Search Results

If we are looking for a symbol to reflect newfound positivity and hope in trying times, what better than a staunchly resilient, yet delicately pretty flower that is so familiar to us all: the common lawn daisy (Bellis perennis). Read more here

Grouse moors are often located on blanket bog peatland, which sits across upland hills like a sponge, soaking up rainwater. This water is absorbed, trickles through the peat soils and is slowly released into streams and rivers flowing towards lowland areas. Read more here

Back in November last year a very interesting piece was broadcast on this subject as part of the BBC World Service’s Crowd Science programme. It referred to Aboriginal cultural practices of using ‘cool burning’ as a means of preventing wildfires i.e. using fire to fight fire. This might seem counter-intuitive, but it works. Read more about it here

Spotted on the Working for Wildlife site the case study story of how conservation work along the Monnow, which flows along the English/Welsh border before joining the Wye near Monmouth, has restored both the trout to this river and also championed the return of the water vole. Read the full story here

The UK is home to six native freshwater species of mussels, one of which is amongst the rarest animals in the world and something very few of us will ever encounter – the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera). Read the full article on the GWCT site here

Watch this short video produced by The Fieldsports Channel on GWCT's Waders for Real project, which aims to reverse the decline of breeding waders in the Avon Valley, with the help of farmers, keepers and land managers:

Spotted on the National Gamekeepers Organisation news feed, this letter in response to Natural England's stance on conservation and licensing. Dear Member Natural England has recently announced a change in its approach to licensing which affects Individual Licences. Please find the full NGO response here. The NGO has received a letter from Natural England, which has been reviewing its overall approach to licensing, announcing that it will no longer be granting Individual Licences for the conservation of wild pheasants and red-legged partridges “even where there are indirect benefits to nature conservation.” The full letter, which can be read here, states that Individual Licences to control predatory birds to prevent harm to other species on the ‘green’ list of birds will no longer be issued by Natural England unless there is a proven “population-level impact on the wild bird species to be conserved. ” Natural England says that: “Anecdotal accounts or photos of individual predation events alone are unreliable evidence.” Please note: General Licences to control predatory birds to prevent harm to other species are still available but only to protect bird species on the ‘red’ and ‘amber’ lists. Despite this change in approach, we are encouraging members to continue to apply for Individual Licences to help wildlife by controlling crows, magpies, rooks and jackdaws, just as gamekeepers have always done. We believe that if your applications are refused without lawful reason, Natural England could well find itself subject to Judicial Review by the High Court. The change in the way Natural England manages Individual Licences is outlined on a new blog: https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2020/11/16/individual-licences-to-control-birds-how-natural-england-will-manage-applications-in-2021/ General Licences On the 1 January, Defra published new General Licences for the control of pest and predatory birds in England to be used from the 1 January 2021. Please see the latest member update issued earlier this year: https://www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk/articles/new-general-licences-for-england-2021

Spotted on the GWCT News Blog: Andrew Gilruth, GWCT Director of Communications speaks out about the RSPB response to the Hen Harrier breeding success. Click here to read the full story

What The Science Says website checks out another claim: Claim: 68% of wildfires in the higher uplands have been caused by so-called controlled cold fires. This came from a recent Westminster moorland burning debate, in relation to tackling climate change and carbon release, Olivia Blake MP (Sheffield, Hallam, Labour) discussed multiple statistics about burning, including: Is the hon. Member aware of some the most recent research, which shows that 68% of wildfires in the higher uplands have actually been caused by so-called controlled cold fires? Olivia Blake MP Read the answer here

Defra has published all the details of the three new general licences for the control of certain bird species effective from 1st January 2021, plus its “standard licence conditions for trapping wild birds” under these licences. Read more here. Photo credit: David Mason

Jess Brooks of the GWCT tells us of one of the mammals in our seas – and amongst the marine members of this class is an athletic, characterful carnivore: the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Click here to learn more

Spotted on the GWCT News Blog: The government has a stated commitment to increase UK tree planting to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025 as part of its strategy to combat climate change and achieve net zero by 2050. Whilst we recognise that planting trees is an important tool in the drive to offset carbon emissions, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) believes that the ‘right tree in the right place’ approach is vital. Read the whole article here