Lee Brady's Recording Blog

Planning System Awaits Overhaul in England

Ministers say changes to England's planning system, being unveiled later, will mean local people are more involved in the process.

via www.bbc.co.uk

 

I suppose that all depends on the definition of 'involved'.

 

Report of the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives

It was clear from the wide range of evidence and views submitted in the course of the Review that in the large majority of cases the implementation of the Directives is working well, allowing both development of key infrastructure and ensuring that a high level of environmental protection is maintained.

 

So not gold plated after all?

A full copy of DEFRA's review can be downloaded here. 

 

Osborne Made 'unjustified attack' on EU Habitat Rules

George Osborne has been accused of an "unjustified attack" on EU rules to protect wildlife after a Defra review found they were mostly "working well".

via www.bbc.co.uk

 

Honest question. Who has any confidence in anything that Osborne claims?

 

Allerthorpe Incident - Natural England Responds

I’ve spoken to one of the local staff members who has been involved and who, now he has visited the site, frankly admits that this was a disastrous mistake, pure and simple, and that he’s absolutely mortified.  Although the site in question isn’t an SSSI, it is in an HLS agreement that we’re responsible for overseeing.  The HLS agreement is with a private individual, albeit on FC land, and is primarily for heathland restoration.  As this particular area was only scrubbed up with 6-10 year old birch, and obviously would have still provided good habitat for reptiles, the Natural England brief for the works was not as detailed as it should have been.  As is plain to see from the photos heavy machinery was used, which was the completely wrong method for an area like this (clearly heavy machinery should only be used where there is no reptile habitat whatsoever remaining), and at the worst possible time of year to boot.  As soon as Natural England staff became aware of what was happening the work was stopped and less damaging methods were advised

via www.herpetofauna.co.uk

 

A detailed and very encouraging response from Paul Edgar regarding the incident at Allerthorpe. Paul is Natural England's new Amphibian and Reptile Species Specialist and I believe he deserves a great deal of kudos for being so candid. I really hope that we are at the beginning of a new era, when the statutory conservation organisations and major land owning charities such as The National Trust, County Widlife Trusts, RSPB et. al. take significantly more interest in the conservation of reptiles and amphibians on land that they manage. 

Time will tell. 

 

England Faces Wildlife Tragedy?

Tadpoles this spring will be facing more than the usual predatory threats of fish, birds and children with jam jars. Amid the worst drought in 30 years "a wildlife tragedy" is looming that could inflict a heavy toll on some of England's best-loved species ...

... Perkins [Wildlife Trusts] blamed the loss of life on overuse of water. "We urgently need to change the way we use water at home and across businesses. Saving water now could save wildlife from an absolute disaster." 

via www.guardian.co.uk

 

I'm not really convinced that encouraging businesses and householders to use less water is going to result in more water in ponds this year, what we need is rain. It should also be remembered that whilst a dry pond in 2012 may prevent amphibians from breeding, it will also remove important aquatic predators such as fish. Amphibian breeding success in such ponds could therefore be much higher than normal in 2013.

What would be problematic is a prolonged period of successive dry winters and springs. Whilst alarm bells may be ringing I don't think we are at the tradgedy stage just yet. 

[Update 3/5/2012] - Well we certainly have had some rain recently! Most of the Kent ponds that I survey are now full of water and great crested newts appear to be laying plenty of eggs. 

 

Wildlife Left High and Dry by Drought

Professor Trevor Beebee, of the University of Sussex, said: “The species most likely to suffer are those using shallow, temporary ponds, notably common frogs and, more significantly, the rare and endangered natterjack toad."

via www.express.co.uk

 

In Kent, many ponds supporting great crested newt are also likely to desiccate early, resulting in another year of breeding failure.

 

Allerthorpe Discussion

Has anyone else been to Allerthorpe near York recently ? It's a local lowland heathland and pine forest that has a wealth of reptile and amphibians not to mention birdlife and other wildlife. I've just been today and can't believe the work that they are carrying out there.

I acknowledge that there is a problem with birch trees growing through the heathland causing shade and generally taking over the habitat but the work that is been done to combat this beggars belief. Heavy machinery, diggers etc has been brought in and vast areas have been cleared down to soil level leaving bare earth compacted down with tyre marks !

A few very small islands have been left within these bare areas but they are very few. Notices have been posted stating that the work does look drastic but heather will grow back and it has been done with the full backing of Natural England.

How can they justify this destruction of habitat ?

via www.herpetofauna.co.uk

 

Lots of discussion of the Allerthorpe incident on the RAUK Forum.

 

Hypocrisy?

Wildlife experts say moving slow worms and lizards from Gloucester to Cheltenham could be vital for the survival of the creatures. Ecology Solutions is spearheading an effort to transport the animals from the Railway Triangle development to Leckhampton Hill. The firm is working on the migration with Natural England, Cheltenham Borough Council and Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common. Its senior ecologist Karl Goodbun said: "There's a need to protect them." 

via www.thisissomerset.co.uk

 

So on one hand NE advocate the translocation of reptiles from proposed development sites such as this. Yet at nature reserves such as Allerthorpe Common NE undertake wholesale habitat disturbance without any mitigation works at all. It doesn't make any sense.

 

Allerthorpe Common

“Thanks to this thoughtless, inconsiderate and uneducated choice of clearance it has wiped out not just these populations of reptile but also an important co-existing ecosystem for all the other species and, due to this mismanagement, will obviously take many, many years before anything thrives there again.”

via www.pocklingtonpost.co.uk

 

These habitat restoration works at a Site of Special Scientific Interest clearly do not follow best practice for managing sites that are known to support important reptile populations. As a professional ecological consultant that advises Natural England and industry on the legality of works affecting reptile habitat, I must admit to being shocked and highly disappointed by what has occurred here. The fact that NE only revised their plans in response to comments made by the public strikes me as being highly unprofessional. The works may have resulted in individual animals being killed and that would be unlawful. Since the impact of large scale habitat works such as these are of real concern to those of us who undertake reptile conservation, I believe that it is in the public interest to inform the police to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to consider a prosecution.

 

Sainsbury’s Application Refused Partly Due to Slow-worm

7) The presence of the protected slow worm species. Although Sainsbury’s proposed moving them to a suitable “receptor” site, one was not identified in the application.

via www.ledburyreporter.co.uk

 

Interesting that local planning authorities are starting to enforce full disclosure of proposed mitigation works within applications for planning consent. It is no longer sufficient to simply state that mitigation works will be undertaken.