News
Monitoring program for Manx Shearwater
Scientists at Cambridge University are in the process of monitoring the lifestyle of British Shearwaters. It involves using RFID tags attached to the bird's ring. There are wireless sensors mounted in some of the breeding burrows on Skomer Island, which gather information on the birds including their weight. Also some Manx Shearwaters are carrying GPS tracking devices which will enable the scientists to gather the range and areas over which the birds feed.
The Sherwood Legend
Unfortunately, Sherwood Forest lost out to the lycra clad Connect 2 campaign from Sustran for the cash from the Big Lottery fund. Let's hope that Sustran will have more environmental sympathy in their new tracks than they have shown in some cases previously. Also hopefully there will be more separation between cyclists and pedestrians for the latter's safety.
Leucistic Barnacle Geese
There may be up to four leucistic Barnacle Geese in the Solway Firth this year. Leucistic means lacking in colour and appearing very pale, almost albinistic. They should remain in the area until March 2008.
Great Bustards breed in Britain
Great Bustards have laid eggs in England for the first time in 175 years. The Great Bustard Group (GBG) has been releasing birds on Salisbury Plain each year since around 2004. As part of the introduction programme Great Bustard chicks are raised in Russia from eggs which have been rescued from nests destroyed by cultivation. These chicks are then released in the Wiltshire countryside.
Enhancing Arable Biodiversity report published
A report from the Sustainable Arable Farming For an Improved Environment (or SAFFIE for short) was published in mid July, SAFFIE has being carrying out a 5 year study on improving arable farming activities to benefit wildlife. Six beneficial techniques were identified, three of them not included in the Entry Level Stewardship Scheme. These included scarifying (stirring up the soil to make bare patches) field margins, and using Gramincide in spring to reduce vigorous grasses. More can be found on the SAFFIE web site.
Shooting on Local Nature Reserves
A man has been seen shooting on Netherfield reserve over the weekend of the 14th-15thApril. As far as I know no-one has shooting rights on any Nottinghamshire reserve, so it was being done illegally. If anyone sees a repeat of this or any other similar incident then they are asked to contact the local police (or the wildlife officer of the local force)or ring 0115 967 0999
Gales hit Nottinghamshire Trees
The gales of the 18th-19th January have caused the loss of many trees in Nottinghamshire with Sherwood Pines FP losing over 100,000. The trails will reopen on the 27th January. The damage is bad news for the Forestry Commission, but perhaps good news for Nottinghamshire’s Wood Larks and Nightjars. Meanwhile Clumber park is not reopening until the 3rd of February, because of blocked roads and paths. Even then parts will still be closed for some while to come.
Gedling Conservation Trust
A new organisation which has been set up to take over ownership and conservation of the former coal slurry lagoons at Netherfield. Anyone who wishes to take part in the conservation work then contact the Netherfield Wildlife Trust at
Netherfield Wildlife Group, c/o 4 Shelburne Close, Heronridge, Nottinghams, NG5 9LLLast updated 28th February 2008