Working together for wildlife

Nov 17 2009 by The Journal

Natural England, the Government’s wildlife and conservation advisor, has been busy working with schools in the North East, campaigning for the preservation of the natural environment and launching initiatives such as healthy walking and encouraging wildlife gardens. Here’s a round-up of what they’ve been doing across the region.

Walking for health

NATURAL England’s healthy walking initiative which encourages everyone to get out and about is picking up pace. The Walking for Health scheme – which is part of Natural England’s ‘Natural’ Health Service – encourages individuals and groups that wouldn’t normally get out walking to take advantage of the parks, woodlands and leafy streets near to where they live and to improve their health and have fun. The North East has a wealth of open spaces and a rich diversity of wildlife and it is hoped that by taking advantage of the natural world, modern diseases such as diabetes, obesity and depression can be improved.

So far, Natural England’s Walking for Health initiative has enabled thousands of people to take advantage of the walking scheme running in the North East. As well as improving the health of those taking part, the walks provide an excellent way of meeting other people and finding out more about the green spaces around us.

To find out more about the local Walking for Health schemes log on to www.whi.org.uk/walkfinder.

No charge?

A new report from Natural England argues that investment in the natural environment is essential to the North East’s future economic prosperity. The report – No Charge? Valuing the Natural Environment – shows how the natural environment provides cost-effective solutions to growing problems like flood and coastal defence, carbon emissions and the protection of soil, water and air quality.

Natural England says that the vital role the natural world plays in contributing to a thriving economy continues to be undervalued and the report brings together the latest research to show that the economic value of nature now runs to billions of pounds in the UK. The report explains how having a healthy natural environment is indispensable to current and future economic regional prosperity.

In the North East of England the natural environment is already helping to deliver natural solutions to 21st century problems. Rob Aubrook, Natural England regional director for the North East, said: “The evidence is overwhelming; we need to recognise that the ecological solutions provided by the natural environment are amongst the most highly effective and cost-effective ways of tackling a range of environmental, social and economic problems.”

Copies of No Charge? Valuing the Natural Environment can be found at http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/securefuture/default.aspx.

Natural England North East signs up to 10:10

NATURAL England has announced that it has joined the 10:10 campaign, which encourages individuals, businesses and organisations to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% during the year 2010.

By signing up to the 10:10 initiative, Natural England North East joins with hundreds of individuals and organisations, from councils and hospitals to faith groups and scout troops, who are leading the way on the journey to a low-carbon society.

Rob Aubrook, Natural England’s regional director for the North East, said: “It’s essential that we take steps to reduce the impacts of climate change in the North East and ensure that the environment can continue to provide the range of services that are fundamental to our society, our wildlife and the health of our countryside. By signing up to the 10:10 campaign Natural England is building on the substantial progress we have already made as an organisation.

“Climate change is everyone’s issue and everyone can play a part in reducing its impact. The 10:10 campaign is doing a fantastic job in helping focus minds on this important topic. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by climate change, but joining up to 10:10 is a great way to get behind a simple, achievable idea.”

Find out more at www.1010uk.org

Juniper conservation in North Pennines

PUPILS from a Teesdale school have been helping Natural England to safeguard the special juniper woods that are such an important and distinctive feature of the landscape in the North Pennines.

Some of the juniper trees growing in Teesdale are more than 260 years old and were growing when Captain Cook was exploring Australia. But the UK’s juniper woods need urgent help – many of the trees are old, and the seedlings that should be replacing them are struggling to grow naturally. As little as 10% of juniper seed is viable and even ‘good’ seeds are notoriously difficult to germinate.

At its Moor House Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve, Natural England is giving the trees a helping hand by hand picking berries in autumn and growing them into sturdy saplings. Young junipers take up to four years to reach the 15-20 cm height necessary for planting. They are carefully nurtured in a specialist tree nursery and then re-planted to help regenerate the rare juniper woods of the Durham Dales.

Pupils from Forest of Teesdale School have been lending a hand to collect this autumn’s crop of juniper berries. The youngsters have been working with Natural England reserve wardens to help with the berry picking and find out about the juniper woods that grow near their school. They also investigated the amazing variety of wildlife that lives in the juniper woods and discovered the mini-beasts, mammals and birds that use the trees.

Although mainly valued today for its wildlife importance and special place in the North East landscape, juniper has had many uses in the past. Juniper has very sharp needles and farmers once used it instead of barbed wire. In some places juniper branches were used to protect against evil and fastened to doors in the hope of keeping away devils, elves and witches.

Oil of Juniper is one of the oldest known essential oils. The ancient Egyptians are known to have used it in perfumes and cosmetics. Traces of it were also found by archaeologists in pots recovered from prehistoric European settlements, some of them dating back 4,000 years.

The blue-black seed cones or ‘berries’ of junipers are too bitter to eat raw and are usually sold dried and used to flavour meats, sauces, and stuffings. Juniper berries also give the distinctive flavour to gin.

“Because the juniper bushes grow so slowly reviving the fortunes of the juniper woodlands of Teesdale is a long process,” says Heather McCarty of Natural England. “It’s fantastic to have the local school involved and thanks to their help these youngsters should still be able to enjoy seeing Teesdale’s special juniper woodlands when they have grown-up.”

Putting nature on the map

LESS than a quarter of children now visit a local green space on a weekly basis – half the number of their parents’ generation – accordingly to recent research. In an initiative to help combat this worrying trend and reconnect our youngsters with nature a new ‘Language of Landscape’ booklet has been produced by Natural England to accompany the Ordnance Survey’s annual ‘Free Maps for 11 year olds’ initiative. The national mapping agency’s annual scheme provides every Year 7 pupil with a free OS Explorer Map to keep.

The new Natural England publication includes lesson ideas, inventive games, and tips on how to incorporate map learning into the school curriculum. As well as helping to grow children’s love of the outdoors and spark their curiosity about the natural world and the environment, it is hoped that valuable map reading skills will be learnt which will stay with them throughout their lives.

Teachers have until November 30 to place their order for the free maps and guides with the Ordnance Survey. The ‘Language of Landscape’ booklet can be downloaded from Natural England’s website: www.naturalengland.org.uk

Search is on for the North East’s Big Wildlife Garden School of the Year

THE search is on for the best school wildlife garden in England by Natural England. Many schools in the North East are already seeing the benefits of putting nature on the curriculum.

As part of the Big Wildlife Garden project, Natural England is encouraging everyone to get online and take part either as individuals or as a school.

The aim is to link the country’s gardens and open spaces together to form the biggest virtual nature reserve.

By entering Natural England’s free competition, the Big Wildlife Garden School of the Year, underused school grounds or playing fields all over the country are being transformed into areas dedicated to wildlife.

Natural England has set the challenge to schools to register on the scheme and make as many improvements to their wildlife garden before July 2010.

Schools can collect points for each activity and progress through bronze, silver, gold and finally green level status and have the chance of becoming the Big Wildlife Garden School of the Year.

There are nine English regional winners and an overall national winner, with commemorative plaques for winners in each category.

:: For information visit www.bwg.naturalengland.org.uk