,’Going Wild in BC’ Winter Talks
Restore Shropshire Verges Project (RSVP)
A talk by MMCLT’s Janet Cobb
Over the last 60 years, 97% of our wildflower meadows have been lost, which has had a huge impact on wildlife.
Road verges offer a real opportunity to help reverse this loss and if managed correctly, they could form long, linear meadows, providing habitat in themselves, but also helping to link up fragments of remaining meadow.
Come and listen and see examples of local restoration work and learn how you can help”
7 pm on Thursday, 10th February
at Bishop’s Castle Town Hall
Entry free
Sustainable Food Trust – HRH Prince of Wales TEDx sustainable agriculture and the environment
We are delighted to announce that the Patron of the Sustainable Food Trust, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, was keynote contributor at the Sustainable Food Trust’s ‘TEDx Countdown to COP26’ event Chief Executive of the Sustainable Food Trust, Patrick Holden, said: “Mindful of his lifelong commitment to the cause of sustainable agriculture and the environment, principles that he has put into practice at Highgrove, Sandringham and Dumfries House, we are delighted that His Royal Highness has sent a video message to be aired at this milestone event. The theme of the event will be measuring on-farm sustainability, both nationally and globally, an initiative with which the Prince has been involved right from the outset and is now championing as a key outcome objective of the Sustainable Market Initiative’s Terra Carta Project.”
This is an opportunity to transform the role of farmers.
No Insectinction campaign
Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change in the UK: A Report by the British Ecological Society
https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/policy/nature-based-solutions/read-the-report/
Dung Beetles for Farmers
https://www.dungbeetlesforfarmers.co.uk/
Dung beetles are vitally important insects which improve the quality and structure of soil, reduce parasite burdens in livestock and provide a variety of other crucial services within agricultural landscapes. But they are struggling, as changes to agricultural practices and intensification have had significant impacts on a wide range of species, including dung beetles.
The loss of pasture to development and arable, alongside the removal of grazing livestock, has reduced the availability of dung causing habitat fragmentation and greatly reduced the nourishment obtainable for dung beetles. Permanent pasture habitats have decreased with rotational grassland and short-term leys replacing them, which require fertilisers and soils disturbance – both of which are detrimental to the dung beetles’ lifecycle. Also, the use of certain parasite treatments are linked with reduced abundance, diversity and functioning of dung beetles [1] [2] [3] putting further pressure on this key ecosystem species. In the UK there are 60 species of dung beetle, approximately 50% of which are nationally scarce or listed as threatened to some degree [4].
Dung Beetles for Farmers is a resource which aims to help farmers, landowners, veterinarians, entomologists and many others to gain a better understanding of how they can conserve dung beetles and reap the benefits from the services they provide. We will strive to provide evidence-based information on how different management decisions impact dung beetles and hope to develop a greater awareness of their importance in pasture management and the general diversity of the ecosystem.
Our aims:
1. Increase the awareness of how important dung beetles are.
2. Create an accessible and pragmatic, evidence-based resource relating to how management decisions impact dung beetles.
The Wildflower Garden – Plantlife
https://mailchi.mp/plantlife/trevors-tips-from-the-wildflower-garden-1421255?e=ec48e91cfd
Bumble Bee Conservation
Red tail Bumblebees 2021
If you would like to get involved this year, watch our Youtube training.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Anyone who lives or walks in the Stretton Hills can participate.
Clever Queen Bumble Bees | Life In The Undergrowth | BBC Earth
The Queen’s Green Canopy
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.”
Address
Enterprise House, Station Street, Bishops Castle, SY9 5AQ
Email us
info@middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk
Call us
01588 650 364 (Oliver, interim Secretary)