CAP reforms: a missed opportunity for farming and wildlife in Devon

Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) believes the Common Agricultural Policy reforms announced today are a missed opportunity to help secure a brighter future for the county's rich environment. The charity, which has 33,000 members and manages 45 nature reserves, has concerns that the EU farming reforms will reduce funding for vital agri-environment schemes. These reductions will have direct impacts on the future health of our countryside and also the farming community, with whom DWT works in partnerships across the county. D.W.T. believes that landowners are inadequately rewarded for the critical role they play in producing food and maintaining a healthy wildlife-rich environment. This includes providing clean water supplies, clean air and productive soils. Harry Barton, Devon Wildlife Trust's new Chief Executive said: "This is the best opportunity in a decade to make CAP work better for farmers and wildlife. Pressures on our natural environment are growing ever greater as land is built upon and demand for cheap food grows. These reforms do not go anywhere near far enough. Politicians in the UK and Europe need to have the courage and conviction to bring forward a package of measures that will have a real, meaningful and long lasting impact for the natural environment on which will all depend." "Through our Working Wetlands project in the north of the county our farming and wildlife advisors have carried out more than 1,000 farm visits and helped secure over 2,300 hectares of wildlife rich grasslands in optimum condition. From this experience we know the crucial role agri-environmental schemes play in both sustaining farmers' way of life, as well as our life support systems. But the proposed reforms threaten the protection that these grasslands have been given, and risk undoing years of hard won gains for rare wildlife. " The charity will campaign along with the other Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK over the coming months to feed in to the consultation process which is due to end
next year. (Photo: Harry Barton, Devon Wildlife Trust's new Chief Executive)

Hand in Hand. Kivu the Gorilla and Dartington Crystal

Keeper at Paignton Zoo

A unique piece of gorilla art was recently auctioned by Paignton Zoo to raise money for international ape conservation. The Zoo, a registered charity, was selling a glass cast of the imprint of a gorilla hand. The impression was taken from the right hand of eight year old male lowland gorilla Kivu when the Zoo’s vet team performed a bone marrow biopsy on him recently. Modelling clay was used to take the impression while Kivu was under anaesthetic. A plaster cast was made from this by Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust reserves warden Dave Ellacott. The hand print was then created in glass by craftsmen at North Devon’s very own Dartington Crystal. This is an extra ordinarily beautiful object, wonderful and precious, like gorillas themselves. The auction presented a rare opportunity to own a piece of art that has a direct connection with one of the most amazing species on the planet. Gorillas are closely related to humans but are becoming increasingly rare. Every penny raised from the auction will help in the battle against extinction. Sue French from Dartington Crystal said: “We were delighted to help with this very special project. It was a real challenge for us at Dartington Crystal as it's not every day that you get to cast the hand of a gorilla and raise money for such a cause. Visitors were so interested when the casting took place that we decided to do a replica of Kivu's hand to put on display in our Visitor Centre". The piece, engraved with Kivu’s name and the year 2011, is nearly 30 centimetres long and about 20 centimetres wide. It weighs 2.54 kilos. The cast was made by Dartington Crystal master craftsman Paul Sullivan. Dartington Crystal can help you capture YOUR unique moment in time... A glass hand or foot cast makes the perfect keepsake or a special gift to parents and family. Click here for further details on Hand Cast Gifts & Gift Vouchers.See how it's done watch the movie demonstration below:

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is supporting the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ape Campaign 2010, which aims to raise one million Euros for global ape conservation. The Zoo is hoping to donate £10,000. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk

Local landowners and volunteers set sights on lookering course

Local landowners and volunteers set sights on lookering course Devon Wildlife Trust's (DWT) Working Wetlands Project is holding a 'Lookering' course this month to help the charity get more wildlife-rich land under good management. 'Lookering' is a familiar term to farmers, describing a set of important activities associated with looking after stock. With the decline in livestock farming and fewer people to manage them, much Culm Grassland is scrubbing up and being invaded by fast-growing willow, bramble and gorse. The project's priority is to reinstate management on neglected Culm Grassland sites within three target areas of the Culm Measures, especially those which have been managed by stock grazing in the past. Many people who now own Culm Grassland don't have their own stock, so a course has been set up to try and help people learn more about looking after Dartmoor ponies. By casting a daily eye over the grazing stock and reporting back if there are any problems, lookerers can really help landowners and the Wildlife Trust whilst also getting to know local wildlife. The course is being held on Wednesday 28 September 2011 near Tedburn St Mary. Trainees will learn how ponies graze, signs of good health and normal behaviour along with health & safety issues and the legalities affecting landowners. DWT's Working Wetlands Project Coordinator, Mark Elliot said: "With the complications surrounding cattle movements, we are increasingly turning to ponies to manage some of our best wildlife sites. In many ways they are perfectly suited for the rough grasslands where encroaching scrub like gorse and willow can be a real problem. Wild ponies can tackle these problems brilliantly and so we are keen to develop a network of people able to keep an eye on their welfare". For more information about the course and to book a place, contact Working Wetlands on 01409 221823 by Monday 26 September 2011. Working Wetlands is a seven year landscape scale project and this is just one of many initiatives being undertaken by the scheme across 65,000 hectares of the Culm Natural Area. It has been supported by South West Water, Tubney Charitable Trust, The Environment Agency, Devon County Council, Devon Waste Management and Natural England.

Moving ponies on the site - Photo  Copyright DWT