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Supporting endangered wildlife in CravenA campaign is under way in Craven to promote the conservation of scrubland in a bid to create habitats for rare and endangered wildlife.
The Craven Biodiversity Action Group, chaired by officers from North Yorkshire County Council's countryside service, is offering free advice and site visits to people who own plots of land suitable for plants such as brambles, hawthorn and blackthorn. Scrub acts as an important habitat for plants and animals. The bushy vegetation provides nectar, seeds, fruit, shelter and nest sites for invertebrates, birds and mammals. A number of threatened species, including birds like the linnet and yellowhammer, rely upon scrubland for survival. Lack of scrub can also cause problems for butterflies, including comma, as many species lay their eggs on herbaceous plants that grow around the base of scrub bushes. County Councillor Chris Metcalfe, executive member for the countryside service, said: "Overgrown areas of bramble, hawthorn, and blackthorn are not only important for wildlife, but are a great source of free food for people who enjoy blackberries, raspberries, sloes and rosehips. This free wildlife advice from the Craven Biodiversity Action Group is a great opportunity to find out how to make the most of what could easily be dismissed as 'nuisance' areas of land." For more information, contact the County Council's biodiversity officer on 0845 8727374 or email countryside@northyorks.gov.uk. Two national organisations are supporting the campaign to promote scrubland. The Woodland Trust offers free scrub trees, while the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has produced guidance notes on managing these habitats. Pictured: a comma butterfly on typical scrub vegetation Craven Biodiversity Action Group 19 April 2012 |
Countryside
 Countryside management
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