Latest Blog Posts

Three threatened wildlife sites – all brownfield – no coincidence

In the last few months a flurry of wildlife sites have been put in peril by inappropriate developments – Lodge Hill in Kent, Rampisham Down in Dorset and Radford Quarry...

13/02/2015

The Criminal Injustice Bill

The House of Lords has been providing some resistance, but already our legal system appears to have been badly damaged. Fears that the independence of the judiciary was under threat...

12/12/2014

Meadow maintenance and willow fencing

On 20th November, I accompanied Urban Roots’ volunteers to continue maintenance of the meadow site at Malls Mire Community Woodland. The work to be done on the meadow remains high,...

03/12/2014

NIAs – are we Improving Nature?

Nature Improvement Areas were introduced by the Government to fix wildlife in 12 areas of England. Two years into a three-year project, how are they shaping up? Are they improving...

28/11/2014

To Kill or Not to Kill That is the Question 3

Part 3 – I had a good reason We all do it, we all kill bugs, but what are the ethics of doing so. In ‘Part 1 – The Value...

14/11/2014

Meadow making

Buglife are working in Radford Park with Plymouth City Council to create a new wildflower meadow as a part of the Plymouth’s Buzzing! project. The meadow will provide a burst...

12/11/2014

Plymouth’s Buzzing with another award nomination

Wildflower Meadows across Plymouth have been nominated for a 2014 Abercrombie Award. The awards are a celebration of planning and design excellence within Plymouth and the effort that has gone...

04/11/2014

Plugs ‘n’ fun

A couple of days after the final adult volunteer session, it was the turn of the children to show us how to create meadows. On October 9th, Buglife and Urban...

04/11/2014

Strictly Bug Dancing

Buglife Vice President Steve Backshall is an intrepid explorer, but he has probably never before done anything quite a brave as entering the national arena of Strictly Come Dancing. So...

31/10/2014

Meadow creation, the people power way

On the 7th October the volunteers of Urban Roots completed the preparation of the Toryglen meadow through grass clearance and seed sowing. Using rakes, chromes, forks and wheelbarrows, we scarified...

29/10/2014