Loch Ryan sandwich terns to get help from Norfolk wind farms

Plans have been drawn up to revive a seabird colony in southern Scotland to mitigate the impact of two wind farms hundreds of miles away. It would create a haven for sandwich terns on Loch Ryan at a spot where they have not nested for more than a decade.The project is linked to the Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon offshore wind farm extensions which could affect bird numbers off the Norfolk coast.Dumfries and Galloway Council is being recommended to approve the plans with a number of conditions.
A search of shorelines came up with the Dumfries and Galloway site as the best location to seek the return of sandwich terns.A special coastal habitat would be created including an inland pool with islands to be surrounded by a "predator-proof" fence.Bird viewing hides would also be set up to allow walkers to view the area without disturbing wildlife.Developers Equinor want the scheme in southern Scotland to compensate for the predicted impact on breeding sandwich terns of extensions to its two Norfolk schemes.
The site was selected after a detailed search for suitable places to create or restore a habitat for the birds.The area was identified as having been a historic breeding site up until about 15 years ago.It appears the site was vacated by the colony primarily as a result of coastal erosion.Opponents have raised concerns about the low likelihood of the project being a success and problems linked to additional visitors to the site.They have also voiced fears that other species in the area could be adversely affected.However, a report by council planners has recommended the scheme should be given the all clear.It said the project had "acceptable environmental credentials" and could go ahead with a number of conditions attached.

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• The Independent

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The Guardian

7 hours ago

• The Guardian

England's rivers ‘under threat' as water extraction surges to record levels

The amount of water being sucked from England's rivers has surged to record levels, with potentially disastrous consequences for people and wildlife, it can be revealed. An investigation into licensing data by Watershed Investigations and the Guardian found that the volume of water taken from rivers and lakes for industrial or public consumption has jumped 76% in two decades: 11.6m cubic metres (410 cu ft) were abstracted in the five years to 2023, up from 6.6m in the early 2000s. Abstraction – the removal of water from rivers, lakes, underground aquifers or tidal waters – is permitted for farming, industry or public supply. Anyone using more than 20 cubic metres a day needs a licence from the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales, setting limits on how much water they can take. Similar rules apply in Scotland. River abstraction now accounts for 61% of all water taken from the environment, up from under 40% at the turn of the century. 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Due to the lack of storage, during droughts water companies plan to draw even more water from rivers – precisely when they are most vulnerable. Measham said: 'There has been a woeful lack of forward thinking to cope with demand. Depleted and polluted, rivers that were once abundant in fish, invertebrates, mammals and birds turn into a line of fetid pools that eventually dry out completely.' On the River Itchen, the impact is already showing. In 2022 and 2024, returning adult salmon numbers hit the lowest and third lowest levels ever recorded – just 133 and 187 fish respectively. If another drought hits, the river and its endangered salmon could be pushed to the edge. 'The cost is to the rivers, they are paying the price, and fish are paying the price,' said WildFish's Janina Gray. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The water sector is clear about the urgency of the problem. A Water UK spokesperson said: 'The threat to our water security is not a distant risk, it's a looming challenge. After not building a single reservoir in over 30 years, we've finally been given initial approval for 10, plus seven water recycling schemes. These projects will help reduce pressure on abstraction.' Some parts of the country are seeing extreme increases in water use. In the Midlands, abstraction has soared 132% in a decade, from 1.6bn to 3.6bn cubic metres, now rivalling that in the north-west. Meanwhile, the southern region has seen a 26% drop. In Wales, Powys alone holds 42% of all authorised abstraction volumes, with water supply and energy as the main drivers. Conwy, Ceredigion and Gwynedd follow. 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BBC News

9 hours ago

• BBC News

Crying baby otter rescued by Ipswich river

A crying eight-week-old baby otter abandoned by a river was "growing stronger every day" following his rescue, a charity said. UK Wild Otter Trust said a passerby found Scratch crying by the River Fynn near Ipswich, weighing 0.5kg (1.1lb) on 26 one of the rescuers scooped up the cub, he was scratched in the process, which gave the inspiration for the otter's name. Dave Webb, the charity's founder, said: "Scratch was cold, hungry, and confused, but he was also a fighter!" The cub was spotted by walkers when he was heard crying from afar and was in a distressed state. Originally, the members of the public left him there in case his mother came back, but later they returned to rescue him. He was then passed over to the UK Wild Otter Trust. Mr Webb said: "With warmth, food, and round-the-clock care, he's already growing stronger every day."The charity said Scratch has now tripled in weight with a tailored rehabilitation plan, and it was hoped he would be returned to the wild. Scratch was the eighth otter rescue the charity had made this year. Otters are protected by law, and it is illegal to hunt, trap or disturb them, according to the UK Wild Otter recent years, new threats have emerged affecting otters, including road traffic accidents, habitat destruction, being captured in fishing nets and increased use of pesticides in farming. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.