Steep Holm

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

Features

Save Our Seas

Do you know that the majority of the Avon coastline is so important for wildlife that it is protected by law?

It's often said that we know more about the surface of the moon than the bottom of the deep ocean. Despite the vastness of our oceans, humanity has still managed to threaten our marine life with immediate threats from nutrient and chemical pollution to the long-term affects of climate change, we are affecting our seas daily.

More than 40,400 species, 50 per cent of the UK's plants and animals, including whales and dolphins, grey seals, puffins and a whole host of marine invertebrates, depend on our seas for their survival. However, only 0.5% of the UK's waters are designated and this situation needs to change. So what are we - and more importantly the Government - doing about this?

The Government has previously stated their commitment to introducing marine legislation. In the last Parliamentary session over 315 cross-party MPs signed an early day motion 171 calling for legislation, which is encouraging. The Wildlife Trusts want a new Marine Bill, which would include the creation for the first time of:

• National policy
• Development of Marine Spatial Planning system
• Network of Marine Protected Areas (30% of UK waters)
• Resource management

Joan Edwards, Head of The Wildlife Trusts' Marine Programme says, "We can't afford to wait years for this vital protection to be introduced, so we must keep the profile of the marine environment, and the need for new laws to protect our seas, as high as possible."

You can make a difference
Show your support for the marine bill campaign by signing The Wildlife Trusts' marine petition online at www.wildlifetrusts.org

Write a letter of support to Joan Edwards, Marine Bill Campaign, The Wildlife Trusts, The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, NG24 1WT.

Marine week
During this week which runs from 7-14 August we'll be showing people the best spots to enjoy our coastline and why they should be concerned about the marine environment.

Events will include:

• Boat trips in the tidal estuary - from Bristol city centre
• Sand sculpture competition - probably at Western-Super-Mare
• Salt mash flora identification courses
• Guided walks -to show people the best spots to see wildlife on our coast
• Palaeontology talks - coastline and our past
• Clean a beach day - highlighting how our activities effect the sea

See the Avon Biodiversity website for details: www.avon-biodiversity.org.uk

To book a place on a boat trip or to receive a programme of events please contact us on 0117 917 7270 or email jennyhayward@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk