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Fungi Walk and Talk – Coalface to Wildspace

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Come along for a free Fungi Walk and Talk led by Lukas Large from the West Midlands Fungus Group at Park Lime Pits LNR on Saturday the 12th of October at 10:30am.

 

We will search for fantastic fungi in this wonderful woodland and see our spectacular new Speaking Sculpture. The walk is expected to last from 1.5 to 2 hours, but you can join us for as long or as little as you like.

 

We will be meeting in the car park to the park before the start of the walk. The car park is at the end of park road, WS9 0LF.

 

This Fungi Walk and Talk is entirely free to attend and open to everyone. If you would like to join, please sign up via Eventbrite or contact Christina at christina.nijjar@froglife.org or 07949 799515 to let us know you are coming.

 

This event forms part of the Speaking Sculptures Celebration Festival series of activities to celebrate nature and wildlife. The sculptures have been created by local people and installed in 8 greenspaces across Walsall as part of the Coalface to Wildspace Midlands project, made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Global Wellness Day

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Written by Eve Goddard, Transforming Lives Trainee

8th June is Global Wellness Day. Its purpose is to ask the question, even if for just one day, “How can I live a healthier and better life?” Since it began in Turkey in 2012, GWD has grown and in 2023 tens of thousands of events took place globally encouraging millions of people to take part in and help celebrate the day.

The theme for the 2024 Global Wellness Day is #MagentaNature and centers around four pillars of the #MagentaNature philosophy:

  1. Eat Natural
    Immerse yourself in the nourishing embrace of natural foods. Let your senses revel in the vibrant colors and flavors that the Earth graciously offers.
    Make every meal a celebration of the diverse, wholesome gifts nature provides.
  2. Be in Nature
    Step into the enchanting realm of the outdoors. Whether it’s a majestic forest, a serene park, or a quiet corner of your garden, allow yourself to be surrounded by the living tapestry of nature. Let the sun kiss your skin, breathe in the crisp air, and let the symphony of nature’s sounds
    become the backdrop to your daily life.
  3. Protect Nature
    Become a guardian of the environment. Take conscious steps to reduce your ecological footprint. Embrace sustainable practices, recycle, and contribute to the well-being of the planet. By protecting nature, you preserve the sanctity of our shared home for generations to come.
  4. Be in Nature (Spiritual)
    Engage in spiritual practices that foster a deep connection with the natural world. Whether through meditation, mindful contemplation, or simply taking moments of stillness in a natural setting, allow your spirit to intertwine with the essence of the Earth. Recognize that you are not separate from nature but an integral part of its grand tapestry.

This sounds like a great initiative to us, we at Froglife are busy protecting our reptiles and amphibians and their habitats and encourage others to do the same. Across the country, we continue engaging all walks of life with the natural world through such projects as the Transforming Lives: Froglife Trainees, and Green Pathways for Life

We support great locations like our Boardwalks and Eye Nature Reserves in Peterborough, these give the public an opportunity to be in nature, both physically and spiritually.

Boardwalks Nature Reserve
Eye Green Nature Reserve

So, this Global Wellness Day, is there anything you could do to? Could you prepare a seasonal meal? Could you encourage a friend to enjoy the outdoors with you? Could you create a wildlife pond- a place for nature and for quiet contemplation? Our Pond Visualiser App could help you take those first steps.

“Don’t deregulate, designate” – say nature charities calling for bigger and better protected sites for wildlife.

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In its response to Government plans to restore nature (the Nature Recovery Green Paper), Wildlife and Countryside Link praised some proposed improvements to the legal rules for nature conservation, including new strategies for improving important wildlife sites, new sites for nature’s recovery, and more adaptability to respond to climate change.

However, the coalition of 65 charities, including Froglife, has warned that all of the positives could be outweighed by risks if the Government presses ahead with proposals to re-write the rulebook for protecting habitats and species, which was established in the EU, but originally conceived in the UK.



Nature groups say that the Government’s Green Paper is wrong to suggest that the Habitats Regulations are too focused on legal process. Assessments of harm to nature under the Regulations are the last and best line of defence for many of the UK’s most valuable habitats against damaging development and unsustainable land use. Stripping away legal accountability and case law would increase costs, create legal uncertainty, and expose many of our finest wildlife sites to greater harm.

The environmental group is also calling for more important habitats such as ancient woodlands and meadows to be designated as protected nature sites, and for such sites to be given stronger protection.


Dr Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:

“The way we protect wildlife can certainly be improved. We are pleased to see proposals for statutory strategies to manage wildlife sites better and to make them more flexible in the face of climate change. The idea of protecting degraded habitats to allow nature to recover is excellent. The Government should press ahead in delivering these changes.

“But these positives would be outweighed by the damage that could be done if the Government were to weaken the Habitats Regulations. These rules are not just added red tape standing in the way of good decision-making, as the Government seems to suggest. They are critical laws for nature, providing certainty for businesses, and essential legal protection for communities and wildlife. The idea of simplifying the rules and stripping away case law for a “blank slate” may sound attractive from a business point of view, but it is a false promise that would likely lead to increased costs and uncertainty.

“If the Government is serious about ensuring that protected sites play their part in halting nature’s decline, the conclusion is clear. The Government should designate, not deregulate. It should protect more places for nature, strengthen their legal defences, and invest in better management to revive the 60% of sites that aren’t in good condition.”



Wildlife and Countryside Link’s main asks of the Nature Recovery Green Paper:

  1. More protected nature sites, that have greater protection, with a faster process for completing the protected site network.
  2. Retaining and extending site protection rules, including Habitats Regulations Assessment, to defend protected sites from a wider range of damaging projects and activities.
  3. Ministerial designation of Sites of Special Scientific Interest could help protect more sites, but must only be in addition to the legal duty to designate sites of scientific importance.
  4. The objective of achieving Favourable Conservation Status should be established in law as a guiding principle for species and habitat conservation.
  5. Setting nature’s recovery and climate targets as statutory purposes for all existing public bodies, including the Forestry Commission, RPA and MMO.
  6. To contribute towards the target of protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, areas must be protected and well-managed for nature. There should be a new Nature recovery planning designation, with areas identified through Local Nature Recovery Strategies.

 

You can read the full response here. 

Just Add Water to Help Wildlife Thrive!

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Froglife completed work on a new pond in Frome, Somerset, in collaboration with Frome Town Council in February this year. After just two months the pond is already brimming with life!

Froglife is a UK wildlife conservation charity focusing on the protection of reptiles and amphibians and the habitats they rely on. The charity’s “Green Pathways for Life” project provides opportunities for people living with dementia and their carers to get active and connect with nature conservation, to boost wellbeing and help local wildlife. The new pond was created over several weeks, with Froglife’s dementia groups taking an active role from initial planning to final planting up with native water plants.

Now the pond is established, the groups have been monitoring the wildlife species moving into the pond. The first survey, just two months after the pond was created, found the species count shot up from zero to more than ten – including frog tadpoles, fly larvae, water snails, pond skaters and other invertebrates.

Froglife’s Somerset Project Officer Zak says “although the flora and fauna are still developing in this new pond it’s amazing to see how quickly aquatic life can flourish when we provide the right habitat. We’ve already found this rich community of species, which in turn will benefit all kinds of wildlife in the surrounding area. It’s also a fantastic learning resource for local residents from school kids to our groups for people living with dementia, who regularly use and look after the site. A real win-win for wildlife and people!”

Unfortunately the UK lost 50% of its ponds in the 20th century and 80% of those remaining are in a poor condition. Many of our iconic wildlife species are in decline, including frogs and toads. Froglife research in 2016 found that common toads have declined by almost 70% in the last 30 years.

With Amphibian Week from 1st-7th May, it’s never been a better time to join Froglife’s Just Add Water campaign by creating your own pond! If space is tight a small container pond can be a huge boost for wildlife including amphibians, even in heavily urban environments. Why not give it a go with our free guide? https://www.froglife.org/info-advice/just-add-water/

Somerset Green Pathways for Life is funded by Somerset County Council, Frome Town Council, The Florence Cohen Charitable Trust, The Nineveh Trust, The Hospital Saturday Fund, Somerset Community Foundation, and Anne Jones.

Zero Hour

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It’s time to act for climate and nature! 

Zero Hour is the campaign group behind the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, or ‘CEE Bill’. The CEE Bill was first developed with members of the successful ‘Big Ask’ campaign (a Friends of the Earth initiative which led to the Climate Change Act 2008), Power for People and with contributions from eminent scientists, academics and lawyers. The campaign for the CEE Bill launched in August 2020, with its introduction to Parliament in September 2020. The updated CEE Bill was introduced in Parliament in June 2021.

The CEE Bill has received backing from a wide range of supporters, including Froglife, and from different fields including Ben Fogle, Kumi Naidoo (Director, Greenpeace International, 2009-16); musician, Thom Yorke; environmentalist, Bill McKibben; Volans co-founder, John Elkington and actor-playwright Sir Mark Rylance. For a full list of supporters, you can head to Zero Hour’s Allies and Supporters page. 

What can you do? 

Time is running out for climate and nature and we need to get the Climate and Ecological Emergency bill through in a fraction of that time, so it’s time for MPs, councils, organisations and individuals to step up! The more support, the more pressure there will be on the government to take the Bill into law. And for that to happen we need as many campaigners, both as individuals and organisations to declare their support for the CEE Bill. 

Declare your support here. 

Find more information on the Zero Hour campaign here. 

Artists inspired by Scotland’s messages to COP26

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A set of nine artworks depict why the people of Scotland care about the climate and nature emergency. This is part of a climate change campaign that has gathered support from people around Scotland to send a message to leaders attending COP26 in Glasgow.

Climate Scotland has collected over 7,000 voices from across the nation, to show that the people of Scotland want meaningful action to protect the things they love, and create a better future for people everywhere. 

Nine new mural artworks have been created to depict the messages of the people of Scotland gathered so far, and are on display at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens during COP26. 

Ida Henrich with her mural responding to Health and Wellbeing

The UN climate summit COP26 is a major opportunity to re-energise efforts to tackle the climate emergency. 

Through this campaign, everyone in Scotland has the opportunity to show how much they care about the climate and nature emergencies. The messages gathered online have been shared in the COP26 Green Zone and at the Scottish Government space at The Lighthouse, Glasgow.

Individuals visiting the Climate Scotland website are able to add their voice to the campaign by selecting a theme that is most relevant to them or by writing their own reason. The themes cover a broad range of perspectives, which are depicted in the artwork:

  • Flourishing communities 
  • Future generations
  • Greener, fairer livelihoods
  • Wildlife and nature
  • Sustainable food systems 
  • Protecting the world’s resources
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Beautiful places
  • Solidarity with global neighbours.

Ida Henrich, a freelance illustrator and mural artist based in Glasgow, said: 

“Alongside Kaitlin Mechan and Indrė Šimkutė, I am thrilled to have created these artworks for Climate Scotland. I believe that murals start conversations, and chats about topics we care about, often reveal that other people also care. I’m proud of the artworks we have created and can’t wait to share them with the public.” 

Indrė Šimkutė with her artwork that represents ‘Wildlife and Nature’

Over 40 non-profit organisations, including WWF Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Christian Aid Scotland and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), have come together to create the Climate Scotland campaign.

Anna Fowlie, chief executive at SCVO, said: 

“Thousands of Scots have spoken out about why climate change matters to them. They recognise that strong action is essential for Scotland’s nature, our health and wellbeing, and for future generations. SCVO is proud to be part of Climate Scotland, showcasing these messages in Glasgow during COP26 and demanding climate justice now.”

Aedán Smith, Head of Policy and Advocacy RSPB Scotland, said:

“1 in 9 species in Scotland is at risk of extinction. We must address this by protecting and restoring nature, increasing access to nature for everyone and making decisions that support nature, our climate and people. The Climate Scotland campaign is a way for people in Scotland to show how much they care about these things.” 

Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Christian Aid Scotland, said:

“The Climate Scotland campaign is a fantastic opportunity for people in Scotland to show leaders and decision-makers that they care about our global neighbours. We stand together against the climate crisis, raising our voice as one to create lasting change and to ensure that communities are equipped to adapt and respond to the impacts of climate change.”

To add your voice to the campaign, visit climatescotland.org.