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The Woodland Trust is launching a major children's tree planting initiative. 'Tree for All' is a five year campaign which aims to involve children across the UK in the planting of 12 million trees. A 'Tree for All' weekend is planned for 18-23rd November, which will feature a number of planting and community events across the UK. In March 2005 there will be a 'Tree for All' Schools Week, whereby every school in the UK is being offered the chance to apply for a consignment of 30 native trees. For more information visit the website www.treeforall.org.uk.
In October 2004 we launched our 8th annual Local Biodiversity Action Plan, which will be known as Countdown 2005 at our 3rd biennial conference on Sat 9th October 2004 at Chester Racecourse in Cheshire. The Countdown 2004 Conference had a theme of gardens and biodiversity and over 150 delegates attended. Click here for more details!
The Brown Hare LBAP Action group are held a seminar on Tuesday 21st September for landowners interested in conserving brown hares. A report should be here soon....
The Wirral Barn Owl webcam site has now been launched with images live from Wirral Country Park. More highlights and regular updates will be added over the next few weeks. Next season it is hoped to have an earlier start with the eggs and be able build up a diary of video and stills footage. Check out www.wirral-mbc.gov.uk/barnowls/
A female Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) - a wonderful bright metallic green beetle was sweep-netted at New Ferry Butterfly Park on the morning of Thursday 10th June 2004.
It was photographed as part of a series of digital stills and video for a virtual reality nature walk through the park which is being developed for local schools by Cheshire Wildlife Trust and the Leasowe Rangers. The beetle flew away after having posed.
It is thought that this represents the first record for Cheshire of this species (unless anyone has records salted away which we have not yet seen). If you see any wild animals or plants in your area please do get in touch with rECOrd, the local records centre on 01244 383749 or [email protected] .
2003/2004 was a record planting season for the Cheshire Landscape Trust. The Trust donated over 6000 trees and shrubs from its tree nursery at Marbury Country Park to Tree wardens, Tree Guardians, schools and community groups. Nearly 5000 hedge plants were donated to projects in 22 locations throughout Cheshire, enough plants to plant over 1.1km of new hedgerow, although some were used to gap-up existing hedgerow which results in a far greater positive impact both on the landscape and in benefits to wildlife through the maintenance of wildlife corridors. They also donated over 120 apple trees to projects throughout the county.
Projects assisted include:
A mix of hedge plants for 60m of new hedgerow at St Bedes Primary School, Weaverham
A commemorative tree for each of the 9 winning communities in the annual Community Pride Competition
An apple tree for each of the 85 schools in the Warrington district as part of their 'Healthy Eating' initiative
Gapping-up hedgerows alongside canal towpaths in Poole and Sutton Weaver parishes
Small trees and shrubs for the new Community Garden in Blacon, Chester
Cheshire Landscape Trust will be offering free trees again during the next planting season. An application form for free trees is available by phoning Katie Lowe on 01244 376333. Hedgerow plants available are Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hazel, Holly, Guelder Rose and Field Maple. For information on planting a traditional Cheshire hedgerow click here. All plants must be planted in public areas where there is open public access or where the plants can be easily seen from public areas or alongside public rights of way, e.g. village greens, local parks etc.
Cheshire Landscape Trust is able to supply trees throughout the county due to financial contributions from WREN, Cheshire County Council, Halton Borough Council, Vale Royal Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council.
The government's proposed farm payment scheme is threatening the future of traditional orchards. Under the new scheme orchards felled before 1st January will be classed as 'farmland' and be worth £340 a hectare per year, in perpetuity. However, any land with trees on will be worth no more than the land value and not be considered for farm payments. DEFRA, who will be running the scheme, have chosen to exclude orchards yet will reward farmers growing less environmentally beneficial crops such as sugar beet, potatos and asparagus. The potential loss of the old orchards will add to the already vast delcine of fruit growing in the UK. In 1945 approximately 80,000 hecates of land was given over to orchards but now there is just 20,000 hecares left. DEFRA estimates that more than 10% of all British orcahrds have been lost in the last five years and counties such as Essex, Cornwall and Kent have lost up to 90% of their fruit trees. The government has said it is taking up the issue with the European Commission. Lord Harrison (Cheshire Landscape Trust's Vice President) tabled questions in the House of Lords on 5th April and the answers received are available here.
The Local Biodiversity Action Plan for the Cheshire region in North West England has been active for over 7 years and has been called the Countdown Programme since 1997 when the first plan was produced. This website is part of that programme. It's vision is of a land and sea richer in wildlife by 2010 to tie in with the Johannesburg target (although originally this local target date was 2020). We currently have action plans for over 50 species and 19 habitats which are rare or endangered locally with lots of conservation projects and volunteers on the ground implementing the plans.
For more information on the IUCN effort click here.
A very successful FWAG event was held at Batherton Hall Farm with about 70 people attending.
The Woodland Trust's ‘One Tree’ launch event was low key and windy but went well. 30 trees were planted, with more to come. One Tree raised £25k from collections during the project and this being used for support of work at Longacre. Planting events this winter at Longacre arranged for 18-23 November.
The Jigsaw scheme is in its 4th year with one year remaining. This year 15ha were approved with no judging round required. The first year achieved 26ha, second 4ha, third 30ha, fourth 15ha – giving an average of about £5k/ha for Cheshire which is about average nationally. Bids for the last year of grant are due by the end of November 2004 with formal applications by the end of February 2005. For more information contact Paul Vickers at the Forestry Commission.
Download your copy of the new Ancient Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodlands leaflet by clicking HERE
Cheshire Biodiversity webmaster Laura Holmes and partner Marc are delighted to announce the birth of their son Peter Holmes on Saturday 6th March 2004. Mother and baby are well, if somewhat sleep-deprived!
Wirral Barn Owl Group are one of the local groups that deliver the Barn Owl LBAP. They have their own website at www.wirralbarnowltrust.org but here is a quick update on their work.
A new map of Wirral has been launched to illustrate the extraordinary variety of life on the peninsular. The beautifully hand-drawn Biodiversity Map was commissioned by Wirral's Biodiversity Partnership to highlight the different habitats, plants and creatures on the peninsula - including some which will may surprise people. It has been created by Vicky Hose, a Ranger at Eastham Country Park.
Christine Smyth, who co-ordinates Wirral's Biodiversity Action Plan, believes the map will raise awareness about the richness of the area.
"Wirral is home to rare moths and worms, an amazing varity of habitats, and extraordinary marine life. Many people don't realise that we have porpoises and dolphins visiting our estuaries.
The Biodiversity Map is now available from the Visitor Centre at Wirral Country Park. The black and white version, which children will enjoy colouring in, is just 50p or a colour version is also available costing £1.00.
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