Back from the Brink

BftB has come to fruition but vital conservation work continues up and down the country by all our project delivery partners, as well as @NaturAmByth in Wales and #SpeciesontheEdge in Scotland. A massive thank you to @HeritageFundUK all our funders, supporters and volunteers!

Please read; the most important piece I've written. Mass poisoning has suddenly killed off most sea life for 30 miles by the Tees. The govt claims it's natural; ind scientists warn it's manmade. The govt is desperate not to inquire too deeply as its freeport policy is at stake.

Now, of course, Laurence Fox has pivoted into ridiculous extremist rhetoric and so I’d like to take the opportunity to say that, despite being given an award by him, we do think he is an atrocious human being. Just a totally vile being.

Back in 2019 Back from the Brink was voted the Best Heritage Project in the National Lottery 25th Birthday awards. At the awards ceremony we were given a trophy by none other than Laurence Fox. At the time I think we thought, “oh yeah, the guy from The Hole”

@BethanStagg Have a look at our limestone grassland video - some lovely shorts from around 30 seconds in: youtube.com/watch?v=vlZNu1…

It's another video request! This time I'm looking for a few seconds footage of calcareous grassland in flower, to inspire secondary children about this wonderful habitat. Thanks everyone, have a good day

The new Shrill carder bee conservation strategy published today is developed through a collaborative process, led by a group of conservationists outlining the way forward to save the rarest #bumblebee in England & Wales. Supported by @NatureBftB ow.ly/QYCT50AwXCc @IUCNssc

Amazing news that one of our favourite Back from the Brink species has been found at a new site - it is hard to imagine that anyone with a heart, soul or brain could justify development at Swanscombe Marshes.

@kstandbridge1 @hannahrewilding @WaveneyCott @suffolkwildlife @Natures_Voice @RSPBArne @NaturalEngland @Buzz_dont_tweet @sarahhenshall @NatureBftB @RSPBPulborough I actually went along abs interviewed/joined in with those involved in the relocation. You can listen to it here podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep4…

... So if @AlexCarlTurner, @phoeb0 or @pgreenfielduk could just correct that then I'd be delighted 😊 As there's no shrew emoji (shameful!) I'll symbolise it with:🦔+🐁 5/5

...Obviously, this shouldn't change anyone's opinion on Scilly Shrew conservation - just because it's not a unique, endemic taxon doesn't mean we shouldn't safeguard its future - but I would like to stop the myth from spreading (we have enough endemic myths already)... 4/5

...The Scilly Shrew was once considered an endemic subspecies, Crocidura suaveolens cassiteridum, but this is no longer considered valid. Why is it called the Scilly Shrew then? Presumably because Scilly is the only site in England where this species is found... 3/5

...However, this article - theguardian.com/environment/20… - by @AlexCarlTurner, whilst being a great read, mistakenly states that the Scilly Shrew is an endemic species - it's not! The Scilly Shrew is just another name for the Lesser White-toothed Shrew, Crocidura suaveolens... 2/5

I read a great piece on rat eradication on Scilly; removal of rats from islands has hugely positive impacts on populations of native species, such as Manx Shearwaters and Puffins on Lundy (both of which I saw whilst searching for endemic Lundy Cabbage earlier this year)... 1/5

The Daily Moth 511. Eyed Hawk-moth has been on my mind this week, as I’ve been writing a feature about it for the Oct issue of The Countryman mag (@countrymaned). A fascinating moth, with much to divulge. Has anyone NOT caught one this year? #MothsMatter #MuchAdoAboutMothing

Great news for grasshoppers 🦗 We're reintroducing the rare #LargeMarshGrasshopper back to a #NationalNatureReserve in East Anglia with @CitizenZoo This is #NatureRecovery in action, thanks to habitat restoration and the work of volunteers. Read more: citizenzoo.org/2022/07/press-…

Well WOW! Even in spite of such severe drought, all of the plant reintroductions at this @Lancswildlife raised bog are doing so so well!! White Beak-sedge has spread massivley, Bog Asphodel is about to open its fluffy yellow flowers and the Wild Cranberries are nearly ripe! 😍🌱

This is the rarest endemic I have seen so far, and probably the rarest species that I have *ever* seen. There are only 30 (or so) individuals of this tree in the entire world, all within a stone’s-throw of the Menai Strait which separates Anglesey from the Welsh mainland.

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be shown the endemic Menai Strait Whitebeam (or Cerddin Menai) by the amazing @fossilplants

Here's my Species of the Month blog - Pheasant's-eye Adonis annua, an endangered arable plant, which we are lucky enough have growing in @MDSuperCluster due to specific management. @Gameandwildlife @wakehurst_kew @Love_plants @NatureBftB @BSBIbotany gwct.org.uk/wildlife/speci…

Really pleased to see ruderal workers & males foraging today in a farmers garden. We are working with Bainbridge farm & @NaturalEngland to bring them into higher tier. They have excellent wild flower plots & they will be doing even more for wildlife on their farm @BumblebeeTrust