It’s an age-old tradition – using fresh holly branches to adorn your table and give your home a festive look – but conservationists are warning that using too much could leave wildlife out in the cold this winter. Holly is a valuable source of food and shelter for a number of birds, mammals and insects. Thrushes, robins, dunnocks, finches and goldcrests use it for … [Read more...] about Don’t over trim your holly bush
Conservationists
Whooper swans land early in Scotland
Staff and volunteers at two Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) sites in the UK have been surprised by the early arrival of Whooper Swans this year. The first Whooper swans of the season have arrived at Welney WWT centre, Norfolk, and at Caerlaverock WWT centre, Scotland. The record-breaking early arrivals are thought to have caught the northerly tail winds from Iceland, … [Read more...] about Whooper swans land early in Scotland
Lifeline for struggling farmland birds
A study has found that by leaving patches of common ryegrass to go to seed instead of cutting for silage, birds have an abundant supply of seeds to last them through the winter. The survey was funded by Defra and published in the journal; Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. Small birds like yellowhammers and reed buntings often suffer from a lack of seed food … [Read more...] about Lifeline for struggling farmland birds
Bittern numbers increase
Bittern numbers are on the increase, according to the latest research. This threatened heron has enjoyed its most successful year since it recolonised the UK in 1911, following 25 years of British extinction. Conservationists add that this year’s success is even more remarkable, following the long spell of cold weather earlier in the year, which was known to have … [Read more...] about Bittern numbers increase
Ten years of saving skylarks
The RSPB’s ten year long project at Hope Farm in the Cambridgeshire countryside has been a "bigger success than expected", says the charity. The organisation embarked on the project in 2000 in an attempt to show that a modern commercially-run farm could make a profit and provide habitats for wildlife at the same time. In that time the number of farmland birds at Hope Farm … [Read more...] about Ten years of saving skylarks