Sean Bean in the recording studio

Sean Bean, who is a charismatic actor and Woodland Trust member, has recorded a personal commentary for a new Trust video spearheading the charity’s campaign to double native tree cover in the UK.

Recognised for his starring roles as Sharpe in the Napoleonic Wars drama and Boromir in Lord of the Rings, Sean is currently gracing the cinema screens as Zeus in the film adaptation of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.  Although Sean’s screen presence is well known, his passion for trees is less so.

His Sheffield childhood of woodland adventures left such a mark that he has recently funded tree planting in his home district of Handsworth, a perfect reason for backing the Trust’s ambitious planting vision, much of it on other people’s land.

“I have been personally involved with tree planting back home in Sheffield and can see the benefits it brings,” said Sean.

His narrative describes native woodland as lush, green, full of wildlife and intrigue, the inspiration for artists, poets, and writers throughout history.  It’s precious, a magical place to escape to and re-live childhood memories.

But he asks the key question: “ Who’s planting for our children and why?”

The video presents a scenic snapshot of not only why established woodland matters but also the important role played by the 11 million native trees planted by the Trust over recent years.

Sean’s distinctive Yorkshire accent echoes the Trust’s encouragement to everyone to follow suit and get tree planting; whether moved by a personal commitment to help the environment, create wildlife habitat or to improve their community.

His message to all is the same; that trees and woods are vital to life on our planet, helping nature adapt to climate change.  They absorb carbon, and give out oxygen, improve quality and flow of water and purify the air, prevent soil erosion and give us shelter and shade.

And he ends with a compelling call to everyone to plant trees across the UK, which is now one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with just 12 per cent cover, a quarter of the European average.

“What about the future?” asks Sean. “We want to see a doubling of native woodland, to help people, wildlife and the planet. That’s an ambitious target and needs commitment from both Government and you.”

“We need you, your organisation, school or community to get involved. Together we can help UK woodland flourish.”

More information

The Woodland Trust – The UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.

Sean Bean – Internet Movie database.

The Daffodil Bus – part of the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Moorsbus service – will run on Sundays from 21 March until 18 April plus Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday.

Daffodil

With some 50,000 people visiting Farndale each year to see the daffodils, the shuttle bus helps keep congestion on the narrow roads to a minimum. Last year saw 1636 passengers make use of the bus – an increase of 120% on 2008.

All day-travel on the bus costs £2.50 per person and anyone parking at the National Park Authority’s car park in Hutton-le-Hole will get the cost of their car parking (£2.20 or £1 after 4pm) deducted from the price.

Please note; concessionary passes can no longer be used on the Farndale service.

The bus stops at several points along the dale enabling people to access the Farndale Daffodil Walk that runs alongside the River Dove between Low Mill and Church Houses.

A mobile display unit staffed by the Authority’s voluntary rangers is at Low Mill throughout the daffodil season providing information on what to see and do in Farndale and the wider North York Moors.

David Smith, the National Park Authority’s Senior Ranger for the Southern Area, said:  “The winter’s heavy snow and frost will mean a later showing for the daffodils this year but with its patchwork of fields, wooded river banks and picturesque hamlets,

Farndale is a beautiful place to walk irrespective of whether the daffodils are out. Farming is the mainstay of Farndale and using the bus enables the community to go about its daily life uninterrupted.”

Moorsbus Timetables and further information about the Daffodil Bus service are available from local shops and National Park and Tourist Information Centres and online at www.moors.uk.net/moorsbus .

Over 60 tonnes of spruce branches from Grizedale are used for the event’s 30 jump fences.

Grand National - Pic Aintree

The fence-building programme begins a month before the Grand National meeting is run, with spruce sourced and transported from Grizedale Forest to Aintree.

There are currently 98 potential runners and riders for the four and a half mile long course, which will then be whittled down to final maximum of 40 competitors.

The event will be watched by up to 70,000 spectators at Aintree and millions of BBC television viewers around the world.

The Forestry Commission’s Andy Bennett, says: ”It’s been a long-held tradition for Aintree racecourse to source branches from surplus trees in Grizedale Forest to construct the jumps in the Grand National and we’re only too happy to help out.

“Many of the branches used at Aintree are from trees which have been felled by people having chainsaw assessments and training. Instead of going to waste, it’s a great opportunity for the branches to be recycled and play a big part in one of the world’s biggest horse races.”

The Chair is the tallest and most notorious fence on the Grand National course at five feet, two inches high. It has a six-foot ditch on the take-off side. During the race the jockeys have to complete almost two circuits, which means that most of the fences are jumped twice.

Each fence is made out of wood and then ‘dressed’ with distinctive green branches of spruce direct from Grizedale.

About six weeks before the event takes place, the branches are collected by Mark Shaw from Landcare, the Aintree-based company contracted to provide the materials for the fences. He makes up to 14 journeys in his truck to safely transport the spruce to the racecourse.

Mark Shaw, says: “It’s a challenging task to make sure the fences are in place in time for the big day.

“A huge amount of work is put into making the Grand National course. I don’t think many people watching the race realise how much effort goes into ensuring the fences are perfect.”

For more information about the Forestry Commission in North West England, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland

A project run by the British Science Association is encouraging people to take photos of animals and plant life that are unfamiliar and post them on a national website for recognition.

The Association created the ‘What on Earth’ project for National Science and Engineering Week, which runs from today (March 12) to March 21.

Its website at www.whatonearth.org.uk contains a ‘star species’ section of animals that are either at risk of extinction or are making a comeback.

Andrew Colley, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Member Champion for Conservation of the Natural Environment, said: “The Yorkshire Dales National Park is renowned for its rich and diverse wildlife. Some of the species are well known, like red squirrels and bluebells, but others are extremely rare. This is a chance for anyone who sees something that they don’t recognise to find out what it is.”

Natalie Broadhurst, the Association’s Regional Programmes Officer, said: “The theme of the week is ‘Earth’ and we are running various projects on a biodiversity theme to complement the United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity this year. These include, amongst many others, our “What on Earth” project, which aims to get the public to send in photos of British wildlife that they don’t recognise so that we can link them up with experts who can help identify it during the week.

“Upload a photo of anything you don’t recognise and in return we’ll try our best to identify it and – subject to availability – we will send you a free packet of seeds designed to encourage more creatures to inhabit your local space in addition to a Biodiversity Information and Activity Pack.”

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn presented the Ragged Robin Conservation Group with an award for the Countryside category in the second Yorkshire Post Environment Awards, which were by hosted by TV personality Julia Bradbury.

The group, which includes some Dales Volunteers, works every week with Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Access Rangers Ian Broadwith, who covers Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, and Paul Sheehan, in Lower Wensleydale. Together they turn their hand to everything from coppicing to path maintenance – all for the love of the area and the opportunity to see it cared for.

Conservation Group co-ordinator Brian Rawling was over the moon with the award.

“It was a close thing when we looked at the CVs of the other two groups who were shortlisted in the category,” he said.

“But we are surprised and delighted that we have won. The award is recognition of the work the whole team has done over the last few years with the Access Rangers.”

Authority Volunteers Co-ordinator Rae (correct) Lonsdale said: “The Ragged Robin members have been a very significant help to the Ranger Service in the north east of the National Park over a number of years and this award is a great recognition of their enthusiasm and hard work.”

Malcolm Petyt, the Authority’s Member Champion for Recreation Management, said: “I am constantly impressed by the contribution our volunteers make to the National Park through many types of work.

The Ragged Robins are an important part of this, and I am delighted their efforts have been recognised by this award.”

Tythe the Barn Owl with children from Hawkshead and Levens Valley Schools, along with Kate Jordan Education Officer for Grizedale and Hilary Lange UK Conservation Officer for the World Owl Trust.

The World Owl Trust at Muncaster Castle near Ravenglass and the Forestry Commission at Grizedale Forest near Ambleside are joint partners in the Rusland Valley Barn Owl Project, which aims to improve barn owl numbers and habitat in Grizedale and the Rusland Valley.  The project is funded by the Tourism and Conservation Partnership.

As part of the project, the experts have been working with children from Hawkshead and Levens Valley Primary Schools to get them involved and teach them about the barn owl conservation work taking place on their doorstep.

The Forestry Commission and the World Owl Trust recently staged an event at The Yan, Grizedale’s forest learning centre, where the schools took part in a number of hands on activities, including art work and finding out what a barn owl eats by examining their undigested food.

Tania Crockett, People Engagement Manager for the Forestry Commission at Grizedale said:

“We’re delighted that two local primary schools joined us to take part in this exciting project.  The combination of activities worked really well, from seeing a barn owl up close to thinking in detail about its eyes and feathers and creating artwork about them.

“The highlight of the day was finding the bones from a bat in an owl pellet – fairly uncommon food for a barn owl!”

The children also got the opportunity to express what they had learnt with help from local artist Hannah Fox.  Taking inspiration from the owls, the children each made an individual piece of art from felts and other textiles.  These will all be brought together to make six striking wall hangings which will remain on exhibition in the Yan Building to inspire more people about the project.

The World Owl Trust and Forestry Commission hope that by encouraging landowners to provide nest boxes and leave some areas of rough grassland uncultivated, young owls will disperse through the valley and boost the local population.

Hilary Lange UK Conservation Officer of the World Owl Trust said:

“We are educating local children about the project, hopefully to ensure the future of the barn owl in their area.

“We now hope the children’s parents will offer new sites and manage a small area of land with barn owls in mind, to ensure there will be a future for this magnificent bird”.

More information
World Owl Trust
Forestry Commission in North West England
Muncaster Castle

Alder moth (Donegal Moths)

Moth species
All macro moth species recorded in Donegal are listed alphabetically, and each one has a map. Most also have one or more photos, all of which have been taken in Donegal. This may be of interest, particularly for those species which show geographical variation. While some of the photos and specimens are rather poor, they are included for the record.

Moth sightings
Here, maps show where moths have been found, and in what numbers. There are also descriptions of some of the more interesting moth locations, giving details of habitat and species present.

Donegal Biodiversity Project
The Donegal Biodiversity Project aims to increase our knowledge of the fauna and flora of County Donegal through long term scientific survey and research.

Major developments in the wider context are taking place and MothsIreland has started to collate and map records from all the active moth enthusiasts in the Republic of Ireland.

It has also set up a validation sub-committee which is establishing the criteria needed to have records accepted. Also the Irish Biological Records Centre is now up and running, and will in due course take over the collection and management of records, and may also be able to support the participation of the people on the ground in this process.

More information
Donegal Moths website.

Moths Ireland project – mapping Irelands’ moths.

UK Moths - Guide to Moths of Great Britain and Ireland.

The competition has a junior class for people up to 25 years of age and a senior class for 25 and older and is run by Exmoor National Park Authority in partnership with the Devon Hedge Group and the Somerset Hedge Group.

Tara Wright from Exmoor National Park Authority said: “We are looking forward to receiving entries from farmers, landowners and contractors on Exmoor who have carried out good quality work on hedges and people are welcome to enter more than one hedge if they wish to.

“Exmoor’s hedges are particularly characteristic and are very valuable for wildlife, supporting a diverse range of plants, insects, birds and small mammals. We are grateful to the Exmoor Trust for generously donating the prize money for this competition.”

Entries must reach Exmoor National Park Authority by 31 March 2010; for more information and an entry form telephone Tara Wright on 01398 322282 or visit www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

The hedge must be within the National Park boundary and have been laid during the winter of 2008/09 or 2009/10.

The judges will be looking for a combination of stock-proofness, regrowth, traditional style, wildlife value and overall appearance.

Traditionally, Exmoor’s hedges have been managed by regular laying to conserve them as stock-proof features.

Laying is where hedges are allowed to grow up, commonly for around 8-15 years, and then each stem (or steeper) is partially cut through and literally laid down flat.

Laid steepers are woven under previously laid stems or secured with a wooden crook.

This work is very skilled and provides employment for numerous people during the winter months on Exmoor.

Owners of the up-market accommodation for doves and pigeons are being asked to get in touch with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) to help in a special new conservation project.

Robert White, the Authority’s Senior Conservation Archaeologist, said: “Dovecotes played an important part in rural life in the National Park.

“The birds they housed provided their owners with many resources, including eggs and meat for food, feathers for bedding – and even fertiliser.

Dovecote - Picture courtesy of Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

“We want to hear from people who have them – whether they are built into their houses or outbuildings or are freestanding – because, if we can identify more examples and increase our knowledge of their design and distribution, we will be able to improve the ways we can conserve and protect them in the future.

“Not all of them have survived so we would also be interested in any documentary records.“

Feature of the Season

Dovecotes are put under the microscope in the YDNPA’s Feature of the Season Project, which was designed to increase understanding and appreciation of unrecorded, small-scale historic features in the National Park ranging from unusual gate posts and churn stands to veteran trees and turbary stones.

The project aims to create accessible records of them – mainly through the help of Dales Volunteers – that are included in the National Park Authority’s Historic Environment Record.

An article about them can be found on the YDNPA website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/dovecotes_main.htm.

Anyone who has information about dovecotes is asked to contact the Authority’s historic environment team on 01969 652300.

The Authority took first place in the best public building installation category of the Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Partnership awards for its biomass boiler, which uses wood chippings to heat the Colvend offices.

The new, environmentally-friendly heating system was only fired up for the first time in December.

William Weston, the YDNPA’s Member Champion for Climate Change and Paul Drake, the Authority’s Project and Estates Officer, received the award from BBC Look North weatherman and climate correspondent Paul Hudson at a special evening in York.

Mr Weston said: “The Authority has already reduced its carbon emissions by an impressive 20 per cent since 2005. One of the main reasons for the decision to go ahead with the biomass boiler was our determination to reduce even further our carbon footprint.”

Paul said: “The award is fantastic recognition that the National Park Authority is doing all it can to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting carbon emissions.”

The Authority received a generous grant towards the installation of the boiler from CO2Sense Yorkshire, through the Wood Fuel Programme delivered by Yorwoods.

CO2Sense Yorkshire is a not-for-profit company funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund and the programme is supporting and funding businesses and other organisations to develop the sourcing, supply and use of wood fuel in Yorkshire and Humber.

For further information, see www.co2sense.org.uk or contact woodfuel@co2sense.org.uk, 0113 237 8478.

Every couple of weeks, a delivery of woodchips is tipped into the underground fuel store and a mechanical arm and an Archimedes screw gather them up and feed them into the boiler automatically. The boiler uses a hot air ignition system to get the woodchips burning and they then heat water that is piped underground to the offices where a heat exchanger pushes the heat into the existing radiators. The wood fuel is produced locally and sourced from sustainably managed woodlands within the Yorkshire region.

An interpretation board will be sited in the reception area at Colvend to explain the system to visitors and the Authority will offer site visits for members of the public to look around.

In 2007, the Authority publicly confirmed its commitment to helping counter the effects of climate change by joining more than 200 other organisations in supporting the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, a voluntary pledge to address the issues of climate change.

The Authority’s Yoredale offices in Bainbridge were built incorporating the latest in environmentally-friendly equipment including a ground water heat pump built under the new car park which captures the low-grade heat of the ground and uses it to provide underfloor heating to the offices. The complex is partly built into a grass bank and has a grass roof to try to reduce its impact on the surrounding area. The grass layer also acts as a natural insulation.