Latest news with #NewForest
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
New Forest District Council
Public views sought on New Forest protection orders A council is looking for views on whether the rules should be extended for a further three years.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Brockenhurst residents complain as donkeys trash new wheelie bins
Livestock breaking into newly-introduced wheelie bins in the New Forest could help spread serious animal diseases, residents and animal owners have Forest District Council recently began a roll-out of wheelie bins and food waste caddies as part of efforts to improve recycling but free-roaming ponies and donkeys have been seen breaking into them and scattering Parry-Norton, chairman of the Commoners Defence Association (CDA), said there was a "real risk" of diseases such as African swine fever and foot and mouth spreading from contaminated food council said it was monitoring the situation and urged residents to report any incidents involving animals. Wheelie bins and caddies are replacing single-use black and clear plastic bags for New Forest residents' domestic and food waste, plus June, the council said it was aware of cases of donkeys in the national park "interacting with waste containers".Caroline Emery filmed a group of donkeys on Horlock Road in the village as well as waste scattered on Fathersfield Road on Friday."When is common sense going to prevail that those living on the side of the cattle grids where animals roam, should be able to keep their bins inside their gates, to prevent this happening and ultimately the death of livestock," she said. Other images posted on social media, showed food recycling bags within donkey droppings, having apparently passed through an animal's digestive village's Green Party ward councillor, Adam Parker, said: "It's happening all over the village – donkeys are intelligent, opportunistic foragers. "I'm really very concerns about health implications for New Forest wildlife." The national park's free-roaming ponies, pigs, donkeys and cattle are owned by commoners - people who own or occupy land with ancient rights Parry-Norton said the issue "would only worsen" when pigs are turned out into the forest in autumn."It is illegal to feed food waste to pigs," he said. "Donkeys are bad but if pigs get into these bins, there is a high risk of diseases like African swine fever or foot and mouth could potentially cost millions."The 2001 foot and mouth outbreak is thought to have originated from pigs being fed catering waste containing the virus. The CDA chairman called for the roll-out of wheelie bins and caddies to be suspended."They need to acknowledge the problem and sort out the problems. The bins are extremely flimsy and not stock-proof," he added,In a statement, the council said: "On a daily basis, we are monitoring the situation, particularly in key areas where we know there may be free-roaming livestock."We recognise that some areas face unique challenges."We remain committed to working with our community to ensure the service works well for everyone, and to deliver a more efficient and environmentally friendly way of managing waste and recycling for the long term."It said bins should be kept on properties until due for collection and food waste caddies should be left out with the handle pushed forward and down to keep the lid tightly move to wheelie bins was given the go-ahead in 2022, with the council insisting they were needed to increase recycling rates, while opponents argued they were unsightly and costly. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Nightjar numbers tracked in major heathland bird survey
The mysterious nightjar is among the species being tracked as part of the largest survey of heathland birds for more than 20 study, organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, will also focus on woodlarks and Dartford nightjar, which is surrounded by myth and folklore, journeys to the UK to breed, before flying back to the Democratic Republic of Congo at the end of the is most numerous in southern England, and the work hopes to establish if it has continued its recovery and extended its range. "I absolutely love a nightjar. They are by far my favourite bird," says Mya Bambrick, Youth Representative with the British Trust for are standing in the middle of nowhere on heathland in the north of the New Forest. The light is fading fast and we have set off in search of the nightjar."They're such a unique species that we have here in the UK," Mya says."They are corpuscular, hence why we're out here at this time, so they're active at dusk and dawn."And they make an absolutely fascinating sound."They are also experts at camouflage and only active in poor light, so trying to spot one, let along film one, is going to prove a challenge. But while the nightjar can be hard to see, its strange call is instantly recognisable. "The males make what we call a churr," explains Mya."Almost like an insect. I would say there's nothing else that looks and sounds like a Nightjar."Mya encourages me to cup my ears as we both scan the horizons for the first sounds and glimpses of the bird. A faint insect-like noise gradually starts to drift across the heath, before a sharp "peep" of a flight call rings excitedly points behind me as I spin round to catch my first glimpse of one."Flying now - flying just above the tree line to the right of that big tree." It is not long before we see the distinctive silhouettes of nightjars, with their pointed wings and long tails, circling one point two males dart after a female disappearing in and out of trees on the edge of the faint churring has increased in volume, with flight calls ringing out around us."You can see why they're my favourite bird - I mean they're absolutely stunning," Mya says."We've had all the vocalisations. We had the churring, we had the 'kwik, kwik' flight call. "And then we also had that whirring down call, so we know there's a female definitely on a nest very nearby." In 2004 the Nightjar population was recorded as 4,600 territories across the UK. This year's survey hopes to confirm anecdotal evidence of increasing continued conservation work to restore heathland has undoubtedly had a positive effect, the decline of our insect population may be a factor in the the meantime this is one bird that has just gained another fan. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sailing programme for visually impaired people making waves
A sailing programme for people with visual impairments is making waves by opening up the sport to new participants. Spinnaker Sailing Club, based in the New Forest near Ringwood, has been running the 15-week 'See Sailing Your Way' programme, designed to introduce visually impaired people to sailing and support their ongoing development in the sport. One participant, Louise, said: "I've had a tremendous feeling of freedom being on the water, it really lifts my spirits. "It's really hard to describe but it gives me a high." Read more PICTURES: Scout groups go head-to-head in fiercely contested raft race Salisbury Sea Cadets take part in annual camp and enjoy water activities Project to build permanent home for men's shed is 'well under way' Visually impaired children have been able to get out onto the water thanks to the sailing club. (Image: Spinnaker Sailing Club) Another participant, Steve, said: "It's lovely to be so welcome and develop your sailing." The programme also extended to younger sailors after the Education and Learning Team from Dorset County Council asked the club to arrange a sailing experience for some of the visually impaired children they work with. On Saturday, July 19, eight children took to the water, supported by funding and guidance from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). Club operations manager James Oborne said: "We are really pleased that the programme has been a success, not just with lots of fun on and off the water. "Establishing new friendships and growing people's confidence are all core to what we want to achieve. "This is part of a national scheme from the RYA, sailing's governing body, and we have been excited to be the local partners. "We hope that this will be the start of permanent visually impaired presence and activity at the club, along with New Forest Sailability. "We are grateful for the generous grant support we have received." The club has been running the 'See Sailing Your Way' programme. (Image: Spinnaker Sailing Club) Commodore Phil Tinsley added: "The club is more than simply race sailing. "We are a watersports club, with members using the lake each week for canoeing, paddleboarding and windsurfing as well as sailing. "Our sheltered waters allow access most days without the complications of shipping, waves and tides. "Our aim is to allow people from whatever background to develop confidence and skills on the water. "We are thrilled that we have been able to bring more people into our activities, and we are proud to offer all participants membership for the rest of the year as part of the programme." Spinnaker Sailing Club is a recognised training centre and offers courses for adults. Membership starts from £32.
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
New Forest lockable donkey-proof bins rejected by council
Lockable bins to prevent animals accessing food waste left out for recycling have been rejected by a Forest District Council said last month it was monitoring its roll out of wheelie bins and food waste caddies following reports of free-roaming donkeys and ponies breaking into owners have called for food waste collections to be suspended and Brockenhurst Green Party councillor Adam Parker said having locked bins would be a "common-sense solution".But the council said it would add time and cost to waste collections. The wheelie bins and caddies are replacing single-use black and clear plastic bags for New Forest residents' domestic and food waste, plus June the council said it had seen cases of donkeys in the national park "interacting with waste containers".Speaking at a meeting of the full council Parker said: "The common-sense solution to what's been happening in Brockenhurst is to disregard the 'one size fits all' policy – and let people leave their bins behind their gates and fences if they're at risk of donkeys."Portfolio holder for environment and sustainability councillor Geoffrey Blunden said while using lockable bins only added a few minutes to emptying each bin, cumulatively it "would add excessive time, cost and staff to complete rounds"."The new bins are an improvement from the plastic black sack easily ripped apart."He said the scheme is being monitored, with a residents' complaint forum to be set up to aid changes in the operation – but said it is not a big issue at the moment. The national park's free-roaming ponies, pigs, donkeys and cattle are owned by commoners - people who own or occupy land with ancient rights have raised concerns about animals seeing the bins as a "potential food source", which could damage their a meeting of the Verderers Court which administers commoners' rights, Commoners Defence Association (CDA) chairman Andrew Parry-Norton said the issue "would only worsen" with the approaching pannage season, when pigs are turned out onto the forest in autumn."Urgent discussions need to take place involving all interested parties, maybe suspending the separation of the waste food from general waste until this problem is solved," he move to wheelie bins was given the go-ahead in 2022 with the council insisting they were needed to increase recycling rates, while opponents argued they were unsightly and costly. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
