Natural England - Press releases 2009
Press releases 2009
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Christmas lunch doesn’t have to cost the earth
(8 December 2009) Natural England has teamed up with celebrity chef and writer, Prue Leith, to provide an illustrated food journey from farm to fork. The Nature of Food looks at the links between our favourite dishes and the health of our countryside and wildlife, and shows that good food doesn’t have to cost us the earth.
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Green farming agreement contributes to tackling the spread of killer plant disease
(30 November 2009) A Higher Level Stewardship agreement has recently been put in place on Trengwainton Carn in West Penwith, Cornwall on a site identified as having rhododendron heavily infected with the pathogens Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae.
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Formal consultation starts on proposed European marine sites
(27 November 2009) A formal consultation on proposed new marine protected areas starts today (27 Nov 2009). The sites are being put forward as the latest additions to the ‘Natura 2000’ network of European protected areas designed to protect important habitats, species and birds.
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Funding restores farmed landscape to its former glory
(26 November 2009) With the assistance of a Countryside Stewardship funding agreement, restoration of traditional orchards and re-creation of historic field boundaries has transformed the landscape of farmland at Landkey, near Barnstaple in north Devon.
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Voluntary approach key to new green farming campaign in South West
(24 November 2009) A new voluntary campaign, to be launched in the South West on Wednesday (25th November), is encouraging farmers to adopt a range of measures to protect birds, wildlife, soil and water courses.
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Pre Christmas payout for ‘Classic’ scheme agreement holders
(20 November 2009) Natural England today announced it is up to two months ahead of its usual schedule in processing payments to farmers and land managers in its `Classic` green farming schemes. And the good news for farmers across the South West is that more money is available for new capital works completed and claimed for by March 2010.
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South West leads the way for an All England Coast Path
(13 November 2009)
Natural England launches consultation on its proposed approach for an All England Coast Path and announces Somerset as one of its priority areas for work to start.
Natural England will also prioritise Weymouth Bay in Dorset – site of the 2012 sailing competition – which will be the first stretch of the new Coastal Path, in time for the lighting of the Olympic flame.
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Turning the tide - a once in lifetime opportunity for marine conservation in the South West
(13 November 2009) Today’s Royal Assent for the Marine and Coastal Access Act creates a new marine planning system designed to bring together the conservation, social and economic outcomes sought for our seas. Amongst the many sections of the Act is a new way of protecting important marine wildlife.
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Farmers attend Educational Access best practice event
(11 November 2009) Farmers from across Devon and Cornwall attended an event at Deer Park Farm near Callington in Cornwall to showcase best practice in Educational Access.
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New funding agreement to restore Horner Hill to its former glory
(10 November 2009) A funding agreement has recently been signed that will build on pioneering work already underway in parts of Stockland parish to transfer carefully selected areas of dense scrubland into wildlife havens of purple heather and heath.
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Shire horses assist in local nature conservation effort
(14 October 2009)
If you go down to the woods at Midford, near Bath, you may be in for a bit of a surprise. A pair of shire horses are currently hard at work pulling trees out of a special woodland that is being managed for nature conservation.
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Chalk airlift to restore Alton Barnes white horse to former glory
(5 October 2009) On Monday 5th October, the Alton Barnes white horse in the Vale of Pewsey will receive a facelift from on high. A helicopter will lower 150 tons of chalk down onto the horse. The chalk will then be laid and tamped down by hand and for the first time in over 20 years the horse will look like new.
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(24 September 2009) The National Trust, Natural England and a local farmer are reintroducing half a dozen cattle to Leigh Woods in Bristol this Friday – more than 140 years after the last herd left the cliff top site.
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Initiative on the River Avon competes for prestigious international prize
(16 September 2009) The River Avon and Avon Valley Initiative will shortly find out whether it has been chosen as the winner of a prestigious prize at an award ceremony in Brisbane, Australia. The International Thiess Riverprize is a competition which recognizes and showcases excellence in river management with nominees all demonstrating leadership, innovation and commitment to sustainability.
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New survey highlights public support for sustainable fisheries in the South West
(10 September 2009) Three quarters of South West residents surveyed would pay more for fish which had been caught in ways that minimised damage to the marine environment, according to research results released today (10 September 2009).
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Hope for threatened butterflies
(3 September 2009) The marsh fritillary, one of Britain’s most threatened butterflies has seen an unexpected surge in numbers this summer. Recent surveys suggest that numbers in Dartmoor and Exmoor may be on the up.
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Free festival offers chance to try new activities
(2 September 2009) Ever wanted to try a new sport or find a different way to keep fit? Then come along to Shaw Forest Park in West Swindon this Saturday (5th Sept) from 10am to 5pm to try your hand at something a little different.
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New funding to secure a 'Wetland Vision' in Somerset
(1 September 2009) Wetland landscapes such as floodplain grazing marsh, reedbeds, fenland and raised bogs provide vital wildlife habitats for declining bird species such as snipe and redshank and essential public services such as flood defence and climate change adaptation.
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Discover the Wonder of Woodland with the Haytor Hoppa
(6 August 2009) Natural England are holding two guided walks utilising the new Haytor Hoppa bus service to discover more about Yarner Wood, part of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve.
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Beach ‘roadshows’ showcase the South West’s undersea landscapes and marine life
(31 July 2009) If you are holidaying in the South West during August why not pop along to one of the marine ‘roadshows’ taking place on the beaches of Devon or Cornwall. These are being held to make locals and visitors more aware of the special character of the undersea landscape of the region and the special marine life associated with these landscapes.
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(20 July 2009) Rare waterbird has a fantastic year on Somerset's wetlands.
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New report sets the challenges for a healthy natural environment in the South West
(2 July 2009) A new report on the state of the natural environment in the South West and the challenges it faces is launched today (July 2).
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International river experts STREAM into Salisbury
(19 June 2009) The STREAM project will welcome over 100 international river experts next week, leading the way in restoring Europe’s rivers and their wildlife.
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Mid-Summer fun for everyone - the Goss Moor way
(11 June 2009) Natural England with Cornwall Council invites you to come along to Goss Moor National Nature Reserve from 11am on Sunday 21st June for a day of fun for all the family.
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Discovering the Story Behind Your Food: Open Farm Sunday is coming
(1 June 2009) On Sunday 7 June, Moor Farm near Chickerell, Weymouth will be opening its gates to the public between 11am and 4pm for Open Farm Sunday 2009.
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Bristol walking group hosts Defra officials
(28 May 2009) A Bristol walking group is hosting representatives from Defra and Natural England today (Thursday 28th May).
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Alien invasion threatens countryside
(22 May 2009) An invasion is threatening the wildlife, economy and health of our countryside says Biodiversity South West. The claim comes as International Day for Biodiversity is marked on 22nd May, this year focusing on invasive non-native species. Biodiversity South West and its partners are worried about their spread across the region and are working to tackle the problem head on.
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Helping farmland bird populations to soar in the South West
(30 April 2009) Natural England launches pioneering project to help conserve the ‘Arable Six’ - grey partridge, lapwing, turtle dove, yellow wagtail, tree sparrow and corn bunting.
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(29 April 2009) A local fossil collector recently discovered a number of bones from a plesiosaur, an extinct marine reptile, visible in the ammonite pavement to the West of Lyme Regis on Monmouth Beach, within the Undercliffs National Nature Reserve (NNR).
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Announcement on funding secures the future of the Bodmin Beacon Local Nature Reserve
(27 April 2009) A meeting held recently on Bodmin Beacon local nature reserve celebrated the completion of a new agreement securing £120,000 worth of funding for improvements to the site at the heart of Bodmin town. The funding will help the reserve reach its full potential as a haven for wildlife and a local educational and community resource.
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Volunteering: a natural response?
(22 April 2009) A day of ‘barrier busting’ to allow more people to take part in environmental volunteering is taking place in Bristol today (Wednesday 22nd April).
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Climate change to challenge Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase environment report says
(31 March 2009) By the year 2080, the climate of the Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase might resemble that of present day Portugal, Natural England states in a report released today.
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Grazing to be extended on the Burrows
(23 March 2009) A public meeting is taking place to highlight plans to allow cattle and sheep to graze part of Braunton Burrows.
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Dorset’s Natural Health Service
(3 March 2009) Experts & representatives from the health, environment and planning sectors in Dorset are meeting on Monday 9 March to discuss ‘Dorset’s Natural Health Service’
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Dartmoor farmers invited to attend Environmental Stewardship information meetings
(19 February 2009) Dartmoor farmers and land managers are being invited to attend meetings to be held at Princetown and Chagford during February and March.
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(16 February 2009) A new project is being launched this week to keep the city green as it grows.
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Blue Gym launches in South West
(11 February 2009) In its Physical Activity Plan, ‘Be Active, Be Healthy’, announced today (11th February), the Department of Health (DoH) has shown a major commitment to getting more people active in the natural environment.
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The familiar landmark of Brentor, near Tavistock, is getting a makeover
(19 January 2009) The iconic site is known to many as the tor with the 12th century Church of St Michael perched on its summit. Gorse has recently started to blanket the slopes of the tor and work is underway to remove it to protect the ancient remains beneath and allow a better view of its important archaeology and geology.
