Bee friendly and help save lives

A wonderful cacophony of low vibrational hums closes in across the fen as large, hairy, bodies supported by tiny, glinting wings appear to defy gravity. Foraging for food, the orchestrated melody of the ever busy bumblebees fill the air. Once abundant everywhere, they heralded in both spring and summer. But what happens when mornings turn crisp and cool on the breath, when days are short and nights longer? The time when many animals and trees are starting to preserve their energy in preparation for the coming months ahead?

Open the lid on Autumns’ rich kaleidoscope of colours and discover that for some bumblebees, this time of year brings with it new hope for the following spring. An important time for mated females (new Queens) to seek out shelter from the cold, lower their metabolism and become dormant until next year.

When environmental factors such as temperature, light and weather conditions are favourable the insect alarm clock indicates that spring is here. However, with the odd day of mild weather in the winter some insects cannot hit the snooze button . Instead, fooled into thinking it is spring, they emerge, using their remaining energy reserves for foraging (building themselves up again to produce offspring or to return back to bed).

Sharp fluctuations in temperatures coupled with scarce food resources can be fatal roller-coaster and may be a contributing factor on the abundance of bumblebees and other important insects.

Pollinating and working hard throughout the year to ensure food is available for us all year round, bees and their allies surely deserve to have survival resources made available for them?

• Using any available space to plant nectar rich meals will be a life line. Even balconies and window boxes can save lives. Slap up menu ideas include Evergreen Barberry (Berberis stanophylla) for entrees, followed by succulent Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) with a side order of Ivy (Hedera spp.) and for dessert, a nice generous helping of winter flowering heather(Erica carnea) and Mahonia spp.
• Leaving deadheading until spring may help to create warm, snug duvets for smaller insects.
• Treat your pond dwellers by leaving those nutrient rich feast of fallen leaves for them to recycle naturally.
• Make a static log pile and enjoy tenants such as toads and hedgehogs looking for a cosy spot this time of year, whilst in the warmer months, watch as squatters settle into these ready made insect hotels.

Next spring, sit back and enjoy as new musicians queue up to joining you and your own spectacular orchestra!

Flatford Mill F.S.C

There is a shocking fluorescent pink blot on Constable’s landscape. It has matching spectacularly clean wellies and a camera slung around its neck. The laughter of the ‘A’level students, resonates through the silent Flatford Mill grounds in Suffolk.

A squadron of bomber ducks collide with the slightly shimmering water on the education centre’s pond, commanding a shoal of fish to skip like pebbles strewn across the surface. The faint smell of otter spraint lingers in the air, a majestic grey heron stands to attention watching vigilantly at the edge of the bank.

An inspiration to Constable and to numerous students, both adults and children who come to ‘learn’ at what has been for nearly sixty years, an F.S.C. (Field Studies Council) centre.

These are the ‘adult customers of the future’ said Mr Edward Jackson, who is Head of the centre at Flatford Mill. Furthermore, the under eighteens make up the majority (75 – 80%) of customers at the mill with adult learners making the remainder. But with the majority demanding the need for more modern technologies and facilities and the desperate need to improve facilities for people with limited mobility, is there a future for the awe-inspiring setting of John Constables’ most famous work The Haywain in the modern world?

Mr Jackson is also the chief Campaigner for Flatford Mill and has battled for the past year and a half to secure £700,00 of the £1.4 million to make the much needed enhancements to bring the facilities of the 18th century mill into the 21st century, for phase one of the project. With all planning permission granted, the historic and prestigious mill is now rapidily running out of time to secure the remaining money. Currently, admitted Mr Jackson the centre is ‘not fully DDA compliant’ and that there is ‘a big gap to provide for people with disabilities’. The funding will bridge that gap by enabling those with disabilities to gain access to currently inaccessible wildlife havens where they can see a variety of habitats and animals, not least five of those listed on the BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) list and it will enable the centre to have places for people in wheelchairs. This then would bring Flatford Mill in line with the F.S.C’s philosophy of ”Bringing Environmental Understanding to All’.

The F.S.C has an impressive track record of developing environmental understanding for children from the lowest performing education authorities to enable them to be more proactive and involved in green spaces at home.

One student at the mill said ‘ once you come here you can appreciate your home more, I can’t charge my phone or plug in my hair straighteners in case I set off the fire alarm’. Three bathrooms are shared by thirteen students and while the meals are wholesome and filling they still order in pizza. All were inspired by the natural surroundings and wildlife.

Without upgrading to modern facilities, Flatford Mill may have to close. Resulting not only in the loss of the ability to inspire, enthuse and educate tomorrow’s budding ecologists, but also Suffolk’s most notorious historic grounds and its inhabitants could be lost forever.

For further information on the Campaign to save Flatford Mill or to donate:

Head of centre: Mr Edward Jackson

Flatford Mill Field Centre
East Bergholt
Suffolk
CO7 6UL
Tel: 0845 330 7368
Fax: 01206 298892
Email: enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org

Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Courtesy of Wikimedia

More than 4,700 exhibitors had stands at this years WTM (World Travel Market) at ExCeL in London. Billed as ‘The premier global event for the travel Industry’ it provides a networking opportunity for airlines, tour operators, hoteliers and tourist boards from around the world. Seminars on the agenda included insights into the travel industry trends, debates, discussions and practical advice. The most notable day of events was Wednesday 11th November 2009, WTM’s “World Responsible Tourism Day”.

Beneath the glamour,bright lights and glossy brochures, the search was on for a definition of ‘responsible tourism’. It was apparent that every stand had its own interpretation but scratching deep beneath the surface only a small handful stood out as being contributors to responsible travel.

Consider the following scenario; 4,700 stands, with an average of 3 marketing leaflets per stand, and 50,000 visitors (based on 2008 statistics). With standard A4 copy paper, the estimated number of marketing leaflets that exhibitors would need to supply, reaches a phenomenal total of 705,000. If only half of the exhibitors also produce small 10 page A4 brochures, a further 1,117,500 pages would be required. Many of the stands were represented by more than one person. If between them, they brought a quantity of 5000 business cards (10 per A4) to exchange, the total of business cards alone would soar to 3.1 million sheets. A staggering grand total of paper used could be as high as 5.1 million pieces, not including business cards brought by the visitors, the event organisers brochures, the press release packs, printed tickets or the endless plastic nick-knacks like pens. It was not apparent whether the literature or business cards examined were recycled or from sustainable well managed wood stocks like FSC UK (Forest Stewardship Council).

How many trees does this amount of paper equate to?
Based on correct woodland management schemes in the UK and trees like
“…Sitka Spruce (yield class 12) planted at 2 metre spacing ….realistically the ‘average tree’ produces 2,300 sheets of paper (from thinnings) “ confirms the Secretariat of Public Enquiries (FSC). Therefore in conclusion, over 2,300 trees may have been felled in order to satisfy exhibitions needs such as the WTM, equating to over 7km2 for one event. The calculation is based on sustained forestry practices, understandably, the true cost to the environment will be much higher if other countries around the world are not adopting similar management strategies.

Solvenian Basket Book

Green Slovenia
The Slovenian Tourist Board’s stand looked unexpectedly barren, clinical and uninteresting. However, on closer examination, it was evident that they had thought about their impact on the environment by exhibiting. Showing the country’s willingness to recycle and commitment to a ‘Green’ world, the exhibition stand itself was from managed wood stocks. Ingeniously, previous brochures were also put to good use by using traditional Solvenian craftwork. Hats and notebooks adorned with pencils were among the many items created by weaving old paper pages. Fortunately, only a small quantity of current leaflets were on display as preference was to direct customers to their website for information.

Exhibitions on such a grand scale should strive to provide alternative ways of marketing. At the very least, in future, exhibitors should opt for minimal literature, referring consumers and business contacts to their respective websites after the initial contact has been made. With modern technology available a virtual online exhibition could also be considered. Ahead of the Copenhagen Summit, global and local exhibitions must concentrate on reducing not only the amount of paper used but also the carbon footprint of the event itself and its participants.

Emphasis on ‘responsible tourism’ needs to be an holistic approach not just the latest ‘buzz’ words . The consumer buying a ‘responsible tourism’ package needs to be assured that the organisation has conducted its business from initial conception through to the end product with environmental responsibility and awareness, rather than using the latest two-word bait and hook designed to land unwary customers.

Offshore wind farm turbine
by Phil Hollman

ORCA wildlife officers are the onboard experts. A marine conservation charity dedicated to forging links between people and the sea, they offer presentations on the ecology of the seas around Britain, climate change and marine conservation issues. ORCA are present on various ferry crossings engaging passengers to survey for whales, porpoises, dolphins and migrating birds. Making an otherwise uneventful sea crossing, more enjoyable.

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill received Royal Assent on 12th November 2009 and is now an Act of parliament and Law. It has taken nearly a decade of campaigning by MCS (Marine Conservation Society), RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and TWT (The Wildlife Trusts) to finally get it through. England is the only country in the world to have a successful marine protection legislation. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn added “We know that our blue spaces face the same pressures from climate change as our green spaces – we just can’t see it. The Marine Conservation Zones created by this groundbreaking Act will therefore recognise that the wildlife and habitats in our seas are just as important as those on the land.”

Natural England will oversee both the new zones, which will allow for greater protection for endangered and rare species and a single coastal path around England to ensure better access for all. The new Marine Management Organisation in Newcastle will take responsibility for enforcing environmental laws and will ensure marine planning applications like offshore renewable energy plants legally conform.

Kathryn Driscoll, ORCA wildlife Officer aboard the Harwich – Esberg sailing welcomes the new legislation ” …at last our stake in the future protection of our seas and its marine life has been recognised. By 2012 a network of Marine Reserves are to be put into place around our coastline.”

ORCA offer unique mini wildlife cruises to places like FanØ. In the Wadden Sea national park, a UNESCO world heritage site, the island is surrounded by intertidal mud flats. Covering 16km by 5km it provides refuge to between 6-12 million migrating birds yearly, including many endangered and rare species. Boasting a diverse range of natural habitat, birds from Canada and Siberia also flock to the ‘all you can eat buffet’. To the South, a miles’ walk out from the shore colonies of Common and Grey seals are found.

With pressure now on to designate areas for protection, the role of the trained volunteer becomes increasingly valuable. Marine survey training is available from ORCA for anyone interested in contributing to protecting this environment. Without volunteer engagement from the Trusts and Conservation groups the new Act would not have been passed. Kathryn continues “ORCA shares data on whales and dolphins distribution and abundance, collected by its volunteer survey team, to help inform these kind of decisions”.

As the government strives to use marine wind farms as alternative renewable energy sources the environmental consequences are yet to be quantified. Artificial reef systems created by alien structures will afford marine life valuable breeding and nursing areas. Environmental protection must now be given to these offshore habitats. By enforcing suitable ‘no fish’ radii, species will be allowed to mature.

On land, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act wildlife crimes are under policed. With only 9 police officers nationally, the question arises whether the new Marine and Coastal Access Act will befall the same fate.

More about ORCA here.

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
licensed under Creative Commons

Soon, this species instead of flying over land will be journeying over two hundred miles from Earth as scientific researchers take ten day old larvae to monitor their lifecycles in a weightless environment whilst children in schools all over America will simulatneously be raising Earth bound larvae in their classrooms. The experiment will highlight the behaviours and lifecyles of the butterflies in microgravity environments and used by schools as comparison monitoring.

Principal investigator on this project Louis Stodieck( Director of Bioserve) said “One of the most exciting things about this project is that we can use the International Space Station to bring spaceflight experiments into classrooms around the country,” he said. “Our continuing goal is to inspire K-12 students around the country in science, technology, engineering and math.”

Also accompanying the Monarch, will be six day old Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) larvae, another migrant to Britain. This species, originally from the Atlas mountains migrate to the UK and in September this year, their numbers were estimated at a billion by Butterfly Conservation. Unfortunately, the increasing amount of migrants to Britain are forcing the native species of butterfly numbers to decline.

Although the ecology of the two butterfly species is an invaluable eduction for chidren and the public, it is difficult to determine the reason behind the awareness of experiments with ecological systems in microgravity. Far better to encourage education of species here on Earth and to understand the impact that migrant species have on native animals and their habitats, thereby increasing conservation action and awareness, than perhaps, justifying which animals will be allowed up in the ‘arc’ should we have destroyed Earth and have to live in space.

The “Butterflynauts” along with suitable habitat and enough food sources will be boarding the space shuttle Atlantis heading for the ISS (International Space Station) on November 16th 2009. The photos and videos directly from ISS will be avaiable via bioedonline

More about Butterflies from Butterfly Conservation

Bottlenose Dolphin

Under the new legistlation, greater protection will be given to the habitat and species that surround Britain which will see the end of trawling and other harmful fishing practices, allowing endangered species and habitats to recover and also afford the Trusts and Conservation groups the ability to highlight areas of conservation for greater protection and finally to assess the state of the ecosystem.

“The Marine Bill will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to protect our nationally important marine species and habitats. It will also establish a Marine Management Organisation, a Marine Planning system, inshore fisheries reform, an overhaul of the consents procedure.” says the MCS find out more here.

Albatross Chick
Photo by Chris Jordan

My eyes are fixed in total disbelief. Caps from bottles, a disposable lighter and plastic bag remnants amongst many other plastics fill the contents of the stomach of a once majestic being, the Albatross, with it bringing a whole new meaning to the words “stuffed animal”.

A stinging saline tear rolls slowly down my cheek as I imagine the struggle and pain this chick has suffered whilst choking, being poisoned or starved, at the hand of man. Another tear burns down my cheek upon the realisation that this baby is only one of tens of thousands killed each year.

Unaware of the ‘food’ they are bringing back for their babies, adult Albatrosses cannot distinguish between plastic foods and natural diets especially as our seas are becoming increasingly littered with rubbish. Parents, themselves often choke and drown as they head for trawlers hoping for a tasy bit of fish or squid but instead get a mouthful of barbed hooks as they are dragged under and pulled along the water on the long-lines. Other threats include climate change, ocean pollution like oil spills and loss of natural habitats amongst others.

Man who is responsible for care-taking the planets’ natural resources, the same Man who talks about climate change, education, economies, wildlife and habitat protection. The very same Man that chooses to close his eyes in ignorance, is often too late to take action.

Sir David Attenborough said “Albatrosses have survived in the harshest marine environments for 50 million years; more than 100 times longer than our own species. However, these magnificent birds are unable to cope with man-made threats, such as longline fishing.” He continues “Albatrosses should be free to circle the globe for millions of years to come – we must stop this needless slaughter now to prevent an entire branch being torn from the evolutionary tree.”

Sadly, the Albatross is only one of an ever increasing species at risk on our planet.

Another Albatross chick
Photo by Chris Jordan

If you are thinking that the Albatross is not a UK bird, I urge you to think again. Over a third of the worlds’ Albatrosses breed on islands forming part of the overseas territories belonging to France and the UK. The RSPB continues “Although these islands are very remote they are still the UK’s responsibility, and make the albatrosses which nest on them as British as if they were nesting on top of the White Cliffs of Dover. No-one would stand by and watch them being slaughtered there, so why should we tolerate it just because it is happening thousands of miles away in the South Atlantic?”

Unfortunately of the 21 species known, only two are not endangered.

The time for endless talks has to end, the time for action must be a priority before the worlds’ human population becomes non-chalant about protecting all who have a right to be here and in turn may find itself on the brink of extinction due to negligence and lack of understanding that we depend on nature for survival as much as nature depends on us.

Please click here for information on how you can help the Albatross

Save The Albatross Campaign (RSPB)

The Albatross Task Force (RSPB)

Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, all species of UK Bat which currently stands at 17, is protected and it is an offensive to disturb or kill these magnificent creatures either directly or indirectly.

Baby Pipistrelle
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Threats like demolition and renovation of buildings even the replacement of roof tiles or fascia boards can trap bats inside a roof space, denying them re-entry to their roost and forcing those inside to starve. Even toxic remedial timber treatment chemicals prove fatal.

It is a Criminal offence to:
1. Deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat
2. Intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat in its roost or deliberately disturb a group of bats
3. Damage or destroy a bat roosting place (even if bats are not occupying the roost at the time)
4. Possess or advertise/sell/exchange a bat (dead or alive) or any part of a bat
5. Intentionally or recklessly obstruct access to a bat roost

As the word ‘disturbance’ is ambiguous the Regulations have been ammended to give further clarification on the scope of the offence.
Under the Regulations, damage to, or destruction of a roost site is a strict liability offence, i.e. it does not have to be deliberate, accidental acts are covered too.

As the incidental result of a lawful operation defence has been removed operators are now open to this strict liability offence, whether the damage occurs by accident or not. The risk of committing this offence may be reduced by following guidance and avoiding breeding sites and resting places where known. Due to the nature of some endangered protected species such as bats it is not always possible to identify all breeding sites and resting places and there is a risk of committing an offence accidentally.

It is not only hedgerows, ponds, lakes, marshes, woodlands, and farmlands that provides rich food sources for all bats but also suburban gardens and urban areas. With an appetite for up to 3,000 insects a night, Pipistrelles need these habitats to survive. Green schemes like the Environmental Stewardship help their conservation but unless all landowners, their agents and farmers join the schemes, modern agricultural methods will still pose a huge threat as they make no provisions for wildlife.

Loss of habitat, the use of pesticides and intensive farming practices have lead to a reduction in the abundance of insects which the bats rely on as their only food source. For example the change from hay making to silage, has meant that many insects do not reach adulthood so there are less flying adults available. Changes in climate may also influence insect life cycles and so this may affect when bats can feed.

Creatures of habit, squatting in buildings old and new bats have rights and seeking advice from one of over a hundred local bat groups before carrying out any remedial work will prevent criminal offences. It is an illegal act to move colonies.

Growing specific plants to attract the insects bats eat, putting up bat boxes or joining the Bat Conservation Trust will help enormously to protect these persecuted animals. If you suspect a Wildlife Crime against any species please contact your local police Wildlife Crime Officer.

More on Wildlife Crime Officers.

Find out more about bats at the Bat Conservation Trust.

More on the Regulations at Defra and Natural England

Article written with thanks to BCT, Natural England and Defra.

Photo By Kevin Higgins

The press release for HSA (Hunt Saboteurs Association) states “1st November is traditionally the start of the hunting season proper, although hunts have been out terrorising foxes, hare and deer for several months now, engaging in “cubbing” – or “autumn hunting” as the hunts like to refer to the early morning or late afternoon hunting used to train new hounds”.
“It’s business as usual in the countryside. The hunts continue to illegally pursue and kill wildlife and act violently toward those who try and stop them.” said Lee Moon, spokesperson for HSA.

In 2004, the Hunting Act became law, making fox hunting with hounds illegal. Five years later, both the supporters of the Act and those against it have found that it has not been upheld. Whilst supporters were relieved that wildlife now had legal protection, those against feared that their livelihoods would be affected with many hounds having to be put down, people out of jobs and the hunt industry collapsing.

” I will not stand by and see the destruction of jobs, of communities, of my friends and my family and your friends and your family.” said Simon Hart, chief executive of the CA (Countryside Alliance) whilst addressing a gathering in November 2003, at Newbury Show ground.

Over 40,000 people signed the Hunting Declaration, pledging to break the Hunting Act, this equates to less than half of the CA’s membership numbers.

Almost 6 years on from the address in Berkshire, the CA’s survey results from 300 hunts would suggest that the hunt community has been positively effected since the Hunting Act came into force. 76% have the same number of employees, 10% have increased their staff, over 70% have the same number of hounds and a further 10% of hunts have increased their hound numbers. 93% reported the same number or more subscribers than before the Law changed and almost 90% have had an increase in support from their communities since the Act. “This healthy picture shows how well hunts have risen to the short term challenges presented by the Hunting Act while the campaign for repeal has progressed”. said Simon Hunt.

The survey does not show why the hunts numbers of employees and hounds have risen or what activities are attributed to the increase.

Operating a strict policy against animal testing, driven by innovation and its ethics, beauty products company Lush Cosmetics raised £10,000 in the first week alone, of the limited edition Fabulous Mrs Fox Bubble Bar which launched on 12th October, in support of HSA with 100% of the sales (less tax) going directly to the charity.

Hilary Jones, Lush Director of Ethics, adds “For those that spent years campaigning for a ban on hunting, there was a huge sense of relief and joy when the law was finally passed. But that has since changed to a terrible feeling of betrayal when it was seen that the law was not being enforced. The public wanted hunting to stop – we believe they still do and will share this sense of betrayal.”

Both the CA and HSA agree on one aspect, that the police have not been actively enforcing the Law. It may be “wasting police time” or “the police continuing to refuse to properly enforce the ban”, or perhaps the large numbers of supporters for both sides out weighs the number of police officers available to effectively investigate and make arrests. If highly vetted specialist Wildlife Crime Unit volunteers were given the powers to act on behalf of the Law, statistics and arrests for criminal activity may afford both sides an equal opportunity to see success.

To read more about the petition to allow carefully vetted volunteers to become Wildlife Crime Officers please click here OR To sign the petition click here.

For more information on the Hunt Saboteurs Association click here.
For more information on the Countryside Alliance click here.

To buy Lush’s limited edition Fabulous Mrs Fox Bubble Bar which is available until Boxing Day click here.

Photo By Shimgray

The NWCU (National Wildlife Crime Unit) since operation 3 years ago, have reduced their Wildlife Crime staff from 14 to 9 due to lack of funding and have made only 51 convictions in 2008-2009 which is only 3.3% of the cases they dealt with, reported the Sunday national newspapers.

Wildlife crime is on the increase but with only 9 members of staff for the whole of the UK suggests there is no commitment for the protection of our wildlife and its environment.
“There is far too much wildlife crime going on in the countryside. The scale of it is unacceptable in the modern age.” Dr. Mark Avery, RSPBs conservation director said.

There are many wildlife crimes happening every single day such as extracting badgers from their setts and making them fight against terriers for money, stealing bird eggs, poisoning birds of prey, killing bats, trapping and snaring animals, illegal fox hunting, hare coursing, poaching or destruction of animal habitats.

There are thousands of volunteers working for conservation trusts, looking after wildlife and their habitats who would happily welcome the responsibility to ‘protect and serve’ endangered animals and be recognised in Law. By being highly vetted by the police, it will only be those volunteers with sincerest ethics and suitably qualified that will be able to become an enforcement officer for wildlife.

NCWU figures do not include attacks against farm animals or domestic animals, which have risen from 105,000 in 2003 to 140,000 last year.
Northumbria ranks highest in the latest crime figures (525), followed by Humberside (119). Also shamed are Grampian, Tayside, Lancashire, Northern Wales, Gwent, Devon, Cornwall and Northern Ireland. Not all counties have been cited, suggesting that there are not enough resources to enforce the law and the real statistics could be very much higher.

Whilst there is great appreciation of the NWCU’s work to date, unfortunately staff levels are not enough to be able to effectively police our countryside. From February to July 2009, 241 incidents were recorded for badger persecution. If staffing levels were higher, the statistics reported would probably indicate that the true level of crime against Britain’s wildlife is much higher than originally shown. Allowing trained volunteers to increase the man hours spent on cases could see a huge rise in successful convictions which together with prevention management consultations, will help safe guard our animals and their homes.

Help the NWCU by allowing qualified volunteers to work alongside the existing staff members by signing the petition here.