North Yorkshire project to create new 'insect super-highways'
A new project to boost insect populations across North Yorkshire by creating wildlife "superhighways" has been launched.The GrubsUp! scheme will link land in the North York Moors National Park along the A170, which connects Thirsk and Scarborough.Covering 200 square miles (520sqkm), the project will include planting native hedgerows, restoring grasslands and creating ponds and wetlands.Holly Ramsden, project officer for the programme, said insect populations had "seen alarming declines in abundance and species richness" in recent years.
"Nearly all of us have noticed a drop in butterflies visiting our gardens, less moths around streetlights and far fewer insects on our cars than there once were," Ms Ramsden said."These invertebrates are crucial to a healthy ecosystem, acting as important food sources for birds and small mammals."She said pollinating insects played a vital role in crop yield and keeping the air clean.
Ms Ramsden said she hoped to inspire as many people as possible to get involved in the project their own way."Often all we need to do is just be slightly less tidy, leaving some grass a little longer or having a woodpile or compost heap," she said."The more of us who can do this, the more connected our habitats will be and the greater the benefits for nature."GrubsUp! is looking to collaborate with farmers, landowners, and local communities to protect and restore habitats for insects. The project would involve enhancing road verges and other green spaces, with the aim of boosting biodiversity and ensuring that insects can move between sites.
The two-year scheme has received funding from Santander UK.Andrew Wilson, director of communications at the bank, said: "Protecting the wildlife and nature around us is not only vital in the fight against climate change, but for the economy too, with more than half of global GDP dependent on it."Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
05-06-2025
- BBC News
Surrey men fined after Lincolnshire hare coursing incident
Two men have been fined after they were found guilty of hare coursing in Connors, 24, and Jerry Connors, 19, both of Rectory Lane, Woodmansterne, Banstead, Surrey, were arrested and charged after an incident in Crowland in March pair, and two others, were found guilty of hunting a wild mammal with dogs and trespass during a trial in December for their arrests were later issued and they were sentenced at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on 29 May. Lincolnshire Police said officers had been called out on Sunday 12 March 2023 to reports of four men hare reported seeing the men walking across fields with one driving a blue Daihatsu Terios 4x4 through newly planted a short chase, the four members of the group were pair were both individually fined £875 and ordered to pay £4929.83 compensation and a £350 victim surcharge. What is hare coursing? Coursers will walk along a field to frighten the hare into the openThe dog catches the hare and kills it by "ragging" it - shaking the animal in its teethThe dogs - usually greyhounds, lurchers or salukis - are on a slip lead, threaded so it can be easily releasedThe dead hare is usually left in the field or thrown in a ditchHare coursing is illegal throughout the UK. The Hunting Act 2004, makes it an offence to hunt wild mammals with dogsSource: Lincolnshire Police Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- BBC News
Two arrests and birds seized in Bradford in cockfighting probe
Two men have been arrested and several cockerels seized from six properties in Bradford in connection with an investigation into animal man was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of causing an animal fight to take place and taking part in an animal fight, while another man was arrested on suspicion of being present at an animal fight, according to West Yorkshire RSPCA confirmed its officers had joined police as warrants were carried out at six addresses in Bradford and two addresses in Burton-upon-Trent and Warrington as part of the investigation.A "number" of cockerels were removed during those operations and placed into the care of the RSPCA, a spokesperson said. "The warrants are part of an ongoing investigation led by the police," they added. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Stephen Fry gives rare insight into relationship with younger husband
Celebrity Traitors contestant Stephen Fry opened up to Rylan Clark about his marriage to Elliott Spencer on the latest episode of the BBC Sounds podcast How to Be in Love Broadcaster Stephen Fry has given a rare insight into his marriage to Elliott Spencer after more than a decade together. It's included him revealing that he has discovered aspects of pop culture through his younger husband. Stephen, 67, and Elliott, 38, have been together since 2013. The couple celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary earlier this year and the former QI host described himself as "a lucky man" in a post marking the occasion in January. The Blackadder star has now spoken about his marriage whilst a guest on the BBC Sounds podcast Rylan: How to Be in Love. He was interviewed by host Rylan Clark, 36, for the latest episode, which was released earlier today. Stephen was asked about the age gap between the couple and said he "stopped thinking about it". He went on to suggest in the discussion that a younger partner can be "more experienced in the world as it is than as it was". The comedian, who said that he has "completely different tastes in things" compared to his husband Elliott, added: "So much of what I love in music and literature and so on is from not necessarily this century. It isn't from this century." Asked how that plays out, he said: "It's wonderful." Stephen then revealed that Elliott has introduced him to rapper Kendrick Lamar and wrestling brand WWE, for example, with him sharing that he's now a fan of them himself. Stephen said of his husband: "He teaches me things I just didn't know. He introduced me to Kendrick Lamar, which was a great thing to do because [he's] I've decided is a great poetical spirit - a really remarkable figure." He continued: "So that, plus, now you're really going to laugh here, because I thought 'is he insane?' He has a great affection for, and I guess you could call it ironic, but it's real, for WWE." Stephen - who is set to compete on Celebrity Traitors later this year - said that Elliott introduced him to the "cast of characters" in wrestling, whom he described as "bloody talented". Asked if he's a fan now, he said: "I kind of am." He added that he's even bought tickets for WrestleMania in Las Vegas. Asked about the "secret" to a "successful" ten-year marriage, Stephen said that every relationship is different. He said that each relationship is "brand new" and has "never been seen before," adding: "So I can tell you how to have a successful relationship with Elliott, but that's probably not very helpful." Sharing his thoughts, he added: "All the normal human virtues, some of which are forgotten virtues, but one of the most important human virtues I think isn't even really considered a virtue, but it is one that changes the world. "It's not kindness, which obviously is important, but it's a subset of kindness, perhaps. And it's cheerfulness. When you're in the presence of a cheerful person it makes everything better. They're like their own sunshine. So that's one of the things - if one is down to help the other come up."
