Press releases 2010
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Starnight on the Somerset Levels
(30 November 2010) Starnight at Shapwick is a fantastic opportunity to observe the night sky above the Somerset Levels on Sunday 12th December.
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Farmers invited to book onto free soils events
Throughout December farmers and land managers across the whole of the South West region are being invited to book their place onto one in a series of special events designed to help them make the most of their soils, part of the innovative Soils for Profit project.
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Enhanced training offering long-term benefits for farmers and the environment
(11 November 2010) It is now 5 years since the Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) scheme was introduced and a project aimed at farmers and land managers is currently helping to bring enhanced benefits from the scheme to both farm businesses and the natural environment.
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Farmers invited to book onto free event: “Making the most of your soils, manures & nutrients”
(1 November 2010) Farmers and land managers are being invited to book their place onto a special event on November 11th at Duchy College Home Farm, Stoke Climsland near Callington to help them make the most of their farm soils, manures and nutrients, part of the innovative Soils for Profit project.
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Skulls and skeletons on the Jurassic seashore
(18 October 2010) A ghoulish half term exploration for families is taking place on the Undercliffs National Nature Reserve at Lyme Regis on Tuesday 26th October from 2.00 - 4.00pm.
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Funding boost for local community green spaces in the South West
(12 October 2010) Grants for three new projects designed to encourage local communities to enjoy and improve the green spaces around them in the South West region has been announced today.
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Lanterns to light up East Dartmoor at night
(1 October 2010) A magical lantern walk will take place on Saturday 9th October through the woods at East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve.
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Annual grass cut on Goat Island completed successfully
(30 September 2010) Volunteers supported by Natural England staff recently carried out the annual grassland management of Goat Island, part of the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve (NNR).
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Upland farmers invited to book onto free funding ‘clinics’
(28 September 2010) Upland farmers and land managers on Exmoor are being invited to book onto ‘clinics’ at Blackmoor Gate Market on October 5th and Blue Ball Inn, Countisbury on October 7th to help them fill in the paperwork to access Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) funding.
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Kingsbridge Community Primary School is top of the class for wildlife
(24 September 2010)Kingsbridge Community Primary School in Devon has won the first-ever South West regional title of ‘Big Wildlife Garden - School Garden of the Year’ in a national competition.
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‘Tea-party’ to celebrate achievements of the Living River Project
(17 September 2010) Started four years ago and due for completion by the end of this year, the Living River Project will celebrate its achievements on October 4th with a special event in Wilton.
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Rare moths living the high life in Wiltshire’s protected tree-tops
(17 September 2010) Scientists have discovered some of England’s rarest moths living in the lofty canopies of protected woodlands at Langley Wood National Nature Reserve in Wiltshire.
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(14 September 2010) Over the summer, hundreds of visitors and locals alike thoroughly enjoyed the series of free events put on by Natural England on the Lizard National Nature Reserve.
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Experience life on a cliff edge
(7 September 2010) Bring the family to a special event on Sunday 19th September and find out what grows, crawls, walks or flies along the cliffs around Lyme Regis.
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Eavis to launch showcase of Somerset crafts at Shapwick Heath
(6 September 2010) Michael Eavis, founder and host of Glastonbury Festival, to open a new Somerset Craft Centre at Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve at 12:00pm on Saturday 11th September.
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Soils for Profit breaks the 700 barrier
(3 September 2010) Soils for Profit (S4P), a project helping farmers and landowners in Cornwall improve the management and use of their soils, nutrients and manures, recently celebrated its 700th on-farm advisory visit in the South West.
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'Extinct’ plant rediscovered on cliffs near Land’s End
(24 August 2010) The discovery of a plant thought to be extinct in England on cliffs near Land’s End has sent waves of excitement through the botanical community in both Cornwall and further afield.
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The Woodland Games Festival 2010 is coming to Lydiard Park
(23 August 2010) Blow away the ‘first day back at school blues’ and join The Great Western Community Forest team at Lydiard Park on Saturday 4th September for a great day out at the second annual Woodland Games Festival.
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Fifteen new areas to give protection to UK seas
(20 August 2010) Fifteen new Marine Protected Areas were created today, designed to protect important habitats and species.
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Thousands of historic monuments saved through Environmental Stewardship
(11 August 2010) Thousands of historic monuments at serious risk of damage are being protected through Environmental Stewardship according to a recent report.
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(11 August 2010) Join Natural England and the Urban Heaths Partnership on an Earthwalk, at Sandford Heath National Nature Reserve on Tuesday 17th August.
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(4 August 2010) Over 150 people spent the day exploring the history and wildlife of Hambledon Hill at a Natural England family fun day on Sunday 1st August.
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Upland farmers invited to book free one-to-one farm advice visit
(3 August 2010) Upland farmers and land managers on Dartmoor are being invited to book onto one of a limited number of one-to-one farm visits. These will equip them with the knowledge and confidence to enter into an Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) agreement.
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‘Indyarner Jones’ and the raiders of East Dartmoor
(2 August 2010) Young explorers headed to Yarner Wood at East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve on Thursday 29th July for an afternoon of adventures with ‘Indyarner Jones’.
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Let’s go wild Wednesdays get off to a flying start
(30 July 2010) On Wednesday 28th July over 60 children with their families joined Natural England for the first in a summer series of free activity days at Kennack Sands National Nature Reserve.
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New markers for Studland seagrass study
(29 July 2010) An American system, new to the UK, normally used for moorings is being used to replace the markers of an independent study to examine the impacts of recreational boat anchoring on seagrass in Studland Bay.
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Bat ‘flyways’ mapped in south Devon
(29 July 2010) A innovative project has gained an important insight into the flight paths taken by the Greater horseshoe bat, one of Britain’s rarest bat species.
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It’s a Cricket but not as we know it...
(22 July 2010) Have you heard a different noise this summer? If its sounds something like an electricity pylon discharging in damp weather then it is likely to be a Roesel’s Bush-cricket.
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Molding the past, shaping the future: Local school children got their hands dirty at art workshop
(22 July 2010) Pupils at Durweston Primary School near Blandford Forum worked with clay and other natural materials to produce an A to Z of Hambledon, which will be on display at a family fun day on Hambledon Hill National Nature Reserve on Sunday 1 August.
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Children invited to take part in an ‘Indyarner Jones’ adventure this summer
(21 July 2010) Calling all Natural Explorers! If you go down to the woods this summer you may very well find yourself in one of the Indyarner Jones adventures taking place on East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve during the holidays.
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‘Wild Orienteering’ challenge on Dartmoor
(19 July 2010) Natural England is inviting people to go ‘Wild Orienteering’ on Dartmoor
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(16 July 2010) Natural England is inviting people to come and discover Pewsey Downs National Nature Reserve on Sunday 25th July as part of London 2012 Open Weekend. This series of sporting, arts and cultural challenges set up across the UK will lead the nation into the two year countdown to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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(14 July 2010) Explore the history and wildlife of Hambledon Hill on Sunday 1st August at a Hambledon Horizons event, part of the Festival of British Archaeology.
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Farmers invited to attend Environmental Stewardship event
(13 July 2010) Farmers and land managers who are currently in an expiring environmental stewardship scheme together with those who have never been in a stewardship scheme and are considering doing so are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday 27th July at Turks Head Lodge near Honiton, Devon.
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Discover a National Nature Reserve on your doorstep
(12 July 2010) Natural England is challenging the public to get to know Stoborough Heath on July 25th as part of this year’s London 2012 Cultural Olympiad ‘Open Weekend’.
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Organic farmers invited to attend half day farm walk event
(7 July 2010) Farmers and land managers who currently have an Organic Entry Level Stewardship scheme (OELS) that is coming to an end in 2010 and 2011 are being invited to attend a half day farm walk on Wednesday July 20th at Trill Farm near Musbury in Devon.
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South West awarded over £700,000 in lottery funding for better Access to Nature
(6 July 2010) Four projects in the South West region have secured a significant share of the £5.8 million of new grants to develop community engagement with the natural environment nationwide.
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Farmers invited to attend Environmental Stewardship event
(25 June 2010)Farmers and land managers who have never been in an environmental stewardship scheme and are considering doing so or who are currently in an expiring ‘classic’ stewardship scheme are invited to attend a workshop on Thursday 8th July at the Sparkford Inn, Sparkford in Somerset.
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Big bugs and creepy crawlies at Yarner Wood
(16 June 2010) Natural England celebrates National Insect Week at East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve on Sunday 20th June with a day of mini beast safaris.
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Bumpy tractor rides and curious cattle
(15 June 2010) Locals and holiday makers alike enjoyed a sunny day down on the farm at the weekend, when they visited two Purbeck farms in Dorset as part of Open Farm Sunday.
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Record turnout at Open Farm Sunday event
(15 June 2010) More than 500 people came to get a taste of life on the land at Cherry Lodge Farm for Open Farm Sunday.
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Unusual butterflies spotted on the Isle of Purbeck
(8 June 2010)Multi-coloured butterflies were seen fluttering around Stoborough Heath National Nature Reserve over the half term. These were the creations of local children enjoying a Let’s Go Wild! event during their half-term holidays. Let’s Go Wild! is a Natural England run initiative helping children find out more about the wonderful creatures that can be found on nature reserves as well as in their very own back gardens.
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Farmyard friends and tractor trails at Cherry Lodge Farm
(2 June 2010) On Sunday 13th June, Cherry Lodge Farm on Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve in Shrewton, Wiltshire, will be opening its gates between 10.30am and 4pm for Open Farm Sunday 2010.
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Heritage, heifers and heathland: farming past and present on the Dorset Heaths
(1 June 2010) On Sunday 13th June, Middlebere and Hartlands Farms on the Purbeck peninsular in Dorset will be opening their gates between 11am and 4pm for Open Farm Sunday 2010.
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Studland seagrass research study seeks public co-operation
(28 May 2010) A voluntary no-anchor zone (VNAZ) is currently in place in a small bay in Dorset as part of a scientific study initiated by a local partnership group to examine the impacts of recreational boat anchoring on seagrass at Studland Bay.
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Hunt for heathland treasures this half term
(25 May 2010) Join Natural England for free Let’s go wild! activity days for children at Stoborough Heath National Nature Reserve during half term.
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New Environmental Stewardship options available to island farmers
(25 May 2010) New Environmental Stewardship options and supplements together with special capital works funding are now available for farmers on the Isles of Scilly it was announced today (May 25) by Natural England, the government's nature conservation agency.
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Sustainable Olympics encourages protection of biodiversity on the Jurassic Coast
(21 May 2010) Natural England funded projects in Weymouth are protecting biodiversity in the lead up to the first sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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Organic farmers invited to attend half day farm walk event
(20 May 2010) Farmers and land managers who currently have an Organic Entry Level Stewardship scheme (OELS) that is coming to an end in 2010 and 2011 are being invited to attend a half day farm walk on Wednesday May 26th at Coombe Farm near Crewkerne in South Somerset.
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Somerset Celebrates - good news for future development of the Avalon Marshes
(20 May 2010) Today (Thursday 20th May), the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has earmarked a first-round pass* of £1,867,900 - including £95,400 development funding - under its Landscape Partnership (LP) programme, for Natural England to progress its plans for the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership Project.
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Get utterly flutterly on International Biodiversity day
(18 May 2010) Next Saturday, 22nd May, is International Day for Biological Diversity, and to celebrate, Natural England invites you to join in a free, fun packed utterly flutterly day for all the family at East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve.
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New funding agreement for Exeter’s green spaces to benefit people and wildlife
(14 May 2010) A new funding arrangement is set to enhance some of Exeter’s most important natural green spaces. Approximately £250 000 has been secured by Exeter City Council which will be used to enhance and add value to the Exeter Valley Parks including Ludwell, Riverside and Mincinglake.
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The new Pewsey Avon Trail – a 28 mile journey along one of Wiltshire’s most beautiful rivers
(7 May 2010) The launch of a new long distance walking route, the Pewsey Avon Trail, will mean that it will now be possible to walk the whole of the River Avon valley from the Vale of Pewsey to the sea at Christchurch on two designated walking routes.
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Spring is in the air at Shapwick Heath
(30 April 2010) Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve this weekend (1st – 2nd May) launches its spring/summer programme for walkers, families and nature lovers, encouraging us all to get out and enjoy nature on our doorstep. Join in a Hobby Walk this May Bank Holiday and discover these dramatic birds of prey.
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Let’s go Wild for our Feathered Friends!
(30 April 2010) Join Natural England on Sunday 2nd May 2010 for a free celebration of our feathered friends at Yarner Wood on East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve.
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(30 April 2010) Let’s go wild! Join Natural England for a free day of activities for children at Kennack Sands National Nature Reserve investigating the amazing wildlife of the Lizard on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May 2010, 11am until 3 pm.
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England's coast path: The journey begins at Weymouth
(26 March 2010) • Natural England publishes methodology for developing all England coastal path
• Government approval of Coastal Access Scheme means implementation of route can now begin at Weymouth -
Wildlife needs willing volunteers
(22 March 2010) Dartmoor’s special landscape and rare wildlife needs looking after and many hands make light work. Natural England have teamed up with Teignbridge CVS Volunteer Centre to organise two volunteer days on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th March.
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Report reveals peatland carbon store under threat
(22 March 2010) A comprehensive review of the condition of England’s peatlands and the vital role they play in combating climate change was launched today (18 March).
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Wildlife Challenge: West of England's lost and threatened species
(12 March 2010) England’s natural landscapes are considerably poorer than they used to be, according to a report published today which reveals the country has lost 500 of its natural species in the last two centuries.
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Wildlife challenge: Devon and Cornwall’s lost and threatened species
(11 March 2010) The most complete audit of hundreds England’s wildlife reveals some of the winners and losers in Devon and Cornwall. Lost Life: England’s lost and threatened species identifies nearly 500 animals and plants that have become extinct in England – practically all within the last two centuries.
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(24 February 2010) The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Natural England welcomed the launch today (23 February) of the Fishing Coalition for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
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Teamwork to get rare Cornish butterfly back on track
(23 February 2010) The Grizzled Skipper is not an old salty sea captain, but a rare butterfly with only two known colonies in Cornwall. A partnership approach to save the Grizzled Skipper butterfly at St Dennis Junction next to Goss Moor National Nature Reserve in Mid Cornwall is currently underway.
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Events to help arable farmers manage habitats for farmland birds
(15 February 2010) Arable farmers in the Cotswolds, Dorset, and Wiltshire are being encouraged to attend one of a series of workshops taking place from the 1st to the 4th of March. These events will show farmers and landowners how they can deliver the best management on their land for arable birds and wildlife alongside their commercial farming practices.
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New funding for Trinity Hill common and nature reserve to benefit people and wildlife
(10 February 2010) New funding is set to enhance one of the county’s very special places, Trinity Hill common and nature reserve. Funds for the management of Trinity Hill, which lies within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty two miles from Axminster, are derived from a government ‘green farming’ scheme that encourages farmers and land managers to protect and restore some of the region’s most iconic landscapes.
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New environmental payments for upland farmers
(9 February 2010) A new payment for hill farmers working in the English uplands was launched today (9th February) by Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies. The Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) succeeds the Hill Farm Allowance and is designed to support and reward farmers in looking after some of England’s most iconic upland landscapes including Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor.
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Restoration of Ravensgate Common to benefit local people and wildlife
(2 February 2010) The completion of restoration work on Ravensgate Common will allow many to once again enjoy a truly spectacular part of Gloucestershire. The common known locally as Wistley Hill, is a unique area of grassland lying within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty nationally important for its wildflowers, butterflies and ancient woodland habitat.
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Unlocking the Potential of Our Natural Health Service
(28 January 2010) Dorset’s natural environment has it all, from sea to sand, heath to woodland, rivers to rolling hills. These landscapes hold the key to a healthy lifestyle and the 2012 Olympics is the ideal portal to develop a healthy living legacy for the people who live here or visit them.
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Farm events to demonstrate benefits of improved scheme
(25 January 2010) A series of events on farms across Somerset this February are aiming to demonstrate to farmers and land managers what the Entry Level Environmental Stewardship scheme has to offer.
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(18 January 2010) A series of open meetings to consult on proposals for two new marine protected area off the south Devon and Dorset coast will be held shortly.
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Walking for Health gathers in numbers
(14 January 2010) On Thursday 14th January, Natural England with partners Cornwall and Isles of Scilly’s Primary Care Trust’s Mobilise! and Devon County Council’s Travelwise, are bringing volunteer walk leaders from across Devon and Cornwall to Plymouth for an event in recognition of their inspirational work.
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Lundy becomes England’s first Marine Conservation Zone
(12 January 2010) The waters around Lundy Island off the North Devon coast have today (January 12) become England’s first Marine Conservation Zone. This is a direct result of last year’s Marine & Coastal Access Act which aims to protect England’s most important marine habitats and species.
