wind turbines © William McKelvie

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

The climate challenge

Tilting at windmills (and airports)

The Trust has always campaigned against developments that will damage the natural environment. With growing threats and pressures, that must continue, and with a louder voice – the Trust has a duty to act. But drawing the line is sometimes difficult – and getting harder. There are two basic truths: all human development has an impact on the natural environment, and all human technologies have their bad points no matter how ‘benign’ they may at first appear!

The Trust has recently had to confront two tricky issues - proposals for local wind turbines, and the proposed expansion of Bristol Airport. Here is a brief summary of the positions it has adopted.

Wind turbines
There is an urgent need to reduce the UK’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels and its carbon emissions. The Trust therefore strongly supports moves to meet more of our energy needs from renewable sources, including wind power. Wind turbines can bring a net overall benefit to wildlife by reducing climate change, but they need to be carefully sited to minimise the immediate impacts on local wildlife.
These impacts include: direct loss of habitat by construction of the turbines and their infrastructure, changes to subsequent management of the land affected, interference with natural processes (eg the movement of sediments around off-shore structures), noise and other pollution, direct disturbance to wildlife, and the risk of wildlife collisions with blades and cabling. In particular there is a need to avoid bird migration routes and known foraging areas for bats and other species; and to consider the cumulative impact of several turbines or wind farms in the same area. Avonmouth is currently the focus for several wind-farm proposals.

Science does not yet have answers for all the issues raised. In the meantime the Trust would expect those proposing wind turbines to avoid areas of high conservation interest and undertake very careful assessment of the potential environmental impacts.

Bristol International Airport
There has recently been a public consultation on the Airport’s Master Plan to expand capacity by the year 2030 from around 5m passengers a year currently to around 12.5m.
Few would disagree that foreign travel can bring great benefits to people. It can increase understanding of our ‘one planet’ and global issues, and bridge the gaps between cultures and ideologies; and in recent years cheap air travel has brought the benefits to more people than ever before. Yet air travel is now the fastest increasing source of carbon emissions in the world and causes up to 3 times more damage than normal emissions because most are at high altitude.

The Trust recognises that Trust members use planes. However, given the scale of threat to wildlife from climate change, the Trust felt obliged to make clear its opposition in principle to airport expansion. At the same time it has made clear that if expansion does go ahead, the Trust also has objections to the design of the proposed expansion – both because of loss of wildlife habitat and increased disturbance/pollution, and because it places great reliance on the expanded numbers of staff and passengers arriving by car. The Airport site is close to wildlife sites of local, national and international importance and the Trust has called for further surveys and impact assessments on the species and habitats that could be affected before North Somerset Council takes a decision, so that the designs for any expansion can be modified to minimise the damage to wildlife.

Want to know more or express your views?
This is only a very brief summary of the Trust’s positions. If you want to have a copy of the full responses, contact the Trust.

Do you agree with these responses? Do you think the Trust is right to campaign on these controversial issues? Tell us what you think – contact us at members@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk