A collection of articles designed to help you get started with practical conservation in no time at all.
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/why-manage-dunes/
Sand dune systems occur on the coast throughout the UK and Ireland. They support a diverse range of flora and fauna. Although inherently unstable to start with, once vegetation is established they are often protected from change by low-intensity grazing of cattle, sheep and rabbits. Changes can occur naturally, for example in violent storms, but […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/green-gardening-without-peat/
Peat is, without a doubt, great for growing plants in. So why should we not use peat in our gardens? Well, peat bogs are home for a wide range of plants, insects and bird life. Since 1999 the development of commercial alternatives to peat has increased. The media has also made efforts to help spread […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/why-improve-access/
The network of around 130,000 miles of public rights of way in the UK, is one of the country’s greatest recreational resources. A 1993 survey showed that of 320 million ‘visits’ to the countryside, 120 million visits involved a walk of some sort. Despite the demand for greater access to the countryside and open spaces, […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/gardening-for-bees/
We often consider gardening something that we do for ourselves. And this is great. Gardening for bees (and us) is one way we can give something back to a group of creatures we depend on. Bees are well known for their honey, but there’s more to these wonderfully diverse insects than providing Winnie the Pooh […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/basic-safety-conservation-work/
Practical conservation work should be carried out as safely as possible. Being aware of various safety points not only reduces the risk of accidents or illness but also enables groups to work more effectively – increasing everybody’s enjoyment and satisfaction. Safe work is good work! This page is only intended to be a guide for […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/why-fell-trees/
Tree felling is a positive management technique which increases the health and diversity of trees and their associated wildlife within woods. It should be carried out as part of a management plan based on scientific research of the effects caused, and should be appropriate to the species concerned. Felling trees in the name of conservation […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/why-clear-scrub/
Chalk grassland, lowland heaths, peat bogs, dune slacks, moorland and wetland margins need managing to retain their particular characteristics. This often means cutting back and removing young bushes and saplings – known as scrub clearance. Encroaching scrub should be controlled when it will eventually destroy a much rarer habitat through shading and changing soil conditions. […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/why-conserve/
To conserve: Protect (something, especially something of environmental or cultural importance) from harm or destruction. (Oxford English Dictionary) Habitats are in a constant state of change through naturally occurring dynamics and human influence. But while natural change can be managed by the earth’s ecosystems, that which is imposed by humans often has devastating or irreversible effects […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/dry-stone-walls-why/
We have lost more than 5,000 miles of dry stone walls in England and Wales since 1947, mainly due to neglect after damage by livestock, dogs and walkers dislodging capping stones, and vibration damage from heavy vehicles. Walls are important habitats, offering food, shelter and nesting sites to a wide range of species. It is […]
Printed from: https://conservationhandbooks.com/coppicing-cut-trees-conservation/
Coppicing is a traditional form of woodland management that has shaped many of the remaining semi-natural woodlands in the UK. Periodic cutting actually prolongs the life of the tree as well as creating a rich mosaic of habitats, attracting a wide range of flora and fauna. Woods that have not been coppiced tend to be […]
