


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

Group stepping up campaign to stop wind farm scheme

Campaigners are stepping up their fight to stop a wind farm being sited on Betws Mountain.

this is southwales

Gower on radio

The spectacular coast of Gower will feature in a Radio 4 programme this month. At 9pm on July 11, Wild Blue Britain visits the peninsula and explores the scenery and wildlife.

this is southwales


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

Ethanol's potential: Looking beyond corn

At the fuel pumps in São Paulo, customers have a choice: gas or alcohol?

Environment News Service

Concern over new dolphinarium in Dubai

Plans are underway for the construction of a new dolphinarium, ‘Dubai Marine World’, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

WDCS

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

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Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles