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

Marsh harrier shooting condemned

A leading conservationist today condemned the “morally repugnant” people responsible for killing birds of prey following the shooting of a rare marsh harrier.

EDP24

Join the hunt for a rare bird

Bird lovers hope a high-tech safari to track down an elusive bird of prey will provide much-needed information on its habits.

this is Lancashire

Chance to release red kites

Next week sees the latest stage of the project to re-establish red kites in the North-East

icNewcastle

Wind turbines not so deadly for birds -Dutch study

Wind turbines producing "green" energy kill many fewer birds than previously thought and pose less of a threat to avian life than cars, a study by the Dutch Bird Protection charity and power utility Nuon showed.

Reuters

'Swan attacks rise' says charity

A four-week-old cygnet has died after being attacked near a Powys lake, says a swan charity.

BBC

Nature notes

A collared pratincole was seen yesterday at Rainham Marshes alongside the Thames in Essex.

Times Online


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

Farmers gas badgers to defend cattle from TB

Badgers are being gassed by tractor exhaust fumes in bovine TB hotspots in Devon to keep cattle free of the disease.

Times Online
BBC

NFU calls for mass badger cull in bovine TB battle

Mass populations of badgers should be gassed if farmers are to eradicate bovine TB which is spiralling out of control in parts of the Midlands, the National Farmers' Union said.

icBirmingham

Hunt campaigners open second bid to overturn ban

There is no legal justification for the ban on hunting, lawyers for the pro-hunting lobby told the High Court today in their bid to overturn the act.

The Guardian

Belted beauty moth is at home in Lancashire with help from Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Insect enthusiasts in Lancashire will have cause to celebrate on National Moth Night, as an endangered moth has made itself at home just south of Morecambe.

Government News Network

Day-fliers top priority for nationwide moth watch

People all over the UK will go out in search of flying moths to mark National Moth Night and Day on Saturday, 9 July, as part of the nation's largest survey of moth species.

Government News Network

Rip up the decking

Now we have yet another reason to hate garden decking, a craze that is blighting towns and communities across South West Wales.

this is southwales

More Standard readers see big cat on the prowl

Claims that a big cat could be prowling around Cirencester have been given extra credence after a high profile witness said he too has seen the beast.

this is Cirencester

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


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

Ministers in bid to boost sea fisheries

UK Fisheries Ministers are set to adopt new measures to help bring about profitable and sustainable sea fisheries in a thriving marine environment.

Belfast Telegraph

Vote wave power G8 leaders urged

"X" marked the spot yesterday as environmental campaigners from Cornwall made a renewable energy challenge to G8 ministers.

this is Cornwall


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

Railside trees will be felled

Thousands of trees on a mile-long stretch of a railway embankment between Winterbourne and Coalpit Heath are to be chopped down.

this is Bristol

Policy will restore native woodlands

Hundreds of thousands of conifers and non-native species of trees across the West Midlands are to be replaced with native varieties like oak, ash and beech in a project to save ancient woodlands.

icBirmingham


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

White House says no shift by Bush on climate change

President Bush has not shifted his position on climate policy, a White House spokeswoman said Tuesday ahead of the Group of Eight summit

Reuters

No 10 raises hopes of G8 breakthroughs

Tony Blair today fed expectations of a deal on climate change, debt and aid at the G8 summit, while African countries stepped up the pressure for an end to western farm subsidies.

The Guardian

China: Mind-numbing damage

It's the nightmare scenario that environmentalists dread. What happens when China's 1.3 billion people (and counting) get the cars and air conditioners that people in the West take for granted?

Belfast Telegraph

Icecaps and hurriances: the proof of climate change

No one in Fairbanks denies global warming any more. When your house is collapsing under you, there is little point in refusing to face the cause.

Independent Online

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

Green farming plan 'in chaos over software'

The Government's flagship environmental farming scheme, which is meant to be transforming the landscape, has collapsed into chaos because the software does not work, say farmers' leaders.

Telegraph

Spirituality from the soil

Eighty years have passed since Rudolph Steiner, the Austrian philosopher, gave the eight lectures that would form the basis of biodynamic farming.

Guardian Weekly

Europe drops green agenda to put life back into industry

Environmental groups have been angered by a decision by the European Commission to shelve its long-term environmental strategy because of concerns that it would constrict Europe’s economy and destroy too many jobs.

Times Online

Brussels threatens to fine UK over Scottish wind farm levy

A row between the UK Government and the European Commission is blowing up over wind farms and their access to the national grid.

Independent Online

Strictest water rationing for 10 years expected

The first summer of widespread water rationing in nearly 10 years is looming after a third supplier announced a hosepipe ban yesterday.

Telegraph

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


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

Peatbog project takes a big step

One of the biggest environmental restoration projects in Britain has been given a boost.

icNewcastle

Green oasis gets new status as safeguard

Steps have been taken to safeguard the future of a green oasis in one of the most intensely developed areas in the North-East.

icNewcastle

Back to nature

Nature reserves have been created in a borough to encourage wildlife back into urban areas.

icNewcastle

Efforts to save rivers from mine pollution

Two more minewater treatment plants are to be built in Northumberland as efforts continue to protect the environment from the legacy of coal mining.

icNewcastle

Champion of the East for wildlife

A fenland farmer has been recognised for his contribution to wildlife.

Peterborough Today

Trust completes tin mine clean-up

The National Trust has completed its clean-up operation at the Carn Praunter tin mine near St Just in Cornwall.

BBC

Water saving 'threat to wildlife'

A plan to halve water flow from a reservoir to a river is being looked at by the government on Tuesday, after the Environment Agency opposed the move.

BBC

Taking pride in wildlife

Wildlife enthusiasts are being invited to the latest in a series of summer walks and events tomorrow.

this is Derbyshire

Company fined £12,000 for diesel spill

A construction company was today fined £12,000 for allowing 900 litres of diesel to spill in to a river tributary, causing a “serious environmental incident”.

EDP24


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

Legal moves to free five gas pipeline protesters

Legal moves are to be made tomorrow that could lead to the release of the five County Mayo men jailed indefinitely for attempting to block the Shell Corrib pipeline from going through their land.

The Papers Today

Demonstrators block vehicles in Mayo

In the ongoing row over a controversial gas pipeline in Co Mayo, Shell Ireland says it is extremely concerned that demonstrators protesting at the site of a gas terminal have been preventing vehicles and staff from entering or leaving.

RTE News

Memos show Shell talked of suing State

Shell E&P Ireland discussed suing the State if the company failed to have opponents of the Corrib gas pipeline committed for contempt of court.

The Papers Today

Wine lovers are urged to help save their feathered friends

A campaign link fine wine and look at birds. Despite sounding sexist, it definitely isn't. The project is aiming to put a cork in the loss of precious birds in both Northern Ireland and Portugal.

News Letter

Blueprint for river Foyle development moving ahead

The developers of an ambitious blueprint to radically transform Derry's riverfront are to design a state-of-the-art computer model of the River Foyle in a bid to gauge the potential impact of their multi-million pound plans.

Derry Journal


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

Cairngorms planners pledge talks on plans for the future

Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) planners yesterday promised a second round of consultation over the local plan incorporating the park.

this is north scotland

Call to review closed system on funicular

Pressure is mounting for the controversial closed system at the top of the £19 million Cairngorm Funicular Railway to be reviewed.

Strathspey & Badenoch Herald

Extension of oyster farm site is challenged

A plan to increase the size of an Argyll oyster farm by 300 trestles has attracted 18 letters of objection.

this is north scotland

Residents in fear of quarry's 'potential'

The community of Ardross near Alness is becoming increasingly concerned that a superquarry is to be developed on its doorstep.

North Star


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

Wildlife-friendly farming on the up

Some of the top farmers in Wales are crossing the border this week to exhibit at the Royal Show, which continues until tomorrow at Stoneleigh Park, near Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

icWales

Find a new species at Fenn’s Whixall for National Moth Hunt

A moth hunt – during the day – are we mad? Well no, - not all moths fly at night, and this year to celebrate National Moth Night, the Countryside Council for Wales and English Nature are holding a daytime event with the Shropshire Moth Group.

Countryside Council for Wales


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

Australia scientists find new dolphin, the snubfin

Australian researchers have identified a new species of dolphin which was once thought to have been the same as an extremely rare mammal predominantly found in Asian coastal waters and rivers.

Environmental News Network

Raging fire puts Iberian wolves at risk

More than 300 firefighters were on Monday battling a large wildfire in central Portugal which forced the closure of a highway and was threatening a refuge which is home to 17 endangered wolves, emergency services workers said.

IOL

Officials investigate deaths of sea birds

Wildlife officials are trying to determine what is killing hundreds of sea birds that have washed ashore in Virginia Beach and other locations along the Atlantic coast in the past several weeks.

Environmental News Network

Lotuses evolve smaller on human picking

When Charles Darwin explained evolution, the process he observed was natural selection. It turns out inadvertent human selection can also cause species to evolve.

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

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Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles