Does our wildlife have more than a future just on film?
|16:38 UK time, Friday, 2 July 2010
Guest blogger: Rebecca Bangay, nature enthusiast and web producer for BBC Nature.
Wild Night In recently reported on threatened species across the globe. So how are our more local creatures faring? Are we getting our house in order? Chris Packham highlighted how we can't complain about the destruction of the rainforests if we aren't sorting out our own backyard and helping British wildlife for us and future generations to enjoy.
Thankfully there is a whole body of enthusiasts and volunteers supporting scientists throughout the UK. Not all the projects are successful, but the fact that somebody somewhere - your grandma, your 12-year-old son or maybe you - are getting involved means that people do care and there is a chance that we can support and preserve our wildlife.
My young daughter is studying mini-beasts this term. I love seeing her interest and passion for bugs growing and blossoming with each fascinating discovery and emergence of a butterfly from its pupa. Just as Mike Dilger says in our video 'Going, going, gone', "I don't just want my Kids to see a harbour porpoise swimming off the coast of Britain, I want my kids' kids and their kids to see them too, and not on film, but in the wild."
'Going, going, gone' is the introductory film to a new collection launched on Wildlife Finder. We've included some UK species that are getting a helping hand. It's not just the cute mammals that need our help, although there are a few of those: Britain's most endangered mammal, the water vole, and one of my favourites, the adorable dormouse.
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Video: the water vole is Britain's fastest declining mammal
It might surprise some of you to know that one of the most loved and characteristic trees of the English countryside, the English elm, is also threatened. A fungus carried by elm bark beetles has wiped out 25 million elm trees over the last 30 years. Hardy trees that did survive are rare. And it might be that the fussy adonis blue butterfly might flutter by for the last time unless we maintain their favoured habitat.
Watch clips of these UK species and others from around the world in the Wildlife Finder collection before they fade away, and if it inspires you to give a helping hand Breathing Places can point you in the right direction.
Comment number 1.
At 16:23 7th Jul 2010, ann wrote:It would help our futures to actively reduce wildlife decimation on the roads (& curfewing cats as in Australia). Can councils with wildlife and bird reserves in their areas place GO SLOW signs for traffic - or cautions as with jumping deer signs - much needed for avoiding tragedies of hitting Pensthorpe Kestrels it seems. Any chance of a campaign?
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Comment number 2.
At 17:00 12th Jul 2010, Damsellefly wrote:Lack of Bees, Not enough Daisies?
I was sitting in the middle of a large expanse of lawn, watching an orange-tailed bumblebee trying to get nectar out of a sorry looking clover.
The grass is cut weekly using a large machine which seems to cut the grass way too short, too often. As a result, the earth is partly exposed, baked dry and most of the daisies, buttercups and clover that insects depend on don't grow back.
I am wondering if this is an issue for grassland all over. The lack of daisies. A field of daisies is a beautiful sight, as well as being vital for bees, butterflies and other insects,so it makes me feel sad when people feel the need to mow them down.
I am wondering if others could look into this and see if there could be a campagn. Don't mow the lawn so much, especially in hot whether.
I spend a lot of time outside and I have noticed the lack of butterflies and bees. The insects I do see seem like the bumble bee, desperately searching for nectar and it breaks my heart.
Plants like buddlier and daisies may seem like 'pests', but they are vital. So PLEASE don't chop them down!
Damsellefly.
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