Page 4 - Natural World Summer 2018

UK NEWS
17-19 August Rutland Water nature reserve
Visit Birdfair
The birders’ Glastonbury is 30 this year. Come along in August and join the celebrations
This year, the British Birdwatching
Fair celebrates 30 years as the
EMYR EVANS world’s biggest wildlife festival.
Why not experience this amazing
event for yourself?
Birdfair, as it is a ectionately
known, is hosted by Leicestershire
and Rutland Wildlife Trust at
Rutland Water, Oakham, on 17th-
19th August, in partnership with
the RSPB.
With hundreds of stands and
stalls you can chat to your favourite
wildlife charities; compare wildlife
holidays; try the latest optics;
sample local food; and admire
wildlife art and photography.
The BTO bird ringing display is
always popular, and new for 2018 is
Sheffield’s new
nature report
Did you know that Sheffield’s city
boundaries are drawn around the
old county of Hallamshire? The
ground-breaking Sheffield State of
Nature report reveals that a third of
the area is now designated for its
wildlife value and habitat quality is
improving. Sheffield’s once heavily
polluted rivers are recovering, with
26 out of 31 fish species doing well.
Otters have also returned to the
River Don. Despite this, over 100
Local Wildlife Sites still need better
management.
■ Download the report at
wildsheffield.com/stateofnature
4 NATURAL WORLD SUMMER 2018
a ‘Wild Zone’ for young people and
families. Wildlife celebrities star in
debates, events and game shows,
and there are lectures on all aspects
The presentations are always popular:
this is Bird Photographer of the Year
PAUL HOBSON
Cornfield
annuals on a
derelict housing
plot in the city
ERIC RENNO Not only can you buy
binoculars at Birdfair.
You can use them to
see ospreys
of nature and conservation. On
Sunday 19th, The Wildlife Trusts
will perform their hugely popular
family pantomime, supported by
your favourite wildlife celebrities.
Last year’s Birdfair raised
£330,000 to help conserve native
birds on the French Polynesian
island of Rapa Iti. This year Birdfair
will support the creation of
Argentina’s largest national park,
providing a refuge for nearly a
million flamingos and shorebirds.
■ Wildlife Trust members get 10%
o on Sunday 19th. This o er
applies whether you book in
advance or pay on the gate! More
info and tickets: birdfair.org.uk
25,000 stand up for
An incredible 25,000 of you
responded in just two weeks this
spring when the Government
proposed to take all reference to
Local Wildlife Sites out of the
National Planning Policy
Framework.
This change would have
removed all protection for
England’s 42,000 Local Wildlife
Sites. These are quiet, often
unnoticed places where wildlife
thrives – meadows, woodlands,
city oases. Although they tend
to fall under the radar they are a
critical part of our wildlife