New UK Wildlife Habitat to be Created in Ribble Estuary

Posted by Sally on September 18th, 2008 in Wildlife

Following a breach of the sea wall around part of Hesketh Out Marsh on the Ribble estuary this week the Environment agency and RSPB are joining forces in the biggest scheme of it’s kind in the UK to return the area to saltmarsh.

The flood defences were built in the 1980’s by local landowners in order to farm the land but a decision has been taken to allow the land to return to saltmarsh.

As well as a natural flood defence the 168 hectare scheme will also provide an important habitat for British wildlife.

The project is also backed by Lancaster City Council and Natural England.

John Collins, Environment Agency Area Manager said: “This project is a fantastic example of how we are working more closely with the natural environment to manage flood risk. By assessing the land and its historical patterns and taking into account how flooding is likely to impact over the coming years, we are able to create effective, sustainable solutions to managing flood risk.”

When the project is complete the RSPB will take over management of the area.

Laurence Rose, the RSPB’s Regional Director, said: “The Ribble is one of the most important estuaries in the UK for birds. This inspirational project promises to further enhance that importance by providing a fantastic area of new saltmarsh. This will offer a place to breed for wading birds such as lapwing, redshank, avocet and oystercatcher, while acting as a vital wintering ground for species like pink-footed geese, whooper swans, wigeons, teals and golden plovers.”

“We are very grateful for the work carried out by the Environment Agency to help us create what will be a wonderful, wet and wild landscape.”

Here is the full press release by the RSPB - saltmarsh and includes notes on the importance of this project.

While you are visiting the RSPB site check out their British wildlife and bird images they are amazing and high resolution images can be purchased from the site.

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Dairy Industry anger grows at Dairy UK chairman change

Posted by Sally on September 16th, 2008 in Farming Issues

Following the replacement of the Dairy UK chairman and the NFU’s tough stance on the decision, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) have added their voice to the growing concerns about the future of the organisation.

Lyndon Edwards, RABDF chairman, recognised the need to give the new chairman the benefit of the doubt but spoke about his concerns for Dairy UK as a cross-industry organisation.

Mr Edwards said: “Dairy UK’s objectives were to bring together for the first time all sectors of the industry, to collectively develop the market and the overall dairy business, and in turn, achieve a sustained improvement to producer milk price. Despite some initial failings, it has more recently achieved some positive outcomes.”

RABDF have not gone as far as the NFU in withdrawing support for Dairy UK but are prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt until they see what direction the new chairman shall take.

Mr Edwards said: “Sir Don Curry, succeeded in the chair by David Curry together brought unique and independent expertise to the table, yet electing a representative from the processing sector goes against that spirit of working for the best for all parties, both farmers and processors.”

“We believe that Dairy UK must think very carefully about its future decision making otherwise it is in growing danger of retrenching into DIAL as a processor organisation.”

“The decision does not bode well for the dairy farming sector at a time when it has never been more important to work together.”

Dairy UK have been putting a brave face on the withdrawal of NFU support and Jim Begg, their chief Executive, said whilst they were disappointed at the decision by the NFU the group would continue to make progress without the union’s support.

It seems all eyes will be on Dairy UK and the new chairman to see whether they forge ahead with a cross-industry stance or move toward a processor body.

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NFU anger at Dairy UK chairman replacement

Posted by Sally on September 14th, 2008 in Farming Issues

The NFU has taken a strong stand over the replacement of David Curry (Tory MP) as independent Chairman of Dairy UK.

Gwyn Jones, NFU Dairy Board Chairman and board member of Dairy UK, has also resigned his board position with Dairy UK over the decision.

The NFU will no longer have an involvement in or support Dairy UK as an organisation because by appointing a dairy processor as Chairman they have essentially moved away from supporting the dairy industry as a whole.

NFU president Peter Kendall said: “Irrespective of the personalities, the decision to move away from an independent chairman means that Dairy UK cannot claim it represents the whole of the dairy industry”

“We do not believe now that Dairy UK can make any claim to represent farmers. For this reason we are taking the decision to withdraw our involvement and I have asked Gwyn Jones to resign as a director of the board. I want to stress that the NFU will continue to voice the views and opinions of its farming members.”

“We will continue to have positive and frank dialogue with dairy processors about how to ensure a successful British milk industry, but we will do so outside of Dairy UK.”

If nothing else this is a bad move politically and certainly won’t make Dairy UK many friends in the farming industry.

It will be interesting to watch Dairy UK over the coming months and see which direction the new Chairman takes them.

I wonder if they will now change their slogan Dairy UK : Voice of the Dairy Industry to Dairy UK : Voice of the Dairy processors”?

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World Farming & Wildlife - You’ve Got to Laugh

Posted by Sally on September 12th, 2008 in Rants and Rambles

Having been without internet connection for over a week I am a little behind the times with world farming and wildlife news but in my desperate bid to play catch up a couple of funny stories caught my eye.

The first story had me checking the date to see if it was April 1st but it’s good to know that other countries have the equivalent of Defra’s ability to show a total lack of common sense.

A dozen goats were ordered to be released in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the goats were being held illegally in a Kinshasa prison cell.

They were discovered on a routine prison visit by the Deputy Justice Minister who found the goats in a prison cell with their owners.

The goats were due to face charges of being sold illegally by the roadside.

And the prize for the understatement of 2008 goes to ……..

The Justice Minsister said “many police officers have gaps in their knowledge of the law”.

The second story that had me rolling around the floor laughing is from the US Fish and Wildlife Service who had a rather embarrassing time with a misprint for people ordering duck hunting licences.

3.5 million licences were printed with the number 1-800-872-6724 instead of 1-800-782-6724. The first number spells out 1-800-TRAMP24, the second 1-800-STAMP24.

People calling the number to order a duck hunting licence are greeted by a sensual female voice telling you that for $1.99 a minute you only talk to the girls that turn you on.

It seems the agency has not received any complaints …… hahahahahaha, I wonder why?!

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Bat Boxes - Weekend Project

Posted by Sally on September 3rd, 2008 in Animal Welfare, Wildlife

British bats are one of our wildlife treasures, all 17 UK species are protected by law due to their dramatically reduced numbers and they are an absolute joy to watch in the late evenings.

Being lucky enough to live on a farm in Cumbria we have a thriving bat population and can sit out at night and watch them flying ….. occasionally they manage to get in doors, then it is panic stations to get them outside safely and then clean the droppings off the tv and computer …. wow they ‘drop’ a lot.

I confess they may not be the prettiest beasts when you get up close and personal but when you see them fly you see a thing of real beauty.

Last weekend was European Bat Weekend and saw bat enthusiasts going on bat walks and talks. Organised by the Bat Conservation Trust the weekend was to educate people in the reasons for declining numbers of bats and how we can protect them, as well as why they are so important to our UK wildlife in general.

Jonathan Shaw, Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “The importance of bats as a species group and as an indicator of the health of the rest of our wildlife is not always recognised, which is why the Bat Conservation Trust’s work to raise the profile of these unique animals is so valuable.”

During September bats will begin to mate and store fat for the coming winter but safe roosts are crucial to their successful breeding. Bats usually only have one offspring per year so they really need our help to return to previous numbers.

Natural England has some fun bat facts that may help you to get the kids interested and involved in protecting bats.

A great weekend project for the workshop is to make and site bat boxes. The Wildlife Trust have a diagram and dimensions on building and siting a bat box and the Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust have a much more comprehensive article about building bat boxes, with an interesting postscript on how long it took for bats to be seen using the boxes.

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