Daisy Dobrijevic

Bird conservation is only going to work if these species have healthy habitats to live in. Can citizen scientists help gather vital information on habitat condition? This new study investigates➡️ https://lnkd.in/eiyAVnME #Ornithology UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) | JNCC

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Animal welfare updates you need to know ⤵️ 1. Wildlife welfare and planning reform We are continuing our work to get animal welfare considered in proposed planning reforms, with a current spotlight on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Working in coalition through Wildlife and Countryside Link, we have submitted our views in response to proposed amendments to the Bill. According to findings from our Animal Futures project, the public is particularly concerned about habitat loss due to development, while our Kindness Index further highlights public concern for wildlife, with 96% of people saying the RSPCA should protect wildlife in the countryside. 2. Sharing learnings about extreme conformation Our Companion Animals Department attended the International Society for Applied Ethology conference, sharing a poster presentation on our work to address extreme conformation in pets. The intentional breeding of dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals with exaggerated physical features can compromise their welfare. Over 600 delegates attended the conference in the Netherlands, so it was a great opportunity to raise awareness of this issue and plans for our work. 3. Great news for greyhounds The Welsh Government has published a draft Bill which aims to ban greyhound racing of all kinds in Wales. We very much welcome this Bill and will continue working with the Senedd and Welsh Government to ensure that it protects dogs' welfare as robustly as possible while also bringing in a ban as soon as possible.

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We are developing and piloting an approach for farmers and crofters to carry out biodiversity auditing and planning, using Farm Biodiversity Scotland, a mobile app and web platform. Farmers and crofters can map existing habitats and features across their whole farm or croft and this habitat map can be used for the Whole Farm Plan Biodiversity Audit. This summer we are also testing a simple standard approach for farmers and crofters to carry out a basic assessment of the condition of their habitats and features. We are looking for farmers and crofters to test how this works for certain habitats using Farm Biodiversity Scotland. All that is required is to complete some basic assessments and provide feedback. Habitat assessment types include arable land and margins, hedges, woodlands, various grasslands, peatland and uplands. As a thank you for participation, we will provide £100 to farmers and crofters who have completed their assessments and provided feedback. The testing is available from now until 26 September 2025. For further details see our website: https://orlo.uk/ATPWV Testing on the ground and feedback is essential – please help us! Any queries, please contact us at Farm.biodiversity@nature.scot.

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Biodiversity Net Gain is driving jobs, investment and nature recovery across England. "If developments up to and including 1 hectare are exempt from the BNG requirement, an area equivalent to the size of nearly 35,000 football pitches of extra developed land will not be required to deliver any mitigation for damage done to wildlife and habitats. " says our CEO, Craig Bennett. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eCiWNZyq

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The latest edition of In Practice is out now, focusing on careers in ecology and environmental management. Inside, you’ll find an editorial from CIEEM CEO Sally Hayns alongside expert insights on: 🔹Getting started in ecological consultancy 🔹Freelancing in ecology and environmental management 🔹Diversity, inclusion and apprenticeships 🔹Careers in marine ecology and species licensing 🔹The skills shaping the future of the profession Plus sector updates, CPD and mentoring opportunities, accreditation news, and forthcoming themes. Read the latest edition of CIEEM's In Practice magazine here: https://lnkd.in/erZg7J5D

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What do the changes to the Planning Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, mean for nature? We’ve been digging into the details… In March, the UK Government introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to accelerate development and economic growth. But across the conservation sector, along with thousands of supporters, we raised grave concerns about the destruction of current legal nature protections the draft Bill would enable. In July, substantial amendments to the Bill were tabled. Here are our key takeaways: 1) Exclusion of irreplaceable habitats from Environmental Development Plans (EDPs) is a vital step forward. This means places like ancient woodlands or limestone pavement that are impossible to recreate within a reasonable timeframe would not be destroyed. 2) A tougher ‘Overall Improvement Test’ for EDPs is a positive shift. An EDP would only proceed if the best available science shows the measures will “materially outweigh the negative effects” of the developments included within it, and result in nature being in a better state by the end than when it started. 3) Improved monitoring requirements will deliver better scientific oversight and if the benefits for nature fall short of what was included in the EDP, additional restoration measures must be put in place. These changes are all welcome, but risks do still remain. Firstly, we need to ensure these new key safeguards remain in place as the Bill continues to pass through Parliament. Secondly, there are elements of the Bill that must still be strengthened; plus safeguards must be included in secondary legislation, and in the accompanying guidance and policy, to ensure the new laws are correctly interpreted and applied. We will continue to push for a planning system that truly delivers the win-win for nature and development that the UK Government has promised. Full analysis: https://lnkd.in/ejMdpNGV #Nature #Planning #Conservation #EnvironmentalPolicy Image credit 📸 : Mark Williamson, RSPB Images

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📣 Geography in practice: fixing the foundations – a call for GIS standards in BNG Join our upcoming lunchtime webinar exploring the need for Geographical Information System (GIS) standards in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), with Dr Katie Dawson (Technical Director of EcoSpatial). 🌳 The introduction of BNG legislation in England marks a vital step toward ecological conservation. Yet, its success is hindered by inconsistent GIS data submissions and the absence of standardised requirements. GIS data is central to calculating biodiversity metrics, but common issues, such as inconsistent red line boundaries, unaccounted slopes, and poor data quality, can compromise assessment reliability. ✅ This webinar delves into the development of the FRIDAS® checklist, a practical framework for improving GIS data quality in BNG submissions. 🗓️ Tuesday, 9 September ⏰ 12.30pm - 1.30pm Book now 👉 https://ow.ly/5URp50WIgu7

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NEW: A study by the School of Archaeology's Dr Jane Kershaw reveals a Viking silver hoard found in North Yorkshire came not from raids, but from long-distance trade reaching deep into the Islamic world. The study used geochemical analysis to trace the origins of silver ingots and jewellery items from the Bedale hoard, discovered in 2012. Find out more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ehtxizQK

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🌾𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵/𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗵𝗮? 🌾 We were pleased to welcome The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire to Boxworth for a knowledge exchange afternoon, sharing insights from our Paludiculture Exploration Fund project. After growing typha at their Great Fen site, it was time to share the other half of the project - our container trials, designed 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗵𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Islam Abdel Aziz discussed typha’s physiology, seedhead production, pest pressures, and the knowledge gaps that still need addressing. These trials are helping us learn how to maximise seedhead yield for use in sustainable insulation materials—like Ponda’s eco-friendly puffer jackets. As a paludiculture crop, typha is grown on wet or rewetted peatlands with raised water levels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If typha cultivation can be made commercially viable, it could help deliver real climate benefits alongside new economic opportunities. #Paludiculture #TyphaTrials #SustainableMaterials #KnowledgeExchange #ADASNaturalSolutions Kat Evans

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At Orchard Farm in Somerset, Helen and David Boyer had Forestry Commission support for creating a small woodland of native trees and shrubs designed to: Enhance other conservation habitats already established in the area. Create a suitable breeding and winter-feeding habitat for a variety of bird species, notably tree sparrows. Create a public access woodland to be used by the community of Castle Cary and its surrounding villages. Produce a small amount of sustainable woodfuel for the farm's biomass boiler. Read more of the Boyers' story: https://lnkd.in/e-kvmkaV #WoodsForNature

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A recent study by the University of Oxford and Butterfly Conservation, funded by The Woodland Trust, has revealed that having more hedgerows and trees in farmed landscapes increased the numbers of butterflies found in the countryside. Butterflies are important indicators of wider biodiversity, meaning that conservation efforts aimed at supporting them are likely to benefit a wide array of other declining species. However, the researchers also surveyed farmers and found that, while many saw the benefits of having trees and hedgerows on their land, they were concerned about the costs and commitment needed to maintain them. In response, the researchers are now calling for better support for farmers and landowners to help them maintain such valuable natural assets. Vegetation datasets such as Bluesky’s National Hedgerow Map™ (NHM™) and National Tree Map™ (NTM™) are powerful tools that can significantly support environmental planning and conservation efforts. The NHM™ provides attributes such as location, height, volume, vegetation extent, and centreline for vegetation below 3 metres, making it an invaluable resource for identifying hedgerow gaps and guiding restoration projects. Whilst the NTM™ comprehensively maps trees 3 metres and taller, including data on tree height, location, and canopy or crown extent, making it perfect for identifying current trees and supporting tree planting initiatives. When combined, the NTM™ and NHM™ provide a data rich view of all vegetation, enabling more strategic and impactful environmental planning and conservation - all from the desktop. You can learn more about our range of geospatial products and how they can support your conservation and planning efforts here: https://lnkd.in/eEfvcY9w #treemapping #hedgerowmapping #vegetationdatasets #geospatialdata #farming #agriculturemanagement Woolpert Butterfly Conservation research: https://lnkd.in/egzmZQ-s

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