Five Exmoor ponies will be spending their summer at the RSPB’s Broadwater Warren nature reserve helping to restore heathland. Over the next 6 months, the hairy visitors will graze their way through grasses, birch, bramble and gorse across the nature reserve to recover habitat lost over the last 60 years. The ponies belong to The Sussex Pony Grazing and Conservation … [Read more...] about Exmoor ponies travel to South Downs reserve
Nature Reserve
First winter bitterns return to Rye Meads
The first 2011 winter Bitterns have returned to Rye Meads nature reserve, in Hertfordshire. Just one week after 1000 small silver rudd were released into the lagoon to provide much needed food for fish eating bird the first bittern has been seen at the RSPB reserve. The bittern is one of the UK’s rarest birds, and they frequently over winter in the Lee Valley. Last … [Read more...] about First winter bitterns return to Rye Meads
Highest orchid numbers for 25 years
A recent butterfly-orchid survey in Wales has revealed double the number of rare plants compared to last year and the highest number for 25 years. The annual count of butterfly-orchids took place at the Caeau Tan y Bwlch reserve near Caernarfon, Wales. In total 3495 orchids were counted, up from 1439 in 2010. Plantlife Cymru’s conservation manager Dr Trevor Dines … [Read more...] about Highest orchid numbers for 25 years
RSPB fights back against invasive plants
The RSPB is launching a battle against invasive non-native plants. As summer gets underway, the wildlife charity wants to make people aware of the risk of accidentally introducing potentially damaging plant life into their own gardens as well as into the wild. The total cost of invasive non-native species to the British economy is estimated at £1.7 billion annually, … [Read more...] about RSPB fights back against invasive plants
Rare dragonfly returns to south Cumbria
After years of absence the first white-faced darters emerge at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, near Kendal, in south Cumbria. The recurrence of this darter dragonfly is part of the Cumbria Wildlife Trusts three-year programme to re-introduce it to the area. It is hoped that these darters will now start to colonise the nature reserve. The moss has over the last 13 … [Read more...] about Rare dragonfly returns to south Cumbria