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The Guardian
21 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: Redstarts are a master of the cover version
It was at this Plantlife reserve five years ago that I first realised how common redstarts, among our most beautiful summer migrants, are also astonishing vocal mimics. Understanding of the subject has been patchy, which is strange, given that as long ago as 1845 William Yarrell noted how males closely imitate the notes of the sparrow and chaffinch, and the songs of the garden warbler and lesser whitethroat. I can confirm three of those species. He reported that a Mr Sweet had trained his captive redstart to reproduce the Copenhagen Waltz! One reason why we've largely ignored the redstart's gift for imitation is because the song phrases are so short. They last just two or three seconds and are delivered at an average of 6.5 a minute. Yet any lack of sustained musicality is more than compensated for by the vocalist's persistence. One male here sang continuously above my head for 100 minutes, delivering 650 phrases. In a whole day it must produce thousands of song units, and across a full spring possibly hundreds of thousands. Almost all contain snippets of other birds' tunes. Perhaps the most moving during my spring of research – in which I've listed 52 mimicked species – is the corroboration of a 2021 encounter, when I heard a Derbyshire redstart do a rendition of European bee-eater calls. This year, I've heard it several times, and it's never less than shiver-inducing. Let's zoom into outer space now to look down on Deep Dale to grasp its full significance. There is first the neural, vocal achievement of the original author, the bee-eater, which masters and shares this note across its entire population – a beautifully soft, remarkably far-carrying burred sound. Then there is the redstart, which brings all that bee-eater neural processing from the Mediterranean or Africa, and reproduces it precisely as part of its own Derbyshire songscape. And who knows for how long redstarts have been enriching the collective mind of Deep Dale with this vocal traffic? Perhaps thousands of years. If ochre and charcoal animals drawn by humans on cave walls 30,000 years ago are art, then this consummate mimesis by a redstart is surely no less an achievement nor less artful. Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Glasgow Times
New nature network to protect Glasgow's bees and butterflies
The Clyde Grasslands initiative will connect wildlife habitats across the Glasgow City Region (GCR), aiming to support pollinating insects vital to ecosystems and agriculture. This initiative forms part of the broader GCR Green Network and aims to address declining pollinator populations by restoring and connecting wildlife habitats across urban and rural areas. Read more: Warning over 'beast' invasive plant that's in 'super growth' in the UK right now Pollinators like bees and butterflies are vital for healthy ecosystems and agriculture, with pollination services estimated to be worth £630 million a year to UK farming. However, they are increasingly threatened by habitat fragmentation, land-use change, and the effects of climate change. Rory McLeod, development officer for the GCR Green Network, said: "Restoring habitat networks for pollinators and other invertebrates through increased connectivity protects species and allows them to move freely throughout Glasgow City Region, adapting to environmental change. "Building resilient networks of species-rich grasslands is key to the Scottish Government's vision of creating nature networks across Scotland. "Pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and anything we can do to help them benefits us all." In 2024, the GCR Green Network commissioned SAC Consulting's Food and Footprint team to examine the main barriers facing pollinators. Their research found that urban infrastructure, dense woodlands, and poorly managed grasslands all restrict pollinator movement and reduce biodiversity. To tackle these challenges, SAC Consulting combined spatial data with biological records to map current grassland habitats. Using network analysis, the team developed an innovative framework that identifies key sites for protection and areas where habitat connectivity can be strengthened. This mapping process also enables collaboration with the eight councils within the 330,000-hectare Glasgow City Region. Mr McLeod said: "SAC Consulting were able to integrate key skills in pollinator and plant ecology, with spatial modelling expertise. "Their knowledge of existing spatial datasets, alongside network modelling, allowed them to develop an innovative framework to identify and model species-rich grassland networks. "The outputs from this study will underpin the identification of regional nature networks and their subsequent delivery for many years to come." Read more: New heating controls installed in multi-storey council blocks The project is being supported by key conservation organisations including Plantlife, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and Butterfly Conservation, whose combined expertise is helping shape the design and implementation of the Clyde Grasslands network. The initiative will support not only pollinators, but also broader ecosystem services - such as improved biodiversity, soil health, and climate resilience - which benefit both people and nature. As part of Scotland's national push to develop nature networks, the Clyde Grasslands project represents a significant step toward delivering the Scottish Government's vision of a more resilient and nature-rich landscape. For more information about the project, visit the SAC Consulting website.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners with patchy lawns should do this 'regularly' to stop it dying
Gardening experts are advising people to complete this task 'regularly' during the summer time to ensure fresh growth, as temperatures are set to rise in the upcoming weeks Gardeners struggling to keep their lawns looking green and luscious have been advised to do one thing in June. With summer fast approaching and the temperatures getting warmer and warmer, many of us will be spending quite some time in our gardens. Therefore, gardening tasks have become more important - and there's something you must do to prevent your lawn from drying out completely. With the month of May coming to an end, as well as the 'No Mow May' initiative, gardeners will have to take care of their gardens, now more than ever, to ensure that their grass is looking healthier and thicker before the summer arrives. The 'No Mow May' campaign, started by Plantlife, encouraged gardeners to refrain from moving their lawns throughout the entire month. The whole purpose was to boost biodiversity by allowing wild flowers and plants to grow and fully bloom, as well as providing food and shelter to other wildlife. As shared by gardening expert Fiona Jenkins from My Job Quote, there are a few tips and tricks that will help gardeners ensure that their outdoor spaces are looking greener than ever before. She explained: 'Regular mowing encourages grass to grow through a process known as the 'stimulation effect'. The principle works much the same as how we are advised to get our hair trimmed regularly to enable it to grow faster!' 'When you mow your lawn consistently to a good height you are removing the top portion of the grass blades, which prompts it to produce new shoots and leaves to compensate, resulting in a denser turf. It also has the additional benefit of removing any weeds which may be stealing sunlight, nutrients, and water from your grass.' By regularly mowing the lawn during the summertime, it can prevent it from drying out. However, it's important to adjust the height and frequency, as the job might do otherwise, and affect the growth and overall health of the lawn. The great thing about gardening is that you don't need a lot of expertise but just some interest to keep your outdoor space as tidy and organised as possible. Just in time for the best season of the year, when temperatures are hotter, and there's an excuse to gather all of your loved ones by hosting a barbecue or a simple get together.
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- General
- Rhyl Journal
'No Mow May' initiative could be extended across Wales
The proposal aims to reverse decades of habitat loss by altering the management of road verges and green spaces. Carolyn Thomas, MS, has highlighted the potential environmental benefits of this change, suggesting that the verges could become natural wildlife corridors. She said: "Adopting new approaches to grassland management allows us to give biodiversity a boost while continuing to meet the needs of our communities. "By treating road verges as wildlife corridors, we can combat the nature and climate crisis." The roadside verges across Wales cover an estimated 15,000 hectares – approximately the size of Swansea. With careful management, this area could become one of Wales' most extensive networks of wildflower-rich grasslands. These efforts are deemed crucial, given the estimated decline of more than 90 percent of lowland semi-natural grassland in Wales between the 1930s and 1990s. Denbighshire County Council is a model of this approach, with their project treating verges and urban green spaces as wildflower meadows. The council collects seeds from these sites and grows native plants in their nursery, ensuring that all new planting is locally sourced and ecologically sound. The roadside verges across Wales cover an estimated 15,000 hectares (Image: Supplied) The number of species increased from around 40 to 120 after just four years of management. However, only a few councils in Wales have committed to 'No Mow May' this year. Mark Schofield, road verges and green spaces advisor at Plantlife, said: "There may be reasons some local authorities feel compelled to mow in May, but if we're serious about restoring native wildflowers, we need to move from short-term tidy-ups to long-term transformation. "No Mow May is a great place to start — but leaving some open space unmown for longer can support the lifecycles of a huge diversity of wildlife that depend on less disturbed wildflower-rich grassland." The campaign is also encouraging individuals to reduce mowing in their gardens. Ms Thomas said: "We're encouraging more people across Wales to help and connect with wildlife in their gardens by letting the wildflowers grow and being part of the No Mow Movement, starting in May and continuing through the summer." Around a third of people in Wales still mow their own lawns twice a month during the summer. Plantlife is urging more to join the movement and let nature lead, allowing 'No Mow May' to continue into June.
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Local authorities apparently didn't appreciate her natural look: 'I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,' she said. Advertisement But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact, a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she's no derelict, but a participant in an international movement. These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There's a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses. Advertisement 'I have a lot of insects and bugs and that's protein, so the birds and the bird's nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,' she said. 'I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It's just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.' The movement is popularized by groups such as Plantlife, a conservation organization based in England. American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30% of a U.S. household's total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA. Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month. A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at Iowa State University, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints. The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking noninvasive plants that fit each region's climate and precipitation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, 'meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,' said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact. Advertisement Beltramini Healan isn't just letting just anything grow — she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive. Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors' kids come over to look for butterflies. It's about giving them the time 'to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,' said Griffith. He said he's never heard a complaint — in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard. 'I just enjoy coming out and walking around,' said Griffith. 'And looking at it, it's kind of peaceful. It's kinda relaxing.'
