Latest news with #BBOWT
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Warming chalk streams a 'perfect environmental storm'
Rising temperatures in chalk streams are damaging them and suffocating wildlife, conservations have streams are very rare and ecologically important habitats, mainly found in southern England, and home to species including the endangered white clawed if the water is too warm, the oxygen level is lowered and the wildlife die, according to the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) .A spokesperson for the Environment Agency (EA) said it had increased environmental monitoring in response to the weather conditions. It also asked the public to report concerning sightings such as fish in distress. There are only 200 known chalk streams in the world, 85% of which are in are generally a constant temperature, staying between about 10 and 12C, according to the Angling Trust's Peter when he took the temperature of the River Pang in Berkshire he found it to be over 18C."That's when the damage starts to occur," he said."It lowers that whole oxygen level... and when it dries up it completely kills the life in it."Julian Cooper from BBOWT said high temperatures had knock-on ecological impacts."Warming water, less oxygen, less rainfall, more extraction, it's sort of the perfect environmental storm," he said people had a "massive responsibility" to conserve water, and also called for better agricultural policy to support conservation along the rivers. The EA spokesperson said the Thames area had received only 50% of the rainfall it expected over the last three months, which was putting the environment under "increasing stress"."We're increasing our environmental monitoring and preparing for potential impacts like pollution incidents and wildlife distress as water levels fall," they Monday, Thames Water announced a hosepipe ban for parts of its patch as a result of low Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the government had secured £2b of water company investment to "restore our iconic chalk streams". You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Wildlife trust criticises new biodiversity net gain proposal
A wildlife trust condemns the government's proposal to weaken biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements warning that it could "devastate local nature".The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) says the government's requirements for small and medium-sized housing developments will erode community wellbeing across the three was introduced to ensure that new developments leave nature in a better state than Executive of BBOWT, Estelle Bailey said: "This is an alarming and short-sighted proposal from a Government that just months ago promised to put nature at the heart of development." Under the government's new plans which is out for consultation, smaller development which make up 70% of all housing projects in England, could be trust said: "This would cause widespread damage to local wildlife, green spaces and community health." Ms Bailey explained that in the three counties smaller housing developments often take place near "treasured wild space" which is home to declining species like hedgehogs, bats and said: "Removing BNG requirements would not only jeopardise the survival of these habitats, without any obligation to restore or replace them, but it would also see generations to come living in dwellings devoid of nature." Currently, small sites are generally developments with nine houses or fewer, although the consultation is also looking at changing the rules for developments of up to 49 houses. If small sites are removed from BNG, potentially around 80% of demand for BNG units will be wiped out. Director of External Affairs and Land Recovery at BBOWT, Matthew Stanton said: "It tells communities that nature doesn't matter unless it's big or easy to quantify, which is the opposite of what we need during a nature and climate crisis.""Stripping BNG from small developments is a clear backward step that we urge the Government to reconsider," he added.A Defra spokesperson said: "This Government inherited a failed planning system that blocks infrastructure and does little for nature's recovery."We are fully committed to Biodiversity Net Gain and making it work even more effectively for developers and for nature."That is why our consultation explores easier, quicker, and cheaper routes for developers to deliver gains for nature." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Racehorse charity founder Grace Muir appointed MBE
A charity founder who won two BBC awards for her contribution to animal welfare has been appointed an MBE. Grace Muir, CEO of the Wantage Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme (HEROS), has been recognised for services to charity, animal welfare and education in the King's Birthday Honours. She had previously won two Make a Difference awards in 2024 for Berkshire and Muir said she hoped the honour would "reflect some of my passion and future vision into HEROS to make us do more". HEROS was established in 2006 with a primary focus on ex-racehorse retraining and rehoming, and in 2023 it opened a forest school for students with special education Muir said she had not started the charity "for any honour". "But it is such an honour," she said."I couldn't do this without my team and if it can reflect some of my passion and future vision into HEROS to make us do more and make this shine the light on racing and the good it's trying to do, then that's what it's for." Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) CEO Estelle Bailey as also been honoured with an MBE for services to nature's charity's achievements include a £500,000 nature restoration project."It's really not the sort of letter you get every day," Ms Bailey said."To read the words MBE was just absolutely extraordinary, it took my breath away for a moment."She added that charitable life was "really hard when you're working really for blood, sweat and tears - also not a lot of money". "But it was that moment of recognition for me that was just really super special." 'Nice people have noticed' Neil Stockton, chair of Oxford Hospital Radio Cherwell, was honoured with a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to hospital radio and to the local Stockton said the service - established in 1967 - provided "more than just playing records in a little cupboard in the corner". "It was actually going round the wards talking to patients, making them the stars of the shows, getting out into local communities," he said."After all these years it's nice to feel that people have noticed that this crackpot that spends all his time in studios wiring and talking to people on the radio is being honoured in this way." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
West Oxfordshire council defends four litter fines in decade
Only four fines have been issued for littering by West Oxfordshire District Council in the past decade, figures obtained by the BBC have revealed.A Freedom of Information request showed a total of 401 fixed penalty notices for the offence have been handed out by councils across Oxfordshire since City Council gave the most at Oxfordshire District Council said it took environmental offences "seriously" but argued fines can only be given when people are seen littering, which can "limit enforcement opportunities". Liam Walker, a Conservative councillor on the council, said the low level of fines was "astonishing" but he was also shocked at the level of littering."It's not just about enforcement from the council... and government and police, it's all also about education - teaching people not to be throwing litter in this day and age," he were given powers to issue larger fines of up to £500 for littering in Adams is part of the group Thame Wombles and does a litter pick most days, collecting as much as eight bags of rubbish at a time. "To make an example of a few people, it just might stop others doing it," she said."[Littering is] just pure laziness from people." The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) warned that littering has a serious impact on Polonara, community wildlife officer, said small mammals like hedgehogs were at said: "There's a huge issue where they get stuck in a lot of different litter, especially when they're looking for food, they can't free themselves and then they die."When asked about the level of fines handed out, West Oxfordshire District Council said it did recognise the importance of keeping public spaces clean.A spokesperson said: "Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for littering can only be issued when individuals are directly observed committing an offence, which can limit enforcement opportunities. "In many cases, litter found in public areas does not include identifying information, making it difficult to take formal action." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Photography competition back celebrating local wildlife
An annual photography competition, open to both amateur and professional enthusiasts of all ages, is Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has launched its annual nature photography competition for year's prizes include a smart bird feeder camera with AI species recognition and and a chance for photos to be featured in the trust's 2026 wildlife events manager Serena Millen-Quinn said: "Every year we're blown away by the creativity and talent on display. It's a real reminder of how important the natural world is to people." She added the trust was continuing its mobile phone category after it "proved hugely popular"."Whether you're snapping a fox in your garden or a butterfly on one of our reserves, we'd love to see your photos," she Deeney, a regular competition judge, said: "A top tip to stand out with some great photos is to take a moment to observe your subject."Often, slow and steady wins the race, if you are patient and stay silent then wildlife may come to you." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
