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The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Butterflywatch: UV torches aid monitoring of rare and elusive species
Nature lovers have been enjoying using UV torches to discover the vivid fluorescent colours of plants and animals at night for a few years now. Now lepidopterists have realised that UV torches provide a highly effective new way to find and count rare and elusive butterflies. Butterfly Conservation is working with Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) to train volunteers to hunt for glow-in-the-dark caterpillars. Elusive tree-dwelling butterflies such as the rare brown hairstreak are particularly difficult to monitor in the wild. The butterfly lives in treetops and is difficult to see as an adult, and its caterpillars are superbly camouflaged. Brown hairstreak colonies are typically monitored by painstakingly hunting for its microscopic eggs, which are found on blackthorn twigs in midwinter. But now there's an easier way: shining a UV torch on hedgerows at night can reveal glowing caterpillars. UV torches make the luminous larvae gleam as if they are producing their own light – an effect known as photoluminescence. The well-camouflaged chrysalis of the purple emperor is virtually impossible to find in daylight and yet it also glows under UV light – delighting enthusiasts who search for these charismatic insects. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Steven Lofting, a conservation manager for Butterfly Conservation, says surveying via UV torches could be 'a gamechanger' and significantly improve our understanding of rare and hard-to-find butterflies' distribution, abundance and ecology.
The Guardian
16-04-2025
- The Guardian
Toby Carvery threatened with legal action over felling of ancient London oak
Toby Carvery has been threatened with legal action by a council over the felling of an ancient oak in a park in north London. The restaurant chain is facing national outrage after its decision to fell the up to 500-year-old tree without warning on 3 April. On Wednesday, Enfield council, which had leased the land on which the tree stood for a Toby Carvery car park, escalated its dispute with the company by challenging its rationale for the felling and signalling its plan to sue. It came after Mitchells & Butlers Retail (M&BR), which owns Toby Carvery, claimed the tree had to be taken down because it was 'mostly dead and diseased' and posed a risk to the public. The council leader, Ergin Erbil, claimed this was false. He said: 'We have evidence that this tree was alive and starting to grow new spring leaves when this action was taken. Our team of experts checked the tree in December 2024 and found it was healthy and posed no risk to the neighbouring car park and its users. 'As the tree shows clear signs of life, we will also do everything we can to help the tree regrow.' The council had reported Toby Carvery to the Metropolitan police, but officers decided to take no further action as there was no preservation order on the tree. On Tuesday the police closed an investigation into the incident after deciding it was a civil matter. Erbil said: 'The police are treating it as a civil matter, but we will continue to take appropriate legal action.' He added: 'As the landowner, we believe this action has broken the terms of the lease which requires Toby Carvery to maintain and protect the existing landscape. The tree was the oldest one on site and cutting it down seems to be a clear breach of this condition.' 'We're therefore seeking advice and will take appropriate legal action. If any criminal activity is found during our investigation, we will not hesitate to report this to the police again. Erbil also said he was 'outraged' that Toby Carvery had 'cut down this beautiful ancient oak tree without seeking any permissions or advice from Enfield council'. He said: 'This tree would have been home to countless wildlife, fungi and pollinators. This tree is a part of our ecological and cultural heritage. The Woodland Trust said the oak in Whitewebbs Park was an important habitat, supporting hundreds of species including endangered deadwood beetles. Ed Pyne, the Woodland Trust's senior conservation adviser for trees, said: 'This is the most shocking fell I think I've ever seen in more than a decade working with ancient trees. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion 'In my view, and the view of many others, this is ecologically much more significant than the Sycamore Gap – and certainly a more irreplaceable tree. 'Ancient oaks are particularly rich in biodiversity, with habitats that take centuries to develop. They simply can't be replaced by younger trees and can't be replaced quickly.' He added: 'Some of the biodiversity associated with ancient trees, like the Whitewebbs oak, is among the most threatened in Europe.' Ed Allnut, an Enfield resident and the secretary of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group, said local people wanted justice for the old oak. He said: 'The tree belonged to Enfield and to our national heritage. I am personally devastated. We want answers, and we want guarantees the other trees here are being protected properly.' M&BR has been approached for comment. It is understood M&BR plans to conduct a review of the incident to determine whether felling the tree was right or wrong. Its chief executive, Phil Urban, also plans to respond to all those who have complained to him about the destruction of the tree. A source close to the company says Urban will apologise for the distress caused but not the action taken.
The Guardian
27-02-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
More than 100,000 African seeds put in Svalbard vault for safekeeping
More than 100,000 seeds from across Africa have been deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world's repository for specimens intended to preserve crop diversity in the event of disaster. Among the latest additions are seeds critical to building climate resilience, such as the tree Faidherbia albida, which turns nitrogen into ammonia and nitrates, and Cordia africana, the Sudan teak, a tree renowned for its strength and durability. The seeds, from 177 different species, were delivered to the Norwegian vault on Tuesday by Dr Éliane Ubalijoro, the chief executive of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (Cifor-Icraf). 'For me, seeds are about hope,' Ubalijoro said. 'They're about moving beyond survival, particularly when you come from places that have gone through really difficult times. When I think of my country of Rwanda and what happened in 1994, seed banks were critical when it came to rebuilding after the genocide.' Ubalijoro said countries that had experienced disaster and conflict could emerge as leaders in the fight against climate breakdown. 'We understand the urgency,' she said. 'We understand what it is to go through deep despair and having to rebuild completely. It also creates personal stories which people who haven't gone through such collective traumas can relate to. It's this idea of having a seed bank for the planet. How we care collectively for each other, how we care for the biodiversity of our food systems is critical. 'We have areas in Asia, Africa and Latin America that go from drought to wetlands, so there's a huge opportunity to learn from the knowledge of Indigenous peoples to create the resilience we need.' It was also important to nurture environments where native trees could thrive, Ubalijoro said. 'If you plant trees in the wrong area, you risk creating what are called ecological deserts where local pollinators don't recognise or feed on those trees, and that actually decreases biodiversity.' She said recognising the significance of women's roles in agriculture was also important. 'In many countries in Africa, 60% of women or more participate in agriculture. We must ensure the biodiversity that is needed to protect these 'women's crops', and make sure they are prioritised,' she said. 'I'm a mother. I viscerally feel the need to preserve our planet's biodiversity. It's about creating the possibility of a greener, more resilient future together, and making sure the landscapes we cherish today continue to thrive for generations to come.' Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Faidherbia albida An indigenous African tree that is known for its fast growth, Faidherbia albida can reach up to 30 metres tall. It is a much sought-after nitrogen-fixing tree, meaning it converts nitrogen found in the atmosphere into a form that can be used by plants, improving soil health and productivity and helping ecosystems adapt to change. Acacia polyacantha Also known as white thorn, Acacia polyacantha is a flowering tree that can grow to up to 25 metres in height. It has several medicinal uses including for treating snake bites and livestock infections such as salmonella. Its leaves also serve as fodder for cattle. Adansonia digitata The African baobab is the most widespread tree species of the adansonia species group. It is nutrient-rich and high in fibre, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin C. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and its leaves are used to treat kidney and bladder diseases, asthma, diarrhoea and insect bites. Sesbania sesbanSesbania sesban, also known as Egyptian riverhemp, has nitrogen fixation properties, meaning it can help with soil fertility and stabilisation. It is also a food source, with its leaves being used to feed livestock and its seeds fermented into tempeh. Its leaves have antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. Cordia africana A mid-sized, white-flowered evergreen tree, the Sudan teak is a valuable timber species native to Africa and part of the borage family. It is known for its strength, durability and resistance to moisture, decay and pests, and requires little maintenance when used for carpentry. It also bears edible fruit.
