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


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

Bathers warned of venomous jellyfish

Lifeguards at one of Kerry's most popular beaches, Banna Strand, were yesterday warning bathers to beware of venomous jellyfish.

Irish Independent

Minke whale struck by speedboat

Grampian police are investigating a report that a speedboat has collided with a young minke whale at high speed.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

Rare turtle may be Cornwall bound

Researchers in Cornwall are mapping the progress of a leatherback turtle which set off from the Caribbean at the end of May.

BBC
Marine Conservation Society

Results of IWDG 2nd Cape Clear course

Blessed with light winds, calm seas and blue skies, this 2nd weekend whale watching course on Cape Clear Island was always going to produce good results.

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

France is fined £13m for flouting fish laws

France suffered a historic humiliation yesterday when Europe's highest court imposed a record fine for flouting European Union laws designed to preserve endangered fish stocks.

Telegraph

Tagged whale sharks 'surprise' scientists

Australian scientists tracking massive whale sharks said on Wednesday that they are demon swimmers just like other shark species.

IOL

No escape for the oil slick cheats

Finding the tanker responsible for an oil spill can be surprisingly difficult. Malaysian officials are wrestling with the problem after a huge spill in a busy shipping route on 25 June left a 5-kilometre slick off the country's coast.

New Scientist

Whale conservation measures refused

The US Coast Guard is allegedly refusing to adopt a series of measures that reduce the lethal threat posed by ships to the endangered North Atlantic right whale, according to US-based NGO Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) this week.

Green Consumer Guide


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 urged to help rare bat colony survive

Britain's rarest bat has been discovered living and breeding in the Tamar Valley - and conservationists are calling on farmers to help keep them safe.

this is Cornwall

Conservation group buys land for rare butterflies

Forty hectares of land which acts as home to a rare butterfly in Cornwall has been bought by a conservation group as a protected nature reserve.

this is Cornwall

Bees 'should just buzz about'

Bees, ants and other insects should stop waggle-dancing and laying chemical trails to tell each other about where food is found and just get on with searching for it, scientists have discovered.

Scotsman.com

Plan to sell off deer sanctuary

A deer sanctuary on Exmoor may be sold off by the League Against Cruel Sports to fund the purchase of shooting rights in an effort to stop field sports

BBC

Badger break-in alerts neighbours

A badger broke into a house and woke up the neighbours by smashing a window during its bungled escape, police said.

BBC

MP calls on minister to cull 'vermin' badgers

A Westcountry MP has called for the protected status of badgers to be removed in order to allow an extensive cull.

this is South Devon

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

Tracking path of little harrier

Ornithologists turned detectives yesterday, as they fitted a tracking device on to the back of a young marsh harrier so they can follow the bird's every move.

EDP24

Bird's-eye views

High above ground, on a baking surface of crushed brick and thin soil, Dusty Gedge beams as he inspects the wildflowers and spiders' webs.

The Guardian

Nature notes

Visitors to Devon have the opportunity of seeing cirl buntings.

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

Yorkshire's renowned wildflower meadows bring new opportunities for farmers

Farmers can learn this week about a lifeline for the famous flower-rich dales meadows and the potential it offers for extra income at two events in North Yorkshire.

Government News Network

Rare conifers are safe at Picton

Conifers had a bad press in Wales, invading farmland after the First World War to make the UK self-sufficient in timber.

icWales

Nature notes

The barley is golden and ripening in the hot sun. At the edge of the barley there is a profusion of flowers in the long grass.

Times Online

Grass 'will be greener'

Welsh scientists are using computers to help them find a way of making the grass grow greener without harming wildlife.

icWales


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

Report 'tries to force acceptance of turbines'

Crucial sections of the guidance to planners on consulting the public over windfarm applications were produced by a consultant for the British wind industry, the WMN can reveal.

this is Cornwall

Create a butterfly garden

Britain has over 50 varieties of beautiful butterflies but, unfortunately, they are becoming increasingly rare as a result of global warming and climate change.

icSouthlondon

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


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

Drought setting in

Environment Agency Chief Executive Barbara Young today warned people to expect more hose pipe bans across southern England this summer.

Environment Agency

Weaver otters put club's plans on ice

Birdies they can cope with but not otters - plans to improve a South Cheshire golf club have been put on hold because of them.

icCheshireOnline

Bitter funding blow for bid to protect rare horse

A charity which aimed to protect a rare colony of horses in Suffolk has today been dealt a massive funding blow which may spell the end of the ambitious project.

Community Newswire

Chance to see bats in action at Heligan

Bat nights are being held at The Lost Gardens of Heligan for the next three Friday evenings, from 6.30pm until about 11pm.

this is Cornwall

New lease of life for ponds

A programme of exciting activities is underway at the ponds in Oaklands Park, Dawlish, to improve their condition for visitor access and to encourage further wildlife.

this is South Devon

Pond project 'fills in' £30,000 wildlife gap

Children at a village school will be able to study pondlife at close quarters when the latest stage of a £30,000 conservation project is completed.

this is Lincolnshire

Wildlife grants a thing of the past

A scheme which has helped fund wildlife projects across Devon has come to an end.

this is Devon

Lyme Bay sea bed to be mapped

The undersea world off the coast of East Devon will be mapped as part of a new exploration project.

Midweek Herald

Minister hears appeal for more hill farm aid

Calls for more Government financial support for beleagured hill farmers brought a swift response from the Environment Minister at Great Yorkshire Show yesterday.

Yorkshire Post


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

Windfarm map sparks a storm

Hundreds more giant wind turbines could be erected in the Welsh countryside under clean energy plans outlined by the Assembly government yesterday.

icNorthWales

Wind turbine ring of steel takes step closer

A ring of steel around Swansea looks likely to come one step closer today. New guidelines from the Assembly look like backing plans for a number of wind farms, including one on land north of Swansea.

this is southwales

D-day looming for windfarm

The action group fighting a proposed windfarm at Rhos Garn, near Talgarreg, has called for common sense to prevail and the plans to be scrapped.

this is southwales

Agri-environment award winners announced at Royal Welsh Show

The Agri-Environment award winners including a new award for contractors will be named on Monday 18 July at the Royal Welsh Shows’ award ceremony.

Countryside Council for Wales

Twitchers flock to see rare bird

Twitchers are flocking from across the UK to wetlands in Carmarthenshire to catch a glimpse of a rare bird only sighted in Wales twice before.

BBC

Cocklers descend as ban is lifted

About 400 cocklers headed to the Dee Estuary in Flintshire on Wednesday morning for the temporary lifting of a two-year ban on harvesting the food.

BBC

Welsh Fir is joint tallest tree in Britain

A magnificent Douglas Fir tree at Lake Vyrnwy, a nature reserve managed by RSPB Cymru, has been officially confirmed as the tallest tree in Wales - and the joint tallest in Britain.

icWales

£2.5m riverside plans unveiled

Plans for Cardigan's multi-million pound riverside redevelopment have been unveiled, and work will start this autumn.

this is southwales


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

Dempsey to order review of Corrib pipeline

Natural Resources Minister Noel Dempsey is to order a further safety review of the Corrib Gas pipeline with a view to ending the standoff between Shell and some local residents in Co Mayo.

RTE News

EU targets Ireland, others on environment

Ireland, Portugal and Luxembourg drew fire from the European Union executive Commission Tuesday for flouting EU environmental laws on issues from ozone layer protection to air pollution

Reuters
Irish Independent

Two wind farms for North Mayo

Atlanticwest Energy Ltd, Roscommon, has sought planning permission for two wind farms in Mayo, writes Marian Harrison.

Western People


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

Huge campaign to get Executive inquiries

A massive campaign is to be mounted in an attempt to persuade the Scottish Executive to stage public inquiries into two controversial windfarm applications.

this is north scotland

Windfarm storm as local MP demands inquiry

The new MP for the Western Isles has infuriated local councillors by demanding a public inquiry into two windfarms proposed for Lewis, one of which would be the biggest in the world.

The Herald

'Uphill task' for historic estate

Heritage chiefs said they still have a lot to do at one of Scotland's top areas for landscape and wildlife.

BBC


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

Ministers 'should be held to account on climate change'

A coalition of campaign groups and MPs is pushing for a new law to hold the government to account on its promises on climate change.

ePolitix.com
Scotsman.com

Wind power will have no effect on climate change

SIR - Jonathon Porritt, the chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission, has said that "climate change will have a devastating impact unless urgent action is taken to boost the contribution of renewables...

Telegraph

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

Takahe take-off!

New Zealand's Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri, the world's largest flightless rail, has experienced a dramatic increase in numbers.

Birdlife International

Officials probe young pelican deaths

The Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the deaths of thousands of young white pelicans at a wildlife refuge in central North Dakota, a year after thousands of adult birds abruptly left the same location.

CNN.com

Caterpillars invade New Mexico forests

Some of northern New Mexico's aspen stands have been stripped of their leaves by masses of wriggling caterpillars in search of food and a place to build a home, but forest officials are confident the trees will recover in time to show off their brilliant colors.

Environmental News Network

Save "poster species" first, conservation study says

The mission statement of the Wildlife Conservation Society says the New York-based environmental advocacy group saves wildlife and wild lands.

National Geographic News

Man gets prison term for killing walruses

An Alaska Native was sentenced to a harsh seven years in federal prison for killing six walruses, removing the heads to sell the ivory and sinking the carcasses.

CNN.com

Joint research on biodiversity fruitful

A joint research program on natural reserve biodiversity in China's southwest Yunnan Province has achieved fruitful goals.

Xinhua

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