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

RSPB Scotland investigates nest 'robberies'

RSPB Scotland officers are investigating the suspicious disappearance of rare peregrine falcon chicks from two separate nest sites close to Edinburgh - one sited to the south west of the city and another in the Penicuik area.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Hedge cutters 'pose risk to nesting birds'

Home owners who trim their hedges to stay inside the law could be putting nesting birds and their young at risk, wildlife experts warned today.

Scotsman.com

Bird's eye view on Tyne's kittiwakes

A survey will be take place next week to find out more about the whereabouts of kittiwakes nesting on the Tyne.

icNewcastle

Watch birdies on the fairway

Golfers could be seeing more birdies on their greens over the summer after a Tyneside course decided to give its wildlife a helping hand.

icNewcastle

Nature notes

Long-tailed tit families are flitting through the trees.

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

Woodland Trust say talk to us before lopping trees

The Woodland Trust is calling for expert consultation before local authorities are permitted to lop ancient trees.

Grantham Today

Pupils rise to 'tree for all' challenge

The Woodland Trust is offering schools and youth groups across Northern Ireland the chance to apply for a special, free consignment of 30 native trees, enough for a small grove or hedge.

Belfast Telegraph

Nature notes

The first wild roses, or dog roses, are opening in the hedges.

Times Online

York boffins solve plant growth mystery

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? The question in this famous old nursery rhyme was today answered - by biology scientists at the University of York.

this is York


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

Japan targets threatened whales

Japanese officials expressed confidence yesterday that much of the rest of the world is coming round to Tokyo's way of thinking as the International Whaling Commission's scientific committee began deliberations in Ulsan, South Korea.

Scotsman.com

Study of rare coral life

Marine experts from Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium are taking part in a groundbreaking study to monitor the health of one of Europe's rarest and most spectacular coral species.

this is the West Country

Lobbyists square up over whaling

Greenpeace activists are occupying the site of a proposed whale meat factory in Ulsan, South Korea, ahead of talks on the state of the world's whale stocks.

BBC

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


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

'Extinct' beetle comes out of the woodwork

A beetle thought to have been extinct in Britain for more than 100 years has been found nesting in a house in Warwickshire.

Telegraph

Monarch's deer ruin the glen, claims expert

The Queen has been accused of ignoring the devastating environmental damage caused by vast herds of red deer that roam across her Highland estate and on to one of Scotland's top nature reserves.

Scotsman.com

Islanders net £4,000 in bounties as hedgehog rescuers needle SNH

The celebrity-backed rescue of hedgehogs in the Outer Hebrides finished for another year yesterday - with a record 241 saved.

Scotsman.com

Farmer faces jail for disturbing dormice (what's even madder: nobody has ever seen a dormouse on his land)

A farmer faces a six-month jail sentence after becoming the first person to be accused of disturbing a dormouse habitat.

Telegraph

Otter makes mark at park's riverside

They are so shy you might not know one if you saw one - but otters are making a steady comeback across the county.

this is leicestershire

Cattle movement key to TB spread

The movement of cattle around Britain is the most important known factor in the spread of bovine TB, a study says.

BBC

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


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

Nature takes its course in city gardens

Urban gardens can rival the countryside for biodiversity, according to research by the University of Sheffield.

Yorkshire Post

Conservation competition

The Council for National Parks has called on the government to tackle the problem of motorbikes, 4x4s and other off-road vehicles damaging the most protected areas of the countryside.

icWales

Still proud to be a crank

David Bellamy - botanist, broadcaster and failed ballet dancer - has always been lovably eccentric.

Telegraph

Derek Ratcliffe

No ecologist in the last 50 years made such a contribution to both natural history and conservation science as Derek Ratcliffe, who has died, aged 75, on his way to the Arctic circle.

The Guardian

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


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

Heath fire 'may have been arson'

A massive fire which destroyed more than 80 acres of heathland may have been started deliberately, police say.

BBC

Land deal heralds nature reserve

Ambitious plans for a massive wildlife reserve on Teesside take a major step forward on Tuesday.

BBC

Public to gain access to reserve

Parts of one of Norfolk's oldest nature reserves are likely to be opened to the public after a planning inspector decided that they qualify as heath.

EDP24

The beauty of Bodmin Moor

Restoration of internationally rare heathland on Bodmin Moor is beginning with the removal of over 40 hectares of conifer trees planted 40 years ago.

Government News Network

Meadow culture good for wildlife

A workshop providing advice on how do this to enhance its wildlife value was held on Saturday after a number of landowners had expressed an interest in learning more.

This is Guernsey

Asbestos is dumped at nature site

Asbestos is being dumped at a Dudley beauty spot killing wildlife and endangering visitors to the site, shocked staff revealed.

expressandstar.com

Pub backs week of wildlife events

Wildlife lovers in Darlington will be given the chance to support a charity while unwinding at the pub.

this is the North-east

London hosts Europe's largest environmental festival

Final preparations were today being made for the launch of Europe's largest green festival in London.

Community Newswire

Fun for all at wildlife event

The Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) will celebrate World Environment Day on June 5 by staging its annual summer open day.

Community Newswire

Jail's new wing

Prisoners have been working to build new homes for the region's feathered friends.

icNewcastle


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

Rosslare residents win appeal to stop 20-house development

Local people have won a David and Goliath fight with a developer who wanted to build 20 new houses 'on the doorstep' of their fragile coastal location.

The Papers Today

Sinn Fein calls for more housing in the countryside

Sinn Fein has called for more building in the countryside. Assembly member Alex Maskey told an internal party conference at the weekend that there should be "a significant increase" in the number of homes built in country areas.

Belfast Telegraph


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

May fish spawns in Welsh rivers

Its that time of year again as one of the UK’s rarest fish makes its gruelling annual journey upstream in search of its preferred spawning sites on the three main rivers of Mid and South Wales.

Countryside Council for Wales

MPs blame animal rights for 'growth in snare use'

Members of Parliament have blamed animal rights pressure group the League Against Cruel Sports for an alleged increase in the use of snares in the countryside.

icWales

'Odd couple' branch out

An old rubbish tip and the arboretum of a fine town house are the "odd couple" in a new alliance on the Welsh coast to create a community woodland.

icWales

Helping nature on your doorstep

At this time of year, even getting up for work at 5am doesn't seem so bad.

icWales

Get out there and experience the variety of life

Wales Biodiversity Week 2005 is set to be a spectacular celebration of Wales’ wealth of wildlife, with walks, talks, fun days, fairs and much, much more.

Countryside Council for Wales

Nominate your Special Place at the Urdd ….as the latest Top Ten is revealed

Cardiff will be a special place this week (May 30 – 4 June), as children and young people arrive in their droves to compete at the Urdd Eisteddfod.

Countryside Council for Wales


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

Volunteers pick up pieces at wildlife site

Volunteers have held a clean-up of a wildlife habitat in Penicuik so that rare species of plants can continue to thrive.

Scotsman.com

Idea for regional park takes root in Capital

Green-belt land in the south of Edinburgh is set to be named Scotland's fourth regional park in a bold move by city chiefs.

Scotsman.com


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

Man gets racist letter after turbines complaint

A smallholder yesterday claimed he was the subject of racist abuse after complaining about the adjoining windfarm on the Causewaymire in Caithness.

this is north scotland
The Herald
BBC
Scotsman.com

Turbines 'to cost public £236m'

A Swansea councillor today claimed that the controversial wind farm planned for the mountains north of Swansea could cost £236 million in public subsidies.

this is southwales

We need answers on turbine figures

Fresh air is free - of course it is. But there's money to be made in harnessing that fresh air.

this is southwales

Fighting for the high ground

The thorny issue of wind farms is complicating an historic land buy-out on the Isle of Lewis, where villagers find themselves locked in battle with an absentee landowner.

Scotsman.com

Row over windfarm on protected coast

Plans to build giant turbines along a protected area of the Cumbrian coast have sparked a new windfarm row.

News & Star

Winds of change blow on moorland

A 200-year-old pub nestles comfortably against a picturesque backdrop of wild moorland on the borders of Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

BBC

In harmony over turbine opposition

A Swansea singer has written a protest song over plans to build a wind farm on Mynydd y Gwair.

this is southwales

Real cost of wind farms

I went to Felindre on Friday to see what nPower had cooked up for the locals on Mynydd y Gwair and to protest.

this is southwales

Investor support for UK renewables fund

Financial services group Triodos Bank, which specialises in funds for socially responsible investments, said yesterday it had raised £1million in two weeks to invest in renewable-energy projects in Britain.

this is north scotland

The UK needs wind farms

Plans for a 34 turbine wind farm on Mynydd y Gwair, the upland area that lies between the Swansea and Amman valleys, have aroused much local opposition.

this is southwales


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 abandon Jaguars for green and trendy Toyota

It is the vehicle of choice for Hollywood A-listers such as Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz and now cabinet ministers are being issued with the hi-tech, environmentally friendly car that can cut pollution and beat the congestion charge.

Independent

Huge rise in Siberian forest fires puts planet at risk, scientists warn

Fires in the Siberian forests - the largest in the world and vital to the planet's health - have increased tenfold in the last 20 years and could again rage out of control this summer, Russian scientists warn.

The Guardian

Hurricane season could renew global warming debate

If hurricanes again pound the United States this summer, their roar is likely to be accompanied by the din of another storm -- an angry debate among U.S. scientists over the impact of global warming.

Reuters

Man 'not to blame' for extinction of giant wombat

Humans may have been unjustly accused of wiping out the giant kangaroos, wombats and other massive marsupials that roamed Australia 40,000 years ago, new research suggests.

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

Grass species not seen since 1912 rediscovered

A species of grass not seen since 1912 has been discovered growing on Santa Catalina Island off the Southern California coast, botanists say.

CNN.com

Base closings leave behind large swaths of pollution

For decades, the land around the Navy's oldest submarine base was a dumping ground for whatever it needed to dispose of: sulfuric acid, torpedo fuel, waste oil and incinerator ash.

ENN

Protection zone set up for wild rice

China has established a protection zone for wild rice, said to be the largest of its kind in the world, in Yulin in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Xinhua

Reservoirs may accelerate the spread of invasive aquatic species, researchers say

Just as disturbance makes a landscape susceptible to invasion by alien plants, the construction of reservoirs could be contributing to the accelerating spread of exotic aquatic species.

EurekAlert

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