October 10th
Yorkshire hosts the national Viva Veolia youth volunteering conference.
We must work together and continue to provide opportunities for young people to take part in environmental volunteering – this was the key message delivered at the Viva Veolia Youth Ranger conference held in Doncaster. The conference made it clear that the youth of today are passionate about conserving the environment and dedicated to enhancing it for people and wildlife.
The conference which was held at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Nature Reserve Potteric Carr celebrated the completion of the Viva Veolia Youth Ranger programme which began in late 2007. The project overseen by The Wildlife Trusts was part of a national drive to encourage young people, between 16 and 25, to get involved in environmental volunteering. Co-funded by The Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund and ‘V’ the youth volunteering charity, Viva Veolia was delivered by project officers at the following Wildlife Trusts: Yorkshire, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, London, Sheffield, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Sussex and Tees Valley.
Over a two year period, The Wildlife Trusts organised practical conservation workdays that offered lots of training opportunities including the nationally recognised environmental John Muir Award scheme.
Youth Volunteering Officer Joanne Hodgson said: “I volunteered at Potteric Carr helping with events - raising awareness about local wildlife. Now I am actually employed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust where I deliver family events in Selby. Volunteering has really provided me with lots of experience”.
The project has inspired and engaged over 1000 young environmental volunteers from all walks of life to take action in their local environment, and make a difference for wildlife conservation whilst learning new skills, growing in confidence and making friends. Over 50% of all Youth Rangers have progressed onto further training, employment or volunteering opportunities.
Youth Volunteering Officer Jo Meays said: “We have worked with a huge variety of young people on lots of practical work at Potteric Carr. We have created ‘sensory’ raised beds with easy access for all our visitors whilst also enhancing habitats for wildlife.”
Viva Veolia has been part of a wider flagship initiative undertaken by The Veolia Environmental Trust, which saw a total of £700,000 being awarded to leading environmental and conservation charities, to run schemes giving young volunteers the opportunity to improve the environment and develop new skills.
November 11th
Secrets of the sea emerge
Two sponge species – one previously unknown to science1 and one new to the UK2 – have been discovered during a diving expedition in UK waters. The Wildlife Trusts are celebrating the exciting finds the same week new legislation – the Marine and Coastal Access Act – is expected to be passed.
The marine sponges were discovered in the Isles of Scilly and examined by Dr Claire Goodwin, from National Museums Northern Ireland. Marine biologists and recreational divers found them during a week of exploratory diving as part of a Seasearch survey. More than 260 sponges were sampled during 12 dives. Sponges are important components of marine habitats; simple animals which attach themselves to rock.
A rare species of hydroid (a type of feathery-looking animal related to anemones) (Polyplumaria flabellata) was also recorded by expert Dr Keith Hiscock, from the Marine Biological Association, along with a new site for the rare and beautiful solitary sunset cup coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti).
Seasearch divers David Kipling, Sarah Bowen and Emily Priestley discovered the sea slug, Discodoris rosi, crawling over the rocks. This bright orange sea slug has only ever been recorded twice before in the UK. It is usually normally found further south in the Atlantic.
For the last 20 years the marine environment has not been sustainably managed. The Marine and Coastal Access Bill, if effectively implemented, will provide the chance to conserve these rare and threatened species.
Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts’ head of Living Seas, said: “These finds are incredibly important and come as we celebrate the passage of the Marine and Coastal Access Act.
“Although some sites are well dived, there is still much we don’t know about the rich and diverse marine life we have around the UK. All the data collected during dives builds a better understanding of the unique and special marine environment, creating a stronger foundation to help conserve it for the future.
“We will continue to press for strengthened provisions for marine wildlife conservation as our challenge now is to achieve real change. New legislation is only the beginning. The decisions made, and actions taken, over the next five years will determine the future of the UK’s seas. This is a unique opportunity and we must seize it.”
The Wildlife Trusts’ chief executive, Stephanie Hilborne, added: “We are indebted to our many thousands of supporters and members, who have helped us to champion the Marine Bill over the past decade.
“We have a vision for the future of the UK’s seas – Living Seas. In Living Seas, wildlife thrives from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows.”
The Wildlife Trusts have campaigned for many years for new laws to provide better protection of marine habitats and wildlife, as well as improved management of activities at sea. In 2007, The Wildlife Trusts gathered more than 170,000 petition signatures in support of a Marine Bill, presented on fish scales (picture available) and passed them to the Secretary of State for the Environment at a campaign event in the House of Commons.
November 12th
How does the Marine and Coastal Act affect you?
So you live inland, how does the coastal and marine environment affect you?
It’s almost ten years since The Wildlife Trusts first pointed out that the seas around the UK, containing half our wildlife, were in dire trouble. Now, as a result of our combined effort (staff, members and volunteers) we have, after over ten years of campaigning secured a Marine and Coastal Access Act! During November, the Bill (which spent an incredible 6 months in the House of Lords - the second longest Bill in history!) received royal ascent and became an Act!
Whether you live inland or by the sea the coastal and marine environment somehow influences your way of life, whether you aware of it or not. Our seas since the beginning of time have supported human life, they provide for us in many ways and without them we would not have become what we are today.
The seas and their resources have supported us in a number of ways, through;
The future of our marine life?
Now, the journey really begins. We have in place the necessary legislation to allow the creation of an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas. This network will be implemented through four regional Marine Conservation Zone projects – the North Sea project is called Net Gain. Our job is to ensure the MPA network is established with wildlife at the heart, protecting not only the rare and threatened but a range of marine species and habitats. Through input into the Net Gain project we will provide information and data supporting the establishment of Marine Conservation Zones. However, we cannot do this alone. We need your help to achieve our vision of Living Seas, ones in which wildlife thrives from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows, where wildlife recovers from past declines and adapts to climate change and where people feel inspired by marine wildlife and the value the sea has on their quality of life.
The pressure on UK seas to provide services and resources has never been greater.
More and more commercial activities are shifting into the sea, or developing there, as industry overcomes the technological challenges and realises the economies of operating on a vast scale in the open ocean. The fastest growing sector is marine energy.
The pressure is on to extract every possible drop from the UK’s dwindling offshore oil and natural gas reserves. Once empty, there are plans to use the oil and gas fields to store imported gas. Meanwhile, the UK’s ambitious renewable energy targets will only be met through a massive expansion – and most of this is set to take place at sea, through windfarms, wave farms, barrages and tidal turbines. The construction industry also is increasingly looking to the seas, rather than quarries on land, to provide sand and gravel, while growth in shipping and marine leisure is creating demand for new port and marina facilities.
The natural ability of a healthy sea to regulate the atmosphere, climate and weather is of enormous value, however we have to ensure that these activities occur whilst allowing wildlife to grow and thrive. Help us to achieve our vision of Living Seas where our needs are balanced alongside the needs of wildlife. Help us do this and join us on our journey towards Living Seas by:
For more information or to download TWT Living Seas vision, a map of our coastal nature reserves or factsheets on Marine Protected Areas visit www.northseawildlife.org.uk.
November 16th
Ancient wood no longer feeling drained
An ancient North Yorkshire landscape is going back to its watery roots in a bid to explore more eco-friendly ways of alleviating severe flooding.
A groundbreaking project by the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency is underway at 340 hectare (850 acre) Bishop Wood, near Cawood, to dam drainage ditches, allowing rain water to be retained for longer in the wood rather than quickly flowing downstream into the Selby Dam, a tributary of the River Ouse.
The initiative is being backed by £25,000 from the National Grid.
Bishop Wood is the largest wooded area in the Humberhead Levels, just a few metres above sea level, and is also an ancient woodland site, meaning that it dates back at least to the 1600s when the first reliable maps were produced.
Once part of a huge hunting estate owned by the Archbishop of York, it is now managed by the Forestry Commission on a lease from the Church Commissioners.
Historically, Bishop Wood would have been much wetter than it is today. But in the 20th century large areas were planted with pines as part of a national push to shore up the nation’s depleted timber reserves. That meant that more drainage ditches were cut to drain the land.
Now experts are taking a leaf out of the history books to turn back the clock. Around two miles of dykes are being excavated to increase their storage capacity and then dammed. During heavy downpours these channels will fill with water, eventually overspilling into selected areas, covering up to 30 acres of the wood.
Brian Walker, Forestry Commission Wildlife Officer, said:
“This is the first time in Yorkshire that we have tried anything quite like this and although it’s a relatively small scale experiment, it could have far wider implications for other flood prone areas. We are not flooding the wood, but rather reverting back to a pattern of seasonal wetness. There are also extremely good ecological reasons for re-wetting the wood. It will boost biodiversity and over time more oak and alder will take root, both classical wet woodland species.”
Public access to the popular wood will be maintained as many trails and paths are already on higher ground. Others will be diverted. Work to dam the drainage ditches will take six weeks.
Jeff Pacey, Ouse catchment manager for the Environment Agency, added:
“The idea behind this project is to allow the woodland to retain a bit more flood water, rather than it passing straight on down to Selby.”
Wildlife set to benefit from the project will include water voles, various beetles and also a rare mud snail. This diminutive beast was found during field surveys to pave the way for the project. It survives in a few isolated fen pools and is listed in the British Red Data Books of rare and endangered species as ‘vulnerable’.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is also planning to run a range of public outreach events in the woodland as part of its drive to highlight the importance of the natural environment and wet woodland habitats in the Selby area.
November 16th
People's Postcode Lottery expands distribution across UK retail network - www.youtube.com/user/PostcodeLottery
Retail Rollout of People's Postcode Lottery underlines commitment to help increase funds for local charities
The People’s Postcode Lottery has delivered £14 million of luck to winners in neighbourhoods across the nation. Now the charity lottery is expanding its reach with a UK-wide rollout in conjunction with local retailers and prepaid transaction specialist, epay.
From 16th November the acclaimed lottery - based on players' postcodes – will begin selling single play tickets this month. People throughout England, Scotland and Wales will be able to walk into one of over 5,000 participating local retailers and buy a single ticket to be entered into a weekly draw.
This is a significant development for the People’s Postcode Lottery, explains UK Managing Director Jo Bucci, She says: “We’re extremely excited about our launch in to the single play ticket market. Increasing opportunities to purchase across the UK-wide retail network will enable us to reach a new group of people. This will ultimately help us to create more local winners whilst helping more local charity projects across the UK.”
People’s Postcode Lottery tickets are based on a player's individual postcode and a 3-digit unique code. Over 90 different postcodes will win cash prizes every week. Each ticket purchased from the winning Street Prize postcode receives a share of the £30,000 weekly prize pot, while each ticket purchased in the winning postcode sector receives a share of the £5,000 sector prize pot.
People’s Postcode Lottery Street Prize Presenters visit the lucky postcode areas every week to present the winners with their cheques either in their homes or at the store where they bought their ticket. TV presenter Angus Purden and Radio DJ Judie McCourt have achieved celebrity status in Scotland and the North of England through their work with the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Angus says: “It really is the best job in the world to arrive at someone’s home and turn their lives around for the better – especially during such a difficult time economically is amazing. We are looking forward to getting on the road and celebrating with more winners and their neighbours.”
Opening up the opportunities to play is not only great news for players and participating local retailers but also for the People’s Postcode Lottery’s UK charity partners too. Charities throughout the UK, including Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, the Wildlife Trusts and Missing People have benefited dramatically from People’s Postcode Lottery’s unrestricted support of over £6 million to date.
Charities and Communications Manager Claire Stewart is thrilled with this development, and says: “With 40p from each ticket going straight to our charity partners more players simply means more money to great local causes so more people can actually lead a healthier, more active and greener life. We’re in the unique position where we are actually growing our charitable support. The support from our players means that each of our partners can continue to deliver their important work up and down the country – even in this difficult economic time.
And with the recent addition of our own grant giving trust, People’s Postcode Trust, we’ve been able to support lots of new community projects across the country. Now we’re looking forward to helping many more as we increase sales and reach new areas of the UK.”
Jo adds: “Going forward the People’s Postcode Lottery plans to widen its reach involving more and more stores throughout the UK thus aiding more charities. This is the beginning of a very exciting phase of development for the People’s Postcode Lottery.”
November 18th
Urban Otters
As some Yorkshire Wildlife Trust members may be aware after reading the last edition of the Wildlife Yorkshire magazine, otters have been making themselves at home in the city centre of Bradford! Not quite the traditional river bank setting in the middle of the countryside, as portrayed by stories such as the Ring of Bright Water, which might spring to mind when you think of an otter…! It has also been suggested that otters have recently been found in town gardens, parks and churchyards across the UK.
In Yorkshire not only have otters been spotted on the inner city banks of the River Aire in Bradford, but also in Leeds, with the Leeds and Liverpool canal forming an important habitat and corridor for some of Yorkshire’s wildlife. Often sighted by anglers out in the early morning and evening the otters prey on fish in both the river and canal. Recent pictures taken by a camera hidden along the River Aire can be seen in the latest sightings.
The River Aire, once heavily polluted, has undergone a clean-up with Yorkshire Water improving the waste water treatment works found along the river, in particular at Esholt. The ban on organochlorine pesticides which were poisoning otters and their prey, fish, has also assisted the otters in returning to the river. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in association with local organisations has been undertaking remedial work to improve the habitats provided along the banks of the River Aire for local wildlife, such as installing artificial holts.
Artificial holts help in facilitating the return of otters to Yorkshire’s waterways, forming important resting and breeding sites. They must have two or three entrances at, or just above, water level with some surrounding vegetation, this ensures the chamber is kept dry and draught-free. Where vegetation is sparse willow may be planted, which grows quickly, the roots acting as a ladder in the event of the bank eroding. The best sites for artificial holts are near wetlands and away from human disturbance with an adequate local food supply and little pollution. The main structure of the holt is made from sturdy bricks, with straw covering the floor and plastic tubes fitted to the entrances. Small concrete slabs are added to form the roof of the structure which is then covered by soil.
It is thought that the otter’s city centre homes are temporary rather than permanent, a stop-off point on their journey to other places. Whilst gaps in brickwork, footings for mills and other factories provide the otter with a safe resting place, they are extremely sensitive to disturbance – a local dog walker may persuade them to decamp and move on. For this reason the position of artificial holts are kept secret.
Temporary residents to these inner city areas or not, the message is a positive one of a revival of this elusive animal in Yorkshire. However it is also an indicator of the improving water quality in our rivers. Fish stocks in rivers are recovering as the pollution issues in our rivers are addressed and combated, and it is thought that the otter is following, it requiring both clean water and large quantities of fish to survive.
With a SITA funded Mid Aire Otters and Rivers project underway since July 2008 the future for otters in Yorkshire is looking bright. The project supports valuable surveying work which generates maps of otter hotspots, allowing conservation officers to plan where and how best to enhance the River Aire’s habitats to sustain local wildlife such as the otters. Work includes the building of artificial holts as mentioned above, channel maintenance and tree and scrub planting.
November 27th
Marine conservation finally ditches water-wings'
Marine Protected Areas to be established away from coast.
The Wildlife Trusts today welcome a ‘coming of age’ for UK marine protection - as Natural England starts consultation on an ambitious new suite of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
The consultation launched today covers 10 new sites, to be conserved under European law, in English and Welsh waters, including ‘Poole Bay to Lyme Bay Reefs’, ‘Shell Flat and Lune Deep’ in Morecambe Bay and the ‘Outer Thames Estuary’. Plans are also progressing for an additional three sites – including ‘Dogger Bank’ – which lie further offshore. The Wildlife Trusts enthusiastically support the positioning of all the proposed MPA sites and congratulate the Government’s nature conservation agencies, including the Countryside Council for Wales and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, on the ambitious but much-needed proposals.
Under European Directives, the UK Government designates Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for selected habitats and species, both on land and at sea. Although the UK’s existing SPAs and SACs include 149 sites with marine components, they typically extend only a few hundred metres from the shore. In order to satisfy the European Directives, this new suite of truly marine sites is needed.
Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts’ head of Living Seas, said: “This is an important moment. Until now, the UK’s Marine Protected Areas have clung to the coast like a non-swimmer clings to the side of the pool. Now the agencies have finally ditched their water-wings and offered protection where it’s needed. These new MPAs represent some of the finest examples in Europe of undersea reefs and sandbanks, as well as areas that are internationally important, due to the huge numbers of marine birds that gather there.
Joan continued: “The Wildlife Trusts are looking forward to working with the conservation agencies to secure designation of the new sites and ensure that the necessary protective measures are put in place. These sites will form an important part of the ecological network of MPAs the UK has committed to establish by 2012. In addition to the UK’s new and existing European MPAs, the network will include many nationally important sites, known as Marine Conservation Zones, which will be created under the new Marine and Coastal Access Act.”
December 1st
New Future Jobs Fund Opportunities at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust are excited to be able to offer several brand new paid opportunities to people claiming Job Seekers Allowance thanks to a successful bid by a consortium of Wildlife Trusts to the Future Jobs Fund.
These brand new exciting opportunities will be based in Doncaster (working at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) and in Hull (working on green spaces and nature reserves in the area). All the positions will support the work of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in managing green spaces for the benefit of both people and wildlife.
The new positions are a great chance for people to gain vital experience and training for establishing a career in this highly competitive field. The new employees will help with a variety of tasks including scrub clearance, reedbed management, path maintenance, and habitat creation.
To be eligible for the opportunities individuals must meet strict criteria set by the Future Jobs Fund, and individuals must have been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for at least 39 consecutive weeks. In addition, individuals must be under 26, or living in an area of high unemployment. All the posts are salaried at the National Minimum Wage and contracts are for 25 hours a week for 6 months.
If you are interested in these opportunities, please make an appointment with an advisor at your local Jobcentre Plus to find out if you can join this scheme.
December 4th
North Sea Wildlife
With the passing of the Marine and Costal Access Act, marine conservation is finally at the top of the agenda. This new legislation allows for the creation of an ecologically coherent network of Marine protected Area’s (MPA’s) by 2012. In simpler terms, England and Wales will soon have nature reserves under the sea, something conservation organisations have campaigned for over a decade. The Wildlife Trusts will be playing a key role in their creation, providing advice and expertise on particular habitats and sites.
As part of this process, The Wildlife Trust has developed a website to promote the weird and wonderful wildlife that inhabits the North Sea. Here you can learn more about what is often thought of as a grey and lifeless sea. The website covers marine life and habitats, marine heritage, MPA’s, the new marine legislation, alongside news, events, and how to get involved with your local Trust.
The Wildlife Trusts bordering the North Sea, from Northumberland in the north to Suffolk in the south, will be running marine themed events throughout 2010, offering you the chance to learn more about this hidden world.
Interested? Want to learn more or get involved? Then log on to www.northseawildlife.org.uk
December 5th
The Wave
On Saturday 5 December 2009, ahead of the crucial UN climate summit in Copenhagen, staff from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will join tens of thousands of people from all walks of life to march through the streets of London and demonstrate their support for a safe climate future for all.
Part of a global series of public actions, The Wave will call on world leaders to take urgent action to secure a fair international deal to stop global warming exceeding the danger threshold of 2 degrees C.
The Wave - which is not just a huge march but a whole day of exciting campaign activities - is organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, will show mass support by people from all backgrounds for a better, low carbon future for the UK and the world.
We want the UK Government to show leadership at Copenhagen. We want them to Protect the Poorest, Act Fair & Fast, and to Quit Dirty Coal now, to inspire the deal the world needs.
December 7th
Decisive, deliberate, and dynamic action needed at Copenhagen
The Wildlife Trusts will send a direct message to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urging him to deliver a positive and far-reaching agreement at the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December.
The message, in the form of a large postcard signed by all 47 Wildlife Trusts, will be delivered by a representative of the leading conservation organisation.
The postcard reads:
Please secure a positive and far-reaching climate change agreement in Copenhagen – we, and our wildlife, depend upon it.
Our 47 Wildlife Trusts around the UK, have a combined membership of nearly 800,000. We all care deeply about the future of our natural environment, on land and at sea, especially in a changing climate.
The impact of climate change on people and the natural environment – upon which we all depend – is predicted to be dramatic. We need to take a positive step towards a legal agreement to reduce greenhouse gases by 40% by 2020. The Conference must recognise the role of natural ecosystems, such as forests and peatlands, in storing carbon. This is vital for us all.
“We are putting far too much pressure on our planet which is already having devastating impacts on both people and the natural world that we depend on,” said Sir John Lawton, Chair of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which has over 26, 000 members.
“We know this is a global problem, but the UK Government is in a position to take a lead on this, and to show other nations what can be achieved.
“We would urge the Government to commit to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020. Decisive, deliberate, and dynamic action needs to be taken on this, before it’s too late for wildlife and for people.”
The Wildlife Trusts across the UK are raising awareness of the threat climate change poses to people and the natural environment, and working to help protect wildlife from the impacts of climate change. People can sometimes feel helpless in the face of such a huge challenge, but The Wildlife Trusts believe that by empowering communities and inspiring people to take action locally for their natural environment, they can help contribute to the global cause.
Gary Mantle is the Director of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and will travel to Copenhagen to deliver the postcard on behalf of The Wildlife Trusts. He said:
“For the sake of both wildlife and people, we need tough decisions to be taken at Copenhagen. In showing the strong leadership that will be needed, it is important that the UK Government knows that it has strong support from the public. We must not forget that any agreement at Copenhagen is just the start, it must be followed by urgent action. Time is running out.”
December 7th
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Joined the UK's largest climate change rally
On Saturday 5th December the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust joined forces with 200 representatives from Wildlife Trusts across the UK, to take part in The Wave climate change march, organised by Stop Climate Change Chaos.
In light of the United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen, more than 50,000 people dressed in blue, formed a Mexican wave as they surrounded Parliament to call on the UK government to settle for nothing less than a fair global deal, which will prevent global temperatures rising beyond the 2 degrees C danger threshold.
The march was a huge success and didn’t go unnoticed - Prime Minster Gordon Brown invited 24 Wave supporters to 10 Downing Street after the event. And Gary Mantle, Director of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Brian Eversham also attended a question and answer session with Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband.