wildlife – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Plunging temperatures: 4 ways to keep wildlife safe this winter

— Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes Scotland partners with RSPB to compile nature-friendly tips —

In light of the recent cold snap, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes Scotland is putting nature first to inspire homeowners to create their own haven for wildlife during the colder months.

Combined, UK gardens and balconies are six times the size of Glasgow and Edinburgh, covering 4,000km2 – space that with a little care and attention could make a big difference for nature. This could be as simple as introducing nest boxes and bird feeders to planting wildlife-friendly flowers.

The housebuilder has partnered with the RSPB to create a list of wildlife-friendly features to incorporate into your garden for when temperatures plunge.

Provide shelter for a rainy day

When the weather takes a turn, birds need shelter to keep warm and dry. Nest boxes are the perfect option for small birds and are a popular spot for them during colder nights, with space to cosy up together for communal warmth.

For woodland creatures, creating a deadwood or leaf pile in your garden can be used for shelter and to keep warm.

Across Scotland, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes properties has planted over 5,000 new trees in development gardens and installed over 4,000 hedgehog highways in show home gardens.

Open an outdoor kitchen

Just like us, birds need extra energy during the colder seasons to keep warm. The smaller the bird, the more likely it is to be affected by long periods of cold weather.

With longer nights and poorer weather conditions, the options for finding food is limited for wildlife meaning they often venture outside of their usual sources in the quest to find food. Without food sources, birds are at risk of starvation, which often kills many birds during winter.

You can help your garden birds by providing some food when natural resources such as berries and seeds are running low, or hard to access because of the cold weather. Find safe places for hanging bird feeders offering calorie-rich seed mixes, good quality peanuts and suet balls. Move these feeders around, to prevent predators from getting used to their location and ensure all feeders are cleaned at least weekly.

Bird landscaping

Consider the plants you grow in the garden, as they can provide a year-round sanctuary for birds. Planting trees and shrubs for garden birds will not only provide a larger nesting space for birds to take cover and keep warm during winter, but also acts a cooling space to retreat to in summer.

Shrubs – such as native holly – provide birds with berries over the winter period, which are particularly popular among blackbirds, bullfinches, sparrows and winter thrushes.

Creating flower beds of varying heights can also provide cover for birds of different sizes. For instance, allowing perennials to remain standing through the winter can offer additional shelter.

Compost leftovers and greenery

To help minimise food waste over the festive period, consider building a compost heap to recycle organic household waste, including peelings and any uneaten vegetables. Our gardens also have a wealth of greenery that are perfect for compost piles, including dead trees, shrubs and grass cuttings.

Not only will it give you compost to fertilise your garden, but it also diversifies the wildlife in your garden, and you may see some robins and blackbirds nesting there come spring.

Douglas McLeod, Regional Managing Director for Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes Scotland, said: “Creating a habitat fit for wildlife can help invite a variety of birds and woodland creatures into your space. This not only makes for an interesting period of birdwatching and wildlife spotting during the colder months but also contributes to the conservation of these species.

“At Barratt, we have a nationwide commitment to creating nature-friendly outdoor spaces of all sizes in our developments. These spaces range from gardens and balconies to communal areas, all of which are now flourishing with life.”

Adrian Thomas, RSPB’s wildlife gardening expert, said: “Whatever size your garden or outdoor space is, it can offer shelter and food to a huge variety of wildlife which is especially important in the coldest months.

“Winter gardens are also beneficial for people! Getting outside, breathing some fresh air and being closer to nature is likely to give your wellbeing a boost at a time of year when it may really need it. As does the chance to watch some of the wildlife that is making the most of your garden.

“Big Garden Birdwatch is a great example of this, showing how taking note of what birds are around us – even just for an hour – can be really valuable, helping us to relax, reflect and feel more connected.”

Barratt Homes’ commitment to creating wildlife-friendly areas across its Scotland developments include:

North Scotland:

3,578 new trees planted throughout developments
2,883 hedgehog highways installed in development gardens
77,722 new sapling hedgerows planted across developments

West Scotland:

1,749 new trees planted throughout developments
1,218 hedgehog highways installed in development gardens

East Scotland:

18 nest boxes in show home gardens
61 swift nesting bricks implemented throughout developments

The UK is home to spectacular wildlife and internationally important habitats, and yet it is in the bottom 10 per cent of countries globally for protecting nature.

Sadly, nature in the UK is in trouble and in need of a helping hand, having lost 38 million birds over the last 50 years, with house sparrows, starlings and song thrushes all considered birds of conservation concern.

For more tips to encourage wildlife into your garden this winter and beyond visit Nature on Your Doorstep here.

28,043 butterflies spotted in Scotland last summer: can we beat that in 2024?

Butterfly Conservation issues rallying cry to people of Scotland

Last summer, citizen scientists in Scotland spotted 28,043 butterflies and day-flying moths during the Big Butterfly Count. Today, wildlife conservation charity, Butterfly Conservation, is issuing a rallying cry to people in the region to help beat that this year.

In 2023, people across Scotland did 5,087 Big Butterfly Counts, with Small White taking the top spot for species sightings. Scientists are hoping even more people will take part to help find out what’s happening with the region’s butterflies before the Count ends on Sunday 4 August.

It’s more important than ever that people take part this year. After analysing 50 years of data, researchers have discovered a clear northward spread for many species, including common garden favourites the Peacock, Comma and Holly Blue, the result of climate change creating warmer habitats for them to survive in.

Butterflies are indicators of the health of our natural environment – and with half of Britain’s butterfly species already threatened or near threatened with extinction, it’s never been more important to understand how these species are responding to the changing climate and to take action to protect them.

Dr Zoë Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation explains: ‘We really need people across Scotland to get out for the Count to help us understand the impact of climate change on our most-loved butterflies.

“We’re relying on everyone, everywhere to spend just 15 minutes outdoors and let us know what they see. With species on the move, someone in Scotland might even be the first to spot a new species in their area!”

Whether done with friends and family, or in a moment of quiet calm and solitude, Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is free, fun and takes just 15 minutes in a sunny spot. It is open to anyone, of any age, in any part of the UK – towns, cities or the countryside. No green space is too small – a back garden, a small terrace or balcony with some pot plants, a public park, allotment or country lane are all important spaces to explore, track and report.

Last year more than 135,000 Counts took place up and down the country, with participants spending a combined four years counting butterflies in their gardens, local parks, urban community spaces, balconies, courtyards and in the countryside. The information gathered helps to inform conservation projects, government policies and supports other experts with their research and vital work to protect our planet.

This year’s Big Butterfly Count is already underway, running from Friday 12 July – Sunday 4 August.

For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.

Scottish charity and committed polar cruise ship operator join forces to boost vital conservation efforts on the island of South Georgia

A new partnership between Dundee-based charity the South Georgia Heritage Trust and Poseidon Expeditions will enable those on a trip of a lifetime to Antarctica to help fund vital wildlife and cultural conservation on the island of South Georgia.

Since its founding in 1999, Poseidon Expeditions has taken thousands of intrepid travellers to the most remote corners on earth. Now, Poseidon Expeditions will donate £100 to the South Georgia Heritage Trust every time a new passenger books a cruise featuring South Georgia, which will help fund SGHT’s ongoing conservation work on the island.

The sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is famed for its iconic wildlife, with scenes of humpback whales, southern elephant seals, seabirds and vast colonies of king penguins often featuring in landmark series such as the BBC’s Frozen Planet, Blue Planet and Planet Earth.

It is also synonymous with world-famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who died on South Georgia in 1922 and is buried in Grytviken Cemetery.

The South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) has been working to conserve South Georgia’s wildlife, landscape and cultural heritage since 2005.

The charity delivered the world’s largest rodent eradication project, which against all odds successfully removed invasive rats and mice (accidentally introduced by whalers 200 years ago) which were predating the eggs and chicks of millions of native birds and had almost pushed one species, the South Georgia pipit, to extinction.

Since the island was declared rodent-free in May 2018, SGHT has been supporting ongoing efforts by the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands to make sure that South Georgia’s 10-15,000 annual visitors don’t inadvertently undo this amazing feat and that South Georgia remains an ecosystem in recovery.

Luke Smith, Director of Development at the South Georgia Heritage Trust said: “We’ve had unprecedented success in removing the invasive rodents that were decimating South Georgia’s native bird populations, but as a small charity we need as much support as possible for our work to continue and grow.

“Donations from Poseidon Expeditions will enable us to further protect and preserve the island’s special environment and wildlife for future generations through conservation work.

“This support will also contribute towards scientific research, help run the South Georgia Museum, and deliver major cultural projects on or related to the island, such as saving Shackleton’s heritage at Stromness and a major art installation which will act as a whale memorial at Grytviken.

“We are extremely grateful for Poseidon Expeditions’generosity, and we are very much looking forward to working together for the benefit of South Georgia, and all its beauty.”

The company’s chief executive officer, Angelica Vorea, said: “Poseidon Expeditions has been committed to safe and environmentally responsible exploration of the polar regions since 1999.

“We are privileged to bring visitors from all over the world to encounter the wonders of South Georgia and the wider Antarctic region. We know how much our guests value the opportunities they have to experience such sights and we are delighted to have teamed up with SGHT in this way so that our company can contribute to their important mission.”

The small British Overseas Territory of South Georgia lies 1,500km east of the Falkland Islands, and is home to theSouth Georgia Museum which SGHT runs on behalf of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.

To find out more about the work of SGHT and its ongoing work to protect the wildlife, landscape and cultural heritage of South Georgia visit: www.sght.org, and to find out more about Poseidon Expeditions visit www.poseidonexpeditions.com

Spring Talk From Great British nature writer Sir John Lister-Kaye

One of Britain’s best-known conservationists, John Lister-Kaye, described by Springwatch’s Katie Humble as ‘joyful and inspirational’, gives a rare glimpse into his intriguing life and work at a literary talk and book signing at the Royal Scots Club on 23^rd March, 10:30am-12:30pm.

Entry is free and there will be a pop-up Toppings bookstall.

A true naturalist, John Lister-Kaye patiently and meticulously observes and records the lives, habits and habitats of otters, badgers, weasels and pine martens. Hours of careful waiting and watching in the woods and loch, the river, fields and moorland is rewarded with insight into how these animals live when unhindered by human interference; sometimes red in tooth and claw, but often playful, familial, curious and surprising.

John’s own journey from aristocratic roots to being captivated by the creatures of Scotland and becoming one of the most respected academic observers of the natural world gripping too.

During deep dives exploring natural history, familial characteristics and ecological significance, he began to find the animals were ‘teaching me to become feral myself, guiding me into their ways so that my senses seemed to merge with theirs at a level far more intimate than just scientific interest or admiration.’

His new book, FOOTPRINTS IN THE WOODS, The Secret Life of Forest and Riverbank, is not only a love letter to these elusive animals and what he describes as the ‘irresistible wildness’.

It is also a timely reminder of the fragility of habitat and the beauty and variety we have to lose if we don’t choose to actively protect it.

‘A peerless observer who is as much a part of the land as his beloved badgers. This, unusually, is nature writing that is actually about nature rather than the writer, and so it has the power and wisdom of the hills and forest. Marvellous’ – CHARLES FOSTER (Author, Cry of the Wild)

‘No one writes as movingly, or with such transporting poetic skills, about encounters with wild creatures’ – HELEN MACDONALD (Award-winning writer, H is for Hawk)

‘I am addicted to the writings of John Lister-Kaye’ – JOANNA LUMLEY

Sir John Lister-Kaye is one of Britain’s best-known naturalists and conservationists and has spent a lifetime exploring, protecting and celebrating the British landscape and its wildlife.

John came to live in the Highlands of Scotland in 1968 to work with the celebrated author and naturalist Gavin Maxwell of Ring of Bright Water fame.

He is the author of eleven books on wildlife and the environment, including The Dun Cow Rib, shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize, and Gods of the Morning, winner of the Richard Jeffereies Award for Nature Writing.

John has lectured on the natural environment all over the world. He was awarded an OBE for his services to nature conservation, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Geddes Environmental Medal and honorary doctorates from two Scottish universities for his contribution to nature writing.

He has served prominently in the RSPB, the Nature Conservancy Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. He lives with his wife and family among the mountains of the Scottish Highlands, where he runs the world-famous Aigas Field Centre.

The literary coffee morning with author talk will be held on 23^rd March 2024 at The Royal Scots Club, 29-31 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6QE starting at 10:30am.

There will be an opportunity to purchase books for signing by the author at a pop-up bookshop provided by Topping & Company Booksellers, Edinburgh.

The event is free and is open to all, members and non-members alike, with numbers limited by venue capacity only.

Reservations may be made by via Eventbrite or by emailing The Royal Scots Club on events@royalscotsclub.com

Beaver born at Five Sisters Zoo is thriving in Northumberland

A short film has been released by Beaver Trust and Five Sisters Zoo telling the behind-the-scenes story of a beaver kit’s birth at the Zoo and successful release at National Trust’s Wallington Estate, highlighting the work of those involved who went above and beyond to make it happen.

In July this year a family of four Eurasian beavers were successfully released on the National Trust’s Wallington Estate in Northumberland as part of plans to boost wildlife and increase the landscape’s resilience to a changing climate.

It was reported that two adult beavers and two young had been successfully relocated from wild populations in the River Tay catchment in Scotland to their new home in a 24-hectare fenced enclosure on a tributary of the River Wansbeck. The adult female was, in fact, found to be pregnant when she was trapped in Scotland and taken into Beaver Trust’s holding facilities at Five Sisters Zoo.

What followed was a series of careful health checks, sensitive care, and detailed monitoring to ensure the female and her family were calm and comfortable to give the unborn beaver kit the best chance.

The team worked to create a bespoke habitat at Five Sisters Zoo, where the beaver family would have plenty of space and enrichment while awaiting the birth of the kit.

Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, said: “The fact that we have a healthy young kit that has been born and raised by its family relatively normally, and is now acting naturally in its new home, is a testament to everyone involved at Beaver Trust and Five Sisters Zoo prioritising the family’s welfare and working extremely hard to keep the whole process, from trapping and transport to monitoring, to the care in captivity, sufficiently low stress.

“I’m really proud to have been a part of it.”

Gary Curran, Head Carnivore Keeper at Five Sisters Zoo, said: “We were delighted to experience this first in our zoo’s history, and to be part of this incredible journey for these beavers.

“We have taken what was a more unusual, very hands-off approach than we usually would to ensure the female and her unborn kit had the best possible chance of survival and were delighted when the kit was safely born in our enclosure.”

Dr Romain Pizzi, Independent Specialist Wildlife Veterinarian, said: “We knew as soon as we discovered that the female was expecting this would be a different challenge than we initially expected but it couldn’t have gone better.

“Ensuring the health of the whole family, including the newborn kit was crucial and we look forward to seeing them thrive now in their new surroundings”

With the kit looking strong and healthy, the family were transported down to Northumberland where they were released on July 12th. Footage from the estate shows that the beavers are settling in well and already beginning to transform their surroundings as hoped.

Paul Hewitt, Countryside Manager at the National Trust, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the teams at the Beaver Trust and Five Sisters Zoo who took such great care of the whole beaver family while we waited for their release here at Wallington.

“The news that the kit was born safe and well was wonderful and made the anticipation of release day even more special. They’ve been here for 4 months now and are all happy and healthy, having settled in brilliantly.

“They’re already making changes to the landscape and we’re really looking forward to seeing what they do over the coming months and years.”

The Wallington Estate was the location for the conservation charity’s third beaver release, following successful introductions on Exmoor in 2020 and the South Downs in 2021. The release was the first to take place in Northumberland, with the animals becoming one of the very few beaver populations in northern England.

The beavers form part of a bigger project called Wilder Wallington that is designed to improve prospects for nature across the 5,300-hectare estate and beyond.

Other plans include encouraging the migration of pine martens, restoring hedgerows and areas of peatland, planting trees, tackling invasive non-native species, supporting farmers to incorporate nature into their business plans and alleviating flooding. The reintroduction of beavers at Wallington was generously funded by the Reece Foundation.

The film can be viewed online on Beaver Trust’s Youtube Channel and at The Wallington Estate’s visitor centre and cafe.

RSPB publishes State of Nature report

No let-up – the devastating decline of our wildlife continues

The results are in, and they make grim reading. The latest State of Nature report shows that much of the wildlife in the UK and its Overseas territories is in serious trouble.

In Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) 1,500 species are now at risk of being lost completely.

In Northern Ireland, 281 face a similar fate if we don’t take action.

But there is reason for hope. We’ve never had a better understanding of the state of nature and what is needed to fix it.

Nature reality check

The State of Nature report is the most up-to-date and accurate picture we have of how nature is doing in the UK and its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It brings together information from more than 60 research and conservation organisations collected by thousands of skilled volunteers.

Wildlife at risk of extinction in Great Britain

The report’s findings show that one in six (16%) of the over ten thousand species studied in Great Britain are at risk of becoming extinct. That’s almost 1,500 species which could disappear. In Northern Ireland, 281 species could be lost.

A closer look at Great Britain shows that the figure is much higher for some types of wildlife. We could lose:

43% of birds
31% of amphibians and reptiles
28% of fungi and lichens
26% of land mammals

This includes much loved species such as Turtle Dove, Water Vole and European Eel.

Fewer flowers and hoverflies

Many plants are vanishing from places where they were previously found, including more than half (54%) of flowering plants, such as Heather and Harebell.

Invertebrate species are found, on average, in 13% fewer places now than in 1970. There have been stronger declines in some insect groups with important roles, such as pollinators like bees and hoverflies.

Degraded habitats

Today, only one in seven (14%) of the UK’s important habitats for wildlife were found to be in good condition, with only 7% of our woodland and only 25% of peatlands making the grade. The way we fish means large areas of the seafloor around the UK are not in good condition.

The reasons behind nature’s decline

The report found the changes in the way we manage our land for farming, and climate change were the biggest causes of wildlife decline on our land, rivers and lakes. At sea, and around our coasts, it was as a result of unsustainable fishing, climate change and marine development.

The State of Nature report focuses on recent changes in biodiversity but we’ve been shaping our landscapes and wildlife for thousands of years. The UK’s nature has been depleted by centuries of habitat loss, development and persecution well before our data gathering began in 1970. The report shows evidence that the UK now has less than half of its biodiversity remaining because of human activity.

Reasons for hope

Some things are improving. There are now more sustainably managed woodlands (44%), and sustainably harvested fish stocks (50%) than there were 20 years ago. But there’s still a long way to go.

The support for nature-friendly farming has also increased, as has the number of farmland schemes which are designed to benefit the environment. But at the moment the best available information suggests that nature-friendly farming needs to take place at a much wider scale to halt the decline in farmland wildlife.

The report also includes examples of how wildlife conservation projects can make a huge difference, such as the creation of the Marine Protected Area in Lyme Bay, southern England. Here many species have increased since trawling was banned in 2008. Ongoing restoration projects, such as for peatland and seagrass beds, are helping to stem declines while also helping us mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Much work to be done

Despite these wins, the report shows that time is running out if we’re going to see nature recover in the UK and its Overseas Territories. The report says the scale and ambition of our efforts need to be ramped up and delivered on a much bigger scale, with nature’s recovery firmly cemented into the laws and policies which shape how we manage our land and seas. We have never had a better understanding of the State of Nature and what is needed to fix it.

Read the full report

We’ve given you the key findings, but there’s much more detail in the full report on how our wildlife and wild places are doing and what needs to be done to help nature recover

Read the full report

Bird Watching with ELREC

FRIDAY 11 AUGUST 10.30am – 1.30pm

Join us for a Bird Watching session on Friday, August 11th, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm!

Discover fascinating local birds and their habitats!

Limited spaces are up for grabs!

Hurry and secure your spot now by emailing us at cfc@elrec.org.uk.

Elrec Openarms Sustrans

#biodiversityprotection

#biodiversity

#environment

#climateaction

UK Sees Red!

Red Admirals take surprising early lead in 2023 Big Butterfly Count

Wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, has today revealed a huge surge in sightings of the Red Admiral, a migrant species of butterfly, as the Big Butterfly Count enters its final week.

The Red Admiral is currently flying high with 170,000 sightings reported so far*, an impressive increase of 400% on the same period last year.

It is definitely a ‘Red Admiral year’, with people throughout the country reporting seeing the butterfly while taking part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.

The Red Admiral is a familiar and popular butterfly across the UK. It is a garden favourite and found in all types of habitat. However, what may come as a surprise to many is that this small but mighty butterfly is a migrant species, travelling to the UK from North Africa and continental Europe!

There can be no doubt that climate change is the driver behind a long-term increase in Red Admiral numbers.

Each spring, and continuing through the summer, Red Admirals migrate north where the females lay eggs. Consequently, there is an emergence of fresh butterflies from July onwards.

However, in recent years, scientists are seeing an indication that numbers have increased, and that the species is now overwintering in the UK, particularly in the South of England.

With temperatures increasing, the Red Admiral’s need to return to its southerly winter habitat is reducing, which means it is possible we will see a greater number of the species spending the winter in the UK.

This year’s early results show why the Big Butterfly Count is so important in helping scientists to understand how the weather and changing climate are affecting butterflies.

Dr Zoë Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation explains: “We’ve been surprised to see the Red Admiral taking the lead, however with the increased frequency of warm weather, the UK may well become a permanent home for this species.

“The results so far show just how vital the Big Butterfly Count is. We couldn’t get the depth and breadth of data we’re collecting without the help of the general public. We’re calling on people across the UK to please get out for the Count and record your butterfly sightings over the next few days.

“With climate change here to stay, we need people to take part more than ever before and help us understand how extreme weather is affecting our butterflies.”

Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count isn’t over yet!

So far, citizen scientists across the UK have completed more than 85,000 Counts and recorded over 1 million butterflies and day-flying moths.

The Big Butterfly Count runs until Sunday 6 August and scientists at Butterfly Conservation are keen to see whether the influx of Red Admirals continues, and how they are dispersed around the UK.

Whether done with friends and family, or in a moment of quiet calm and solitude, the Big Butterfly Count is free, fun and takes just 15 minutes. It is open to anyone, of any age, in any part of the UK – towns, cities or the countryside.

No green space is too small – a back garden, a small terrace or balcony with some pot plants, a public park, allotment or country lane are all important spaces to explore, track and report.

For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.

Funding boost will help protect the world’s most endangered animals

UK government awards nearly £40 million to more than 80 projects through the Darwin Initiative and Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund

Projects from Ghana to Ecuador will support global action to protect wildlife and reverse biodiversity loss
Next round of funding also opens to new projects, building on government’s target to halt biodiversity loss by 2030

Threatened plants and animals, including elephants and pangolins are set to be protected thanks to new UK government funding announced today.

Over 80 conservation projects across the globe will benefit from nearly £40 million funding aimed at boosting international biodiversity, supporting the communities that live alongside nature and tackling illegal wildlife trade.

Some of the successful projects include:

Support for the International Snow Leopard Trust to provide specialised training to combat the poaching of snow leopards in countries like Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Pakistan;
Supporting the work of the Wildlife Conservation Society to reduce demand for collagen rich Pangolin scales in Traditional Chinese Medicine;
Supporting the Zoological Society of London’s effort to create sustainable ways for humans and elephants to coexist in areas such as Thailand, where they are often in conflict.

Environment minister Trudy Harrison said: ““The fantastic projects announced today will enhance efforts to protect threatened wildlife, support economic growth of developing countries and drive nature recovery.

“The UK is a global champion when it comes to biodiversity and driving action to halt and reverse the decline of nature. I am proud that – through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the Darwin Initiative – we will continue to play a leading role in conservation efforts around the world.”

Dr Charudutt Mishra, from the International Snow Leopard Trust said: “The snow leopard, an iconic species of Asia’s high mountains, is threatened by retaliatory killing due to their predation on livestock, and illegal trade of its pelt and other body parts.

“With support from the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, we are empowering local and indigenous communities of High Asia with livelihood and conflict management initiatives to enable them to better coexist with snow leopards, and to support conservation efforts.

“We are also helping rangers improve their capacity and motivation in Illegal Wildlife Trade disruption with training, resources and enhanced social recognition in three countries.”

Chair of the Darwin Expert Committee Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland said: “I’m thrilled that the Darwin Initiative is funding such a wide range of outstanding projects, which will improve both biodiversity and human wellbeing in such a diversity of ways and in so many places.

“These projects bring fresh thinking and new ideas to conservation practice, produce evidence to support better conservation, as well as building the capacity of the next generation of conservationists around the world.

“It was a pleasure and honour to support Defra in their selection of these projects and I look forward to a new set of exciting proposals in the upcoming 30th round of the Darwin Initiative.”

The Darwin Initiative, a grants scheme to conserve and restore biodiversity and the communities that live alongside in developing countries, supported 63 of these successful projects with over £31.5 million funding. Projects will conserve nature-rich areas in developing countries and support communities who live and work in biodiverse areas to build resilience to climate change.

The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund has supported 21 projects through £7.8 million funding to enhance the protection of threatened species. The projects will protect species including elephants, pangolins and threatened timber – and cement our leading role in cracking down on the £17 billion a year illegal wildlife trade which fuels corruption, deprives communities of sustainable livelihoods and degrades ecosystems.

The UK is a global leader in supporting efforts to halt the decline in nature, protect wildlife and restore the natural world. Our efforts will help to deliver on the ambitious new global deal for nature agreed at the UN Nature Summit COP15 in December, which will protect 30% of our land and ocean by 2030.

Today’s announcement also confirms that the launch of Round 10 of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and Round 30 of the Darwin Initiative will be opening to applications in May 2023. Projects will soon be able to access up to a further £40 million funding building on the government’s commitment to combat biodiversity loss and improve animal welfare standards.

Further projects funded over the next five years include:

Darwin Initiative:

Beekeepers Restore the Forests of Afram Plains: this project will provide training for 1,000 beekeepers on topics including wildfire management and forest restoration, while mobilising communities to help curb illegal logging in Ghana.
Scaling rights-based approaches for conservation and poverty reduction in Indonesia: this locally led project is working to scale up an approach developed over the past seven years to advance the rights of indigenous communities, improve socio-economic conditions, and conserve biodiversity across Indonesia.
Building Capacity for Reciprocal Watershed Agreements in the Tropical Andes: this project will help roll out Reciprocal Watershed Agreements, where residents will be supported to develop projects that protect forests and wildlife while providing new livelihood opportunities for local communities. The funding will help to scale up the project, building capacity and capability across Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund:

Furs For Life – Preserving Culture, Protecting Nature: this project empowers women-led enterprises in Zambia and South Africa to produce synthetic fur garments, replacing authentic wild cat skin garments in local communities.
Conservation Litigation & Wildlife (CLAW): this project explores innovative ways to hold perpetrators of Illegal Wildlife Trade accountable by using liability laws to demand that they provide remedies for the damage they cause.
Unlocking DNA barcoding to identify illegal timber: this project will work to overcome the technical challenges proving a barrier to timber identification – a technique vital to improving the detection and prevention of the illegal timber trade.

Further Information

Round 10 of the IWTCF will open for new applications on Monday 1st May 2023. For more information on previous projects as well as how to apply please visit: https://iwt.challengefund.org.uk/

Create a buzz in your garden

No Mow May with Johnsons Lawn Seed
Rewild your lawn with Johnsons Wildflower Mix

For the month of May, Johnson’s Lawn Seed is encouraging gardeners to say “no” to mowing their lawns, in a move to halt the declining numbers of bees, butterflies, and wildlife, as part of Plantlife’s No Mow May initiative.

A special new product will also be introduced, helping gardeners to further support our beloved creepy crawlies.

No Mow May returns next month and was first launched in 2019 by the botanical charity, Plantlife to highlight the terrifying loss of natural habitats including almost 7.5 million acres of flower-rich meadows and pastures having been lost since the 1930s. The result is fewer pollinators and fewer insect-eating birds, with entire habitats on the verge of complete collapse.

Recognising this, Johnsons Lawn Seed, alongside the No May initiative is highlighting the importance of our gardens, as a place to support vital wildlife. Small steps, such as having a slightly overgrown lawn or planting wildflowers that are rich in pollen and nectar, will attract beneficial insects and bees to gardens.

How to get involved

No Mow May doesn’t mean messy, overgrown, and scraggy patches of lawn to attract wildlife. Johnsons Lawn Seed’s Celebration Wildflowers Mix – launched for the 2023 season – can take a part of an existing lawn or flowerbed and convert it into a meadow. Containing bright and vibrant annuals, the mix has 17 different flowering species including cornflowers, poppies, cosmos, marigolds, and daisies, providing a diverse assortment of local insects.

Not only do the Celebration Wildflower tins make ideal gifts for garden-loving friends and family, but they also offer an important gift to nature, as the wildflowers will encourage pollinators into gardens, providing nectar for these vital winged insects.

Outdoor spaces will come alive with bees and butterflies for months at a time as soon as the flowers appear. With coverage of up to 15m² from one tin and an RRP of just £9.99, Celebration offers a lot more for your money and will bring wildlife to your garden in its droves.

In the Tin

The Celebration Wildflower Tins contain a stunning mix of flower seeds, chosen to create a riot of colour and attract all kinds of pollinators to the garden:

Common Name

Colour(s)

Paper Daisy	White/Pink/Purple
Pheasant’s Eye	Red/Orange
Pot Marigold	Red/Orange/Yellow
Cornflower	Blue/Pink/White
Cosmos	Pink/Purple
Painted Daisy	Red/Orange/Pink/Yellow
Dwarf Morning Glory	Blue/Purple/Pink/White
Chinese Forget-Me-Not	Blue
California Poppy	Multi Colour Mix
Fineflower	Blue/Pink
Farewell to Spring	Pink/Red/White
Baby’s Breath	Red/White
Candy Tuft	White/Blue/Pink/Purple
Love-in-a-Mist	Blue/Pink/Purple/White
Corn Poppy	Red

Why rewilding matters

Bumblebees are by far the most well-known pollinators and without these little buzzing creatures there would be far fewer flowers, fruits, and vegetables growing around us. According to a BBC report, bees pollinate approximately 70 of 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world, with honey bees alone being responsible for $ 30 billion a year worth of food.

Another benefit of leaving your lawn uncut is it protects butterflies as they lay eggs and food for insect larvae as they grow and develop. There are about 60 types of butterflies in the UK, but they are declining more rapidly in urban areas. A major scientific report from Butterfly Conservation shows that almost three-quarters of the UK’s butterfly species in the UK have suffered population declines over the last 10 years.

Seeds created by the wildflowers can also be eaten by garden birds and the taller plants will provide shelter for all kinds of wildlife, increasing biodiversity in an outdoor space. It’s also ideal for the novice gardener as the wildflower lawn is low maintenance, requires little water, and does not require a green thumb to keep it looking bold and beautiful.

Plants grasses too

For those that want to establish grasses as well as flowers, Johnsons Country Meadow Mix when planted in an urban setting is beneficial to support insects and other wildlife. By planting native wildflowers, you will provide attractive drifts of colour throughout the summer months, as well as maintain the No Mow May pledge.

The Country Meadow Mix is a mixture of native origin as sown by professionals and contains birdsfoot trefoil, black knapweed, and yarrow, as well as grasses including browntop bent, crested dogstail and Yorkshire fog.

The diverse lawn and native wildflowers are both natural and sustainable and are essential for establishing a healthy wildlife community. Think soft meadow colours, wildflowers, and native plants such as cow parsley, poppies, and buttercups accompanying wispy grasses and you have wildlife-friendly sanctuaries in your backyard.

Get the kids involved

Or why not get the kids involved with No Mow May and use either of Johnsons’ mixes by making a seed bomb? This is a fantastic gardening activity that children will love. All you need is some wildflower mix, some clay, and compost.

Mix with water to form a dough ball. Once they have dried, simply throw them onto your lawn or into your flower bed and watch how a magical meadow of blooms grows.

What’s more, each mixture of Johnsons’ wildflowers will establish within eight weeks. By not mowing the lawn this May, the longer length will create a haven for wildlife, newts, frogs, and hedgehogs to forage, as well as beetles and worms that will also bring birds to your garden to feast on the many invertebrates.

It’s not too late for gardeners to start getting involved now as part of the build-up of the charity’s No Mow May initiative.

Guy Jenkins, Consumer Manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed says: “No Mow May represents an opportunity for homeowners when it comes to native wildflowers and helping to support the biodiversity and nature of their area.

“Our Wildflower mixes can help the pressures our pollinating insects and other wildlife face by creating a sustainable environment within the urban garden.”

Johnsons Celebration Annual Wildflowers are available in 50g tins with an RRP of £9.99.

Johnsons Country Meadow Mix is available in a 200g carton with an RRP of £14.99 Both are available from garden centres or retailers.