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Dear
phenology recorders and subscribers,
Spring
is well and truly starting now. My highlight so far has been seeing the
hedgerows brought to life again by the first delicate white blackthorn
flowers. UK-wide we’ve already had reports of frogspawn,
red-tailed bumblebees, birds showing nesting activity and many active
butterflies.
This is a very busy month for spring sightings - look out for early
nesting blackbirds and bluetits as well as the first sightings of butterflies on
warm spring days. Frog tadpoles should also
be hatching from their spawn. Do enter
your sightings online and check out the live UK maps. It’s a
great excuse to get outside when there is so much to see and the nights
are finally getting shorter.
Our ‘when’ chart is great for an at-a-glance view
of what
to look out for each month. Look for the copy in your spring newsletter
or download it here.
Thanks to everyone who entered our photographic competition. We’ve received some stunning images and will use the best of
them
as our web calendars over the next few months.
Best wishes
Kate Lewthwaite
Phenology Project Manager
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Photographic competition
winners
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| The
winner of our web calendar competition was Professor Hamlyn Jones
with his stunning image of some rather startled frogs! The first runner
up was Steve Covey with his small tortoiseshell butterfly. Anneliese
Dean also kindly supplied our blackthorn photo for the top of this
month’s newsletteR. |
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Humans blamed for climate
change
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The
latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has
issued some stark warnings. New predictions are for global temperature
rises of between 1.8 and 4° C before the end of the century
with a
sea level rise between 28 and 43cm. The language of the report is the
strongest ever; the panel now says it is at least 90 per cent certain
that human emissions of greenhouse gases are responsible for warming
the planet. Visit BBC news for more information.
If you haven't already, you can ask the Prime Minister
to take urgent action on this issue and also pledge to do your bit by
cutting your own carbon emissions at www.icount.org.uk |
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Green standard
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| As
the environment climbs ever-higher up the political agenda, politicians
are keen to display their green credentials. But political rhetoric is
often being used as a substitute for action, so here’s your chance to
judge the political parties and put them to the test. |
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| Gardening for people and
wildlife |
| In
April, wildlife gardener Chris Baines will be giving a talk explaining
the importance of gardens for wildlife. It will be full of practical advice on
suitable plants and how to create wildlife ponds and mini meadows. This
is part of the ‘Growing for Success’ series run by
the
Royal Horticultural Society. It will be held on Tuesday 3 April 2007 in
Central London. More information is available here. |
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Help the environment while
you shop
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| If
you are interested in changing to a ‘greener’
lifestyle
take a look at this selection of offers from the Woodland Trust. Not
only do they support our work by raising valuable funds, but they are a
range of ‘environmentally friendly’ products,
services and
activities to purchase or participate in. Start shopping! |
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Eleventh
hour bid to save bluebell wood from bulldozer |
| Pencoedtre Wood in Wales, a beauty spot
in the Vale of Glamorgan, is under threat from development. A planning
application has been submitted to the Vale of Glamorgan Council to
bulldoze 10 hectares (nearly 25 acres) of ancient woodland near Barry
to make way for factory units and housing. You can make a difference by
joining our campaign to save it. Find out how in English or Welsh. |
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Frogs
March calendar
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Small
Tortoiseshell
March calendar
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download |
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RESULTS
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This is sent to everyone who uses the nature's calendar website. You can unsubscribe by clicking here.
Phenology recorder: 303250343 |
