UK NEWS UK UPDATE


Big or small, ponds for all! For this year’s Wild About Gardens


challenge, The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society are urging gardeners to make a splash for wildlife. We are calling on people to create a pond to benefit their garden wildlife. Whether it’s a large sunken pond or a tiny container pond, water is the garden


feature that can make the biggest difference to wildlife. With a rapid decline in natural


freshwater habitats, garden ponds are increasingly important for the wildlife that depends on these watery places, such as frogs, toads and insects. Adding a pond is one of the best ways you can help wildlife and enjoy the benefits of seeing more amazing animals and plants close to home. You can download a free booklet full


of advice on the Wild About Gardens website wildaboutgardens.org.uk


UK HIGHLIGHTS


Discover how The Wildlife Trusts are working for you across the UK


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Water Works An innovative project is testing


new ways to grow food and lock in carbon in Cambridgeshire’s Great Fen. The project will use wetland farming to test new crops for food, healthcare and industry, all whilst reducing the amount of carbon lost from the soil. This was made possible by the People’s Postcode Lottery Dream Fund. wildlifebcn.org/news/water-works


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An osprey anniversary The Scottish Wildlife Trust are


celebrating 50 years of ospreys at the Loch of the Lowes reserve. The reserve became just the fifth known nest site when ospreys recolonised the UK after their extinction in 1916. The current pair fledged 10 chicks from 2015-2018 and returned again this year. scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ospreys-50


3 Beavering away


The Wildlife Trusts continue to be at the forefront of work to bring beavers back to our waterways, with reintroduction projects across the UK. Beavers are ecosystem engineers that can improve water quality, reduce flooding downstream and improve conditions


for many other species, including water voles, frogs and dragonflies. Conservation efforts received a boost on the first of May, when the Scottish Government introduced European Protected Species status for the Eurasian beaver in Scotland. wildlifetrusts.org/beavers


Seal of approval A record number of grey seals


have been counted at South Walney Nature Reserve. A drone survey spotted 483 seals, 123 more than the previous record. The grey seal is one of the world’s rarest seals and around 50% of the world population lives around the British Isles. cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/record- seals


Cumbrian Wildlife | September 2019 21


BEAVER: NICK UPTON/CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST, TOAD: DAWN MONROSE, OSPREY: PETER CAIRNS/2020VISION


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