Latest news with #RSPB
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Swift garden at Hampton Court show highlights at-risk ‘symbol of summer skies'
A display highlighting dramatic declines of swifts and how households can help the 'symbol of summer skies' will feature at this year's Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) which puts on the annual festival has teamed up with wildlife charity the RSPB for the first time to create a show garden focused on swifts, supported by comedian Bill Bailey. Migrating 3,400 miles to Africa and back each year, the birds spend almost all their lives in flight – eating, drinking, mating and even sleeping on the wing – and depend on healthy insect populations and suitable nesting sites for their breeding season in the UK, conservationists say. But the species has seen numbers plummet by 68% between 1995 and 2023, and they are 'red-listed' over concerns about their survival. The swift garden aims to raise awareness of the species' declines, as well as celebrating their extraordinary migrations, and representing habitats frequented by swifts in the UK including meadows, woodlands and gardens. It will promote diverse, insect-friendly planting to show gardeners how they can support the birds and other wildlife, and feature sculptural representations of nesting sites, such as 'swift bricks' which can be introduced into homes and other buildings to give them somewhere to breed. Plants in the garden include field maples, common limes, teasel, catmint and devil's bit scabious, which all support and attract insects. Lilly Gomm, landscape architect and garden designer who is designing the show garden, said: 'These magnificent birds are a true symbol of summer skies and they need our help. 'By showcasing habitats rich in biodiversity and the small changes we can all make, like planting insect-friendly flowers or installing swift boxes, I hope visitors will feel inspired to take action for wildlife in their own gardens.' Bailey, an RHS ambassador, said swifts were 'majestic birds'. 'I'm delighted to be joining forces with the RSPB and the RHS to bring attention to these incredible aerial acrobats, whose presence is such a joyful part of summer,' he said. 'Their dramatic decline is deeply worrying but there's still a lot we can do to help. 'This garden is not only a celebration of swifts but also a timely reminder that by making our homes and gardens more wildlife-friendly, we can all play a part in securing their future.' RSPB executive director Emma Marsh said the garden was 'a great opportunity for us to demonstrate to visitors not only how incredible swifts are, but to highlight the very real peril they currently face, due to habitat loss and therefore their homes, and declining insect populations which means they have less food available'. 'We've lost more than 60% of the UK's swifts in the last 30 years,' she said. 'They need our help urgently and this amazing garden will show people how they can take action themselves.' She added that all gardeners working together to support wildlife would make a huge difference for swifts and other birds.
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
I opposed Galloway National Park for very good reasons
My own opposition to the proposal stemmed from spending my teens on the edge of an English national park and experiencing first-hand the impact of increased tourism in an area without the infrastructure to support it. The impact included significant increases in house prices as a result of second homes/holiday lets forcing young people out, a problem exacerbated by the low-paid, seasonal work that increased tourism brought. Those who argue that a national park would help stem the declining population in Galloway perhaps don't have that experience. READ MORE: Scottish Government scraps plans for Galloway national park As for the environmental impact, Galloway already has the Biosphere, the Galloway Forest Park, the Cairnsmore National Nature Reserve, RSPB reserves etc etc – all without a national park. I cannot understand how increasing tourist traffic into the area will 'improve' an already protected environment. Further, as a supporter of Scottish independence, I believe that the economic future of an independent Scotland will be far better served by growing our renewable energy resources than by increasing tourism. Norway doesn't depend on tourists, neither should we. You reported only recently on how much investment and jobs renewable energy will bring to the Highlands – significantly more than tourism and with high-skilled jobs and new housing built in. It is very disappointing that none of those you quote in your report acknowledge that a clear majority of respondents to the consultation said 'no thanks'. I am delighted that the Scottish Government has accepted the majority view here. Lisa Smith Newton Stewart IN his article 'Time to give McColl another crack at running shipyard' (May 26), Kenny MacAskill makes some interesting claims. He states 'the failings at Ferguson Marine fundamentally rest with others', ie not Mr McColl. Well, Mr McColl was responsible for Ferguson Marine when the ferries contract was signed in 2015. He wasn't forced to accept its terms. He was still responsible in 2019 when the company went into administration with debts of £70 million, leading to its nationalisation. Trying to absolve Mr McColl of any responsibility is a bit like saying 'a big boy did it and ran away". READ MORE: I do not share Kenny MacAskill's optimism about Ferguson yard Mr MacAskill also claims that currently, 'the ratio of suits in the offices to workers in overalls is ridiculously out of kilter'. Does he have the figures to justify this claim – or is he making it up? My understanding of the facts of this fiasco has been gained courtesy of our 'unbiased' media. However, I am aware that companies bidding for major construction/engineering/IT projects will sometimes submit bids which are at or even below cost. They assume that 'variations' will arise during the contract and negotiations on these will bring the contract into profit. I have no idea if this is the case here. Douglas Morton Lanark IN his letter of May 28, James Murphy advocates that some of us lay down our lives for independence. That would certainly result in some interesting headlines around the world. To be honest, most countries have gone down that road in the past, including Scotland against England! I've just celebrated my 70th birthday, so how does James expect me to fight a young, trained soldier? Yes, I could set booby traps but it is usually the innocent that get hurt, maimed, or killed by them. With guns you have other problems and again many innocent people get killed. How often have we heard of children being killed or maimed in a war zone, and it is a war zone that James is asking us to set up. READ MORE: Shouldn't all of our efforts be focused on de facto referendum route? Then it comes down to who do we attack first? The police are always in attendance at independence marches but they are not the enemy and many of them support our cause. Another factor to consider if we take up arms, is that Westminster will surely send in Scottish and Welsh troops to quell any revolt. Again, many of them will be sympathetic with our cause. The powers-that-be will take a severe case of brown underpants about sending in English troops and our argument is not against the English troops. There are certain Unionist factions who would love to have a bit of blood to be spilled, but most times we don't see any of them at marches and when they do turn up they're outnumbered by about 1000 to one. Alexander Potts Kilmarnock
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
UK's muddy saltmarshes vital to tackle climate change, report finds
The UK's saltmarshes are vital "sinks" that lock away climate-warming greenhouse gases in layers of mud, according to a new report from WWF. Much of the UK's saltmarshes have been lost to agriculture but the charity says they are unsung heroes in nature's fight against climate change. It is now calling for these muddy, tidal habitats to be added to the official UK inventory of how much carbon is emitted and how much is removed from our atmosphere every year. This formal recognition could, it hopes, provide more of an incentive to restore and protect more of these sites. Working with researchers from the UK's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, a WWF team installed solar-powered greenhouse gas monitoring stations on Hesketh Out Marsh, a saltmarsh in North-West England that has been restored and is managed by the RSPB. Analysing gases in the air flowing around the marsh - over the course of a year - revealed how plants there "breathe in" more carbon dioxide in the summer than they release in winter. These new findings build on previous studies that have measured the amount of carbon in the marshland's mud. To carry it out, the team fixed analytical equipment to a sturdy 2.5m tall tower made of scaffolding poles. The site is regularly flooded by the tide, so the tower has kept their kit safe from salt water and debris. With WWF's ocean conservation specialist, Tom Brook as our guide, we waded through the thigh-high grass to visit the site of the experiment. At low tide, the sea is not visible beyond the expanse of grassland, but the area is littered with driftwood, some plastic waste and there is even a small, upturned boat nearby. "The plants grow so quickly here in spring and summer that they almost grow on top of each other - layering and decomposing," Tom said. "That captures carbon in the soils. So while we're typically taught about how trees breathe in carbon and store that in the wood, here salt marshes are doing that as mud. "So the mud here is just as important for climate mitigation as trees are." WWF has published its first year of findings in a report called The Importance of UK Saltmarshes. Unusually, this been co-published with an insurance company that is interested in understanding the role these sites have in protecting homes from coastal flooding. The UK has lost about 85% of its saltmarshes since 1860. They were seen as useless land and many were drained for agriculture. Hesketh Out Marsh has been restored - bought by the wildlife charity RSPB and re-flooded by tide. Now, in late spring, it is teeming with bird life. A variety of species, including avocets, oyster catchers and black-tailed godwits, probe the mud for food and nest on the land between lagoons and streams. The researchers hope the findings will help make the case to restore and protect more of these muddy bufferzones between the land and the sea. "The mud here is so important," explained Alex Pigott, the RSPB warden at Hesketh Out Marsh. "It's is like a service station for birds." With their differently shaped bills - some ideal for scooping and some for probing - marshland birds feed in the tidal mud. "We know these sites act as a natural flood defences, too and that they store carbon," said Ms Pigott. "Any any of these habitats that we can restore will be a big win for nature."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
UK's muddy saltmarshes vital to tackle climate change, report finds
The UK's saltmarshes are vital "sinks" that lock away climate-warming greenhouse gases in layers of mud, according to a new report from WWF. Much of the UK's saltmarshes have been lost to agriculture but the charity says they are unsung heroes in nature's fight against climate change. It is now calling for these muddy, tidal habitats to be added to the official UK inventory of how much carbon is emitted and how much is removed from our atmosphere every year. This formal recognition could, it hopes, provide more of an incentive to restore and protect more of these sites. Working with researchers from the UK's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, a WWF team installed solar-powered greenhouse gas monitoring stations on Hesketh Out Marsh, a saltmarsh in North-West England that has been restored and is managed by the RSPB. Analysing gases in the air flowing around the marsh - over the course of a year - revealed how plants there "breathe in" more carbon dioxide in the summer than they release in winter. These new findings build on previous studies that have measured the amount of carbon in the marshland's mud. To carry it out, the team fixed analytical equipment to a sturdy 2.5m tall tower made of scaffolding poles. The site is regularly flooded by the tide, so the tower has kept their kit safe from salt water and debris. With WWF's ocean conservation specialist, Tom Brook as our guide, we waded through the thigh-high grass to visit the site of the experiment. At low tide, the sea is not visible beyond the expanse of grassland, but the area is littered with driftwood, some plastic waste and there is even a small, upturned boat nearby. "The plants grow so quickly here in spring and summer that they almost grow on top of each other - layering and decomposing," Tom said. "That captures carbon in the soils. So while we're typically taught about how trees breathe in carbon and store that in the wood, here salt marshes are doing that as mud. "So the mud here is just as important for climate mitigation as trees are." WWF has published its first year of findings in a report called The Importance of UK Saltmarshes. Unusually, this been co-published with an insurance company that is interested in understanding the role these sites have in protecting homes from coastal flooding. The UK has lost about 85% of its saltmarshes since 1860. They were seen as useless land and many were drained for agriculture. Hesketh Out Marsh has been restored - bought by the wildlife charity RSPB and re-flooded by tide. Now, in late spring, it is teeming with bird life. A variety of species, including avocets, oyster catchers and black-tailed godwits, probe the mud for food and nest on the land between lagoons and streams. The researchers hope the findings will help make the case to restore and protect more of these muddy bufferzones between the land and the sea. "The mud here is so important," explained Alex Pigott, the RSPB warden at Hesketh Out Marsh. "It's is like a service station for birds." With their differently shaped bills - some ideal for scooping and some for probing - marshland birds feed in the tidal mud. "We know these sites act as a natural flood defences, too and that they store carbon," said Ms Pigott. "Any any of these habitats that we can restore will be a big win for nature."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
UK's muddy saltmarshes vital to tackle climate change, report finds
The UK's saltmarshes are vital "sinks" that lock away climate-warming greenhouse gases in layers of mud, according to a new report from WWF. Much of the UK's saltmarshes have been lost to agriculture but the charity says they are unsung heroes in nature's fight against climate change. It is now calling for these muddy, tidal habitats to be added to the official UK inventory of how much carbon is emitted and how much is removed from our atmosphere every year. This formal recognition could, it hopes, provide more of an incentive to restore and protect more of these sites. Working with researchers from the UK's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, a WWF team installed solar-powered greenhouse gas monitoring stations on Hesketh Out Marsh, a saltmarsh in North-West England that has been restored and is managed by the RSPB. Analysing gases in the air flowing around the marsh - over the course of a year - revealed how plants there "breathe in" more carbon dioxide in the summer than they release in winter. These new findings build on previous studies that have measured the amount of carbon in the marshland's mud. To carry it out, the team fixed analytical equipment to a sturdy 2.5m tall tower made of scaffolding poles. The site is regularly flooded by the tide, so the tower has kept their kit safe from salt water and debris. With WWF's ocean conservation specialist, Tom Brook as our guide, we waded through the thigh-high grass to visit the site of the experiment. At low tide, the sea is not visible beyond the expanse of grassland, but the area is littered with driftwood, some plastic waste and there is even a small, upturned boat nearby. "The plants grow so quickly here in spring and summer that they almost grow on top of each other - layering and decomposing," Tom said. "That captures carbon in the soils. So while we're typically taught about how trees breathe in carbon and store that in the wood, here salt marshes are doing that as mud. "So the mud here is just as important for climate mitigation as trees are." WWF has published its first year of findings in a report called The Importance of UK Saltmarshes. Unusually, this been co-published with an insurance company that is interested in understanding the role these sites have in protecting homes from coastal flooding. The UK has lost about 85% of its saltmarshes since 1860. They were seen as useless land and many were drained for agriculture. Hesketh Out Marsh has been restored - bought by the wildlife charity RSPB and re-flooded by tide. Now, in late spring, it is teeming with bird life. A variety of species, including avocets, oyster catchers and black-tailed godwits, probe the mud for food and nest on the land between lagoons and streams. The researchers hope the findings will help make the case to restore and protect more of these muddy bufferzones between the land and the sea. "The mud here is so important," explained Alex Pigott, the RSPB warden at Hesketh Out Marsh. "It's is like a service station for birds." With their differently shaped bills - some ideal for scooping and some for probing - marshland birds feed in the tidal mud. "We know these sites act as a natural flood defences, too and that they store carbon," said Ms Pigott. "Any any of these habitats that we can restore will be a big win for nature."
