<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/26/a-joy-to-watch-uk-rewilding-brings-endangered-species-back-from-brink>
"Vast expanses of rolling hilltops may be easy on the eye. But look a bit
closer and many are in fact bleak landscapes – overgrazed and mostly devoid of
diverse natural life. Shortsighted agricultural practices, habitat destruction
and factory farming are among the causes of an alarming biodiversity crisis in
Britain, where one in six species are in danger of local extinction.
Around the edges, however, local wildlife restoration projects are having an
impact. Last year, 3.22% of the UK’s land was deemed to be well protected and
managed, according to Wildlife Trusts, a slight increase on 2021, and councils
are embracing rewilding. More and more community and private projects appear to
be springing up too.
The nature restoration project
Back on Our Map is one of these. Working in
and around the Lake District, it has restored habitats across a series of
protected areas from Morecambe Bay to Grizedale Forest, reintroducing species
such as the seriously endangered hazel dormouse. It released 69 of the rodents
in June 2021, which have since bred, with more than 100 juvenile dormice found
in subsequent surveys.
There were also 64 small blue butterflies translocated from a nearby coastal
site to widen the population’s geographic range. “Each butterfly was released
by a young person from a local primary school,” says Anya Kuliszewski, a
community engagement officer. “It was a lovely way of involving the next
generation of wildlife enthusiasts.”
The project has sought to diversify the groups usually involved in
conservation. Volunteers have included inmates at nearby Haverigg open prison,
clients of the mental health charity Mind in Furness, and special needs college
students. “We have helped train 10 of the men from the prison in level 1
horticulture,” Kuliszewski says.
The men have planted hundreds of the 4,000 aspen trees now growing in the
forest thanks to the project. “A lot of them are then planning to carry on
doing conservation volunteering when they get released,” adds Kuliszewski.
In Derbyshire, where just a year ago there were a series of overgrazed knolls,
there is now a meadow bursting with purple knapweed flowers that sprouted after
the sheep were allowed to mimic wild grazing. The burst of flowers spawned a
“massive increase” in invertebrates and insectivorous birds, including spotted
flycatchers and swallows, while sightings of weasels, badgers and deer are
increasing."
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-women-rights-france-ntds-africa-bears-europe/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
