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

Endangered butterflies released in new home

Silver-studded blue butterflies were released in the UK for the first time in 10 years today in an attempt to save the species from extinction.

The Guardian
The Wildlife Trusts

Blues back from the brink

One of Gloucestershire's best kept secrets is making a welcome return.

this is Gloucestershire

Swarms of toxic caterpillars head for south coast

Holidaymakers and others in the South East are being told to keep alert for plagues of toxic caterpillars.

Times Online

Resident warns of deer path traffic danger

An Aviemore man claims deer are using his garden as a rat run shortcut and causing a hazard on a Highland trunk road.

this is north scotland

Homes could be held up by bats

Golden Yolk Farm is a haven for wildlife, an ecological survey has revealed.

this is Gloucestershire

Salmon, trout and carp 'under threat from parasite'

A parasite capable of wiping out species of fish in Europe, notably salmon, trout and carp, has been discovered by scientists.

Telegraph

Police caution frog spawn seller

A Tyneside woman has been cautioned by police for trying to sell frog spawn on an internet auction site.

BBC

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

Partridges are in peril

A bid to halt the decline in the West's partridge population was launched in Wiltshire yesterday at an event attended by more than 150 farmers.

this is Gloucestershire

Birds of prey flocking to London

More birds of prey have been found nesting in London. Earlier in June a family of peregrine falcons, including three chicks, were discovered on a tower block in Marylebone, central London.

BBC

Nightjar could return to forest

One of Britain's rarest and strangest birds could be making a welcome comeback in the Forest of Dean.

this is Gloucestershire

Yobs kill falcons

Thugs are targeting rare birds of prey for bloodthirsty shooting games.

dailyrecord


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

European countries push for resumption of commercial whaling

Following the defeat of Japan’s proposal to overturn the ban on commercial whaling earlier in the week, another initiative to progress the resumption of whaling has been proposed to the meeting of the International Whaling Commission - this time by Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

IWC urges Japan not to kill more whales for research

The International Whaling Commission urged Japan on Wednesday to drop plans to more than double the number of whales it hunts yearly for scientific research, saying the Japanese do not need to kill whales to study them.

Environmental News Network

'Accidental' whaling scrutinised

It's not the typical design of embassy - just a green tent surrounded by colourful images of whales wrought in metal and stone.

BBC

Jellyfish warning to holidaymakers

Holidaymakers were today warned to take care after a swarm of 1,000 jellyfish were spotted off the Welsh coast.

icWales
BBC

Expecting fathers

The hunt is on to find the only pregnant fathers in Britain. Seahorses are unique in the animal kingdom in that it is the male that becomes pregnant.

this is Dorset

Whale of a week in store for nature lovers

Nature lovers are being urged to grab their binoculars and join Britain's annual Whale and Dolphin Watch week.

this is north scotland

Life lights up in the darkest place

US researchers have found evidence of photosynthesis - the magic that turns solar energy and carbon dioxide into lettuce leaves and little green apples - more than a mile below the ocean surface.

The Guardian


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

Developers putting ancient Scottish woodlands 'under threat'

More than 100 areas of woodland are under threat from developers, the Scottish Parliament heard yesterday.

this is north scotland

Nature notes

The wheat now has sturdy green ears on it, though the stalks will grow taller before the corn is ripe. At the edge of the wheat, and sometimes out among it, the first flowers of high summer are starting to open.

Times Online


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

Severely under-funded new Rural Development Regulation unlikely to guarantee a viable future for Europe's countryside wildlife

BirdLife International broadly welcomes the new EU Rural Development Regulation agreed today by the Council of Ag ministers but warns that without a transfer of money from the subsidy pot, its potential will be killed through lack of funds.

BirdLife International

Public must be engaged in efforts to preserve biodiversity - Minister

The public must be brought on side in the effort to protect Britain's diverse flora and fauna according to Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight.

edie news centre

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


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

Farmers blamed for killing river wildlife

Farming practices are killing off wildlife in Sussex rivers, according to an Environment Agency report.

The Argus

Help the saving of the shrew

Wildlife expert Richard Tweedy says building 360 homes in a Leckhampton field will be bad news for shrews.

this is Gloucestershire

Wild hopes for wildlife

A new initiative to help create more havens for wildlife in Dorset has been launched.

this is Dorset

A natural harmony

A new reserve set against the backdrop of a Teesside chemical works is living proof that wildlife really can live in harmony with industry.

icTeesside

Fleet under threat

One of Europe's most important natural sites is under threat from water running off fields rich with fertiliser or pouring in from nearby sewage treatment works.

this is Dorset

Bait diggers are `vandalising bay'

Commercial bait digging is "environmental vandalism" according to two Poole councillors who are campaigning to put a stop to it.

this is Dorset

Nature watchdogs move to city

Sheffield is to be the home of a major new Government organisation dedicated to protecting and improving the countryside.

Sheffield Today

Actor opens wildlife centre

The transformation of a Doncaster wildlife haven has taken a major step forward and was celebrated by actor Brian Blessed.

Doncaster Today

Wildlife Trust's new HQ

A flagship £1.2 million regional headquarters for the Wildlife Trust is being planned for Bolton.

this is Lancashire

Hands off

Nature-loving workers are battling to save a pond from disappearing under a factory development.

icTeesside


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

DoE halt work in Bangor amid concern for bird nests

Work has stopped on the new Juvenile Justice Centre site in Bangor, amid protests over the threat to a natural habitat.

The Papers Today

Environmental watchdog labels Tullamore river as ‘seriously polluted’

The Tullamore river south of the town continues to be seriously polluted, according to the most recent report from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Offaly Independent

Roche to resist move to lift national GMO bans

Moves by the European Commission to lift national bans on the licensing of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will be blocked by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and environment ministers from Austria, Germany and Luxembourg.

The Papers Today


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

Courser was hare’s breadth from jail term

A man who was caught hare coursing escaped with community service at Perth Sheriff Court.

icPerthshire

New boss for wildlife group

A Caledonian University graduate has been appointed to lead one of the country's top environment groups.

Evening Times

Action plan for a green future

A new action plan that focuses on biodiversity, waste, energy and sustainabdole construction has been launched by the Perth and Kinross Community Planning Environment Partnership.

icPerthshire


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

Wildlife boom to be probed

Wildlife is said to be booming around Llanelli thanks to a cut in industrial pollution. Water voles are thriving at Machynys and fishermen have come across otters swimming from Gower across the estuary to Burry Port.

this is southwales

Wildlife in focus

Walkers searched for rare toads and birds during a pleasant stroll along the beach.

icNorthWales


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

Standby Britain: How it fuels our energy crisis

Appliances on standby pump one million tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Wasted energy of appliances on standby could power 400,000 homes.

Independent

Carmakers must do more to cut CO2 pollution - EU

Car manufacturers need to step up efforts to meet their pledge to cut carbon dioxide pollution from vehicles by 2008, the European Commission said Thursday.

Reuters

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


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

Renewable energy 'will struggle to pay its way'

Renewable energy would not be able to pay its own way for at least 10 years, Shell admitted yesterday.

Telegraph

Glee at wind farm refusal

Anti-wind farm protestors were yesterday celebrating after efforts to resuscitate a development in Dorset ran out of puff.

this is Gloucestershire

Wind farm policy faces challenge

A major challenge to a massive wind farm is on the cards. For the first time councillors are on the verge of digging in their heels over Scottish Executive policy

icDumfries

'Negligible' humour

I don't often laugh out loud when reading, but when I saw Falck Renewables saying the visual impact of the Cefn Croes wind farm was negligible, I just could not help myself.

this is southwales

Balance needed in wind debate

The Conservatives' environment spokesman in the Assembly, Glyn Davies, makes good sense when he says we need a more balanced approach to our future energy problems.

this is southwales


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

Koa trees making comeback in Hawaii

Yellowed grasses cover the lower southern slopes of Mauna Kea where impenetrable koa forests once stood on the Big Island.

CANOE

China's growth sums just don't add up for the planet

China's 1.3 billion (and counting) citizens are poised to transform the global landscape dramatically, both economically and ecologically.

Japan Times Online

Desert Island

A bedrock tenet of biogeography holds that organisms separated from their ancestral population will set off on their own evolutionary trajectory.

Scientific American.com

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
		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