The Woodlands.co.uk Blog - Wildlife
Finding and encouraging reptiles in woodlands
Reptiles and woodland
The first time I came across a Grass Snake in our newly bought wood I almost trod on it, it was a real surprise and I was so lost in my own thoughts it really startled me. I had not thought the woodland provided a very suitable habitat for reptiles and in many respects, it didn’t. Read more…
European Red List
Many insect species are under threat – butterflies , dragonflies, beetles; according to the Red List. In most cases, this can be associated with habitat loss. Read more…
Welsh Battle over Badgers Begins
Do badgers spread Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) and, if so, is it sensible to kill the badgers to reduce losses to dairy farmers? On these issues, a great argument has been raging for several years but there are now likely to be a series of skirmishes on the ground in West Wales. Read more…
National Insect Week 21st / 27th June, 2010.
World wide some million different types of insect have been identified and named, even in the U.K. some 24,000 species can be found. Insects, like bees and bumblebees are economically important in the pollination of many crops (apples etc) and flowers; others like the saproxylic beetles have a role in the recycling of the materials and nutrients from dead and decaying wood. Read more…
Surveys and photography
Would you like to take part in a new Water Survey ?
Buglife, University College, London and other partners have developed a new water survey – part of the OPAL project (The Open Air Laboratories network). Read more…
International Day for Biological Diversity – 22nd May 2010
The United Nations declared that today, May 22nd, is The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). The aim of the day isto help increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Sadly, today’s papers are scarcely packed with banner headlines on biodiversity issues. Read more…
Greenfinches
Greenfinches, parasites, heat islands and the BTO nesting survey.
Greenfinches are being killed by a protozoan parasite – Trichomonas. The parasite causes swelling of the throat by infecting the crop and gullet, so the the birds cannot eat. It has been suggested that as many as 500,000 greenfinches have been killed by this parasite. Read more…
Butterflies in peril
Generally speaking, the sight of butterflies marks the return of spring sunshine and the warmth associated with long summer days. However, after three wet summers in a row, some of our rarest butterflies are under threat. The summers of 2007 and 2008 were characterised by very wet weather, and July and August last year were marked by above average rainfall. Butterflies that have been particularly affected by the wet weather are the :- Read more…