Page 2 - Wildlife News April 2017

Nature reserve & project

As the Government XFORD Roy McDonald’s photo of a girl playing
plans our exit from FESTIVAL OF peek-a-boo won the My Wild Life
the EU, BBOWT’s role
as a voice for nature NATURE category in last year’s competition.
has never been
more important. Wildlife in focus
Through the Greener They say a picture paints a thousand this time include a pair of high end Nature
UK coalition all of the Wildlife Trusts words, but have you got what it takes to DX binoculars from Celestron.
have come together with other be a wildlife photographer? Your Wildlife
conservation charities to make the Trust is calling on all nature lovers to get A selection of entries received by May
case for a Britain that’s richer in out their cameras and enter our Wildlife will be displayed at the Wild Fair, held at
wildlife. You can read more about this Photography Competition. This is your the Oxford University Museum of Natural
on page 12. chance to show off your skills by capturing History on Saturday 3 June. The Wild Fair,
I am heartened to read the raw beauty of nature. a wildlife extravaganza, with everything
encouraging statements on the from creepy crawlies to live crocodiles,
environment, food and farming in The competition, now in its third year, wildlife stalls to family workshops, is the
the Government’s recently published welcomes photos of wildlife, natural scenes highlight of the two-week Oxford Festival
White Paper, The United Kingdom’s Exit or habitats within categories including My of Nature.
from and New Partnerships with the EU. Wild Life: people in their favourite spots;
For example: ‘Leaving the EU offers the Wild Places: beautiful scenery; and Wildlife: The Festival gets bigger – and wilder
UK a significant opportunity to design… magnificent wildlife. There’s a category – every year, with a packed programme
policies for delivering sustainable and for Under 18s and you don’t even need a of events to help you get closer to nature.
productive farming, land management camera to take part, with a special category Explore Oxford’s wild corners on a wildlife
and rural communities. This will enable for pictures taken by smart phone. All river cruise or join a walk to encounter the
us to deliver our vision for a world- photos must have been taken on a BBOWT swifts that call the City of Dreaming Spires
leading food and farming industry and a nature reserve. Entries must be received by their summer home. Watch and listen for
cleaner, healthier environment’. 9am on Monday 2 October. birds on Iffley Meadows, take part in a
Framing these principles are the night-time safari or enjoy one of the many
soon-to-be-published Government Last year there were more than 400 wildlife-themed talks. The Festival runs for
Green Papers outlining its 25-year entries, with Ian Curtis’ outstanding long- two weeks from Thursday 1 June and is a
plans for the environment, food and lens shot of a kingfisher preening its wings great chance to discover the wildlife in and
farming. This is significant stuff! If the judged overall winner. Prizes up for grabs around Oxford.
Government gets this right it could
mean great things. Failure to do so EPhvoetroygoranpehtFaLfhywoenoesrdCgetafoiwaolvlmlcnnaetotlhp’tadomoeesflttoodNieictvxeia!oeatftEaocnuynitrlrooistdeveu.r.firtEettiatoevshkestgeeirivenyWpatotaliinhonlrdetevflnioiiOnfsalevxwotefunoedrelr.ecdoo.ofmrge
would spell disaster for wildlife, the
health and function of landscapes, Last year’s winning photo by Ian Curtis.
nature’s services and food production
– all so vital to the economy.
We are calling on the Government
to future-proof nature and the
restoration of natural resources to
ensure truly sustainable farming and
food production. There is a strong
economic case for the farming
sector to take collective action on
environmental restoration, creating a
win-win scenario with wildlife. You can
read more about this on page 8.
For now, spring and its reaffirming
wonders have arrived for us to marvel
at. Enjoy our stunning nature reserves
as they burst into life. With 88 of
them to explore, there’s sure to be one
near you!

Estelle Bailey, Chief Executive

2 Wildlife news / April 2017