News

House building efforts in the UK are a constant source of contention. Too many? Too few? Whatever the case, it’s undeniable that development all too often affects our wildlife and the dwindling habitats they rely on to survive. Many of our species in our nature-depleted country are impacted by infrastructure projects. Yet there are measures …

Peat extraction is devastating for biodiversity and the climate If you have ever owned a house plant or planted something in a garden, it was almost certainly grown in a peat-based product. Despite understanding for decades the damage that peat extraction is doing to both biodiversity and the climate, industry-led voluntary efforts have failed to …

An encounter with a dormouse During a recent trip to one of our Nottinghamshire dormouse woodlands I happened to stumble upon another wild dormouse nest. It was hidden amongst a patch of bramble and rose scrub that was winding its way up a hawthorn tree, on the edge of a young coppice compartment. The nest …

If you own a woodland or you visit one regularly, please keep a particular eye out for stag beetles on warm sunny evenings from the end of May to the end of July. You can tell us about any sightings via our Great Stag Hunt survey. Stag beetles and woodland habitats Stag beetles are one …

The recent drought in Kenya is one of the worst in memory, with failed rainy seasons in three consecutive years. Our colleague Ali and his team have been working tirelessly to save as many animals as possible. Ali recently sent us an update, including news that the rains have at last arrived. However, there’s been …

Human activities can influence animals in different ways. Some animal species can adapt to new environments by changing their behavior. Others don’t show such flexibility and aren’t as successful at adapting. The type of human activity which animals are exposed to is one of the main factors determining their behavioral responses. Tracking giant otters in …

We were shocked when Typhoon Rai (known locally as Odette) hit large parts of the southeastern islands of the Philippines last December. Coastal areas were ripped to shreds, and hundreds of people were killed, including several on Dinagat Island located on the south-eastern part of Philippines. PTES project leader Jay Fidelino has been waiting for …

Winter is a great time to assess the health of your hedges. Without their leaves, it’s easier to see the structures and little indicators that it might need a change. Winter is also a great time for hedge management, both hedgerow trimming and larger scale rejuvenation such as laying or coppicing. Winter hedgerow management Cutting …

Open NGO letter responding to proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). 28th January 2022 Dear JNCC, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and NatureScot, Re: 7th Quinquennial Review (QQR) of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) We are writing this open letter in response …

Our Rough Hill orchard Rough Hill is a traditional apple orchard on the banks of the river Avon in Worcestershire. People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) has owned it since 2003, when we decided to save it from neglect and hoped to discover the noble chafer beetle there (PTES had recently become the lead partner …

Consequences of deforestation and mining Deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest our Conservation Partner, Adi Barocas, is busy trying to understand how gold mining is impacting one of the jungle’s largest predators: the giant otter, or river wolf (‘lobos de rio’), as they are known locally. Artisanal small-scale mining, informal digging often carried …

Many animals exhibit similar patterns of behaviour throughout the year, whilst others dramatically change theirs with the changing seasons. Hazel dormice, which are usually reluctant to come to the ground during their active season, make a beeline for the forest floor when it’s time to hibernate. Searching for nests Those of us lucky to monitor …