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 Severn Barrage

Update

In September the Government announced its decision to carry out a full-scale feasibility study into a possible barrage across the Severn Estuary. This came shortly before the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), a UK Government advisory body chaired by Jonathon Porritt, published a report examining proposals for a tidal barrage across the Severn estuary.

Implications and alternatives
The Government has welcomed the report, but acknowledges that a barrage, potentially capable of meeting five per cent of the UK electricity demand, would have significant planning, development and environmental implications on the estuary.The idea of harnessing the tidal power of the Severn has been under consideration for many years, but its likely cost (over £14 billion) and the ecological issues involved have made its prospects uncertain.

The SDC has laid down a series of tough conditions which the Severn barrage would have to meet in order to be considered sustainable. However Conservation groups, including the Wildlife Trusts, and the Government’s own wildlife adviser Natural England, are sceptical whether a barrage could be compatible with the estuary’s environmental status and protection at the international, Eurpoean and national level. It has recently been announced that the feasibility study, to start early in the New Year, has now been widened to include all alternatives.

Climate challenge
The Wildlife Trusts fully support the sustainable development of renewable energy generation in the UK and elsewhere, but would like the Government to commit not only to mitigation - reducing carbon emissions - but also to adaptation - helping wildlife and people cope with the inevitability of climate change. The challenge to understand global climate change is complex and Government should not be seeking simplistic, headline catching solutions. We are part of nature, not separate from it, and natural ecosystems like the Severn Estuary play a crucial role in securing a sustainable future. We must not sacrifice them in a bid to build our way out of our current environmental crisis.

Carbon footprints
We are concerned that a Severn Barrage could be seen as a opportunity for unsustainable new development. A proposed road-rail link along the top of the new structure would dramatically increase the carbon footprint of the Barrage, and will have other significant environmental impacts. Such factors must not be used as positive arguments for the Barrage to be constructed.

We call for a clear and transparent identification of all impacts of Barrage construction, and any planned development and transport infrastructure surrounding the project, as part of the feasibility study. Additionally, the carbon footprint and wider social and environmental impacts of the Barrage and any surrounding development must be considered as an important factor, in the overall assessment of whether the Barrage is a truly sustainable option for energy generation in the Severn.

A unique estuary
The Severn Estuary is part of a critical global network of European protected sites, making a major contribution to protecting the world’s biodiversity. It is one of the UK’s most important sites for marine and coastal biodiversity. A tidal barrage would fundamentally alter its natural processes and have a devastating effect on a unique ecosystem. It would no longer be able to support the wildlife features for which it was designated as an SSSI and Ramsar site. The Wildlife Trusts believe that the impact of a barrage could not be mitigated against, to a level required to meet modern Environmental legislation. Avon Wildlife Trust believes that the UK has both a legal duty and a moral responsibility to find ways to protect the Severn Estuary, as a critical and unique part of the nation’s natural heritage.

What is important about the Severn Estuary?
The location of the Severn Estuary on the north Atlantic flyway for migratory birds means that its mudflats and saltmarshes provide feeding grounds for very high numbers of wildfowl and waders throughout the winter period, making the estuary a key refuelling station for migratory wildfowl. The birds are all adapted to feed in different ways. In winter shelduck sift through the surface mud to extract tiny snails, tens of thousands of which can be found in a square metre. Of the waders, the curlew has the longest bill and can reach lugworms buried deep in the mud. The ringed plover, in contrast, runs quickly to catch surface prey using its short bill. At peak times the estuary is one of only half a dozen British estuaries to hold more than 100,000 waders.

Wander the Severn
Seven accessible walks along the estuary are set out in a leaflet produced by the Avon Biodiversity Partnership. These include walking at Brean Down, Bridgwater Bay and along Aust Cliff, and demonstrate the magnificent variety of the estuary.

For a free copy contact Matt Hamilton, Avon Biodiversity Action Plan Co-ordinator, on 0117 917 7270, or email matthamilton@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk. You can also download the leaflet from www.avon-biodiversitypartnersip.org.uk