News Update
October 2014
WALES BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP NEWS
www.bioamrywiaethcymru.org.uk / www.biodiversitywales.org.uk
NATURE RECOVERY PLAN
The Wales Biodiversity Strategy Board has been engaged in a series of workshops to
facilitate the development of the Nature Recovery Plan for Wales (Wales’ Biodiversity
Strategy). The Plan will provide the link between Natural Resource Management and
biodiversity delivery on the ground. The Biodiversity Framework, which outlines the
governance of biodiversity in Wales, will be refreshed alongside the developing Plan. Welsh
Government launched a consultation on the Plan, to be published in 2015, at the Wales
Biodiversity Partnership conference on 10th September 2014.
WELSH GOVERNMENT MINISTERIAL CHANGES
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A reminder of further recent changes in the environment portfolio at Welsh Government:
Carl Sargeant AM is now the Minister for Natural Resources, which includes responsibilities
for biodiversity and nature conservation and all the activities of Natural Resources Wales.
He was previously Minister for Housing and Regeneration. Rebecca Evans AM becomes
Deputy Minister for Farming and Food. She was previously Deputy Minister for Agriculture
and Fisheries.
WALES BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY BOARD UPDATE
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The Wales Biodiversity Strategy Board are next due to meet in early November. The group
has begun to work on updating biodiversity data, pressures and drivers of biodiversity
change and had significant input to the recently launched Nature Recovery Plan for
Wales consultation.
LEGISLATION
DRAFT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL - INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL
The UK Government’s draft infrastructure bill, which aims to improve strategic planning and
provision of road schemes and nationally significant infrastructure projects in England, is
currently going through the House of Lords. Arising from the Law Commission’s review of
wildlife law, the Bill also includes new powers for environmental authorities in England and
Wales to enable control and eradication of invasive non-native species (INNS) on private
land. Currently, authorities have no powers to enter land for the purposes of identification of
INNS or to compel landowners to take action to control their spread. It is envisaged that
powers will be used to prevent the spread of new invasive species rather than improve
control of existing widespread ones.
CONSULTATIONS
NATURE RECOVERY PLAN
The Wales Biodiversity Strategy Board has been engaged in a series of workshops to
facilitate the development of the Nature Recovery Plan for Wales (Wales’ Biodiversity
Strategy). The Plan will provide the link between Natural Resource Management and
biodiversity delivery on the ground. The Biodiversity Framework, which outlines the
governance of biodiversity in Wales, will be refreshed alongside the developing Plan. Welsh
Government is now consulting on the direction that the plan should take and responses are
required from individuals and organisations by 3rd December 2014.
REVIEW OF DESIGNATED LANDSCAPES IN WALES
Carl Sargeant, Minister for Natural Resources announced in September 2014 the start of a
two-stage review of designated landscapes in Wales, specifically National Parks and Areas
of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The review panel will examine the purpose, governance and
management of designated landscapes in light of Welsh Government policy relating to
sustainability and natural resource management. The planning powers of designated areas
will also form part of the review. Comments and views regarding the first stage of the review
can be submitted now. Details can found on the Welsh Government website.
DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL MARINE PLAN
Welsh Government is seeking views on their vision and objectives to inform development of
the Welsh National Marine Plan. The Plan will facilitate and encourage sustainable
development of the Welsh marine area up to 2035. Responses are required by 10th
November 2014.
POSSESSION OF WILD BIRDS EGGS OFFENCE
This consultation concerns the possession of wild bird eggs offence under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981. It seeks to set out the current legislative issue in respect of the
offence of possessing wild bird eggs taken from the wild since 1954 in England and Wales.
The consultation will help decide if individuals must be able to demonstrate that a wild bird
egg had been in their possession before 1981 or before 1954 in order to avoid committing
an offence. The consultation closes on 9th December 2014.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE PLANNING (WALES) BILL
Welsh Government have introduced the Planning (Wales) Bill to the National Assembly for
Wales. The NAW’s Environment and Sustainabilty Committee is now undertaking an inquiry
into the general principles of the Planning (Wales) Bill. Written submissions to the
Committee should be made by 7th Novermber 2014.
FUNDING
£6M NATURE FUND
The first two projects to receive funding from the Welsh Government’s Nature Fund have
been announced by the Natural Resources Minister. The projects are set to receive over
£1m and will help tackle declining biodiversity in Wales and deliver benefits to local
communities. Fifteen river catchments in four of the Nature Action Zones will benefit from
new tree planting resulting in improved soil and water management and carbon capture.
New woodlands and walking and cycling trails are also set to be developed in the Llynfi
Valley. The Nature Fund will be used principally to support activity in seven selected
geographical areas or Nature Action Zones through projects which demonstrate innovation,
collaboration and good practice across key activities. A series of workshops in each NAZ is
underway to facilitate collaboration and answer queries relating to the fund. Applications to
the fund close on November 1st. Further updates on the details for the Nature Fund, how to
apply for grant funding and information on the partnership events are available through the
Welsh Government website.
GROW WILD WALES
Grow Wild is awarding the second round of funding of levels from £1,000 to £4,000 to
community groups that want to bring people together to transform a communal space by
sowing and growing UK native plants. If your group has an inspiring idea to connect people
to nature, then apply before 2nd December 2014 for your chance to join the project
network. First, please read the community project application guidelines for 2015 funding.
For further details of the project contact Maria Golightly, Grow Wild Wales Partnership
Manager, 07917 266445.
HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND
The Heritage Lottery Fund has announced that the next application deadline for round 1 of
its Landscape Partnerships Programme is the 1st June 2015. The grant programme
supports partnerships of local, regional and national interests which aim to conserve areas
of distinctive landscape character throughout the United Kingdom. Grants of between
£100,000 and £3,000,000 are available. The fund is open to not-for profit organisations and
partnerships led by not-for profit organisations. Prior to submitting an application the
applicant must identify an area of land that has a distinctive landscape character,
recognised and valued by local people. Each scheme is based round a portfolio of smaller
projects, which together provide a varied package of benefits to an area, its communities
and visitors.
OTHER NEWS & ITEMS OF INTEREST
STATE OF THE PLANET REPORT
The number of wild animals on Earth has halved in the past 40 years, according to WWF’s
Living Planet Report. The fastest decline among the animal populations were found in
freshwater ecosystems, where numbers have fallen by 75% since 1970 and many other
ecosystems and species have shown strong declines. The flagship report calls for a united
global effort to reduce humanity’s impact on the Earth.
INVASIVE NON-NATIVE SPECIES ALERTS
The highly invasive Quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis rostriformis) has been confirmed
from Wraysbury Reservoir and the Wraysbury River, a tributary of the River Colne, near
Egham, Surrey. This is the first UK record for this species and authorities are keen to halt
any further spread. Details of the species alert are provided on the GB Non-Native Species
Secretariat website.
The invasive non-native Brown seaweed ‘Japanese Kelp Wakame’ (Undaria pinnatifida) has
been recorded in Wales for the first time at Holyhead marina. 'Wakame' can grow to 3m in
length and has green-brown fronds forming dense forests which can quickly displace native
habitats. More information about this species and its UK distribution can be found on the
MarLIN website where there is a link to report your sightings.
This discovery follows on from the first UK mainland recording of the Asian Shore Crab
(Hemigrapus sanguineus) from Aberthaw, south Wales in May. It’s only been found recently
in the UK and a high level of vigilance is important. For identification assistance and for
reporting a sighting please visit the Marine Biological Association website.
NEW UK AMPHIBIAN GUIDE
ARG UK and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) have produced a revised
illustrated guide to the UK’s seven native amphibians and the most commonly found nonnative species. The guide can be downloaded from the ARC website.
DRAGON FINDER APP
Froglife launched its Dragon Finder app in the summer as part of its London Dragon Finder
project, The app is now available for free to anyone to record sightings of amphibians and
reptiles in the UK. Records will be sent to Froglife initially who will forward them to the
relevant local record centres annually.
TOMORROW’S BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
The Field Studies Council’s Tomorrow’s Biodiversity project has released a report around
the provision of wildlife training. The major objective of the project is to look strategically at
FSC’s provision of training and ID resources and increase FSC's operational contribution to
facilitating biodiversity surveillance & monitoring in the UK. The project is funded by Esmée
Fairbairn for five years (2013-2017 inclusive).
NEONICOTINOIDS AND INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS
Neonicotinoids are a family of pesticides which have been linked with pollinator declines.
The findings of a Dutch study published in Nature showed that bird populations, including
starlings, tree sparrows and swallows, fell most sharply in those areas where neonicotinoid
pollution was highest.
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SUMMARY OF CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology has produced a summary of citizen
science projects, applications and an analysis of the benefits and challenges of volunteer
collected data.
Out now!
Click on the lilac to
read all the latest
news
Biodiversity News
Issue 65 Summer Edition
LLAIS Y GOEDWIG
Community groups and practioners managing Welsh community woodlands can now benefit
from the new Llais y Geodwig website. The website provides an online hub for community
woodland groups to find and share the latest news, events, opportunities and resources
about Welsh community woods. It also provides an overview of community woodland culture
in Wales, as well as Llais y Goedwig's working partnerships and specialist projects.
LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES SOUTH EAST WALES PROJECT
The project aims to produce a long-term strategy for the management of Local Wildlife Sites
in south east Wales. The joint pilot project funded by the Ecosystem Resilience Fund have
produced 14 Land Management Tool-kits which are available to download via the Gwent
Wildlife Trust and Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales websites.
CORONATION MEADOWS
The Coronation Meadow initiative 'A meadow in every county to celebrate the 60th
anniversary of the Coronation' is making good progress towards its target. In Wales,
preliminary sites are now established and donor meadows exist in every county (Flintshire to
be finalised) and in many counties the receptor sites are identified too. Some of these will be
neighbouring fields belonging to different landowners and so the project will start to have a
landscape scale effect. One such coronation meadow is the Winllan Coronation Meadow in
Ceredigion which was open to the public through the National Gardening Scheme on two
Saturdays in June and attracted nearly 200 visitors.
EVENTS & TRAINING
OTTER DIETARY ANALYSIS WORKSHOP
Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE) Project workshop to identify fish,
amphibian and small mammal remains from otter spraints, and learn more about
their diet and feeding behaviour. Free to attend but limited spaces and booking
required - contact Aline Denton (01974) 202809.
25th & 26th October 2014, (11am- 5pm on Saturday, 9.30am – 4pm on Sunday)
Orielton Field Study Centre, Pembroke, SA71 5EZ.
WELSH ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY CONFERENCE
Annual birdwatchers conference, organised in partnership with BTO Cymru and
RSPB Cymru. Speakers include Iolo Williams, Dawn Balmer and David
Saunders.
8th November 2014, Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Mold Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire.
FOUR DAY CLEFT OAK COURSE - FROM TREE TO POST AND RAIL
FENCE & GATE
Stiperstones & Corndon Landscape Partnership Scheme ‘Skills in the Hills’ with
artisan craftsman & woodsman Neill Mapes. Cost £85. Booking essential contact
(01938) 561741.
Part 1 Cleaving the Oak (hand splitting in to useful pieces): 8th & 9th November,
9:00am - 3:30pm, Poles Coppice, nr. SY5 0TS.
Part 2 Constructing and installing fence & gate: 15th & 16th November, 9:00am 3:30pm, Hope School, SY5 0JB.
TWO DAY HEDGE LAYING COURSE
Stiperstones & Corndon Landscape Partnership Scheme ‘Skills in the Hills’ with
artisan craftsman & woodsman Allan Houseman. Laying a traditional hedge
using hand tools in the west midlands style. Cost £45. Booking essential contact
(01938) 561741.
6th & 7th December 2014, 9:00am - 3:30pm. Hope School, SY5 0JB.
INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION CONFERENCE 2014
A one-day conference run jointly by the Amateur Entomological Society, the
British Ecological Society’s Conservation Special Interest Group and the BES
Citizen Science Special Interest Group.
31st October 2014, Charles Darwin House, London.
NBN CONFERENCE 2014
Climate, Collaboration and Collection - informing the new conservation agenda.
21st November 2014, The Royal Society, London.
BIOBLITZ CONFERENCE 2014: BEYOND BIOBLITZ
The annual opportunity for wildlife recorders, event managers, public-engagers
and educators join forces to share ideas and stories as well as answering the big
questions around this growing, dynamic format.
18th November 2014, Armada House, Bristol.
DENMARK FARM CONSERVATION CENTRE - details of a range of training
courses that are updated regularly throughout the year.
FLORA LOCALE - training courses that are tailored to the needs of land
managers and others involved in the design, management and restoration of
wild plants and habitats for biodiversity, landscapes and people. Courses run
throughout the year.
FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL - The FSC run a series of natural history courses,
many are suited to beginners.
CIEEM - The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
provide a comprehensive programme of training and events for those working in
the environmental sector.
PLAS TAN Y BWLCH - Snowdonia National Park’s Environmental Studies
Centre provides courses for both members of the public and countryside
professionals.