Mark Young Construction, LLC’s Post

A welcome addition to our existing hedgerow regulations and pleasing to see so much support across the agricultural sector during last year's consultation. But with that in mind, has the government missed an opportunity to go further, both in terms of the length of the seasonal cutting ban (into September and October) and extending the regulations beyond farmland? Hedgerows are a fundamental part of our natural landscape in Britain, acting as both wildlife corridors and important habitats themselves. Despite some unhelpfully phrased news reports last month suggesting we already have enough, we must keep improving the condition of existing hedgerows as well as seeking to restore the many miles which were lost in the name of productivity. At LAEP we will be establishing new species-rich native hedgerows across the estate, with the likes of ash, hawthorn, blackthorn, dogwood, field maple and honeysuckle providing vital sources of food and habitat for all kinds of birds, invertebrates and mammals. https://lnkd.in/e8xjiuFM?

Today Defra committed to replacing vital rules that help protect farmland wildlife, but recently expired. This includes a ban on cutting hedegrows between March and August to protect breeding wildlife and the enforcement of a buffer strip between hedgerows and agricultural fields. After expressing our concerns alongside RSPB and National Trust in January (see: https://lnkd.in/dUshfbdv), we welcome today’s commitment but are disappointed that UK Government didn’t seize the opportunity to deliver more for nature’s recovery - with more than 80% of farmer responses to their consultation showing support for hedgerow protections. With late-nesting birds and hazel dormice recorded as nesting as late as October, the no-cut period could have been extended - just one example of how the UK Government could have made improvements. In addition, these protections only cover hedgerows on farmland - and with an estimated 30% of hedgerows found on non-farmed land it is disappointing that these protections weren’t extended to cover all hedgerow habitat - a critical improvement that would have helped this essential habitat, which provides connectivity through our landscape, to thrive and function effectively. Find out why our hedgerows are so important here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d8kwi-Qu

🌿 Nature news spotlight OTW: 'Wildlife at risk on farms as vital hedge and river rules vanish' - Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. 🇬🇧 Following the UK’s exit from the EU, the #UKGovernment announced these rules would cease to exist after 31st December 2023 and be replaced by new UK ones. BUT DEFRA hasn’t confirmed if these protections will be maintained. 🌳 These basic and important rules included protection for hedgerows, maintaining green cover on soils, and not allowing farming the land right up to the edge of rivers to prevent excess farm pollution and soil from washing into waterways. The absence of these rules could also put nesting birds at risk because farmers would be free to cut hedges in spring and summer. 🚨 The National Trust, RSPB & Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts are calling for immediate action to fill the gaps left by these vital protections. 🌍 What can YOU do? Share the above organisations' social media posts on this topic to help raise awareness and show your support. The more people talking about it, the more pressure on the government to ACT! #uknature #ukgov #ukwildlife #britishwildlife #UK #britain #environment #Brexit https://ow.ly/JXWQ50QoSZQ

Hedgerow regulations to be brought into law to protect wildlife English hedgerows will be protected in law as the government on 4 March set out its plans for domestic hedgerow regulations, following a consultation last year. Backed by over 95% of consultation responses, and providing continuity for farmers and land managers, the regulations will include a two metre ‘buffer strip’ from the centre of hedgerows with no cultivation or application of pesticides or fertilisers, and a hedge cutting ban between 1 March and 31 August to protect nesting birds: https://lnkd.in/ewH7MP2U #legislation #hedgerows #wildlife #environment #horticulture

The proposed new regulations are a step in the right direction.

Wonderful article by WBUR about the importance of new proposed regulations to protect horseshoe crabs. Mass Audubon is leading the charge to ensure these protections are approved but we need your help. Please consider attending the state’s upcoming hearings on Feb. 28 in Buzzards Bay and Feb. 29 in Gloucester to make sure a 350-million-year-old species and all the shorebirds and other species that rely on them survive well into the future. #biodiversity #wildlifeconservation #climateresilience https://lnkd.in/eczUCXax

Yesterday I got to have one of those 'proud supervisor' moments. This article highlights the great work my team has been doing to try and reduce the pressure wild goats are having on the environment here in Marlborough/North Canterbury. Trying to prioritise ungulate control across 440,000 hectares of public land on $180,000 budget is a big ask, but we managed to get fairly good coverage over 160,000 hectares last year, so about $1.12 per hectare which is very good value for money. Our aim is to reduce ungulate impacts in our higher value ecosystems to a point where impacted 'At Risk' and 'Threatened' plant species in those areas are able to recover. We are hoping these plant species can be used as indicators of overall ecosystem health. https://lnkd.in/gEGtSGC5

We are excited to present an overview of our activities and achievements from the first half of 2024. Our dedicated efforts in wildlife veterinary activities, HWC response, and wildlife conservation have resulted in 187 impactful events, including veterinary interventions, conflict mitigation, and various training sessions, all aimed at promoting biodiversity and sustainable resource use. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our work reflects a commitment to global sustainability targets. By integrating these widely accepted KPIs into our initiatives, we ensure that our contributions support the preservation of natural resources for future generations and foster peaceful, inclusive societies. Our report provides a detailed analysis of veterinary events by species and highlights successful HWC interventions. A key highlight of this semester is the progress of our Protected Farming Communities initiative, which has reduced human-wildlife conflicts and increased community safety through the installation of electric fences. We collaborated with over 100 families to enhance food security and shift local perceptions of wildlife positively. Furthermore, we measure our success through both wildlife conservation and carbon sequestration. Our activities have led to the capture of significant amounts of CO2, underscoring our dedication to environmental sustainability alongside our conservation goals. We invite you to read the full report to gain a deeper understanding of our work and the far-reaching impacts of our initiatives. Your continued support is crucial as we expand our efforts to protect wildlife and empower communities. Read the full report now!

Heading out on the water? 🛥️ Whether you’re a local, or visiting the Great Barrier Reef, remember to always follow the rules in the Marine Park, from the moment you leave the boat ramp or marina. Zoning rules cover the Reef, and in some cases extend into estuaries and mangroves. You can pick up a free zoning map here: https://bit.ly/4894RGf or from your local tackle shop. Zoning rules are in place to protect the diversity of natural habitats across the Reef, and this includes nursery grounds close to shore for many popular recreational species. You can check closed seasons for recreational fishing on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website by searching ‘Closed seasons – tidal waters’. Respecting zoning rules is crucial for a healthy Reef. Breaking these rules comes with serious penalties. Remember to check warnings and use a zoning map to help you with the rules and to avoid a fine. #ProtectTheReef Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

#killing #culling #harvesting #wolves #anthropocentrism #hubris #linkedinfollowers #linkdinfamily #life #love #reverenceforlife #loveofJesus My dear friends in a reverence for life, as the sage American philosopher Yogi Berra once lamented, “It’s déjà vu all over again!” Indeed, it is. Once again human bureaucrats are debating and deciding the fate of another of Gods’ creatures, to wit, the oft reviled wolf. The European Commission, in its infinite wisdom, has placed under consideration a proposition to downgrade the protected status of the lupines, a downgrade that will apparently permit and enable their stalking and hunting. Following is a citation outlining the analysis: “But the concentration of wolf packs in some European regions has become a real danger, especially for livestock. To manage critical wolf concentrations more actively, local authorities have been asking for more flexibility.” To translate from Bureaucratese into plain English: our livestock industry, in which we torture, abuse, maltreat, and ultimately slaughter helpless victims for our avarice, has incurred losses from wolf depredation. Accordingly, we would like permission to blast the living crap out of them! And contra we find the usual parries and thrusts; namely, your data are not scientifically derived or are the result of extra-judicial and legislative chicanery. These are of course closely aligned with the customary assertion that animal protection laws are in truth beneficial for humans: “Laws like these are there to safeguard not only wildlife and its habitats, but European societies’ rights to a healthy environment and safe future.” What a piece of work is a man…… My dear friends, it won’t do! All this tortured prose (much more lurks in the article infra) is pure pettifoggery. Only the barristers and the bureaucrats emerge victorious as their livelihoods are prolonged, their wallets fattened. Sophistry and casuistry are the watchwords of the day. Equivocation rules. Life is squelched. My dear friends, the problem could not be plainer or more pellucid. All this gibberish is spouted only for its own sake only, viz., to embellish the reputations of the human spouters. No word, no matter how arcane, is uttered for the lives of the wolves, for life itself. Jesus taught us the way: Matthew 5:37Common English Bible. 37 “Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.” May the spirit of Jesus infuse itself in all our dealings with wolves, with animals, with life. May we be driven by a reverence for life, the irrefragable ethos that all life possesses worth and value, that the duty of humanity is to act as stewards for all God’s creation. May the performance of that duty manifest itself in the bestowal of the love of Jesus liberally and universally, on every creature that crosses our path. Let us seek not to manage, but to enhance, relying not on laws but on love. That is a reverence for life!