Environment Archives

Invasive species one of the 5 main drivers of biodiversity loss

8th September 20238th September 2023 By chXout Team Comment Closed

Invasive species one of the 5 main drivers of biodiversity loss What are invasive species? Invasive species are those which are not native or indigenous to an ecosystem and have a negative impact on that area or other organisms around them. This is different to a non-native species which are usually introduced by humans and do not have the same negative impact with no threat to the area or other organisms. Invasive species are sometimes introduced accidentally but can also be purposely introduced by humans without realising the consequences. human activity is the biggest reason for the spread of these species. They are called invasive species because they can: adapt very quickly. reproduce quickly. harm property or the economy. harm or kill native plants and animals. cause competition for food and resources with native species. sometimes bring in diseases. Examples of invasive species Common invasive species in the UK include the European rabbit, grey squirrel, muntjac deer, American bullfrog and American mink. European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Japanese Knotweed...

COP 27, COP 19, COP 15…what is a “COP” and why are they important?

29th November 202215th February 2023 By chx0ut4DMin Comment Closed

COP 27, COP 19, COP 15...what is a "COP" and why are they important? We have just seen COP27 all over the news, COP 19 ended last week and COP15 is due to take place in December but what is a “COP”? COP standards for Conference of the Parties, which is the governing body of an international convention, for example, climate change. COP is a global conference where world leaders, heads of state, scientists and non-government organisations meet to discuss, review and put the rules of the convention into place. COP 27 COP27 took place from 6 to 20 November in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. It was the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference to discuss the action needed to tackle climate change. Prior to the start of the conference, there was controversy when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that he was unable to attend and only 24 out of 193 countries has submitted their plans to the UN prior to the start of the...

The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project

25th October 202215th February 2023 By chXout Team Comment Closed

Perhaps a happier note compared to some of our more recent blogs… The Dorset Climate Action Network has launched the Great Big Dorset Hedge Campaign in an effort to map, plant and join up sections of hedgerow across Dorset. It is hoped that this will promote biodiversity and encourage wildlife across the county. The long-term project aims to create a network of connected and managed hedgerows as wildlife friendly corridors and refuge areas, with the help of the local communities along the way. By inspiring communities to take part by becoming hedge surveyors, coordinators or planters and providing the relevant training it is hoped that it will bring people closer together as communities and closer to nature. Why are hedgerows so important? Miles of ancient hedgerows have been removed to make way for agriculture and development. Hedgerows are thought of by many ecologists as an ecosystem itself due to the range of biodiversity within. They provide a home for 80% of the UK’s woodland birds, hedgehogs, many species of bats, great crested newt, dormice and butterflies. The re-planting of hedgerows...

Autumn already?

24th August 202215th February 2023 By chXout Team Comment Closed

Have you noticed leaves changing colour and dropping from the trees? Or thought that it seems a little early to be seeing blackberries? It’s not just you, following the high temperatures and drought across the country we are now thought to be experiencing what is called a “false autumn.” Leaves are changing to their autumn colours and dropping early due to the trees being stressed from the lack of water. They are doing what they can to be able to survive the drought conditions. While this will help the older trees, it means that younger ones are more likely to die. It has been said that trees have been losing leaves almost 2 months early because of the hotter weather. Berries are also appearing on plants and shrubs much earlier which isn’t good news for the wildlife that relies on them throughout autumn and into the winter months. Birds will pick their berries carefully depending on how ripe they are to ensure that they...

Finding a plastic pollution solution

9th August 202215th February 2023 By chXout Team Comment Closed

If you search for plastic pollution news articles you will find that it is at least weekly if not daily that there is something plastic related to talk about. Most recently as an example, published by the BBC on the popularity of artificial grass. There is so much information out there with where we are going wrong, what we can be doing to help and what is and isn’t working. Writing a single blog on this topic is not the easiest, especially with where to start. We all know that plastic pollution is an issue. Campaigns, research and projects have been ongoing for years highlighting the problems, what needs to be done and what can be done but is it just getting worse rather than better? Plastic pollution is literally everywhere. It has been found deep in ocean trenches, uninhabited islands, Antarctica and even inside animals. The scale of plastic pollution is summarised in the UN’s Pollution to Solution report. You don’t need...