This week, members will be receiving their new issue of Wildlife News, packed with up to date information on our work, wildlife features including a guide to identifying small mammals and our newly published nature reserves guide.

The guide includes a map of the nature reserves owned or managed by the Trust along with those of neighbouring Wildlife Trust's too, if you fancy a day trip across the county borders.

It introduces the nature reserves with more facilities, signage and walks and with information leaflets for further guidance pn what wildlife you can see.

It has been sent to all members but can also be obtained by sending an A5 SAE to Nature Reserves Leaflet, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trus...full article

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust will be removing the scrub along the edges of Coombe Hill Canal Nature Reserve this month to:

• improve the water quality (which is currently shaded and stagnant) and will in turn benefit the aquatic plants and other wildlife in the canal
  
  
• Encourage bank side plants such as yellow loosestrife, meadowsweet and tufted vetch and improve the habitat for dragonflies and other insects
  
  
• Allow more light to reach the towpaths so that they dry out quicker, making access easier.

Coombe Hill Canal is notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) not only for its ...full article

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust are proud to announce the sponsorship of Monty Don's talk at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Saturday 17 October.

The Herefordshire based former Gardener's World presenter will be discussing his new book, The Ivington Diaries, a meticulous documentation of how he created his own wildlife-friendly garden from scratch.

Monty is one of Britain's best-loved gardeners who had to retire from his BBC role following a minor stroke and is now President of the Soil Association. He is passionate about gardening and is keen to get others to grow their own food, a vision that he shares with the Trust.

Gardening in harmony with wildlife both provides food and ...full article

Otter spotter Mike Harvey has sent us this video taken by an automatically triggered infra red camera positioned on the River Cam.

Mike volunteers for both the Water Vole Recovery Project and the Severn Vale Living Landscape Project and obtained a license allowing him to carry out this work.

His footage shows at least two European otters, possibly a mother and cub, that have triggered the camera every night that i...full article

Surfing, salmon, seals and more are set to be celebrated on the banks of the Severn Estuary this weekend. And The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging everyone to join in.

Families can discover the secrets of the Severn through ‘Magnificent Severn’ at Over Farm on Saturday 22 August from 9am – with Wildlife Trust staff from across the region, including Gloucestershire, Gwent and Avon. The Severn, a rich and fertile place, is teeming with wildlife. Porpoise have been seen swimming in the tide and, last year, a seal swam all the way to Tewkesbury!

Karen Lloyd, Severn Vale Living Landscapes project officer for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, is set to host children’s game ‘Wader Raiders’ at The Wildlife Tr...full article

Moths really are magical creatures of the night, and Lower Woods Nature Reserve is full of them.

This summer, Peter Hugo, the Gloucestershire moth recorder for Butterfly Conservation, had a bumper catch of 1500 moths at one of his night trapping sessions, including a rare micromoth, never before recorded in the county.


Read all about them on our Reserve Manager's blog.

If you want to find out more, why not join us for Peter Hugo's talk on moths at Painswick Church Rooms on Thursday 17th September 7:30pm. See our full article

The Severn Vale Living Landscape team have now completed their first scrape creation projects thanks to generous funding contributions from Biffaward.

Two scrapes have been created on farmland in the Severn Vale covering an area of 6,000m2 at a cost of £9,000, which was generously granted by the scheme. Project Advisor, Del Jones, explains more about scrapes:

What is a Scrape?
Scrapes are man-made shallow depressions with gently sloping edges that fill with seasonal rain water and create easily visible wetland areas attractive to wildlife. They should hold water from March to late June although water levels can recede as the warm spring progresses.

Why are they important?<...full article

Look out for a whiskered wanderer on a riverbank near you – because otters are making a comeback in the UK, and are now present in every English county.
In the 1970s otter populations in the UK plummeted to near extinction. Now, thanks to – among other things – decades of truly dedicated work to restore habitat, otter numbers are recovering. Natural World takes you through a history of their decline and recovery, and brings you up close and personal images which prove these elusive mammals are popping up everywhere from rural retreats to urban gardens.

Although the signs are good that otters are faring better in the UK, there is still work to be done. Fran Southgate, Rivers Project officer at Sussex Wildli...full article

The UK's marine environment provides a haven for some of our most fascinating wildlife, such as basking sharks, grey seals, puffins and dolphins. Join The Wildlife Trusts in celebrating the UK's amazing sea animals and plants during National Marine Week August. Take the chance to explore the seashore, discover dunes and wallow with whelks.

Both coastal and inland Wildlife Trusts will be offering a wide range of events that uncover the magic of the marine world.

Find out how you can

full article 2 TRUST VOLUNTEER PASSES AWAY Sunday Aug 2nd 2009 It is with sadness that we report the death of Bob Godfrey. Bob, awarded the MBE for his services to wildlife conservation in the Forest of Dean was a hugely committed and passionate Trust volunteer. Staff member Sarah Mason recalls her time spent working with Bob... "As a full-time volunteer for The Trust back in 1998 and then Forest of Dean Conservation Officer, I was lucky enough to be able to learn from Bobs wealth of knowledge and experience" said Sarah Mason, Community Development Manager, "not only about wildlife but of all the special and often hidden places the Forest of Dean has to offer. We would spend a couple of days a week visiting nature reserves, small biological sites, sites which Bob had ide...full article 1 VOLUNTEER GRADUATES AFTER GAINING VALUABLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRUST Saturday Aug 1st 2009 It's time for The Trust to say a fond farewell to student placement, Richard Catlin, who has been helping out in the Forest of Dean area one day a week for the past twelve months in order to compliment his studies with valuable conservation work experience. During this time he has been of great help to Forest of Dean Nature Reserves Manager, Kevin Caster, aiding with many of the practical management tasks carried out at the nature reserves and much more. First Class Honours Richard has now completed his Tourism and Environmental Management degree at the University of the West of England and has been awarded First Class Honours. full article 24 PRIME MINISTER PRAISES TRUST VOLUNTEER Friday Jul 24th 2009 Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust volunteer, Jean Brown, has had her 20 year commitment to helping wildlife in Gloucestershire celebrated this week at Downing Street. The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Gordon Brown, held a reception in the garden at Number 10 on Wednesday 22nd July to thank volunteers involved in practical land and marine conservation work. He said: "I am grateful for the contribution that people right across the country make every day to their local environmental and wildlife projects, giving up their time without pay. The inspirational work they do helps create a better world for us all. It is my pleasure to welcome these volunteers to No.10, so I can say thank you in person."...full article 23 TRUST WINS SILVER AWARD Thursday Jul 23th 2009 Following a recent re-assessment for Investors in People, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust are not only able to boast an impressive 14 years as an Investors in People organisation, but exceeded the standard required and achieved the Silver level of the award. We are one of the first organisations to achieve the new Silver status which Investors in People only introduced in May of this year. full article 13 Buzzz... Join the Tweehive! Monday Jul 13th 2009 There'll be a whole lot of virtual buzzing going on on Tuesday 14th July on Twitter. Fashioned by a group of creative nature enthusiasts, Tweehive is a mass role play by human beings of a bee colony on Twitter, which will be played on three specific days in July, August and September. The Scenario: We have just taken up residence a new cavity. There are combs to be built, a desperate need to build up food stores, we will need to cope with issues that crop up all day, ranging from defending the colony to weather. A counter will track our progress and you w...full article 10 Stag Beetles have a new home in Apperley Friday Jul 10th 2009 Deerhurst and Apperley school pupils have built a new home for stag beetles in their school grounds with the help of Rosie Woolley, Community Education Officer. The site was chosen as several people had reported sightings of stag beetles in the area. To create a new site for the beetles to lay their eggs, logs have been buried in the ground to replicate old tree stumps. It is hoped that by creating new breeding areas the endangered species will be encouraged to spread throughout the county. Please let us know if you see one and remember to leave rotting wood in your garden for wildlife. You can now submit your sightings online through the wildlife section of our website....full article The Wildlife Trust's 'Pear' up with Local Cider Producer Friday Jul 10th 2009 The Wildlife Trusts are delighted to be working with Westons, a family-owned cider producer with strong ethical and environmental principles, with an innovative partnership entitled Living Orchards. Westons, who have been making cider and perry in the Herefordshire village of Much Marcle since 1880, produce the UK’s bestselling range of organic ciders. Traditional orchards are important in sustaining local wildlife and this partnership sees The Wildlife Trusts working closely with Westons to advise on the planting of 15,000 trees in three new orchards covering 50 acres, in a ground breaking way where commercial needs will be delica...full article 1 Gordon McGlone Blog Wednesday Jul 1st 2009 Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Read Gordon McGlone's Blog ...full article NEW RESERVE FOR TRUST! Wednesday Jul 1st 2009 A 12 acre area of species-rich ancient woodland has been kindly donated to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust by Mr and Mrs Burton from Alderton, near Toddington. The new Nature Reserve, known as Arle Grove, is situated around 500m north of Dowdeswell reservoir and woods near Cheltenham and boasts a wealth of flora and fauna, which is of particular interest to conservationists. The woodland has been previously been identified as a key wildlife site in the county due to the diversity of woodland ground flora and veteran trees, which are able to support many different species of animal, insect, lichen and plant. The decision to pass the stewardship of the wood to The Trust was made as Mr and Mrs Burton,...full article 15 Diggers start building wildlife highway Monday Jun 15th 2009 The first habitat creation work is getting underway in the Severn Vale as part of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s ambitious development of the county’s first wildlife highway. It has been just over a year since the Severn Vale Living Landscape project was launched, today the diggers roll on site at a farm near Arlingham to create a scrape in an area of low lying wet grassland. A scrape is a shallow depression designed ...full article 11 BADGEWORTH OPEN DAY Thursday Jun 11th 2009 Sunday 14th June 2pm - 5pm What it lacks in size it surely make up for in rarity. At only 2.7 acres, Badgeworth Nature Reserve near Cheltenham is one of The Trust's smallest nature reserves and was the first reserve to be acquired, although it had been protected since 1933 by the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves due to the presence of the rare adder's-tongue spearwort. This rare plant, known locally as the Badgeworth buttercup, grows in only two places in the UK. The watery pools of Badgeworth Reserve are perfect for it and it is for this reason that the Reserve is accessed by permit only. In June, though, the gates are opened for one day only for visitors to come and see this s...full article 8 GROW YOUR OWN! Monday Jun 8th 2009 By popular demand, Growing Places, the project run by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and funded by the Tewkesbury Count Me In scheme, is holding another food growing workshop at Priors Park, with Priors Park Neighbourhood Project in Tewkesbury on Saturday 13th June 10:30am - 12:00pm. There'll be demonstrations showing how to plant up runner beans, tomatoes and courgettes; the chance to learn more about composting, and how to attract beneficial insects to their garden while deterring those not so welcome! There will also be an opportunity to take some plants home to grow in your own gardens thanks to Mike Ellard from Severn Vale Housing. With the help of Vision 21, who helped him sow the seeds, Mike ha...full article 20 Local farmer dies in motorbike accident Wednesday May 20th 2009 Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust mourns the loss of Greystones Farm nature reserve grazier Andrew Firth. He was a great friend to The Trust and always ready to help out with day to day jobs on the farm, of which there have been many, since The Trust bought it in 2000. Sarah Mason, Community Development Manager, who is based at Greystones Farm said, "Our thoughts are with his family, Sue, Ben and Sam" "Andrew was a huge part of our daily lives and will be missed. He was known very well and dearly thought of by the people he worked with." Andrew had a mixed herd of beef cattle, including Herefords, and kept a small herd of pedigree Highlands, at Greystones Farm, near Bourton-on-the-Water and two other...full article Please don't pick the flowers! Wednesday May 20th 2009 Staff at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust have been horrified to learn that people have been picking bluebells from one of their nature reserves, near Stroud. A local resident reported seeing people filling a car boot with bluebells and then quickly pulling away from Siccaridge Wood nature reserve near Sapperton. Nature Reserve Manager Pete Bradshaw, has surveyed the scene and was astonished to see the extent of the devastation, “The bluebell display in Siccaridge Wood is one of the best in Gloucestershire, to see such a large bare patch caused by a few selfish people is a real shame. People don’t understand that you can’t just pick flowers where you like, to take flowers from here is actually theft and t...full article 12 IT'S GREEN BUT SHOULD IT BE HERE? Tuesday May 12th 2009 Nature Reserve Manager Jackie Birch recently pulled up at the gate to Ashleworth Ham Nature Reserve to discover a huge pile of dumped garden waste blocking the entrance. She said: “This is disappointing, not just because someone thought that it would be ok to fly-tip at a nature reserve, or the time and cost incurred in getting it removed and disposed of properly, but because, although garden waste is indeed green and biodegradable, it does not belong in wild places.” Many people grow non-native bushes, plants and trees in their gardens, which can carry diseases and pests that may have a severe effect on our native plants and trees in the countryside as they are rigorous growers that can quickly take ove...full article 11 30 YEARS CHAMPIONING WILDLIFE IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE Monday May 11th 2009 Dr. Gordon McGlone OBE is celebrating his 30th anniversary of working for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust this week. Today staff surprised him with a picnic at The Trust's headquarters at Robinswood Hill, Gloucester, where they  presented him with the gift of a gliding lesson! Gordon is the Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, which is the county’s largest environmental charity with almost 23,000 members and 1,020 ha of nature reserves. It is dedicated to biodiversity conservation and promoting personal responsibility for and understanding of the environment. Gordon has been the national spokesperson for the Wildlife Trusts on Badgers and Bovine TB, becoming a member of the Ministe...full article 8 NEW WILDLIFE WALK UNVEILED Friday May 8th 2009 Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is launching a new wildlife walk linking five of it's most beautiful nature reserves in the Golden Valley, between Stroud and Cirencester. The walk will be launched on Saturday, 8th May 2009 at 10.30am from The Daneway Inn, near the village of Sapperton by Stroud Reserves Manager, Pete Bradshaw, who will then (with the aid of volunteers), lead people around the route, anyone is welcome to come along and walk on the day. The walk is designed to link the Strawberry Banks, Three Groves Wood, Siccaridge Wood, Daneway Banks and Sapperton Valley nature reserves along a five mile circular route. The route is looking really beautiful at the moment and packed with wildlife from bluebells ...full article 7 SPOTTED! WATER VOLE AT OZLEWORTH Thursday May 7th 2009 This laid-back water vole was spotted by volunteers being trained to survey the river banks for signs of this threatened species by members of the Severn Vale Living Landscape Project run by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. According to Project Officer Karen Lloyd, the group was surveying the Ozleworth brook near North Nibley when they heard the unmistakable ‘plop’ of a water vole leaping into the water. She said: “We saw him swimming up the stream, he got out onto the bank and sat there feeding on the vegetation, quite unconcerned about our presence.” The water vole is the UK’s fastest declining mammal and numbers in Gloucestershire have declined by around 83% over the last 20 years. This means that the...full article Growing Places Thursday May 7th 2009 Following on from the hugely successful ‘Don’t Waste Wildlife’ project, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is launching an exciting pilot food-growing scheme in Tewkesbury funded through the Count Me In scheme. Aimed at people who would like to ‘grow their own’ but only have limited space, the 2 year GROWING PLACES project will provide information and advice through workshops, leaflets and talks. It will also offer advice to schools and community venues. Project Officer, Jo Worthy-Jones says, “People are becoming more interested in growing food in their own gardens and nowadays you can grow a wider variety of vegetables in containers – ideal for the smaller garden. We would like to encourage people to grow ...full article 28 DAWN CHORUS IS "UNBEATABLE" SAYS TOP WILDLIFE PRESENTER Tuesday Apr 28th 2009 Spring is here, and with it comes a natural spectacle that gets wildlife presenter Simon King exceptionally excited. “One of the most magnificent and beautiful natural events on earth occurs in Britain during the spring and early summer. It knocks the spots off anything you could find in a tropical rainforest, renders the plains of Africa humbled by comparison and the high Arctic doesn’t hold a candle to it.” He says. And what is this event? Well, you’ll have to get up before first light and go along to your nearest patch of woodland this May to find out. As the dawn breaks, close your eyes and listen to the magic of nature’s choir. The dawn chorus occurs early morning throughout spring and summer...full article 24 NEW PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED WITH UNIVERSITY Friday Apr 24th 2009 Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is joining forces with the University of Gloucestershire and inviting the public to enjoy The Park, which is home to more than 900 trees. Surrounding a pond designed in the shape of Africa, the former Victorian pleasure gardens are home a unique collection of species and the University is keen to let the community know they are welcome to enjoy it for themselves. The Trust’s Chief Executive, Dr Gordon McGlone and University Vice Chancellor, Professor Patricia Broadfoot will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday May 6th witnessed by invited guests, including Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Henry Elwes. The initiative is the first of its kind by Glouceste...full article 3 WELLIES GO TO WESTMINSTER! Friday Apr 3rd 2009 Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood has taken his wellies to Westminster this week in support of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. He took time out of his busy schedule to promote the fundraising campaign, which aims to get schools, communities and workplaces involved in organising fun welly-themed activities to raise money for the Trust's valuable conservation work in the county. Mr Horwood said "As a member of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, I am supporting Wear your Wellies for Wildlife because I think it is really important both to support The Trust's work and to get everybody involved in protecting the Gloucestershire countryside. Most important of all is getting children involved in something that's fun, to...full article 1 NO NEWTS IS BAD NEWTS PROJECT IS GOING STRONG Wednesday Apr 1st 2009 Gloucestershire Biodiversity Partnership's project, No Newts is Bad Newts, is going from strength to strength. Thanks to £34,396 of funding from Gloucestershire Environmental Trust with landfill tax contributions donated by Cory Environmental,  the project will now continue to run for a further two years. The project implements the local Species Action Plan (SAP) for the great crested newt, a national priority species, through working with local communities to enhance large areas of land for their benefit and future conservation. The great crested newt is the UK’s most strictly protected amphibian. To survive, they need a combination of pond habitat, where they will breed, and dry, unmanaged land with r...full article 23 COMPOST PROJECT ENDS ON A HIGH Monday Mar 23th 2009 A pioneering composting project run by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is winding down after an unprecedented six year run, which diverted more than 2,406 tons of waste going to the county’s landfill sites – the equivalent weight of more than 2,406 cows which, standing nose to tail, would stretch almost 39 miles from Gloucester to beyond Bristol. The Don’t Waste Wildlife project was established in 2003 to encourage households in Gloucestershire to compost their organic waste, rather than put it in the bin. Almost 20,000 people (around 8 per cent of the county’s households) have benefited from the scheme after receiving help and advice on composting. With the objectives of the Don’t Waste Wildlife projec...full article 18 TRUST HELPS PATIENTS WITH GARDEN THERAPY Wednesday Mar 18th 2009 Willow power is helping the recovery of inpatients at Gloucester's Wotton Lawn Hospital. Rosie Woolley, Community Education Officer with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust joined around 20 service users and occupational staff at the acute mental health hospital to plant a dome sculpture made entirely of living willow. The sculpture is the latest addition to a Green Space Project, which is transforming a previously overgrown piece of land near the Horton Road hospital. Several inpatients have been using the project as part of their therapy by helping out with tasks such as planting and weeding. They have also taken the opportunity to use the project for photography, making bird-feeders and bird-watching. <...full article INVITE FRIENDLY WILDLIFE INTO YOUR GARDEN THIS SPRING Wednesday Mar 18th 2009 Spring has finally sprung and the great outdoors is buzzing with life!  But what does YOUR garden offer for wildlife? Ornamental gardens, borders, shrubs, climbers, trees and wildflower meadows all help our wild neighbours by providing habitat and food sources for them. Vegetable patches can also offer lots to wildlife – and the wildlife can offer help to you in return! The biggest wildlife booster in any vegetable plot is probably the compost heap, which is home and supermarket to slow worms, frogs, toads, 200 recorded species of beetle, and even the friendly hedgehog. If you provide shelter, food and protection for these creatures in your cosy compost bin, they will make night-time forays into ...full article 11 HIGHLAND HIKE FOR THE TRUST Wednesday Mar 11th 2009 Member Alistair Hunt will be taking a Highland hike in aid of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust this May. The Great Outdoors Challenge is an annual self-supported walk across the Highlands of Scotland, west coast to east coast. Alistair’s route starts at Strathcarron and takes him 180-200 miles across a varied terrain to Stonehaven. He will be walking an average of 15 miles a day, carrying everything he might need from food and water to medical supplies, camping equipment and clothing. Alistair says: “I have always loved roaming around the hills whenever the chance arose, which is sadly less these days as life gets in the way. So I thought a proper trip was in order while my knees are still ok and th...full article 10 GIVE A GIFT TO WILDLIFE THIS MOTHER'S DAY Tuesday Mar 10th 2009 Instead of flowers that wilt within a few days, why not adopt a Mad March Hare for your mum this Mother's Day and give a lasting gift to wildlife in Gloucestershire too. It's difficult to think up new and novel gifts each year but it's easy to adopt one of our threatened species with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Choose from: Brown hare - £15    Dormouse - £10    Otter - £20    Water vole - £15    Barn owl - £20    Stag beetle - £10 Adopters will receive an attractive adoption pack with a colour photograph, adoption certificate, species factsheet and a pop-up model to cut out and make. So give us a call on 01452 383333 or visit our adoption page to adopt your hare today!...full article BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER WEARS HIS WELLIES FOR WILDLIFE! Tuesday Mar 10th 2009 The Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Revd Michael Perham, has shown his support for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust by wearing his wellies for wildlife! Yes, Wear Your Wellies for Wildlife week is back!  This year it runs from 30th March - 5th April and we want more people than ever to join in the fun and raise awareness of wildlife and our beautiful wild places in Gloucestershire while at the same time raising much-needed funds so that valuable conservation work can continue in the county. The Bishop highlighted the campaign by getting involved himself . Donning his trusty green boots, he said: "Protecting wild life for the future, locally in Gloucestershire as much as globally, is a really impor...full article 4 Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust on TV! Wednesday Mar 4th 2009 Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust on TV! On Friday, 27th February, Sarah Rowlatt's long awaited for (filmed in 2008 at Betty Daws Wood and Gwen & Vera's Field Nature Reserve) piece about daffodils for The One Show - if you missed it check out the clip below it's really good - you can forward through the programme and we air at 15 minutes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hsb2r/The_One_Show_27_02_2009/ And yesterday, Tuesday 3rd March, Chief Executive Dr. Gordon McGlone featured as the lunchtime VIP on Radio Gloucestershire with Steve Kitchen again listen below if you missed it - he is on for the whole hour which starts from about 12 minutes into the show... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplaye...full article 25 Barn Owl Nest Boxes Shot At Wednesday Feb 25th 2009 We are saddened to report that a barn owl nesting box on Chosen Hill nature reserve has been used as a shooting target. Reserve Manager Jackie Birch discovered the damaged box whilst visiting the reserve with Vince Jones from The Barn Owl Centre in Gloucester. When they looked inside they found that it had been shot 7 times from a few different angles, leaving what appear to be air rifle pellets inside. Luckily, it seems that this particular box, which was positioned by the entrance to Stump Lane, was not in use at the time. If it had been, the barn owl - a legally protected species - would have been fatally wounded. As the reserve is an ideal habitat for barn owls, they had intended to spend the...full article Gloucestershire Bags £1billion from Landfill Communities Fund Wednesday Feb 25th 2009 Contributions from landfill operators to the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) have just hit £1billion, with Gloucestershire projects benefiting along the way. The fund, introduced in 1996 to redress some of the environmental costs of landfill, has benefited more than 24,000 local projects across the UK, including some for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Angela Eagle, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: “The fund is an excellent example of the Government and the private and charity sectors working together to make local communities better places to live. “Some 2,500 environmental bodies alone are involved in the scheme. Parks, community centres, historic buildings and youth volunteer envi...full article 6 SHOW YOU LOVE EACH OTTER THIS VALENTINE'S! Friday Feb 6th 2009 If you're stuck for a gift this Valentine's Day, why not consider adopting one of Gloucestershire's threatened species for your loved one? It won't scupper the New Year's diet like chocolate, or wilt after a few days like flowers. This unique and long-lasting gift will directly contribute to the survival of wildlife in the county over the coming year. Choose from: The cute and sleepy dormouse for £10 A rare and impressive stag beetle for £10 The fastest UK mammal, the brown hare, for £15 'Ratty' the water vole for £15 The majestic barn owl for £20 A playful otter for £20 Adopters will receive an attractive gift package with a certificate, photographs, fact sheet and a fun...full article 30 Help a Toad Cross the Road! Friday Jan 30th 2009 VOLUNTEERS WANTED ** RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY AFTER LAST WEEK'S SNOW! ** Volunteers Wanted! Toads are usually associated with water like ponds and lakes but they actually prefer drier, damp habitats like woodlands, parks and gardens and only enter the water to mate during the breeding season, which starts around March. With this season on the way, toads are beginning to wake from hibernation on dry land and head back to the ponds. Unfortunately, this often leads them across our busy roads at dusk when it is rush hour and over 20 tons are killed on British roads in this way. Anne Morgan from Pitchcombe in the Painswick Valley has been patrolling a stretch of the A46 for 3 y...full article 26 The Trust responds to The Citizen newspaper's editorial comments made on teh 23rd January 2009 Monday Jan 26th 2009 Dear Sir/Madam I refer to your comment section (23rd January) which seeks to dismiss the conservation lobby with respect to a Severn Barrage as misguided. However, this misses the point that the Wildlife Trusts, together with other environmental bodies, including the Government’s own advisors, Natural England, are actually pressing for sustainable energy generation technologies that do not create long term damage. The wildlife of the Severn Estuary today enjoys the highest level of protection available anywhere in the world. It is covered by International, European and National legislation - a point which the pro-barrage lobby consistently fail to mention in their literature and presentations. These de...full article Short-sighted stance on Serven say The Wildlife Trusts Monday Jan 26th 2009 Internationally important wildlife around the Severn Estuary could be devastated, warn The Wildlife Trusts, as the Government today announces the short-listing of renewable energy options. As part of the Government’s plan to harness the second largest tidal range in the world – at 14 metres – the Department for Energy and Climate Change (Decc) undertook a feasibility study to assess the 10 proposed options. Today’s decision to short-list five at such an early stage in a bid for renewable energy is of great concern to The Wildlife Trusts. The Wildlife Trusts believe the criterion used in the short-listing was restrictive; making a mockery of the process. It automatically favours energy generation options...full article Five Projects make Severn tidal power shortlist Monday Jan 26th 2009 Released today by... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE New funding announced for embryonic technologies A proposed shortlist of schemes to generate clean, green electricity from the power of the tides in the Severn estuary has been unveiled by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The shortlist includes a mixture of barrages and innovative lagoon schemes. The Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has also announced £500,000 of new funding to further develop embryonic technologies like tidal reefs and fences. The progress of these technologies will be considered before decisions are taken whether to go ahead with a Severn tidal power scheme. The t...full article 19 The Wildlife Trusts Cure the Blues Monday Jan 19th 2009 Today has been nicknamed ‘Blue Monday’ and is, apparently, the most depressing of the year. But spending time among the UK’s native wildlife cannot fail to lift your spirits, say The Wildlife Trusts. Blue Monday has the potential to be more depressing than ever in 2009, with the recession leaving people strapped for cash or even unemployed. The Wildlife Trusts are urging people of all ages to replenish their spirits by visiting one of their nature reserves in urban and rural environments across the UK. Physical activity has long been linked to a healthy mind. Volunteering has the same benefit, boosting confidence and creating a sense of self-worth through contributing to something valuable. Gloucestershire ...full article The Wildlife Trusts Cure the Blues Monday Jan 19th 2009 Today has been nicknamed ‘Blue Monday’ and is, apparently, the most depressing of the year. But spending time among the UK’s native wildlife cannot fail to lift your spirits, say The Wildlife Trusts. Blue Monday has the potential to be more depressing than ever in 2009, with the recession leaving people strapped for cash or even unemployed. The Wildlife Trusts are urging people of all ages to replenish their spirits by visiting one of their nature reserves in urban and rural environments across the UK. Physical activity has long been linked to a healthy mind. Volunteering has the same benefit, boosting confidence and creating a sense of self-worth through contributing to something valuable. Gloucestersh...full article 9 Trust Flies High for Severn Wildlife Friday Jan 9th 2009 Yesterday Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust took to the air to get a bird's eye view of the Severn Vale! Outgoing Chairman, Andrew Kerr, whose idea it was to take his colleagues on the hour long flight down the Severn, said "The estuary is a unique habitat so rich in wildlife, that it is important not just to Gloucestershire, but internationally." Migrating wildfowl like Bewick's swans, white-fronted geese and many waders overwinter on the mudflats, salt marshes and grasslands along the Severn's shores; while its waters are home to migratory fish like salmon and eel. Because eel numbers are in decline all over Europe, the population in the Severn is now crucial to the species survival. "The eels enter the Seve...full article 7 Wildlife Photography Competition! Wednesday Jan 7th 2009 Your chance has arrived to show off your wildlife photography skills and have the chance to win a prestigious photography award, a cash prize of £5,000 and national exposure in a touring exhibition! Launching a brand new international photography competition on the 2nd April 2009, the prestigious British Wildlife Photography Awards will celebrate and recognise the talents of photographers of all nationalities practicing in the UK while, at the same time, highlight the great wealth and diversity of the natural history of the British Isles. At a time when wildlife, habitat and conservation is to the fore, the Awards will encourage photographers - whether professional or enthusiast - to explore Britain’s n...full article Print this Page     Email this Page Bookmark with: RSS Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon Registered UK Charity No. 232580 Photography  |  Site map  |  Terms of use  |  Privacy Policy  |  site by Merchant Technology Ltd Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (c) 2010