Tees Valley Wildlife Trust

Cull decision is shot in the dark

2011-12-16T02:20:00.001-08:00

The Wildlife Trusts today express disappointment and regret in advance of the Government’s expected decision to press ahead with a cull of badgers in pilot areas in England.

The Wildlife Trusts call on the Government to put biosecurity and vaccination at the centre of efforts to tackle this disease and avoid wasting more time and money on a badger cull.

Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“A badger cull is the wrong tool to address this serious and complex problem and a distraction from other measures to tackle bovine TB. An industry-led cull with open shooting in the countryside is untested and these pilots will not provide a scientific evaluation of the impact on bovine TB. The rationale for any cull of native species needs to be extremely clear and well proven. We do not believe this is the case with the proposed badger cull.”

The Wildlife Trusts believe that Defra should pursue the following as a matter of priority:
• Support landowners to improve on-farm biosecurity and the deployment of the injectable BadgerBCG vaccine;
• Continue to develop an oral vaccine for badgers;
• Complete development of a cattle vaccine and secure change to EU regulation to permit its commercial deployment.

Paul Wilkinson continues:

“The Government’s priority should be preventing transmission of the disease on-farm, through improved biosecurity, badger vaccination and making swift progress on a cattle vaccine.”

Earlier this year, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was the first non-governmental organisation to begin deployment of the injectable BadgerBCG vaccine on seven of its nature reserves. The outcomes from this first year of a five-year vaccination programme are available in a published report at: www.wildlifetrusts.org/badgers-and-bovineTB

Contact information:

Anna Guthrie (Media & PR Manager)
Office: 01636 670075
Mobile: 07887 754659
Email: aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org

Tanya Perdikou (Media & Campaigns Officer)
Office: 01636 670057
Mobile: 07887 754657
Email: tperdikou@wildlifetrusts.org

Images are available for use with this news release. They are granted on a one-time use basis, in association with this release and the photographer must be credited.

The Wildlife Trusts has an ISDN line available for radio interviews. Please contact us to book an interview.

Notes for editors:

The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) wildlifetrusts.org
There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. We have more than 800,000 members. Find out more about badgers, bovine TB on The Wildlife Trusts’ web page http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/badgers-and-bovineTB.

Winners of The British Wildlife Photography Awards 2011

2011-09-29T02:02:00.000-07:00

Now in its third year, the acclaimed BWPA competition has created another stunning showcase of British wildlife.

The winning image of a jellyfish was captured by Richard Shucksmith. His photo was taken at Sula Sgeir (meaning Gannet Rock) a small uninhabited Scottish island, 41 miles north of Lewis. The inhospitable area is home to exposed islands sustaining an astounding variety of marine life. The remoteness of these islands, as well as the challenge that comes with visiting them, makes Richard’s incredible photo all the more special.

Greg Armfield, Photography and Film Manager from WWF said “A truly beautiful shot of a jellyfish that perfectly captures its iridescent colours and magical qualities. All the more remarkable that it exists in UK waters. Fantastic.”

Competition judge Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said “We are delighted to see how many people from around the UK were inspired by the competition to explore nature in their local area. This year’s entries reflected a real passion, and affection, for local wildlife. This competition is a special opportunity to give the natural world that surrounds us the recognition, and reverence, it deserves.”

The Winners are:

1. BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, (prize £5,000)

Richard Shucksmith, Jellyfish in the Blue Sea of Sula Sgeir, Scotland

2. YOUNG BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS (prize £500 and £300)

Oliver Wilks, fox yawning (aged 16)
Walter Lovell, frog with spawn (aged 8)

3. CATEGORY WINNERS (£1,000 worth of prizes from Canon)

COAST AND MARINE, Richard Shucksmith, “Jellyfish in the Blue Sea of Sula Sgeir”

ANIMAL PORTRAITS, Mark Smith “Mystical Mist, Fallow Deer

HABITAT, Ian Paul Haskell “Hare in Morning Light with Hoar Frost”

ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, Andrew Parkinson “Grey Heron Walking on Water”

URBAN WILDLIFE, David Biggs “Champagne Starling”

WILDLIFE IN MY BACKYARD, Rana Dias “Busy Wasp on Blackberries”

HIDDEN BRITAIN, Leslie Holburn “Scorpion Fly on a Leaf”

LIVING LANDSCAPES:
Connectivity, Graham Eaton “Llyn Idwal – War and Peace”

BRITISH SEASONS, Ross Hoddinott “Summer Insects”

DOCUMENTARY SERIES, Neil Aldridge “Its Only a Game”

WILDLIFE ON VIDEO, Mark Sisson “Great Crested Grebe Family”

Winning Video can be viewed here: link http://vimeo.com/29395313

Exhibition
BWPA are delighted that the touring exhibition of around 70 images will launch this year at the very first WildlifeXpo http://www.wildlifexpo.com , which takes place on the 14th and 15th October at Alexandra Palace, London. The exhibition continues until 28th October.
A year-long tour of the exhibition will follow throughout England, Scotland and Wales. For full details of the nationwide tour visit: http://www.bwpawards.org/page/exhibitions

Competition
For more detailed information about the competition, including how to enter, list of categories, shooting tips, and terms & conditions, please visit the competition website: www.bwpawards.co.uk.

Alum –The Magic Mineral at Loftus Town Hall

2011-09-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in Loftus Town Hall? Do you know why Alum was so important in East Cleveland? Do you know who Lewis Hunton is? These are just 3 questions which you will be able to answer if you visit Loftus Town Hall this weekend as part of Heritage Open days. Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and Loftus Town council are hosting the event as part of this national event and as part of a Heritage lottery funded project “Alum, Alchemy and ammonites”.

Loftus Town Hall was built in 1879 for the growing local population and you will be able to see artefacts related to the history of the building and local council display. Come and view the special Heritage Open day exhibition, highlighting the important role of the Alum industry in the development of the town. There will be a quiz, colouring and games for children.

Loftus Town Hall is situated at the junction of Loftus High Street and Water Lane and will be open for Thursday 8th September until Sunday 11th September form 10.30-16.30 for more details about this and other open days visit http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/home/.

Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Every year on four days in September, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to tithe barns, parish churches to Buddhist temples. It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture.
For more information about the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust visit website

The Alum, Alchemy and Ammonites project was a two year project which has worked to raise the profile of the unique legacy of the alum Industry of East Cleveland. This was done through a series of walks, talks working with school groups and public exhibitions as well as this travelling exhibition for more information visit http://www.tvrigs.org.uk/home-page/alum-alchemy-ammonites.

WildlifeXpo - Just the ticket for wildlife fans

2011-08-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

A brand new wildlife exhibition is coming to London’s Alexandra Palace on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October 2011. WildlifeXpo offers wildlife lovers an exciting combination of exhibitors, lectures and workshops.

Conservation is a key focus for WildlifeXpo. From each ticket sold, £2 will go to The Wildlife Trusts, helping to conserve UK wildlife. Each visitor is able to specify which of the 47 Wildlife Trusts they would like their donation to go to. And it’s not only buying a ticket that will benefit wildlife – at The Wildlife Trusts’ stands (15, 17 and 19) there will be the opportunity to:
• Sign a scale on Petition Fish, The Wildlife Trusts’ petition for Marine Protected Areas around the UK
• Learn how to help wildlife in your garden
• Join your local Wildlife Trust, helping to ensure the wildlife on your doorstep is protected

London Wildlife Trust (stand 1) will run outdoor wildlife-spotting activities for families, and Deputy Chief Executive Mathew Frith will give a lecture on London: a wild place.

Tickets for WildlifeXpo are £10 for one day, and £18 for both. After entry all entertainment is free, including presentations from natural history TV presenters Mark Carwardine and Chris Packham, David Lindo ‘The Urban Birder’ and artist David Shepherd CBE.

Over 70 of the winning and commended entries from the 2011 British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) will be on display. The Wildlife Trusts are sponsors of BWPA, within which they have their own category; Living Landscape: Connectivity.

Powell Ettinger, chairman of WildlifeXpo, said: “With the growing public interest in wildlife conservation and an increasing desire to experience wildlife in the wild, both at home and abroad, we felt that a dedicated exhibition with expert advice and topical presentations would satisfy this need. Moreover, having it all under one roof at such a fabulous venue as Alexandra Palace makes it even more special.”

More information:
• WildlifeXpo www.wildlifexpo.com
• The Wildlife Trusts and Petition Fish www.wildlifetrusts.org
• London Wildlife Trust www.wildlondon.org.uk
• BWPA www.bwpawards.org

-Ends-
Contact information:

Anna Guthrie (Media & PR Manager)
Office: 01636 670075
Mobile: 07887 754659
Email: aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org

Tanya Perdikou (Media & Campaigns Officer)
Office: 01636 670057
Mobile: 07887 754657
Email: tperdikou@wildlifetrusts.org

Images are available for use with this news release. They are granted on a one-time use basis, in association with this release and the photographer must be credited.

Notes for editors:
The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) wildlifetrusts.org
There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch. Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas. We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife. Every year we work with thousands of schools and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors. Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their own Living Landscapes and Living Seas

Otters are back – in every county in England | Environment | The Guardian

2011-08-23T04:32:00.000-07:00

Otters are back – in every county in England | Environment | The Guardian

North Sea Video

2011-08-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

The Wildlife Trust’s North Sea Project, in conjunction with Yorkshire Diver Andy Jackson, has produced a short film to illustrate the beautiful and sometimes bizarre marine wildlife that lives in the North Sea.

The film produced for The North Sea Wildlife Trusts, available at www.northseawildlife.org.uk shatters the myth that the North Sea is both grey and lifeless. All species featured can be found right here in our cool Northern waters. Alongside footage of rich habitats such as kelp forests and rocky reefs, the film introduces us to some of the weird and wonderful animals that live beneath the waves. Molluscs include filter feeding mussels and scavenging whelks, while footage of crustaceans shows not only the familiar Edible Crab and Common Lobster, but also the delicate and easily overlooked spider crab. Anemones, starfish, seaweeds and brightly coloured fish also make an appearance, alongside the charismatic Grey Seal, with all footage shot on location here in the North Sea.

The video aims to provide an education about how rich the North Sea is for marine wildlife, and gather support for The Wildlife Trust’s Petition Fish Campaign, a campaign aiming to gather public support to ensure our UK marine wildlife gains protection through the creation of a network of nature reserves under the UKs seas.

Andy Jackson comments:
“I have thoroughly enjoyed capturing the footage of these remarkable creatures. At times the path to getting rewarding results has been a winding one though, with the Lumpsucker footage being a prime example. After several years trying to film one I managed to get perfect conditions at Flamborough Head, with still, clear water. Within minutes of entering the water I had a beautiful specimen in front of the camera fanning its eggs. Unfortunately the battery in my camera completely failed before I could even capture a second! I had to wait until April 2011 before the conditions came right again and I encountered another off Gristhorpe, he's a handsome pink specimen though and well worth the wait!”

“I urge everyone to support the Wildlife Trusts and get involved and sign a scale; these creatures need our protection before it is too late.”

Kirsten Smith, The Wildlife Trusts North Sea Living Seas Manager say:
“It’s fantastic to be able to show people what’s out there under the waves and to inspire people to take action to protect marine wildlife. Andy’s video shows a wonderful selection of North Sea wildlife from the small shorecrab commonly found in rockpools to deep rocky overhangs covered in corals and anemones”

• To view the video and find out more about the marine wildlife in the North Sea visit www.northseawildlife.org.uk
• ‘like’ our facebook page www.facebook.com/northseawildlife
• Support The Wildlife Trusts Marine Protected Areas campaign www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish

Be a part of the ‘Big Wildlife Garden’

2011-08-22T04:47:00.000-07:00

Everyone has the opportunity to help create the UK’s largest nature reserve from today (Friday 19 August) – with the launch of the ‘Big Wildlife Garden’ (BWG) competition.

The competition - a commitment in the Government’s recently published Natural Environment White Paper - is being run by The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society, with funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The Big Wildlife Garden competition encourages everyone to do some wildlife gardening on their doorstep. Anyone is eligible to take part – including individuals, communities, businesses and schools – and no space is too small to be transformed; be it a window box, school playing field or retail park in a town, city or in the countryside. There are six categories[1] and entry is free via the BWG website.

It is hoped that, through showcasing some of the best wildlife gardens in the UK, the competition will inspire everyone to take action and turn their gardens into wildlife havens; a great way of getting active and fit.

The competition is being launched by Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Defra, alongside the new England Biodiversity Strategy (EBS). The EBS will set out how the Government will aim to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020.

Launching the competition, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, said:

“No matter how big or small, every garden is a home for wildlife, and this competition gives gardeners the chance to be recognised for what their hard work has achieved, inspiring others to do what they can to make their gardens more wildlife-friendly. Ultimately, gardening for nature can create not just a local home for wildlife, it can help to connect habitats together from our neighbourhoods to our national parks.”

Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“The UK’s wildlife is under pressure from loss of habitat. But, we can all make a difference by gardening with wildlife in mind. We want to see nature reserves around the UK being connected through pockets of healthy habitat within the wider landscape, in both urban and rural areas. Clearly, gardens are an essential part of this vision. The Big Wildlife Garden competition aims to raise awareness of the role we can all play in becoming nature’s guardians.”

Dr Roger Williams, Head of Science RHS, said:

“Twenty years ago few people really thought about the importance of gardens for UK wildlife. Now we know how vital they are.

“The huge interest in our ‘Plants for Bugs’ research project and our ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ label initiative shows how this awareness has changed. We encourage as many gardeners interested in wildlife to enter the competition as possible.”

Entries for the BWG competition can be submitted from today. The competition closes on Sunday 20 May 2012. Prizes include a wildlife gardening masterclass at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, where the prize-giving ceremony will take place, along with membership of The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society.

Sarah Raven, gardener, writer and television presenter, will be on the BWG competition judging panel. She said:

“I am really excited about the launch of this competition. The more people we can get interested and involved in gardening that has a wildlife focus the better. So many positive and easy-to-do things can be done to make gardens wildlife-friendly and running a competition like this will help raise awareness.”

The BWG website contains top wildlife gardening tips and links entrants to a community of gardeners throughout the UK, with a facility to view BWG entries in their locality. It also includes a ‘My Garden’ page where information about gardens can be uploaded and stored. To find out more visit the BWG website www.bigwildlifegarden.org.uk.

Contact information:
Anna Guthrie (Media & PR Manager), The Wildlife Trusts
Office: 01636 670075 / Mobile: 07887 754659 / Email: aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org

Tanya Perdikou (Media & Campaigns Officer), The Wildlife Trusts
Office: 01636 670057 / Mobile: 07887 754657 / Email: tperdikou@wildlifetrusts.org

Eoin Redahan, PR Manager Science, Trials and Government Affairs, The Royal Horticultural Society Office: 0207 821 3044 / eoinredahan@rhs.org.uk

Sean Armstrong, press officer, Defra
Office: 0207 238 1822 / sean.armstrong@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK

Notes for editors:
Competition categories include
• Small residential garden
• Large residential garden
• New residential garden
• Educational garden
• Community garden
• Business garden

England Biodiversity Strategy and Big Wildlife Garden
The Big Wildlife Garden competition has been created to recognise the importance of individuals’ action for nature, and the benefits it brings to people. The competition is being launched alongside the Government’s England Biodiversity Strategy. This stems from a commitment in the Natural Environment White Paper, published in June 2011, to ‘protect and improve the natural environment’ and to ‘reconnect people with nature’ in England. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is funding the competition, and has appointed The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society to run it.

The formal launch of the new England Biodiversity Strategy and BWG competition takes place today at London Wildlife Trust’s Camley Street Natural Park, with an announcement from Caroline Spelman, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) wildlifetrusts.org
There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch. Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas. We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife.

The Royal Horticultural Society www.rhs.org.uk
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK's foremost gardening charity, helping and inspiring millions of people to garden. We do this at our gardens and shows and thorough our scientific research, publications, libraries and our education and community programmes. We are entirely funded by our members, visitors and supporters.

Wild About Gardens www.wildaboutgardens.org
Wild About Gardens is a joint project run by the Royal Horticultural Society and The Wildlife Trusts. It aims to bring the worlds of gardening and nature conservation closer together. The project’s website offers a variety of advice on how to attract wildlife into the garden, including the best plants for birds and insects, and suggestions of things to do for wildlife – in two hours, in a weekend, or all year round.

Defra www.defra.gov.uk
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is supporting and funding The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) and Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) ‘Big Wildlife Garden’ competition to promote the importance of individual action for the natural environment and the benefits it provides for people. The running of this competition is a commitment in the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper that will help to both protect and improve our natural environment and reconnect people with nature.

Seaweed secrets

2011-08-10T03:24:00.000-07:00

First ever survey of seaweed on North Sea coastline

The first ever survey of seaweed along England’s east coast begins today (Monday 1 August), thanks to The Wildlife Trusts.

The conservation organisation is working with partners to coordinate Seaweed East, a scheme which will see a team of surveyors exploring 11 locations from Essex to Northumberland. Starting at Blackwater estuary in Essex, renowned marine biologists and Seasearch divers will work with a botanist and a wild food expert, spending an intensive period of 11 days exploring the locations, including several previously unsurveyed Wildlife Trust coastal nature reserves. At each site, all species of seaweed will be recorded, and samples taken.

The east coast is an under-surveyed section of the UK’s coastline, often due to the perception of the area being of little ecological importance. In fact, the North Sea supports two of England’s largest subtidal chalk reefs. It is hoped Seaweed East will provide vital evidence of the true variety of life this area supports.

There are around 650 species of seaweed in the UK. They are a hugely versatile resource, used in food, medicines and cosmetics. Seaweeds are equally important to marine life as they are to humans, providing food and habitat for creatures, such as the blue-rayed limpet which lives on kelp fronds.

Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas for The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“Seaweed is mainly known for being slimy and squelchy but, like plants on land, it plays a vital part in marine ecosystems. Its health and abundance reveals a great deal about the overall health of a given environment.

“A seaweed survey coordinated by Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust last year recorded at least 150 species of seaweed. It greatly increased our knowledge of the marine wildlife around the area, and turned up some invasive species previously unrecorded there. We expect Seaweed East will bring similar surprises to light.”

The Wildlife Trusts are helping to fund and coordinate Seaweed East in conjunction with Seasearch, a volunteer organisation for divers to get involved with surveying the marine wildlife they encounter in the UK. Together with Shoresearch, The Wildlife Trusts’ volunteer scheme to identify and record animals, plants, and habitats along our shoreline, records are being built up of the marine wildlife our seas support. This information could help to identify areas of special importance for marine life both above and below the surface.

Local Wildlife Trusts will be holding events at some of the 11 Seaweed East locations for National Marine Week (30 July – 14 August). These will include seaweed safaris and opportunities to sign The Wildlife Trusts’ Petition Fish, which aims to garner support for Marine Protected Areas in the UK’s seas.

To find out more about the marine life in the North Sea visit www.northseawildlife.org.uk.

To sign Petition Fish visit
and for more information about The Wildlife Trusts’ Living Seas vision visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/livingseas.

‪Bernard The Gurnard says: Sign Petition Fish now!‬‏ - YouTube

2011-07-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

‪Bernard The Gurnard says: Sign Petition Fish now!‬‏ - YouTube

Sign a scale to ‘shoal’ support for saving our seas

2011-07-27T03:14:00.000-07:00

To mark the start of National Marine Week (Sat 30 Jul – Sun 14 Aug), The Wildlife Trusts are launching the ‘Petition Fish’ campaign in a bid to demonstrate public support for Marine Protected Areas.

Next year should see the UK’s first network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). To meet international obligations the Government must designate and establish an ecologically coherent network of MPAs around the UK by the end of 2012.

It is vital that we have enough of these areas, they are large enough and well protected. So, from 30 July, The Wildlife Trusts will be urging everyone to sign a scale online (www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish) or text ‘FISH’ with your name and postcode to 60777.

As an island nation, we have a strong connection to the sea and the variety of life it sustains. Scientists have recently confirmed that our seas are under increasing stress from human impacts such as fishing, pollution and climate change. Experience from around the world shows that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), where damaging activities are restricted, can help fragile marine ecosystems and wildlife to recover - and with this fish stocks.

Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts’ head of Living Seas, said: “We have one year to create a strong network of protected areas for marine wildlife in the UK. One year to demonstrate the importance of healthy, well-protected seas – which can continue to support the demands we place on them for food, resources and climate regulation. Starting this National Marine Week, we want everyone to celebrate our seas, understand more about the threats facing native marine life, and get involved in protecting it.”

Simon King OBE, President of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Our seas are rich in surprising and alien species – fearsome wolf fish, drifting manes of sea kelp studded with blue-rayed limpets which gleam sapphire, technicolour sea slugs in scarlets and pinks. National Marine Week is the perfect chance to discover this fascinating world with The Wildlife Trusts.

“Our marine life is facing so many threats, from destruction of habitat to overfishing. We must ensure there are safe havens below the waves, marine protected areas where populations of species can recover. By supporting Petition Fish you are playing your part in creating a network of MPAs, which could ultimately ensure the future health of our seas and sea life.

“We want members of the public to ‘sign a scale’ and remind the Government of its commitment to create a well managed network of MPAs by 2012. Unfortunately, heavy pressure is being applied by other interest groups who are opposing MPA designation. Public support is vital to persuade the Government to use its power and help the UK’s seas become some of the most productive and wildlife-rich on earth.”

How to get involved and show support
• Sign a scale online (www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish)
• Text ‘FISH’ with your name and postcode to 60777
• Look out for Petition Fish at Wildlife Trusts events (including rockpool rambles, porpoise-spotting, snorkelling plus dolphin and basking shark watches) and sign a scale.

Did you know…
1. The UK's 11,073-miles of coastline is host to an amazing array of flora and fauna.
2. More than 40,000 species, around 50% of the UK's plants and animals, live in our seas.
3. Wherever you are in the UK, you're never more than 70-miles from the sea.
4. Just 2% of the UK’s sea area has even a minimal level of protection for wildlife.
5. Less than 0.001% is fully protected from all damaging activities (Lundy Island, Skomer, Lamlash Bay, Arran).
6. In 2009, the EU Commission declared that 88% of monitored marine fish stocks were over-exploited.
7. Almost one quarter of UK mammal species are marine.
8. Two species of whale and dolphin have become extinct in UK waters in the last 200 years.
9. Around 40% of the world’s grey seals are found in UK waters.
10. Almost two thirds of Northern gannets are found in UK waters.

Be Creative with Nature at some free workshops

2011-07-19T04:44:00.000-07:00

Come and have a go at art, with nature as your inspiration, drawing, painting, water colour, ink wash and print making with support from Adrian Moule (Artist) and Sarah Nicholson (Designer).

All ages welcome – under 16’s must be accompanied by adult

23rd-31st July at “We are open” shop 148 Linthorpe Rd, Middlesbrough.

26th-28th at Portrack Marsh next to Tees Barrage Stockton

10am - 4pm

Picture of the week - Green Tees Valley at Coatham by Bob Mitchell

2011-07-15T02:41:00.000-07:00

40 wetlands worth ‘dragon’ yourself to this summer

2011-07-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

Forget fire-breathing and maiden-like varieties, the most exciting dragons and damsels are on the wing now at nature reserves throughout the UK. And with the help of The Wildlife Trusts’ new online guide 40 places to see dragonflies and damselflies it’s easier than ever to find them.

There are 17 species of damselfly and 23 resident species of dragonfly in the UK. Both as larvae and as adults they live up to the dragon name, being voracious predators. They spend just a fortnight or so in their full adult glory, whizzing above wetlands in pursuit of their prey, before their life cycle comes to an end.

The Wildlife Trusts work around the UK to improve habitat for all wildlife, including dragonflies, on their 2,300 nature reserves. Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“Dragonfly and damselfly larvae are aquatic, so they rely on healthy wetland habitats to survive, such as bogs, ponds and ditches. The Wildlife Trusts manage many wetland sites where dragonflies can thrive, and which give people the opportunity to get close to these prehistoric creatures, among the oldest invertebrates on earth.

“Almost a third of the UK’s dragonfly species are declining*, some of which have very specific needs, and The Wildlife Trusts are doing what they can to help. For example, Cumbria Wildlife Trust is halfway through a three year project to reintroduce the rare white-faced darter dragonfly to its Foulshaw Moss nature reserve.

“Meanwhile, Devon Wildlife Trust has just reported success from a programme to reintroduce the southern damselfly to its Venn Ottery nature reserve, with good numbers recorded this year.

“We hope our new online guide will inspire people to get out and enjoy the dragon and damsel flight period, and also spark a desire to help protect them through supporting local Wildlife Trusts and their Living Landscape schemes, many of which aim to restore and recreate wetland habitats in the UK.”

To download 40 places to see dragonflies and damselflies visit The Wildlife Trusts’ website http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/dragonflies.

*According to The British Dragonfly Society http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/home-page-how-you-can-help-section

Sand Martin Video

2011-06-20T04:36:00.000-07:00

Check out a new video showing the first visitors to our new Sand Martin wall. The artificial wall was completed earlier this year by staff and volunteers of the Wildplaces project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1oHb-xSYak

Boulbly Alum Works Walk

2011-06-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

June

Friday 3rd June 2011 Itinerary Change: This event will now visit Loftus Quarries. Be aware that it will involve a short but very steep ascent of the quarry’s back wall.
Begins: 10:30am and should take approximately 4.5 hours.

Boulby Alum Works

One of the most impressive alum works on the coast. Come and visit the remains of this mighty cliff-side undertaking and marvel at the scale of a long dead industry.
Meet: Boulby lay-by, just off A174. (NZ 760 187).

Website problems

2011-06-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

We are still having problems with our website - so if you need more information about what we do why not follow this blog!
Or email us info@teeswildlife.org

2011-05-03T05:56:00.001-07:00

Lots of ducklings, young moorhens and coot at Margrove Ponds http://ping.fm/6ondI

Call for entries

2011-02-02T02:14:00.000-08:00

Your chance to win a prestigious photography award and cash prize of £5,000. Winners will have their work showcased in a national touring exhibition and in a stunning book published by AA Publishing.

The competition opens Saturday 1 February 2011.

Now in its third year these awards celebrate and recognise the talents of photographers of all nationalities practicing in the UK, while at the same time, highlighting the great wealth and diversity of the natural history of the British Isles.

With a prize fund of up to £20,000 and the overall winner receiving a cash prize of £5,000, the images receiving judges’ commendations will form part of a series of nationwide exhibitions. The British Wildlife Photography Awards aim to set the standard for wildlife photography in the UK for many years to come.

There are 11 categories and more details of these can be found at www.bwpawards.co.uk. They include:

• Animal Portraits

• Animal Behaviour

• Urban Wildlife

• Hidden Britain

• Coast and Marine.

• Wildlife in my Backyard

• Habitat

• British Seasons

• Documentary series

• Wildlife on Video

New for this year is - Living Landscape: Connectivity

Being connected to the natural world is great for our health, our happiness and for the future. All are inextricably linked. And so The Wildlife Trusts are working on a recovery plan for nature. It is our vision to create a resilient environment; one rich in wildlife and great for people. What we call ‘A Living Landscape’.

This category is purposefully open to interpretation to encourage creativity and fresh and imaginative responses. Connectivity might be physical, sensory, seasonal or otherwise. We are keen to see how this category captures the imagination and how connectivity within the UK landscape is defined. Positive images illustrating how habitats, species, communities and individuals are all connected, and interconnect, within our natural environment, both in rural and urban settings, are encouraged. Whether images capture an imaginative or purely narrative approach; are simple or complex, the winning image will be breath-taking, mesmerising and powerful.

Some typical (and not exclusive) examples:

◦Bee species pollinating crops directly links wildlife with the economy

◦Salt marshes acting as a buffer between land and seas

◦Hedgerows play a part in keeping the countryside ‘stitched’ together

◦Estuaries are the connection for freshwater species with marine life

◦Rivers connecting streams to the sea

◦Sensory connections: the sights and sounds of everyday nature

◦Children playing in a meadow, part of a bigger habitat restoration schem

◦Close up of a wall or pavement, showing the life these physical connections harbour eg lichens, invertebrates

◦Practical conservation volunteers at work, the birth of a new habitat where people come to connect with nature

◦Delight at witnessing a grandchild’s wonderment during their first wildlife encounter

◦School parties connecting within their local community green spaces

◦Symbolic images that epitomize our connection with nature and our landscape

Awards and Prizes:

British Wildlife Photographer £5,000

Each Category prize £1,000 worth of equipment

Including: (or equivalent),Canon PowerShot G12 – Camera, Canon Pixma Pro 9000 MK II – Printer,RSPB Binoculars

Video Award

LEGRIA HF S21 High Definition Digital Camcorder (value £969.00)

Young Awards

There are also three special awards to encourage participation by young people, schools and youth community groups.

Young British Wildlife Photographer (Up to 11) £300

Young British Wildlife Photographer (12 - 18) £500

School, Youth and Community Group Award £3,000 worth of Serif Design Software and Video Camera.

Dates

The competition will be open for entries on Saturday 1 February 2011. The closing date is Thursday 2 June 2011. Entrants will be able to submit entries online or via post.

Sponsors and supporters

The competition is sponsored by The Wildlife Trusts, WWF, RSPB, Canon Countryside Council for Wales, Buglife, Serif, Genesis Imaging and Outdoor Photography.

Supported by: Natural England, The National Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Towergate Camerasure and Country Side Jobs Service.

For more detailed information about the competition, including how to enter, a full description of categories, shooting tips, and terms & conditions, please visit the competition website: www.bwpawards.co.uk.

2011-01-28T08:36:00.001-08:00

Celebrate World Wetlands Day 2 Feb with a visit to a wetland reserve. http://ping.fm/kpt6r

2011-01-27T06:10:00.001-08:00

‘Quick fix’ forest sale must not threaten our natural heritage http://ping.fm/pfstK

2011-01-27T06:08:00.001-08:00

‘Quick fix’ forest sale must not threaten our natural heritage
The Wildlife Trusts urge the Government to recognise the practicalities and realities of securing the long-term protection of England’s forests for the future. They were commenting on the consultation into the sale of publicly-owned forests, a high proportion of which have wildlife value.

The transfer of ownership of these forests away from the Forestry Commission presents a real risk to the future of our natural heritage. Nature’s recovery is a key objective of the imminent Natural Environment White Paper – this could be a barrier to achieving that.

The Wildlife Trusts recognise that the consultation seeks to put some safeguards in place with Sites of Special Scientific Interest. However, the safeguards must extend to Local Wildlife Sites which represent some of our richest wildlife areas, and their importance was recognised by Making Space for Nature. The operation of market values and commercial timescales for the disposal of high value land totally fails to recognise the extreme challenge to voluntary and community bodies as they seek to raise funds to take on such sites.

Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“The long-term history of commercial foresty in England has not been a proud one for nature. Let’s ensure that the imperative for a quick fix sale does not take us back to an earlier era where wildlife suffered at the hands of inappropriate forestry.”

High Speed Rail proposals off-track

2010-12-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

The Government’s proposed High Speed Rail route announced yesterday (Monday) will rip through ancient woodland and devastate sensitive wildlife areas.
Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“Whilst some consideration may have been given to noise and visual impacts on those people who live along the proposed route, the Transport Secretary made no reference at all to the impact on the natural environment.

“The proposed route will destroy or irrevocably damage a large number of important sites, dissect the landscape and fragment isolated patches of habitat. In the context of the recent Making Space for Nature report, the very last thing we should be doing is damaging existing wildlife sites and creating new linear barriers to the movement of wildlife.”

Ahead of Monday’s announcement by the Rt Hon Philip Hammond, The Wildlife Trusts’ own analysis indicates it will impact directly on two Wildlife Trust nature reserves, four sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), 10 ancient woodland sites and 53 Local Wildlife Sites or potential Local Wildlife Sites.

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is one of the seven Wildlife Trusts* affected by the High Speed Rail route between London and Birmingham. Philippa Lyons, Chief Executive of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, said:

“The new route for HS2 will be devastating for wildlife especially protected species such as bats, nationally-rare butterflies, water voles and otters in our most sensitive habitats such as ancient woodland and meadows. The route announced yesterday will irreparably damage several important wildlife sites including Calvert Jubilee nature reserve in north Buckinghamshire and the Colne Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest in south Buckinghamshire.”
The seven Wildlife Trusts affected by the proposed High Speed Rail route announced are:

• London Wildlife Trust

• Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

• Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust

• The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs, Northants & Peterborough

• Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

• Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust

• Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

RECORD RESPONSE TO NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WHITE PAPER DISCUSSION DOCUMENT

2010-12-14T04:32:00.001-08:00

Over 15,000 people and organisations sent responses to a call for ideas on the Natural Environment White Paper, a record number for a Defra consultation, proving that people want to see a real positive change in the future of our natural environment.

The natural environment underpins our economic prosperity, health and wellbeing. The aim of the White Paper is to set out a clear framework for protecting and enhancing the things that nature gives us for free, which are too often taken for granted.

Thanking everyone for their responses, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“I’m delighted with the overwhelming response that we have had to our call for ideas on the Natural Environment White Paper. We’ve received over 15,000 replies from individuals, NGOs and businesses, which goes to show that people really care about the natural environment and want a say in how it is managed.

“This is exactly the kind of debate that we had hoped to stimulate. A healthy environment is something that we all need, and all enjoy, so it’s vital that people get involved. We will take these ideas forward as we look to create a new vision for our natural environment and seek opportunities to enhance its value.”

Stephanie Hilborne OBE, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, who is delighted with the response said:

“This overwhelming response provides a clear message to the Government that people care passionately about the natural environment and want to see bold and ambitious action to support its recovery.

“The Wildlife Trusts actively encouraged people to play their part for nature by responding to the consultation and encouraging their friends and family to do the same. Thousands chose to take action and show how much they value wildlife. We know millions of people have a passion for wildlife and the natural world. It inspires us every day and provides essential services including food and flood protection. This White Paper is an opportunity to make a real difference and help lay solid foundations for the future.”

Work continues to develop the White Paper for publication in the spring. As part of this, more detail has now been published on our thinking so far on biodiversity offsetting, where society is compensated for its environmental loss, by a developer paying to create or restore an area of habitat elsewhere. We would like to encourage people to give us their views on this potential approach.

Development is needed so that communities can grow and expand, but it can damage wildlife and habitats. Greater use of offsetting is one tool we could use to help us achieve a healthy natural environment.

Caroline Spelman continued:

“Finding innovative ways to protect and enhance our wildlife habitats is vital if we are to achieve the new targets to conserve the natural environment which were set in Nagoya last month. Offsetting could deliver a range of benefits such as helping to create bigger and better areas that allow our wildlife to thrive. We would be interested in views on how we might make greater use of this approach.”

Biodiversity offsetting would not stop development or affect the rules about where development could or couldn’t take place, nor will it weaken protection for species or make it easier to build on our most valuable conservation sites, but greater use of offsetting could help compensate society for biodiversity loss.

Notes to Editors

1. The Natural Environment White Paper will be a bold and ambitious statement outlining the government’s vision for the natural environment, backed up with practical action. It represents an opportunity to change the way we think about and manage the natural environment, seeing it as a system and valuing the services it gives us. It will be published in Spring 2011 and will cover England only.

2. The discussion material on biodiversity offsetting is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/offsetting/index.htm

3. A detailed discussion document was published on 26 July 2010 to encourage the debate about how best we protect and enhance our natural environment, and the valuable services we derive from it. At the same time a short survey was launched, designed to draw in views from the general public.

4. These responses are currently being analysed and a summary of the key messages will be published on the Defra website prior to the publication of the White Paper.

5. More information on Defra’s biodiversity work programme can be found on the Defra website via www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/

The Wildlife Trusts’ top Christmas tunes

2010-12-06T01:45:00.000-08:00

The Wildlife Trusts believe Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate some of our most iconic wildlife – and the people who give their time to protect it too
And what better way to sing their praises than through a selection of the UK’s best loved Christmas Carols. Here’s a guide to The Wildlife Trusts’ top three:
• While shepherds watched their flocks by night
“While shepherds watched

Their flocks by night

All seated on the ground”
The Wildlife Trusts’ grazing flocks are a precious resource, ensuring marshes, meadows and other habitats are maintained for the benefit of wildlife.
Like all livestock, most of these animals need a watchful eye looking over them, and The Wildlife Trusts often rely on volunteers to do this. These volunteers, nicknamed ‘lookerers’ often work over the Christmas period, including Christmas and Boxing Day, ensuring the flocks are comfortable through the tough winter days.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s two shepherds will be watching over more than 1,000 - mostly Shetland - sheep this Christmas, whilst eight staff and six volunteers will be keeping their eyes on the Trust’s 100 Dartmoor, Konik and Welsh mountain ponies, as they go about their conservation-grazing work.

At Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Brockholes Nature Reserve in Lancashire, longhorn cattle on loan from Cheshire Wildlife Trust will be watched over by lookerers as they help shape the landscape of the reserve in time for its grand opening in 2011.
A flock of belted Galloways grazing Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Hill Court Farm will be watched over by a team of volunteers over the Christmas period, whilst Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s grazing officer will be out feeding its herds of ponies, sheep and cows.

• In the bleak midwinter

“In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone”

Birds and other wildlife looking for food and water over the winter can be met with bare branches, a layer of snow on the ground, and frozen ponds and puddles. Ready supplies of food and water left out in gardens can be a lifeline for them, and you can enjoy watching the wildlife that is tempted in, which is particularly visible when trees are bare and snow is on the ground.
Blue tits and great tits can often be seen in gardens where hanging feeders full of seed have been left out. Finches love snacking on seeds in wildflower patches, and also enjoy niger seed.

If you want to attract robins, leave a dish of mealworms outside for them – Robin Redbreast cannot resist this treat. Of course, they also favour the seasonal classic – a piece of juicy Christmas cake!

Don’t forget to ensure fresh water is available, as bird baths often freeze over in the cold weather. Nick Baker, naturalist and Vice President for The Wildlife Trusts, has produced short films on keeping your birds well watered and making bird feeders for the Wildlife Watch UK Youtube channel. Watch them here youtube.com/user/WildlifeWatchUK.
• The holly and the ivy

“Of all the trees that are in the wood

“The holly bears the crown”
As the UK landscape gently settles into a winter sleep, colours pale and foliage disappears. But holly defies this pattern, its scarlet berries and glossy green leaves blazing throughout winter. The evergreen plant is a useful food source for birds and other animals which can feed on the berries when other supplies have dwindled.

There are many Wildlife Trust reserves where the sight of holly can be enjoyed, including Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s The Hollies on the edge of the Stiperstones. Here, some of the UK’s most ancient holly trees can be seen. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Piper’s Hill and Dodderhill Common, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Bystock nature reserve, and Sheffield Wildlife Trust’s Fox Hagg are also good places to appreciate its bright colours.

Wildlife gardeners should consider growing both holly and ivy to support the creatures that visit their patch. Resist cutting back ivy, as its flowers can provide nectar to insects like queen wasps through the winter months and it offers a safe winter hideaway for butterflies and small mammals. The berries of both holly and ivy will ripen through winter and provide food for birds.

The Wildlife Trusts’ President is King

2010-11-26T05:13:00.000-08:00

Simon King OBE to take over role from Professor Aubrey Manning OBE

Simon King OBE – renowned wildlife programme-maker, cameraman, photographer and presenter – will today be appointed President of The Wildlife Trusts. And, at 47, King will be the youngest President in the organisation’s 98 year history.

On accepting the role, King said: “I am honoured to be the next President of The Wildlife Trusts. I am particularly excited by the opportunity to encourage the millions of people in the UK who are already inspired by nature into taking action for it. Many of us have become disconnected from the natural world. Children and adults alike have developed a nature deficit.
“However The Wildlife Trusts’ vision for A Living Landscape and Living Seas embraces communities as a whole, for wildlife and people. Local Wildlife Trusts work to include everyone who has an interest in our natural world. The UK has some of the most magnificent, sensual and fulfilling natural phenomena in the world. However prickly the gorse and forceful the blackbird’s song, it’s vulnerable. The Wildlife Trusts have achieved a tremendous amount over the years with their local knowledge which, together, creates a powerful UK movement. And I am proud to be part of it.”
Professor Aubrey Manning OBE, outgoing President, said: “I am delighted to hand over this very special role to Simon and welcome him as the new President for The Wildlife Trusts. Simon is already an extraordinary asset to the movement in his role as vice president and a great ambassador for the natural world, on land and at sea. He represents and promotes our interests to great effect. Simon’s input over the next five years will be invaluable.”

King follows in the illustrious paths of Sir David Attenborough and David Bellamy as well as Aubrey Manning. Simon was appointed as a vice president of The Wildlife Trusts in 2008. He is also president of Avon Wildlife Trust and patron of Somerset Wildlife Trust.

The Wildlife Trusts’ other vice presidents are Sir David Attenborough OM CH CVO CBE FRS, Professor J Chris Baines, Chris Packham, Nick Baker, Professor David MacDonald CBE DSc FRSE, Bill Oddie OBE, Julian Pettifer OBE, Professor Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL.

The Wildlife Trusts’ response to the Spending Review

2010-10-28T03:53:00.001-07:00

Major impacts on vital natural environment work are likely - through the loss of a third of Defra’s budget1 – so The Wildlife Trusts urge the Government to ensure the remaining investment achieves the greatest benefits for the environment.

Today’s review could provide the opportunity to identify where Government investment could achieve greatest value for money. The Wildlife Trusts believe a healthy natural environment is the cornerstone of a healthy economy and a healthy society. Government, private and voluntary sectors and wider society all have a role in helping to create a healthy natural environment.

Paul Wilkinson, head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “We are pleased to hear the environmental stewardship schemes will remain open to all farmers in England and the proportion of the programme spent through the Higher Level Scheme (HLS) is to be increased.

“What funding is available needs to be targeted effectively. For example, Local Wildlife Sites could have a real role to play in the establishment of an ecologically coherent network. Across England, there are at least 40,000 Local Wildlife Sites. Often they cover 8-10percent of a county’s land area. Collectively they play a critical role by providing wildlife refuges and by acting as stepping stones to link and protect the suite of nationally and internationally designated sites.

“We must find ways to support the recovery of the natural environment in the long term, which are cost effective, sustainable and which recognise its true value. Investing in the recovery of the natural environment and the natural services it provides is a sound investment for the future.”

Save our forests

2010-10-28T03:45:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Hilborne OBE, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “The Forestry Commission owns a substantial amount of land which is of high value for wildlife. This represents a tremendous national asset. Transfer of such land should not be rushed and should not take place before a clear policy has been established. This policy should ensure that those areas of high wildlife value – including Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Wildlife Sites – are secured in the long term. If such sites are to be transferred, the best way to guarantee their future would be to give priority to nature conservation bodies and to ensure that sites are considered as part of a local ecological network. We have a strong partnership with the Forestry Commission which we hope will continue, so we can make the most of our strong local presence.”

Wanted - your views on nature | Natural Environment White Paper

2010-09-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Wanted - your views on nature Natural Environment White Paper
The Government has launched a Natural Environment White Paper discussion document to ask for your views on nature. Anyone can take part. Whether you enjoy a walk in the woods, wildlife photography, gardening, birdwatching, visiting nature reserves or enjoying nature with your children or grandchildren – the Government wants to hear your views on how nature in the UK should be protected and enhanced – for us all to enjoy.
The Government's online survey only takes a couple of minutes to complete. The deadline is Saturday 30th October. Please complete the survey and play your part in nature's recovery

Gazette Live - Videos & Pics - News - Latest News - Portrack Marsh Nature Reserve

2010-09-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

Gazette Live - Videos & Pics - News - Latest News - Portrack Marsh Nature Reserve
Some good pics of Portack Marsh

Alum, Alchemy and Ammonites - Natural Dyes Course

2010-08-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday 4th September 10:00am – 4:00pm

‐ A one day course introducing you to the history of natural dyes and local dye plants.

‐ Try your hand at dying some wool to take home and use in your own dyed, woollen creations!

The course will be run at Margrove Heritage Centre, Margrove Park, near Guisborough, by local expert Tricia Hutchinson. Theay costs £10 per person, and booking is essential (places are limited).

This course is being run as part of the Alum, Alchemy and Ammonites project supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

For information and bookings contact Beth Andrews. Phone: 01287 636382 E‐mail: beth.geo@gmail.com

Uk's earliest book launch

2010-05-28T01:12:00.000-07:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2010/may/27/152-wild-things-to-do

British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA)

2010-04-28T01:22:00.001-07:00

The cut-off date for entries into the British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) is 4 June and so this is a brief plea to remind everyone who might be interested in entering.
Entrants can submit entries on-line or via post. Chances to win a prestigious award, up to £20,000 worth of prizes and exposure in a nationwide touring exhibition and accompanying book. For more detailed information about the competition, including how to enter, a full description of categories, shooting tips, and terms & conditions, please visit the competition website: http://www.bwpawards.org/.

Spring has sprung

2010-04-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

What a glorious spring like day. During a walk at Margrove Ponds Nature Reserve at lunchtime I was serenaded by a chorus of frogs accompanied by Chiffchaffs singing away their instantly recognisable song. The swan was sat on its nest and the rest of the ducks engaged in courtship. I also heard my first Willow Warbler of year and saw Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies as well.

Congratulations to Sussex Wildlife Trust

2010-03-04T07:34:00.000-08:00

Many of you will have tuned in to watch BBC Two at 6pm last night – but those who weren’t able to will be thrilled - and proud - to learn the Wise Owls – Sussex Wildlife Trust’s team of challengers overthrew the Eggheads and won a truly staggering £37,000
Every day on Eggheads a new team of five challengers take on the resident quiz panel for the chance of winning a cash prize. Every time the Eggheads win, the prize money rolls over for the next competitors. Team captain and Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Education Manager Nigel Flynn said: “It’s a fantastic and sizable win against the Eggheads. The team has donated all their winnings to the Trust, so we can continue our work helping to conserve the county’s wonderful wildlife and habitats.

‘The Eggheads were quite surprised to learn we intended to donate all the cash to the Trust – they said they thought this was the first time individuals had not kept their winnings for themselves.
Last night, more than 50 members of staff and Trust volunteers gathered in The Cricketers Pub, Southwick, West Sussex to watch the show on the big football screens, by special arrangement with the landlord. Apart from the team members and chief executive no-one knew what the result would be!

The picture shows (from left to right) Henri Brocklebank (reserve) with team members Jon Whitty, Renzo Spano, Bryan Michie with captain Nigel Flynn holding Elli Saunders just after the televised result.

GreenBits

2010-02-23T05:11:00.000-08:00

The lastest copy of greenbits can be accessed at http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=mypagesuite&refresh=F0r73Y1k0gP2&PBID=28368c4a-ebb8-4517-9b5c-9ad7fcae5a9c&skip=

Middlesbrough Beck Wildlife - WildPlaces

2010-02-19T03:47:00.000-08:00

Just watched a splendid piece of video - 1 week on a Middlesbrough Beck - mice, rats, fox, badger, stoat, otters and watch out for the giant spider.It can bee seen at http://www.youtube.com/user/WildPlacesNE.

Guisborough pupils enjoy wild time on ‘Going Underground’ project at quarry

2010-02-15T05:16:00.000-08:00

GREEN-MINDED pupils from Guisborough’s Galley Hill Primary School have gleaned a host of ecological knowledge by visiting Cliff Rigg Quarry, near Great Ayton.

Four Tees Valley schools have explored local quarry sites to learn about nature, with tips from top artists and local wildlife and history specialists.

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust are working Tees Valley arts to deliver this project.

This is the second time the project has taken place - the first was so successful that funders Natural England wanted a repeat.

This week Galley Hill pupils teamed up with four local artists to explore and improve knowledge and understanding of geodiversity, biodiversity and local heritage at the site.

The Going Underground project is run by Tees Valley Arts and funded by Natural England via their Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.

Pupils from Throston Primary, Hartlepool; The Links Primary, Eaglescliffe; Oakdene Primary, Billingham, and Galley Hill Primary are all taking part.
Guisborough pupil Owen Reeve, nine, said: “We’re learning all about wildlife, geology and conservation.
“Volcanoes which erupted in Scotland brought rock all the way down here!”

The “fun and innovative approach to learning” - has involved a class from each school visiting their local quarries to have a hands-on experience.

Joe Dunne, Tees Valley Arts heritage officer, said: “This project is providing an exciting means of interpreting these unusual quarry sites as a source of National Curriculum learning.”

Tees Valley Arts regularly works with schools to develop environmental learning arts-based projects.

The project will run until mid-March.

Long tailed Tits

2010-02-15T05:01:00.000-08:00

In the recent cold weather we have had a small flock of long tailed tits feeding on feeders on our wildlife garden.

2010 Events Programme

2010-01-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

The new Trust events programme can be downloaded from http://www.teeswildlife.org/TVWT%20Events%202010.pdf

Amazing pictures

2010-01-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

Visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8466000/8466208.stm for some amazing pictures of our living seas.

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust launches vision for Living Seas

2010-01-19T01:23:00.000-08:00

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust has launched Living Seas, its vision for the UK’s marine environment – where wildlife thrives from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows; where rocky reefs are bursting with brightly coloured fish, corals and sponges, and dolphins and seals dart among the waves – at an event in the House of Commons.

The launch follows the passing, in November, of the Marine and Coastal Access Act (MCAA), for which The Wildlife Trusts campaigned for nearly a decade. The challenge for the next five years is to ensure the Act is effectively implemented – that urgent action is taken to turn the UK’s over-fished, over-exploited, and currently under-protected waters back into a thriving marine environment. The Wildlife Trusts have a clear vision for how this should happen, and a plan for achieving it within 20 years, a single generation.

The Wildlife Trusts are achieving great things across the UK, working at the local level to understand, protect and raise awareness of our marine wildlife and habitats, from seagrass meadows to dolphins and seals.

Despite just 38 miles of coastline, the Tees Valley has a lot to offer with respect to marine wildlife. The coastal cliffs of the Tees Valley including the Trust’s reserve at Hunt Clifff near Saltburn are home to internationally important numbers of breeding kittiwakes, alongside other seabirds such as fulmars and cormorants, while the grassland clifftops are home to coastal wildflowers including Dyer’s Greenweed, Spiny Restharrow, Sea Plantain and Wild Carrot.

The majority of the coastline however, consists of shingle beaches and sand and mud flats. Such areas are both important breeding areas for little terns and ringed plovers, and important feeding grounds for sanderling and oystercatchers.

As a direct result of environmental improvements by local industry and the work of the Trust and other organisations such as INCA, common seals have returned to the Teesmouth after an absence of nearly 60 years, the only known estuary in Europe where seals have done so for this reason. Small but successful breeding populations have established themselves at Seal Sands, Greatham Creek and Billingham Beck, and now account for 2% of the English population.

Professor Aubrey Manning, BBC television presenter and president of The Wildlife Trusts, launched the Living Seas vision¹. He said: “The Living Seas vision is very direct in its aims. It sets out a clear plan of how we, The Wildlife Trusts, and our partners and supporters, can help achieve them. The opportunities that the Marine and Coastal Access Act has opened up need to be seized on immediately. We can no longer continue to treat the oceans as limitless. In particular, we need an effective and well-managed network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012.

“We may not get another opportunity to make Living Seas a reality. The future of our oceans hangs in the balance, and we want to tip it in the right direction for wildlife, and for the people – all of us – who depend upon it.”

Steve Ashton, People and Wildlife Manager for Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, said: “These are exciting times and the Trust is looking forward to working with local people to ensue that we achieve the Living Seas vision of thriving wildlife from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows.”

To find out more about Living Seas, to download our vision or to learn about local events occurring at your local Wildlife Trusts coastal nature reserves visit http://www.northseawildlife.org.uk/

The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for many years for comprehensive legislation to achieve better protection for marine wildlife and the effective management of our seas. For more information, visit
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=environment:marine

The Wildlife Trusts welcome the North Sea Marine Conservation Zone Project

2010-01-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

The Wildlife Trusts last week welcomed the start of an exciting and new process to designate Marine Protected Areas within the North Sea.
Over the past week, The North Sea Wildlife Trust’s Marine Advocacy Officer and other Wildlife Trust staff have been attending a roadshow up and down the North Sea coastline aimed at introducing Net Gain, the North Sea Marine Conservation Project to conservationists and sea users and to give people the opportunity to ask questions and voice concern and interest over the projects process.

These initial meetings organised and lead by Net Gain have provided conservationists and users of the sea with key details as to how and when Marine Conservation Zones will be identified. This process will help us all to secure the long-term health of the North Sea and the marine life within it.

Fishermen, government agencies, conservationists, recreational sea users and those from the commercial sector as well as many more are all being encouraged to get involved in the process of identify North Sea Marine Conservation Zones, in order to ensure their long term success. In the coming months and up to June 2011 sites will be identified by these stakeholders with an interest in the sea and its marine life. The Wildlife Trust are committed to being fully involved in the entire process, championing species and habitats that are in most need of protection and ensuring the network that is established is ecologically coherent allowing our marine wildlife to adapt and move as our climate changes.

More sites needed for ponds

2010-01-14T04:45:00.000-08:00

The Trusts Pondscapes Officer is looking for 5 sites where she can create new ponds. We have funding and a work team ready to come and dig them. We can'ts do schools or gardens but anywhere else is fine. If you would like more details contact Rachel on 01287 636382.

New video on Wildlife Watch Web Site

2010-01-13T02:22:00.000-08:00

The new Wildlife Watch web site has just up loaded a new video with Nick Baker showing you how to keep you bird bath ice free - well worth a look at http://www.youtube.com/user/WildlifeWatchUK .

The Wildlife Trusts delighted with New Year Honours

2010-01-05T06:50:00.001-08:00

Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, has become an OBE for services to nature conservation.

Michael Allen, chair of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “We are all delighted at this signal honour and it is recognition of the enormous commitment and energy which Stephanie always shows in our work.”

Other members of the movement received recognition, including:

Sir Nicholas Bacon, president of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, received an OBE for services to the community in Norfolk. He runs the 5,500 acre Raveningham Estate near Norwich. He was president of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association last year and was elected chairman of the RNAA's ruling council in January.

Simon King, The Wildlife Trusts’ vice-president, received an OBE for services to wildlife photography and to conservation.

Farmyard story author and vice-president of Avon Wildlife Trust, Dick King-Smith, 87, received an OBE for services to children's literature. In the past 30 years he has written dozens of books, selling over five million copies in the UK alone, and had one of his stories, The Sheep-Pig, turned into the hit film Babe. The 1995 film catapulted the author, who is to global fame. His first story, The Fox Busters, was published when he was in his 50s in 1978.

Jean Hedley was made an MBE for her tireless service to nature conservation. She was chairman of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust for eight years before becoming president of the organisation she joined with her husband Richard in 1962.

Valerie Holt, chair of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and executive secretary and treasurer of the Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM), was given an MBE for services to fisheries management and conservation. She championed the wildlife cause throughout her professional career at the Environment Agency.

2010-01-04T07:20:00.000-08:00

Birds of Cleveland

A new book by Martin Blick detailing the known status of all 362 species recorded in Cleveland up to the last day of 2007 has been published by the Trust.

Available from Tees Valley Wildlife Trust at Margrove Heritage Centre 01287 636382.

Price £20 plus £2.50 p+p.

Choose a gift with a difference this Christmas

2009-12-10T01:41:00.000-08:00

Mistletoe, holly, robin and deer are all associated with Christmas, and all are reminders the season’s magic is tied in to the wonder of wintery wildlife. Show your appreciation for wildlife this festive season by following these simple suggestions from The Wildlife Trusts.
Gifts in the garden
When winter comes, the wildlife in your garden will suddenly find precious food sources are running low, and that conditions are less than comfortable.
With a little diet provision and some shelter, chances of survival suddenly become much improved. So, when allocating Christmas gifts, spare a thought for species outside and spend a little time making your garden more wildlife-friendly.
• Feed the birds. Put out high energy foods like fat balls and seeds, and provide fresh clean water. Remember, once you start feeding them, keep supplies topped up so they don’t burn energy coming to your garden only to be disappointed. For a fun family activity, why not make your own bird seed cake? To find out how, watch The Wildlife Trusts’ fun and simple instructional video at www.youtube.com/user/WildlifeWatchUK
• Let your garden go a bit wild. Immaculately tidy gardens with trimmed grass and no debris provide little shelter or food for wildlife. Unruly ivy and long grass provide countless nesting places for insects, beetles, spiders and more – also food for some garden visitors.
• Piles of leaves and other garden litter can provide shelter for small critters, such as voles and ladybirds, and you might even have a hedgehog move in.
• Provide somewhere for amphibians - they seek out crevices to squeeze into, so leaving piles of rocks or logs around the garden can help. Of course, muddy ponds appeal too, and winter can be a good time to dig out a pond in your garden, giving it time to establish before spring.
A resident robin singing in the depths of winter or the first sight of a brightly coloured butterfly, emerging in early spring, are great sources of pleasure. So, it’s not just plants and animals that benefit from a wildlife-friendly Christmas garden, but people too. For more information on how to make your garden wildlife-friendly in December, visit the Wild About Gardens website www.wildaboutgardens.org.
Gifts for wildlife lovers
Many of us may be mindful of waste this Christmas – perhaps wishing to avoid acres of wrapping paper, and unwanted gifts finding their way into landfill. The Wildlife Trusts offer a range of gifts with minimum packaging, and which help ensure the UK’s special landscapes and wildlife retain their beauty and vitality into the future. Choose from an extensive range of wildlife adoption and sponsorship schemes which help protect species, and habitats such as:
• Red squirrels
• Great crested newts
• Stag beetles
• Barn owls
• Konik ponies
• Wildflower meadows
• Ancient woodlands
For details of all available adoption schemes visit: www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=gifts:adoptions
Membership of an individual Wildlife Trust means free entry to all their reserves and events, and is absolutely vital to the work they do protecting and promoting wildlife on their local patch. So why not consider giving the gift of Wildlife Trust membership for Christmas? You can find out how here: www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=helping:membership.
Young people can join The Wildlife Trusts junior branch, Wildlife Watch, with a newly-designed membership pack, magazine and website for 2010 – visit: www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/Membership

Take a Bough

2009-12-07T08:12:00.000-08:00

We did our bit!

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and BBC Breathing Places would like to that everyone who helped in the attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the number of trees planted in one hour in multiple locations.
Over 80 members of the public, local cubs and scouts were joined my Councillor Paul Kirton the Mayor of Stockton on Preston Farm Nature reserve on Saturday and managed to plant a total of 1247 trees in 60 minutes.
The event was part of National Tree Week and was part of an attempt to plant a million trees across the country beating the current record of 653,143 trees.

The tree planting is part of the creation of a new nature reserve on 17 hectares of farmland, on the floodplain ad valley sides of the River Tees at Preston Farm in Stockton.

The trees planted through event contribute to the planned 12500 which will form a new woodland linking areas of ancient semi-natural woodland at Bassleton Woods and Preston Hall.

Decisive, deliberate, and dynamic action needed at Copenhagen

2009-12-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

- The Wildlife Trusts to present PM with pledge

The Wildlife Trusts will send a direct message to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urging him to deliver a positive and far-reaching agreement at the UN Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December.

The message, in the form of a large postcard signed by all 47 Wildlife Trusts, will be delivered by a representative of the leading conservation organisation.
The postcard reads:
Please secure a positive and far-reaching climate change agreement in Copenhagen – we, and our wildlife, depend upon it.

Our 47 Wildlife Trusts around the UK, have a combined membership of nearly 800,000. We all care deeply about the future of our natural environment, on land and at sea, especially in a changing climate.

The impact of climate change on people and the natural environment – upon which we all depend – is predicted to be dramatic. We need to take a positive step towards a legal agreement to reduce greenhouse gases by 40% by 2020. The Conference must recognise the role of natural ecosystems, such as forests and peatlands, in storing carbon. This is vital for us all.

“We are putting far too much pressure on our planet which is already having devastating impacts on both people and the natural world that we depend on,”

said Jeremy Garside, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, which has 12000 members.

“We know this is a global problem, but the UK Government is in a position to take a lead on this, and to show other nations what can be achieved.

“We would urge the Government to commit to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020. Decisive, deliberate, and dynamic action needs to be taken on this, before it’s too late for wildlife and for people.”

The Wildlife Trusts across the UK are raising awareness of the threat climate change poses to people and the natural environment, and working to help protect wildlife from the impacts of climate change. People can sometimes feel helpless in the face of such a huge challenge, but The Wildlife Trusts believe that by empowering communities and inspiring people to take action locally for their natural environment, they can help contribute to the global cause.
Gary Mantle is the Director of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and will travel to Copenhagen to deliver the postcard on behalf of The Wildlife Trusts. He said:

“For the sake of both wildlife and people, we need tough decisions to be taken at Copenhagen. In showing the strong leadership that will be needed, it is important that the UK Government knows that it has strong support from the public. We must not forget that any agreement at Copenhagen is just the start, it must be followed by urgent action. Time is running out.”

Artistic pupils rock up to quarry

2009-11-30T06:30:00.000-08:00

PUPILS from a primary school have been digging deep to explore a quarry site as part of a regional project.

A team of 28 youngsters from Year Five at Clavering Primary, in Clavering Road, Hartlepool, have been exploring the active quarry at Hart, owned by Sherburn Stone Company, with the help of a professional artist as part of a project titled Going Underground.

The Project, which is run by Tees Valley Arts and funded by Natural England, involved four different schools from the Tees Valley area and has enabled the children from these schools to explore and improve their knowledge and understanding of subjects such as geodiversity, biodiversity and local heritage.
One class from each school explored a quarry site through a number of exciting creative art forms with the help of a professional artist and local wildlife, history and geological specialists.
Joe Dunne, Tees Valley Arts' Heritage Officer said: "Through using the arts in this way, this project is providing an exciting and innovative means of interpreting unusual sites as a source of national curriculum learning."

Wild about Gardens

2009-11-27T02:17:00.000-08:00

If you have an interest in wildlife gardening it is well worth visiting a new website which has been set up by The Wildlife Trusts in artnership with the Royal Horticultural Society it can be found at http://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/

“The RHS and The Wildlife Trusts – encouraging wildlife into your garden”

Wildplaces

2009-11-23T08:27:00.000-08:00

I have started to follow an excellent blog Tees Valley Wildplaces - try it at http://wildplacesteesvalley.blogspot.com/
Some splendid video of urban mammals.

Tree O'Clock

2009-11-20T01:10:00.000-08:00

Why not join us for Tree O'Clock and help the UK to set the Guinness World Record™ for the most trees planted in one hour! We are planning a mass tree-planting moment across the UK, with partners and the general public, between 11am and 12noon on Saturday 5 December.
For more details contact info@teeswildlife.org .
Or visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/treeoclock/

Marine Bill at last

2009-11-12T04:44:00.000-08:00

Riding the Wave - The Wildlife Trusts’ welcome a Marine and Coastal Access ACT!

It’s almost ten years since The Wildlife Trusts first pointed out that the seas around the UK, containing half our wildlife, were in dire trouble. Now, as a result of our combined effort (staff, members and volunteers) we have, after over ten years of campaigning secured a Marine and Coastal Access Act! During November, the Bill (which spent an incredible 6 months in the House of Lords - the second longest Bill in history!) received royal ascent and became an Act! So how did we get here?

• 1999 Devon Wildlife Trust reach an agreement with local scallop fishermen not to damage sensitive reefs
• 2000 The Wildlife Trusts first call for new marine legislation
• Jan 2002 500 common dolphins, drowned in high-speed seabass trawling nets, wash up on the beaches of England and north west France
• 2002 The Wildlife Trusts publish two reports showing the threats to UK marine ecosystems and how science-based planning could avoid them
• 2003 A record 100 basking sharks seen, but 265 dolphins found dead off the south west. Scientists estimate 67,500 have died as fishing bycatch in 15 years
• 2004 Mass breeding failures by UK seabirds. Wildlife-rich reefs in Ulster’s Strangford Lough wiped out by dredge trawlers
• 2005 Government commits to new marine legislation. Lyme Bay fishing agreement breaks down, exposing wildlife-rich reefs to total destruction. Seabirds suffer second year of breeding failure
• 2007 Government publishes Marine Bill white paper. The Wildlife Trusts deliver more than 170,000 ‘petition fish’ signatures to Downing Street in support of the Bill
• 2008 Only 18 bottlenose dolphins remain off Cornwall. Government bans scallop dredging in Lyme Bay. UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill enters Parliament
• May 2009 The Wildlife Trusts (along with WWF, RSPB and The Marine Conservation Society) participated in a lobby in Westminster to secure amendments within the Bill
• November 2009 UK Marine Bill becomes an Act!

The future of our marine life?
Now, the journey really begins. We have in place the necessary legislation to allow the creation of an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas. This network will be implemented through four regional Marine Conservation Zone projects – the North Sea project is called Net Gain. Our job is to ensure the MPA network is established with wildlife at the heart, protecting not only the rare and threatened but a range of marine species and habitats. Through input into the Net Gain project we will provide information and data supporting the establishment of Marine Conservation Zones. However, we cannot do this alone. We need your help to achieve our vision of Living Seas, ones in which wildlife thrives from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows, where wildlife recovers from past declines and adapts to climate change and where people feel inspired by marine wildlife and the value the sea has on their quality of life. Help us do this and join us on our journey towards Living Seas by:

• Getting outside and exploring your marine environment, visiting a local coastal nature reserve.
• Telling others what’s out there, helping us promote the marine environment
• Sending us underwater photographs, videos or your stories of the sea
• Or by attending events or helping volunteer to collect valuable information that will highlight areas of marine life in need of protection.

For more information or to download TWT Living Seas vision, a map of our coastal nature reserves or factsheets on Marine Protected Areas visit
http://www.northseawildlife.org.uk/

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
• Despite just 38 miles of coastline, the Tees Valley has a lot to offer with respect to marine wildlife.
• The coastal cliffs of the Tees Valley are home to internationally important numbers of breeding kittiwakes, alongside other seabirds such as fulmars and cormorants, while the grassland clifftops are home to coastal wildflowers including Spiny Restharrow, Sea Plantain and Wild Carrot.
• The majority of the coastline however, consists of shingle beaches and sand and mud flats. Such areas are both important breeding areas for little terns and ringed plovers, and important feeding grounds for sanderling and oystercatchers.
• As a direct result of environmental improvements, common seals have returned to the Teesmouth after an absence of nearly 60 years, the only known estuary in Europe where seals have done so for this reason. Small but successful breeding populations have established themselves at Seal Sands, Greatham Creek and Billingham Beck, and now account for 2% of the English population.

Thursday

2008-11-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

Had a good walk at lunchtime and managed to see a small flock of long tailed tits and a larger flock of greenfinches feedeing on seed heads.