Latest news with #TheWildlifeTrusts
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Delight as photographers capture majestic bird spotted in Bolton
Keen photographers have captured stunning pictures of the majestic Kingfisher in Bolton, which is home to the aptly named Kingfisher trail. Although Kingfishers are widespread and can be found on almost any river bank or canal, they are, according to The Wildlife Trusts, 'surprisingly tricky to spot'. Members of The Bolton News Camera Club have caught the river bird in Smithills. Kingfishers, with their stunning colours. fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface. This beautiful photo captures a Kingfisher in Smithills. (Image: Lisa Rayner) The above photograph by Lisa Rayner show a fledged Kingfisher, which was captured in Smithills. Smithills ward Cllr Sue Priest said: 'We are very lucky to have such a wealth of green spaces in Smithills. READ MORE: 'I know that we have had a number of sightings around the area, including at the Doffcocker Lodge and around Smithills Hall Estate too. This Kingfisher was also spotted in Bolton. (Image: Ewa Heska) 'The Smithills Community Alliance have been working tirelessly to rehabilitate wildlife in the area, such as putting newts back into the ponds and restoring walkways. 'Our local groups have made a brilliant difference to out green spaces here at Smithills.' Chair of the community group, Friends of Longsight Park, home of the Kingfisher Trail, Jane Wilcock said: 'Kingfishers are distinctive fish feeding birds. 'There have been plenty of sightings around the borough. I know that they have been spotted down Bradshaw Valley, Jumbles Reservoir, Longsight Park and of course the famous Kingfisher trail.' Bolton's famous Kingfisher Trail consists of a scenic 14-mile route connecting the rural West Pennine Moors to the centres of Bury, Bolton and Salford. Bolton's 14-mile Kingfisher trail. (Image: Nick Haworth) The trail connects sites including Ringley Woods, Philips Park, Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, Moses Gate Country Park, Leverhulme Park and Upper Bradshaw Valley Nature Reserve. The trail was originally set up by the Croal-Irwell Valley Ranger Service in the early 1990s to highlight the incredible abundance of wildlife reclaiming a once industrial valley. Sights on the King Fisher Trail include Bradshaw Hall, Rock Hall Firwood Fold Meccano Bridge, The Kingfisher Trail is home to a wide range of wildlife species and provides a recreation resource which is important for the region's people, wildlife and heritage. Jane added: 'Kingfishers usually have more muted markings when they are younger, these become brighter with age. 'People usually only see a flash of a blue arrow; they can be quite speedy! 'Although the birds have always been seen around the Bolton borough, I would say that sightings are becoming more frequent – although I'm not sure if this is because people are remembering to keep an eye out for them!' Secretary of the Bradshaw Brook Fly Fishing Club John Frazer: 'The group has been undergoing insect monitoring since last year, which can to monitor the health of the river. 'A healthy insect population would indicate a healthy fish population, which therefore means that Kingfishers will have an abundance of food.'
Evening Standard
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Happy birthday Sir David Attenborough
"}],"loginUrl":"/login"}> On his 99th birthday, the great man is still campaigning, this time for our oceans Emma Robertshaw Today Sir David Attenborough celebrates his 99th birthday. The outpouring of love for the world's favourite storyteller began several days ago when Prince William hailed David's 'lifetime of extraordinary service to our planet' and declared, 'may we all raise a glass to a true giant and continue the mission he has led with such grace and urgency'. Elsewhere, Billie Eilish and others did their best to pin down the magic of David's inspiration in the pages of the Guardian. David 'brings out the childlike curiosity within us all' (Eilish). 'His voice is one of wonder that we have the good fortune to exist in the same space and time as these bewildering, beautiful creatures' (Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage). 'He's shown me life on Earth is miraculous, beautiful, brutal; that all species matter and in harming nature we harm ourselves' (climate scientist Dave Reay.) I've seen David, a great spontaneous orator, arrive to celebrate the opening of new Wildlife Trust nature reserves and, after a brief guided tour and some searching questions, witnessed him raising the roof with the most rousing of speeches in front of thousands of people. But while Sir David may be the most professional of communicators, I prefer author Amy-Jane Beer's description of him as 'a real-world Gandalf or Merlin' whose 'quests have enriched, bewitched, inspired and motivated generations.' When Blue Planet came out, the great producer Alastair Fothergill reported that applicants for the marine biology course at the University of Southampton doubled. No doubt this will be replicated in the coming months, for today is also the day his awe-inspiring new film, Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness, opens in cinemas and his book of the same name is out too. No one can say he's taking it easy – and there's an understandable urgency to his work. Of his latest documentary about the natural wonders and threats to the sea, he writes: 'I will not see how that story ends, but, after a lifetime of exploring our planet, I remain convinced that the more people enjoy and understand the natural world, the greater our hope of saving both it and ourselves becomes.' Despite a career spent exploring the farthest corners of the globe, Sir David loves the wildlife, seasons and landscapes of Great Britain best and his support of nature charities here is testament to this. Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust's Tilton Cutting Nature Reserve is where he searched for fossils as a young boy and it is said to have given him his love of the natural world. (Indeed, Ocean begins with David's earliest memories of ammonites there.) Since then, Sir David has spent 60 years championing the work of The Wildlife Trusts and nature recovery projects across the UK. Happy birthday Sir David, from us all! Emma Robertshaw is Head of Media Relations at The Wildlife Trusts MORE ABOUT
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I heard someone say shark and thought it's a hoax'
Members of the public tried to help a 1.5m (5ft) shark get into deeper waters amid fears it could have become stranded on the shoreline. A Coastguard crew was called out to "ensure public safety" after being alerted by witnesses who spotted the shark near Aberystwyth Pier, Ceredigion, on Friday afternoon as people were cooling off in the water during the hot spell. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), which also sent members to the scene, said it was believed to be a porbeagle, which are regular visitors to the UK coast and can grow up to 11ft (3.5m) long. "It is advised that members of the public don't attempt to handle a shark if it strands to avoid injury," it said, in a statement. "Porbeagles are not naturally aggressive towards humans, though there are reports of people being bitten when trying to help them back to sea." Sophie Griffiths, 35, from Aberystwyth, said her nine-year-old son had been swimming in the sea not long after school had finished when they were alerted, along with a group of paddleboarders. "I heard someone say 'shark' and thought it was just a hoax," she said. "Everyone had a bit of a shock. "It's a first for me seeing the shark. I'm 35, born and raised in Aberystwyth." Wales 'lacks plan' to tackle scale of nature loss UK's rarest wildlife being 'pushed to extinction' by grass fires Exclusion zone brought in to protect wildlife Max Walker, who saw the shark from nearby Aberystwyth pier, said "no-one was allowed in the sea for a bit" due to the sighting. "It was kind of swimming back and forth along the length of the beach - it looked a bit disorientated to be honest." BDMLR, which estimated the shark to be 1.5m in length, said its dorsal fin was flushed red in colour, an "indication it was distressed and not oxygenating itself properly". "It continued to swim close to shore for several hours, attracting a large group of people." Charity The Wildlife Trusts said the porbeagle is a member of the Lamnidae shark family, making it one of the closest living relatives of the great white shark. A porbeagle can weigh up to 230kg and can be "mistaken for the great white shark" with its blue colouring, white belly and white mark at the rear base of its dorsal fin. The charity said it was usually found in deep water, where it hunts a variety of smaller fish including mackerel, whiting and herring, as well as octopus, squid and cuttlefish. BDMLR said partners from conservation charity The Shark Trust "arrived to lead advice on the incident should the shark strand, though it eventually swam into deeper water". Milford Haven Coastguard received a number of calls from concerned members of the public about the shark and a local team was sent to ensure public safety, a spokesman told BBC News. Shark spotted swimming near tourist ship British Divers Marine Life Rescue HM Coastguard The Shark Trust The Wildlife Trusts
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I heard someone say shark and thought it's a hoax'
Members of the public tried to help a 1.5m (5ft) shark get into deeper waters amid fears it could have become stranded on the shoreline. A Coastguard crew was called out to "ensure public safety" after being alerted by witnesses who spotted the shark near Aberystwyth Pier, Ceredigion, on Friday afternoon as people were cooling off in the water during the hot spell. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), which also sent members to the scene, said it was believed to be a porbeagle, which are regular visitors to the UK coast and can grow up to 11ft (3.5m) long. "It is advised that members of the public don't attempt to handle a shark if it strands to avoid injury," it said, in a statement. "Porbeagles are not naturally aggressive towards humans, though there are reports of people being bitten when trying to help them back to sea." Sophie Griffiths, 35, from Aberystwyth, said her nine-year-old son had been swimming in the sea not long after school had finished when they were alerted, along with a group of paddleboarders. "I heard someone say 'shark' and thought it was just a hoax," she said. "Everyone had a bit of a shock. "It's a first for me seeing the shark. I'm 35, born and raised in Aberystwyth." Wales 'lacks plan' to tackle scale of nature loss UK's rarest wildlife being 'pushed to extinction' by grass fires Exclusion zone brought in to protect wildlife Max Walker, who saw the shark from nearby Aberystwyth pier, said "no-one was allowed in the sea for a bit" due to the sighting. "It was kind of swimming back and forth along the length of the beach - it looked a bit disorientated to be honest." BDMLR, which estimated the shark to be 1.5m in length, said its dorsal fin was flushed red in colour, an "indication it was distressed and not oxygenating itself properly". "It continued to swim close to shore for several hours, attracting a large group of people." Charity The Wildlife Trusts said the porbeagle is a member of the Lamnidae shark family, making it one of the closest living relatives of the great white shark. A porbeagle can weigh up to 230kg and can be "mistaken for the great white shark" with its blue colouring, white belly and white mark at the rear base of its dorsal fin. The charity said it was usually found in deep water, where it hunts a variety of smaller fish including mackerel, whiting and herring, as well as octopus, squid and cuttlefish. BDMLR said partners from conservation charity The Shark Trust "arrived to lead advice on the incident should the shark strand, though it eventually swam into deeper water". Milford Haven Coastguard received a number of calls from concerned members of the public about the shark and a local team was sent to ensure public safety, a spokesman told BBC News. Shark spotted swimming near tourist ship British Divers Marine Life Rescue HM Coastguard The Shark Trust The Wildlife Trusts
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Venomous snakes warning issued after increased sightings in Wales
A warning has been issued to after a large number of sightings of venomous snakes have been reported in coastal parts of Swansea. A number of people have reported seeing adders in Port Eynon and Rhosili in Gower. Police have warned people - particularly those with dogs - to be wary and to keep their pets on leads at all times. Dog walkers are also warned to seek veterinary advice immediately if the suspect their dog has been bitten by an adder. According to the Wildlife Trusts, the adder is 'our only venomous snake' in the UK that is often spotted 'basking in the sunshine in woodland glades and on heathlands'. Adders can live up to 15 years and measure up to 80 cm in length. For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here. READ MORE: First picture of Cefn Cribwr alleged murder victim as police issue update READ MORE: Jet2 slashes prices of holidays to European country after collapse of major travel firm The Wildlife Trusts adds: 'The adder is the UK's only venomous snake but its venom is generally of little danger to humans. An adder bite can be painful and cause a inflammation, but is really only dangerous to the very young, ill or old. 'If bitten, medical attention should be sought immediately. Adders are secretive animals and prefer to slither off into the undergrowth rather than confront and bite humans and domestic animals - most attacks happen when they are trodden on or picked up. Instead, they use their venom to immobilise and kill their prey of small mammals, nestlings and lizards.' South Wales Police posted a short video of an adder in slithering along the ground in Gower. A spokesman for the force said: "Please be advised that we have received several reports regarding increased sightings of adders in Port Eynon (sand dunes) and near Worm's Head, Rhosilli. Please do the right thing and keep your dogs on leads at all times. "Adders are the only venomous snakes in the UK and are generally actIve from early spring to October when they aren't hibernating. They often live in sand dunes, hillsides, moors and woodlands and are more likely to bite dogs between April and July, especially in the late afternoon. "If you suspect an adder has bitten your dog, immediately check for two small puncture marks, swelling or redness in the area - these are common signs of adder bites. It is important to keep your dog calm and still to prevent the venom spreading and seek veterinary advice ASAP."
