Scientists from the Meteorological Office use radar data to track approaching storms and changing weather patterns.   The radar works by sending out pulses of microwaves, these bounce off rain drops and other particles in the air.  The time that it takes for this signal to return, plus its intensity gives information about the approaching weather. Early radar [during the Second World War] also picked the movement of ‘angels’. These ‘angels’ were later recognised as the movement of birds, bats and insects.  Scientists then had to develop techniques to remove this ‘biological scatter / material’, so that they could accurately predict storms etc. By removing this ‘biological component’ of the signal, a lot of biological information about the movement of birds, bats and insects was being ‘discarded’.   Now, scientists from the University of Leeds have ‘repurposed’ the radar data (from many radar stations, which scan the skies many times each day & night) but this time they remove the data relating to the weather.  This leaves information about the insects moving at a height of some 500 / 700 metres above the ground.  The results showed that some 11.2 trillion insects are moving during the day, and that this reduces to some five trillion at night.   Some of these insects are actively flying, but some are being carried by the wind  / thermals.  Furthermore, there were more insects above areas such as woodlands, grasslands and even urban areas.  However, the numbers were lower over intensively farmed areas, where plant biodiversity was reduced as compared to woodland or natural grassland.  The numbers were also lower where artificial lighting was high.   Other work by the CEH, Newcastle University and Butterfly Conservation, has involved surveys of grassland and hedgerows in southern England (Thames Valley) some of which were lit by streetlamp, others were unlit. The areas that were exposed to night time lights had roughly half the number of caterpillars as compared to the unlit areas.   In another study, LED lighting was set up in fields, and caterpillars' numbers in these illuminated fields were reduced.  The lighting may :- [caption id="attachment_40185" align="alignleft" width="300"] Cinnabar moth caterpillar.[/caption]   Deter nocturnal moths from egg laying. Make the night flying moths ‘easier targets’ for predators (such as bats). Affect the feeding habits of moth caterpillars. Whilst it would seem that night time light affects insects and the feeding behaviour of caterpillars,  quite how and why is yet to be determined.

When we applied for permission to build a solar farm in West Sussex the planners initially worried about the impact on wildlife and insisted that we do surveys of the bats and newts, but in practice the solar panels, now installed there, have created a haven for wildlife.   Several surprising facts struck me as I walked amongst the PV panels: Read more...

Several woodland owners have put solar panels in clearings or next to their woodlands and they wonder what effect these man-made structures have on nature.  There is also general discussion as to whether open field solar arrays (or solar parks) are good or bad for wildlife.  Of course, in the big scheme of things - renewable energy is certainly good for the wider environment to the extent that it reduces carbon emissions by substituting green energy for fossil-fuel-based electricity. It now seems that many of the earlier fears about the impact of solar panels were unfounded. Read more...

There are some rare but beautiful woodlands around the coast of Britain nick-named the "temperate rainforest".  Yesterday, I visited one of these woodlands in North Wales and was mesmerised by it - ancient oaks and birch which had little timber value but immense ecological value - trees covered in different mosses, a carpet of soft and varied bilberries and ferns.  The wood had a damp and humid feel that encouraged liverworts, lichen and fungus and there was no obvious trace of human intervention - it felt just right for dinosaurs! Apparently these woods have evolved as a result of the Gulf Stream that keeps the area warm but also wet: this creates woodlands quite unlike any others in Britain.  From the top of this woodland you can see the sea.  Temperate rainforest woods like this must once have covered the Atlantic fringe of Western Europe from North West Scotland all the way round to the South of Portugal - they are rich in biodiversity and some species here are not found anywhere else in the world.  Bats love these woods, especially the greater and lesser horseshoe bats which enjoy the rich food source of invertebrates that thrive here. So the challenge for the owner is how to protect and manage these rare woodlands but it's not just a case of leaving them alone.  In the case of this particular woodland the plan is to graze it in the winter to protect the mosses, bryophytes and lichens and to ensure that natural regeneration takes place.  If the woodland isn't grazed the bramble and holly will create impenetrable conditions which will shade out the bryophytes and lichens as well as discourage birch and oak seedlings from emerging.  Even so, the intensity of grazing is important and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) suggests one sheep per hectare for the winter months.  Alternatively ponies can be used for such grazing but they need more management and attention than sheep. The damp and humid conditions are helped by the streams and waterfalls of these woods and the abundance of small plants means that there is constant evaporation.  In fact it is probably the difficult access and rugged terrain which has preserved these woodlands for so long - historically they were not suitable for agriculture or industrial forestry and so never got converted from their ancient state which goes back to the last ice age.  The sessile oaks are very important for wildlife but not very productive of good timber so they have often been left to grow quite mature.  Similarly the Birch trees have relatively low timber value which has been their salvation.   [caption id="attachment_20968" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Asymmetric distribution of moss on birch[/caption]  

There is a considerable number of different surveys running throughout the country, some of which might hold a particular interest for you.  Many 'natural history' organisations / charities are dependent on the input from volunteers to monitor the status of plant and animal populations throughout the UK or specific local areas - especially in these financially difficult times. Read more...

The Bat Conservation Trust has put chiropterology (that’s the study of bats) on the map with its new interactive, web-based database of bat activity.   It is encouraging everyone to record their sightings of bats – wherever they might be:  woodland, park, or even in your back garden. Read more...

Traditionally woodland was kept “clean” by clearing away fallen timber. However, nowadays it is recognised that deadwood has an important part to play in forest management. Deadwood was removed to prevent the transfer of disease and pests – a mistaken belief as it happens, for almost all species which inhabit deadwood are specific to that habitat (“saproxylic”) and will not inhabit living wood. Now deadwood is recognised as an essential part of the forest ecosystem. Read more...

Good news for bats in the run up to Halloween.  The Bat Conservation Trust has won funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund for a 4-year programme of conservation activities.  Read more...