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

Golfers' sighting hints at secret red squirrel colony

The sighting of a red squirrel on a golf course has caused excitement within the world of naturalists.

this is the North-east

Minister blocks return of wild beavers

Plans to reintroduce beavers to the wild in Scotland have been thrown into doubt by fears that numbers could spiral out of control.

Times Online

Beautiful butterflies are set free

Youngsters at a Halesowen primary school said goodbye to a host of hand-reared butterflies when they were finally released into the wild last Friday.

this is the Black Country

Over 30 sightings of a big black cat

There have been over 30 sightings of a large black cat in the Warton, Grendon and Austrey areas over the last couple of years.

this is the sentinel

Homes must not disturb rare newts

A development which had to be halted so the potential danger to newts could be investigated looks set to be given the go-ahead.

this is leicestershire

Chance to help count county's glow-worms

Conservation campaigners are hoping to persuade people in Wiltshire to check out a new sort of nightlife in the next month or so.

this is bath

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


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

Snowdonia aims to root out weeds

A European grant of £300,000 is being spent by Snowdonia National Park to fight an invasion of deadly weeds.

icWales

New plant code gets thumbs up

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has welcomed a new code of practice which is aimed at preventing the spread of invasive non-native species.

Country Life

Country diary

The mild smell of wild garlic drifted on the early morning breeze, long before the wood itself was entered. Overnight rain had freshened everything, enhancing scents, polishing the leaves.

The Guardian


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

Linklater's Scotland

The pace at which fish-farming in Scotland has slid from its status as a sunrise industry to one on which the sun is setting is breathtaking.

Scotland on Sunday

New safety alert as cancer dye is found in salmon

A banned dye linked to cancer has been found in organic salmon sold at a leading supermarket chain.

Times Online

Why sharks are fast becoming an endangered species

Peter Benchley, the author of 'Jaws', has swum with great whites many times. But one terrifying encounter taught him new respect for the ocean's deadliest predator. Now he's on a mission to save these creatures from their greatest enemy: us

Independent on Sunday

Our threatened friends in the Firth

It may seem implausible but the Moray Firth is home to the world's most northerly permanent pod of bottlenose dolphins - and perhaps the most important colony of the species in the UK.

Scotsman.com

Hooked lines may be the end of rare turtles

Costa Rica and more than 1 000 scientists from around the world will ask the United Nations on Monday to ban a form of industrial fishing they say menaces an endangered sea turtle and other marine creatures.

IOL

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

Want to sing 'bird karaoke'?

You can at a stroke transform an agreeable white noise into the soundtrack of the musical called “Life!”

Times Online

Bird conservation work recognised

A nature reserve near Driffield has been given an award for its bird conservation. The Tophill Low reserve, owned by Yorkshire Water, has been named the winner of a national award by the British Trust for Ornithology.

this is hull and east riding

Campaigners battle to save rare turtle dove

Conservation campaigners last night launched an appeal to save turtle doves from extinction in Wales.

icNorthWales

Birds poisoned by banned pesticide

Rare and spectacular birds of prey found dead near Haltwhistle had been poisoned by a banned pesticide, it has been revealed.

Hexham Courant


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

Mandelson wants to fast-track GM

Peter Mandelson is pressing for new GM foods and crops to be eaten and planted across Europe, even though governments cannot agree on whether to introduce them, top officials from the European Commission have told The Independent on Sunday.

Independent on Sunday

Off-roaders race to enter beauty spots

Government plans to protect the tranquillity of Britain's national parks are under threat as owners of fuel-hungry 4x4s apply to drive across some of the most beautiful landscapes.

The Observer

New Heathrow runway will flatten up to 700 properties

Plans for a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow airport, which will require the demolition of up to 700 properties, are to be unveiled tomorrow.

Times Online

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


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

Bulldozers hit birds' habitat

A group of nature-lovers have slammed Sedgemoor District Council over what they call the "extremely inappropriate" timing of work in Apex Park.

this is the West Country

Nature reserves get £200k transformation

Improvements are well under way at three Rowley Regis and Cradley Heath nature reserves which received a total of £200,000 in lottery grants last year.

this is the Black Country

Arson attack on nature reserve

Arsonists killed wildlife, devastated habitats and put rare species under threat in a mindless attack at a Netherton beauty spot.

this is the Black Country

Staff pledge to play part in helping environment

More than 100 county council workers have pledged to protect the environment.

this is the North-east

Great green loss

Lord Best writes that there is little chance of the meadows at Osbaldwick being designated a nature reserve because it would be too expensive (May 24).

this is York

Put wildlife in frame

Anyone keen to shoot wildlife - through a camera lens - could benefit from a specialist weekend course in the heart of the Peak District.

this is the sentinel


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

Brussels lobbied over nitrates rules

UFU President Campbell Tweed and Chief Executive Clarke Black will travel to Brussels on Thursday to discuss the Nitrates Directive Action Programme for Northern Ireland.

Farming Life

DARD in talks with fertiliser industry

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Department of Environment officials have had talks with representatives of the fertiliser industry.

Farming Life

Fishermen reeling at absence of elvers

A lack of elvers and concerns over EU legislation have Lough Neagh's eel fishermen worried about the future.

Belfast Telegraph

NoI Wildlife sites 'protection' call

The government is facing fresh calls to do more to protect areas of wildlife in Northern Ireland amid claims dozens of rare species are being threatened.

The Papers Today

Extreme weather fronts on the way, survey forecasts

Ireland can expect a rise in extreme weather conditions, including heavy storms and flooding, in the coming decades, according to a major survey on climate change.

The Papers Today

Foreshore restored to required standard’ - Whelan

C W Shipping Limited has restored the foreshore area near Cahercon Pier, Kildysart to the required standard, following recent Circuit Court proceedings, according to a statement from the company.

The Papers Today

Euro MP defiant over agency threat to sue

Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott hit out at the Environmental Protection Agency today for threatending to sue her.

The Papers Today

Minister 'getting country a dirty image in Europe'

The State's poor environmental image within the EU is set to become even more tarnished because of Environment Minister Dick Roche's plan to "fast-track incinerators," Green party TD John Gormley said in the Dail yesterday.

The Papers Today


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

Off-road round-up

Police across Wales joined forces at the weekend to tackle illegal off-roaders who are damaging Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

icNorthWales

Farmers act now to help birds in winter

Farmers are helping birds survive the winter by planting seed crops.

icNorthWales

Polytunnels aid for A30 wildlife

Mysterious white polytunnels appearing in fields around the A30 at Castle-an-Dinas are reptile containers to help protect wildlife during the forthcoming A30 dualling works.

this is Cornwall

Filter's clear win

The water seeping down the hillside was crystal-clear: three days earlier it had been turgid and foul-smelling, the run-off from a farm-yard, home to 70 cattle.

icNorthWales

Time to drive out this blight

Hardly a day goes by when there is not a complaint from somewhere in South West Wales about illegal bike scrambling.

this is southwales


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

Assynt group buys estates in deal

A community group is to buy two Highland estates after securing the £2.9m price tag with hours to spare.

BBC
Scottish Executive
Scottish Natural Heritage

Oil giant vying for national award after helping to create woodland

A project to restore hundreds of acres of native woodland near Huntly has helped energy giants BP win the only Scottish nomination in a national awards final.

this is north scotland

Foresters seek comments on future of woodlands

Donside foresters are keen to get the grassroots view on the future management of some of the most scenic woodlands in the area.

this is north scotland

Go wild for wildlife

Anyone interested in the wildlife and landscape of Ayrshire is invited to events held by Scottish Natural Heritage in Irvine on Monday and Tuesday.

icAyrshire


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

Build wind farms off coast, urges adviser

A senior government adviser on climate change is calling for more wind farms to be built offshore to prevent turbines spoiling the Scottish countryside.

Scotland on Sunday

'Those born on Skye are shunned if they say anything against the wind farm. They no longer exist'

The word scrawled at a strategic spot in the village left little to the imagination: "Scum."

Telegraph

Court order refused to halt felling of trees

The High Court yesterday refused an application by a local residents' group to prevent the felling of trees on a mountain at Derrybrien, Galway, the site of a windfarm development where nearly half a million tonnes of peat and debris was displaced in a landslide in October 2003.

The Papers Today

Files reveal nuclear waste dumping ‘shambles’

Newly released files revealing the “shambles” of the nuclear industry’s investigations into radioactive waste dumping in the 1990s have sparked fears that current decisions about nuclear power will be marred by incompetence.

Sunday Herald

Windfarm environment statement is questioned

Wildlife campaigners have called on Angus Council to look carefully at an environmental statement submitted by the firm behind a proposed £28million windfarm development.

this is north scotland

Whinash windfarm campaign has lift-off

Campaigners trying to stop the controversial Whinash windfarm going ahead say people were “shocked and surprised” by an experiment into the scheme.

Cumbria Online

Threat to windfarm protester

Conflict over a Skye windfarm proposal has flared again with a threatening phone call to a leading opponent suggesting he "leaves the island" for his own safety.

this is north scotland

Court rejects bid to launch challenge against windfarm

The High Court yesterday refused leave to bring a legal challenge to the proposed construction of a windfarm in "spectacularly beautiful" countryside.

Irish Independent

D-day for wind farm plan draws nearer

A decision on whether to grant planning permission for a wind farm at Grove could be given next month.

this is nottingham

'I support them all'

Despite North Lincolnshire already being earmarked for almost 90 wind turbines, at four different locations, the Scunthorpe Telegraph has learnt yet another windfarm is being proposed.

this is scunthorpe

Pit site plan for windfarm

Windfarms could be on the horizon for the area's mining sites as plans to create one at Harworth are set to be unveiled.

this is nottingham


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

Cheap flights spark runway chaos

Plans to expand enormously Heathrow and Gatwick airports will receive a major blow this week with the publication of a report which will describe them as 'unnecessary' and a serious threat to the environment.

The Observer

African project to benefit from UK offsetting of carbon dioxide emissions

An Africa-based project will benefit from the offsetting of the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the UK's G8 presidency.

Defra

Greenpeace demos at 4x4 dealers

Greenpeace activists have been taking part in a series of protests across the UK aimed at disrupting sales of four-by-four vehicles.

BBC

Signs of an earlier spring in the pond

Spring sprung earlier than ever in Worcestershire this year, according to a national television survey which asks people to report the first sign of the season.

this is Worcestershire

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

Environment Day spotlights cities

Events are taking place in more than 100 countries to mark World Environment Day, which is promoting the idea of "green cities".

BBC

Sanctuary for long in the tooth tigers

Wildlife authorities in eastern India are to set up a special reserve for old tigers.

Scotland on Sunday

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