Biodiversity Action Plan

[rlchew]

On TV this morning ....

The new Biodiversity Action Plan published by DEFRA has identified 1,149 species and 65 habitats in the UK as being in need of conservation and greater protection. When the action plan was launched in 1997, it listed only 577 species. Of these, 123 species have been removed, making the increase even more worrying.

The BAP lists ....

Birds - 59 species
Fish (freshwater) - 14 species
Herptiles - 10 species
Lower plants and fungi - 337 species
Marine fauna and flora - 88 species
Invertebrates - 411 species
Terrestrial mammals - 18 species
Vascular plants - 212 species

Hedgehogs join "protection" list

House sparrow, cuckoo and starling now threatened species

Let's hope at the least the publicity of the new BAP will lead to appropriate protection and conservation measures.

Richard

[Wild-Woman]

What a sorry state of affairs.
If I could do one thing, and I've probably harped on about this before,I'd ban ALL insecticides from sale to the public. They are picked up willy-nilly in the local garden centres and used by untrained and unaware folk, who then lavish it all over the garden, killing all and sundry including our beautiful invertebrates that are endangered.
If you look at the line-up of poisons in them-it's shocking.

I think our Alan Titchmarsh needs to get a new gardening series going-'How not to tidy-up and poison your garden!'

Slug-pellet > slug/snail > Hedgehog > DEAD!

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

What a sorry state of affairs.
If I could do one thing, and I've probably harped on about this before,I'd ban ALL insecticides from sale to the public. They are picked up willy-nilly in the local garden centres and used by untrained and unaware folk, who then lavish it all over the garden, killing all and sundry including our beautiful invertebrates that are endangered.
If you look at the line-up of poisons in them-it's shocking.

I think our Alan Titchmarsh needs to get a new gardening series going-'How not to tidy-up and poison your garden!'

Slug-pellet > slug/snail > Hedgehog > DEAD!

I agree totally with your comments. I have never used chemicals on the garden in all the years of living here and it notices, compared to neighbouring gardens. Too many folk use it as the easy way rather than think about more environmental friendly ways to manage their gardens. That is only part of the situation though. I could go on but will leave it at that. Cheers

[galanthus]

It really annoys me that people don't look at the bigger picture, they sanitise their own little plots of garden with chemicals etc and have no thought for the consequences

I agree with wild-woman, we need a wildlife and garden loving famie to present a programme educating people into alternative ways of garden-keeping. Even better, encouraging people to give something back to the environment by allowing their gardens to be more natural and hence wildlife-friendly.

[jnb]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I think our Alan Titchmarsh needs to get a new gardening series going-'How not to tidy-up and poison your garden!'

To be fair in his more recent programmes he did advocate a more organic approach and Monty Don takes a thoroughly organic approach. I think a bigger problem is that as gardens get smaller and smaller people are less willing or able to leave an area aside for wildlife.

[peppermint]

The total disregard for natural wildlife habitats sicken me too, as well as people putting all manner of toxic products on their garden. Take the Gwent Levels for example, a SSSI, and a motorway is proposed to be built right through it! What is the point of designating these special sites if when they are needed to be built upon, their status goes right out of the window??
It has been proposed to combat one of the most conjested areas of the M4, but building more roads and destroying protected wildlife habitats is not the answer.
This is happening all over the country and from this is it easy to see why more and more species are becoming threatened.

[emmz]

I agree a sad state of affairs. Many want neatly trimmed and tidy to the uttmost, usually to keep up with the Jonses, as it os often said. That does not help in anyway either as they use various dangerous things, which kill off our wildlife

My garden isn't one of those, I prefer it left to grow and through this I have had innumerous wildlife breed n my garden, in which I can sitby and watch them.

I have a large bush, just outside my back door, which is so close it is unreal, & each year we do have a number of Blackbirds nesting and rearing their young. They come outside the bush sunbathe and shower. The small lemon conifer I have has repeated robins nesting in it, of which has been fantastic. The old english flower seeds planted have brought lots of different species along too.

Why cannot people see the beauty in a "natural" garden as I call it.

Something needs done, & I would say scrap those programmes, making the perfect gardens, as to me they are all cement and false items.

Sorry I am harping on, so off my soapbx i go

emmz

[jnb]

Originally Posted by emmz

Why cannot people see the beauty in a "natural" garden as I call it.

That depends what one means by a "natural" garden. Most garden spaces need quite intensive management simply because the space doesn't allow it to be treated as wilderness. Intensive pruning may not be natural but it will maximise fruit and flower and that will maximise wildlife. A concrete pond may not be natural but it can be a boon for wildlife.

[Urisk]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

What a sorry state of affairs.
If I could do one thing, and I've probably harped on about this before,I'd ban ALL insecticides from sale to the public. They are picked up willy-nilly in the local garden centres and used by untrained and unaware folk, who then lavish it all over the garden, killing all and sundry including our beautiful invertebrates that are endangered.
If you look at the line-up of poisons in them-it's shocking.

I think our Alan Titchmarsh needs to get a new gardening series going-'How not to tidy-up and poison your garden!'

Slug-pellet > slug/snail > Hedgehog > DEAD!

That's the problem there. People need to be made aware. Only then will they know to stop using inorganic pesticides, or at least limit them to levels that the environment can maybe sustain.




The article on Yahoo News suggests that it is "manicured gardens" that is the cause. Quite right, we should all have at least a little bit of "set-aside". Bring back the Gudeman's Croft!

[aestarte]

Originally Posted by galanthus

It really annoys me that people don't look at the bigger picture, they sanitise their own little plots of garden with chemicals etc and have no thought for the consequences

I agree with wild-woman, we need a wildlife and garden loving famie to present a programme educating people into alternative ways of garden-keeping. Even better, encouraging people to give something back to the environment by allowing their gardens to be more natural and hence wildlife-friendly.

I totally agree a famous person should show the general public how to look after thier gardens properly but the programme should be on mainstrem t.v not shoved on to bbc2 and it would be perfect too as the media is full of going green etc. There should be warnings on these chemicals. I wont go on but really do people not think.X X X X

[paulchandler6]

Another point is that its not just chemicals that are responsible. How many people have gone in for this so called low maintenance garden. I've seen so many gardens in my town that have now got all paved, gravelled or concrete front gardens. Also peoples back gardens are not much better. I appreciate that these days folk have busy lives and cant spend the time on their gardens, but it doesnt take that much effort if you are motivated enough to do it. Cheers

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

What a sorry state of affairs.
If I could do one thing, and I've probably harped on about this before,I'd ban ALL insecticides from sale to the public. They are picked up willy-nilly in the local garden centres and used by untrained and unaware folk, who then lavish it all over the garden, killing all and sundry including our beautiful invertebrates that are endangered.
If you look at the line-up of poisons in them-it's shocking.

I think our Alan Titchmarsh needs to get a new gardening series going-'How not to tidy-up and poison your garden!'

Slug-pellet > slug/snail > Hedgehog > DEAD!

Could not agree more! These pesticides are ridiculous and are now known a cause of parkinsons desease! So really don't pick them up unless you really know what your handling and don't ask the guy or gal at the counter because they are not going to have a clue!!! Do yourself and wild life a favour and go organic the true way. ponder on the four elements that nature provides to a natural enviroment 3p's And the 1R pollinators pests predators & the recyclers will make a perfect balance to the way the garden will LIVE.

[john4760]

Originally Posted by jnb

To be fair in his more recent programmes he did advocate a more organic approach and Monty Don takes a thoroughly organic approach. I think a bigger problem is that as gardens get smaller and smaller people are less willing or able to leave an area aside for wildlife.

Pity we couldnt ressurect geoff hamilton,he was the first to try the organic approach on tv,a great man.how small would you say small is?
John

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by peppermint

The total disregard for natural wildlife habitats sicken me too, as well as people putting all manner of toxic products on their garden. Take the Gwent Levels for example, a SSSI, and a motorway is proposed to be built right through it! What is the point of designating these special sites if when they are needed to be built upon, their status goes right out of the window??
It has been proposed to combat one of the most conjested areas of the M4, but building more roads and destroying protected wildlife habitats is not the answer.
This is happening all over the country and from this is it easy to see why more and more species are becoming threatened.

do you want to know my answer to that ( GET RID OF THE CAR )we are all ruled by traffic thats why all our wild ground is yoused up making roads,i know you are all going to say,that womans nuts,this is my own feelings on the matter there is much to much trafic on our roads and something has got to be done or there will be no wild life left for the children in the future,not only do they take all the land they poison the air that we and wildlife breath,and yes i am a smoker they have banned us here there and every where because we are killing people with our smoke,look at it this way shut yourself in a garage with 20 burning fags you will walk out,coughing of course then shut yourself in a garage with one car ticking over you wont come out it will kill you need i say more thats whats killing wild life we are (bring back the horse)

[Jez]

I find it funny why as i crank simply on 40 quid bike on my way home i i'm with all the cars on my run. Don't get it?

[jnb]

Originally Posted by john4760

Pity we couldnt ressurect geoff hamilton,he was the first to try the organic approach on tv,a great man.how small would you say small is?
John

How small is small? Well, when looking at houses recently there were plenty I saw where the garden was little more than a 20' courtyard (we didn't even consider them). By the time someone puts in 5' of patio to stand the dustbin on and a patch of grass for their sprog I can understand them thinking they have no space for a wildlife patch.