Wildlife News for June

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RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Wildlife News for June

Post by RachelMC »

New Wildlife Crime Police Officer for North Cheshire

Have you ever wondered about how to report a wildlife crime?

PC Debby Marshall has been appointed as the new Wildlife Crime Officer for North Cheshire (Warrington, Runcorn and Widnes).

Poulton North Councillor and Warrington Nature Conservation Chair Geoff Settle believes that one of the benefits of the new Wildlife Police Officer role will be that she will be able to pull together data and information and turn it into intelligence to improve the police’s fight against wildlife crimes locally.

He said: "I very much hope that PC Marshall's role will provide the public with a point of contact and help to greatly reduce some of the practices that are going for example Badger baiting, cruelty to Hedgehogs, woodland and grass fires - all of which have been reported over the last 12 months."

The secretary of the Wirral and Cheshire Badger Group brought to Geoff's attention the calls she had received about Badger baiting which is generally carried out by groups of men with their dogs. Geoff said: "Three of us visited Stockton Heath Police Station last year with concerns about Badger baiting in Warrington South. We met Debby for the first time and she struck us as someone who has a keen interest from her veterinary days and eagerness to learn more about specialist wildlife subjects. Her appointment is great news."

If you need to report a Wildlife Crime dial the non-emergency number, 101. If however it is an emergency then, of course, dial 999.

There is a lot more information about wildlife crime on the Cheshire Constabulary website:
http://www.cheshire.police.uk/advice--i ... crime.aspx

RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Alsager homes plan to include new wildlife habitat

Post by RachelMC »

Alsager homes plan to include new wildlife habitat:

A WILDLIFE environment, complete with lakes and a nature trail, will be available for Alsager residents to enjoy should plans for a new housing development be approved.

The current plans by Cheshire-based Renew Land Developments Ltd would see 700-1,000 homes built on the 120-acre, White Moss Quarry site, and will include provision for a new wildlife habitat and the reintroduction of species which have been lost to the site for decades.

Plans for the site, which serves as a working sand and peat quarry supplying topping dressing to golf courses across the UK, would see hundreds of tonnes of excess sand and peat turned into a large wildlife habitat for local residents to enjoy.

Director at Solum Environmental Ltd, Dr David Hackett, has been working alongside developers on the plans and believes that the proposals would provide a significant boost to the ecology of the local area.

Dr Hackett said: “The proposals for this site would see the hundreds of tonnes of excess peat and sand transformed into a wildlife area and peat bog, complete with two lakes.
“The plans would create a local biodiversity area and we are wanting to add to the ecology of the site by re-introducing species which have not been seen there for a considerable time.”
The original plans for the restoration of the White Moss Quarry site had focused on the creation of a private lake in 2042 and Renew Land director, Lee Dawkin, has reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to getting the most out of the site for Alsager residents and adding to the ecology of the area.

Mr Dawkin said: “Engaging with the public over these proposals is of paramount importance to us and we want to create a development which will include a valuable amenity for residents.
“What we are proposing is not simply a housing development, but a desirable and rejuvenated area which has been recognised by residents in feedback we have received, where they have cited it a suitable site for housing.

“On top of this, we will be creating a site which will contribute financially to a wide variety of projects, including local leisure centres, primary schools and even highway upgrades in Alsager. It is a sustainable and positive proposal that we have put forward.”

To submit comments about the plans or to find out more, email Renew Developments Ltd at whitemoss@renewland.com

(Article re-posted from The Crewe Chronicle)

RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Re: Wildlife News for June

Post by RachelMC »

Following on from this month's first story about the appointment of a Wildlife Crime Officer in North Cheshire, it has been reported that an 11-year old girl has been arrested by police for stealing Mute Swan eggs from a nest in Sankey Valley Park on 2nd June 2013.

PC Debby Marshall said: “The girl climbed an embankment to take both eggs but smashed one that was about to hatch. She wanted to see what was inside the egg. But because she was 11, I knew a prosecution would not go anywhere so I wanted to use restorative justice to make sure she paid.”

That decision by PC Marshall, a former vet, means the girl has now been ordered to spend time with park rangers to litter pick and to learn more about wildlife. She also will research and give a presentation on swans.

Article edited from a story in This is Cheshire

RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Giving Nature a Home - RSPB

Post by RachelMC »

Giving Nature a Home - RSPB:

The RSPB needs Cheshire’s help with its biggest ever campaign.

On 20th June, the RSPB launched a campaign to help tackle the housing crisis facing the UK’s threatened wildlife.

Giving Nature a Home will urge the nation to provide a place for wildlife in their own gardens and outside spaces.

The charity hopes to inspire people in Cheshire to help towards creating a million new homes for nature across the UK.

The launch of the campaign comes a month after 25 wildlife organisations, including the RSPB, released the groundbreaking State of Nature report revealing 60 per cent of the wildlife species studied have declined over recent decades.

Many garden favourites in Cheshire were among the creatures shown to be in serious trouble including starlings, hedgehogs, some butterflies and ladybirds. All are in danger of further declines unless more is done to provide better habitats.

Getting individuals and families from Cheshire to act for nature in their own gardens is the first part of a package of actions that the RSPB is launching in response to the State of Nature. Over the course of the next few months, the charity will be outlining what businesses, communities and politicians in the county can do, as well as detailing the RSPB's own plans for saving nature.

Amanda Miller, RSPB Conservation Manager for Northern England, says: “Nature in the UK is in trouble and some of our more familiar garden species are amongst those suffering serious declines. Cheshire gardens provide a valuable lifeline for species like starlings, toads, hedgehogs and butterflies, which are struggling to find homes in the wider countryside.

“Although the overall problem is huge, the solution can start on a small scale, right on our doorsteps. It doesn’t matter what sort of garden you have, what size it is, or even if you have no garden at all, we need everyone to help by turning their outside space into a wildlife haven.

“The more people that get involved in our Giving Nature a Home campaign the better. Our aim is to provide one million homes for nature across the UK, because if there’s no home for nature, then there’s no nature – it really is that serious.”

TV homes expert, Linda Barker, is one of the famous faces supporting the campaign. She said: “I’m getting behind the RSPB’s campaign because, to me, having wildlife in your garden is the perfect finishing touch to any home. Planting wild flowers, digging a pond or creating a log pile for bugs is not just a good way of getting creative and making your garden more attractive, but it will also benefit threatened garden wildlife at the same time. Individual actions will make a difference and start to help tackle the lack of habitats for some of our wild creatures. In my garden I’ve put up a nest box for birds and planted nectar-rich flowers to attract bees. If everyone can do just one thing and gave nature a home in their outside space it would be amazing - together we can make a big difference.”

To help spread the word, the RSPB has joined up with Rightmove, the UK's number one property website, to help promote the campaign to homeowners, renters and those looking to get onto the property ladder.

Matt James from Rightmove, said: “Though we’re more used to helping people find a home than helping them build one, when the RSPB told us about the parlous position of some of the UK’s favourite species we felt compelled to throw our support behind the campaign. More than a million people visit Rightmove every single day looking for a new place to call home and we’ll be doing our bit to spread the word about just how easy it can be to make a difference.” To spread the word and inspire individuals from a across the country to build homes for nature in their own gardens and balconies, the RSPB is embarking on its first-ever primetime TV advertising campaign, beginning on 5 July.

Over the coming months the RSPB’s Burton Mere Wetlands reserve on the Dee Estuary will be running a series of events and activities linked to Giving Nature a Home. For more information, visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/burtonmerewetlands.

The Giving Nature a Home website will give everyone access to expert advice about helping nature in any outside space - whether it’s a huge garden or a small planting tub on balcony - at: www.rspb.org.uk/homes

By visiting this website people can get their free Giving Nature a Home starter guide, help populate a map by telling the charity when and where they’ve given nature a home, and share pictures, tips and ideas with others. You can also find out more about what the RSPB is doing to give nature a home in the wider countryside.

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