Biodiversity in the UK is continuing to decline according to statistics released by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Defra is studying these trends as part a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), aiming to “significantly reduce the rate of species loss by 2010”. But conservationists are “very concerned” the target will not be met. The government said it had made some progress and continued to provide resources to tackle the problem including annual funding of £150,000 for the National Biodiversity Network to improve and develop bioidversity information delivery. The latest update shows that many species are still…
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The veil has been lifted ever so slightly on the world of one of the River Thames’ most mysterious inhabitants, following the discovery of a wild otter on The Highway in Wapping recently. On Friday 22nd September 2006 a young otter was found dead by a local resident. A post mortem a few days later confirmed this is the first wild otter to be found in Central London in 100 years. Environment Agency experts believe the notoriously shy mammal had travelled to London down the River Lea, most likely having left the river at Shadwell Steps around 500m from where…
Hedgehogs endangered as manicured gardens take their toll From the Times, August 28th 2007 Hedgehogs, harvest mice, salmon and sparrows have been included on a list of wildlife in danger for the first time. In all, 1,149 species of plants and animals – twice as many as ten years ago – need special protection, according to the Government’s conservation plan. Conservationists are giving warning that Britain is no longer a safe haven for many of the animals. Mammals, birds, insects, invertebrates, plants, fish, sea creatures and fungi in need of protection are listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. In…
In this year’s British Waterways annual wildlife survey, the focus of the survey was the kingfisher. In London, 39 kingfishers were spotted in the area, higher than any other urban area. As well as the iconic blue birds, budding Bill Oddies across London discovered a total of 253 creatures along the waterside, with more unusual sightings including: a seal, terrapins, otters, weasels, water voles, crayfish and mink. Ecologists pinpointed Regent’s Canal between City Road Basin in Islington and Old Ford Lock in Tower Hamlets (alongside Victoria Park) as the best place to spot kingfishers and other waterside wildlife, and with…