Magnificent stag beetles Sadly, the incredible stag beetle is threatened across Europe. PTES has been working to save stag beetles for nearly 25 years. We’ve funded research, collected records through our Great Stag Hunt survey, and more recently, we have joined the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network. What is the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network? …

Spring is well underway and hedges across the countryside are rich with colours and sounds as blossoms emerge and wildlife awakens. This time of year provides a really great opportunity to start thinking about the diversity of flowering plant species across the hedgerows that we manage. Observing the hedges across a field, garden or park …

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 …

Rural populations continue to plummet, with the largest declines in eastern England Urban populations are stable, and may even be recovering thanks to community action Urgent action is now needed to try and bring hedgehogs back to the countryside Today, [Tuesday 22nd February 2022], a new report published by wildlife charities People’s Trust for Endangered …

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 …