Redwings and Fieldfares are both species of thrush and in this feature, the RSPB takes a look at these and other thrushes that are found in the UK. Read to find out more about this fascinating family of birds and for ID tips.
The BBC reports environmental groups have warned that work to boost biodiversity across the UK countryside will be put at risk by the government’s decision to freeze the level of payments to farms in England.
Farmers – already angry at changes to inheritance tax rules announced in the Budget – have been told payments from the public purse will be frozen next year.
The Wildlife Trusts say the decision leaves a “monumental gap” between current environmental land management scheme (Elms) funding and what is needed to help farmers protect and boost wildlife and its habitats, while still producing food.
The Evening Standard reports the Environment Department published criteria for what can count towards a global target to protect 30% of land by 2030.
Just 7% of England is currently protected for nature, the Government has said, as it set out rules to help meet a global goal to protect 30% of land by 2030.
Officials said protected landscapes such as national parks, will deliver the “backbone” of areas conserved for nature, though they currently do not count towards the total, and the target could also include areas of nature-friendly farming.
Discover Wildlife report it may sound like something from a dystopian movie, but ‘Stage Zero’ has just created a paradise.
Something remarkable is happening in a quiet corner of Somerset in south-west England: the creation of an Eden. And it’s all thanks ‘Stage Zero’ – or ‘Stage 0’ – an innovative river restoration technique originally developed in Oregon, USA.
A year after completing an ambitious Stage Zero project on the Holnicote Estate in Somerset, rangers say the site is unrecognisable.
News that the UK government plans to ban disposable vapes in England from 1 June 2025 has been welcomed by the RSPCA. The charity, which has run a #VexedAboutVapes campaign, has called the announcement “great news for wildlife”.
The use of vapes in England grew by 400 per cent between 2012 and 2023. An estimated five million single-use vapes are thrown away in general waste or littered every week in the UK, according to research by Material Focus.
RSPCA wants nature lovers to embrace the call of autumn and sign up to be a Wildlife Friend.
The charity is calling on people to don their boots and gardening gloves and have a go at tasks that will help change the lives of animals for the better.
There are 24 self-service tasks for volunteers to complete this year, with different tasks set for each of the four seasons. Points are earned when completing tasks and volunteers who earn a set number or more during a season are awarded a seasonal certificate.
Some of the tasks include:
An RSPB press release focuses on the Birdcrime report, which reviews the past 15 years, reveals 1,344 birds of prey were illegally killed between 2009-2023, with crimes continuing to emerge. These criminal acts target threatened species including White-tailed Eagles, Hen Harriers and Red Kites. There were 89 confirmed incidents in Northern Ireland in the past 15 years, yet not a single prosecution.
The RSPB is calling for stronger pesticide legislation and greater resourcing for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to stop bird of prey persecution. Birds of prey – also known as raptors – are protected by law under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
Plant Based News reports Forestry England has warned people against disposing of Halloween pumpkins by leaving them in the woods for wildlife.
When October 31 rolls around, social media users often encourage people to leave out leftover pumpkins for animals to eat. But doing so can make some animals, including hedgehogs, unwell.
Pumpkins are not naturally found in British woodlands and are not a normal part of the diet of native animals.
Ahead of the Budget announcement on Wednesday 30th October, read about three key priorities The Wildlife Trusts will be watching for.
iNews reports how dead branches and twigs can be a surprisingly useful resource for a range of garden animals, from insects and other invertebrates to small mammals and birds.
They can be turned into simple log piles, obelisks made from long branches or even an ambitious “dead hedge”.
Now is a good time to begin any such projects because autumn and winter are the right months for pruning many trees and shrubs. It is easier to see what needs to be removed once their branches are bare.
.