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News In Your Area

March 2010

Links and references to articles by the leading UK news providers covering subjects that are of interest to those living and working in rural England and Wales.

Controlling predators can save the curlew
It’s unfashionable, but shooting a fox or catching a stoat is good for wading birds. Opinion piece from Magnus Linklater.
The Times - 31 March 2010 - 20

New regulations on energy efficiency 'mired in confusion'
Businesses are confused about and unprepared for the implementation of the Government's Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the energy efficiency scheme which starts tomorrow.
The Independent - 31 March 2010 - 48

Nuclear power – yes please, and lots of it
Editorial from Tracy Corrigan who says that new power stations are the most effective way of addressing our energy needs.
Daily Telegraph - 31 March 2010 - 23

Rural spots may miss World Cup in free HD
Freeview HD will have limited reach and countryside campaigners said it would add to the "digital divide".
Daily Telegraph - 31 March 2010 - 9

A brave new dawn: should Britain change its clocks?
It's being called Greenwich Mean Time plus two: a new time zone for Britain with an extra hour of daylight in the evening. The downside? An additional hour of darkness in the morning. Keeping an hour ahead of GMT during the winter months could be a serious inconvenience, and perhaps even a danger, to farmers.
The Independent - 30 March 2010 - 14

Big investments boost green sector
Siemens and british Gas to create jobs as Government hails low-carbon strategy.
Financial TImes - 30 March 2010 - 4

Energy giants pinpoint location of new nuclear power plant
Britain’s next nuclear power station will be built on Anglesey, North Wales, under a £7.5 billion plan being drawn up by two of biggest energy providers in the UK, The Times has learnt.
The Times - 30 March 2010 - 37

Ofcom issues threat over broadband
Ofcom has threatened to introduce strict rules to bring internet companies into line after finding that customers were still not being told accurately which broadband speed they would receive when signing a contract.
The Times - 30 March 2010 - 42

Ofcom's threat to broadband providers over stricter rules
The communications watchdog is threatening to formally regulate broadband providers that do not give an accurate picture of the speeds customers can internet receive, after it found companies were falling short.
The Independent - 30 March 2010 - 43

Biofuel law backfires
A European law to increase the use of biofuels will put pressure on farmers to sacrifice food-growing land for fuel crops, according to Friends of the Earth.
The Times - 29 March 2010 - 38

Call for more wild flower meadows
Buglife, the insect charity is calling on Government to create a network of wild flower meadows to make up for the 7.3million acres of habitat lost since WWII. Buglife said that farming wildlife schemes had recreated only 16,000 acres of grass meadows and flowers for pollinators.
Daily Telegraph - 29 March 2010 - 32

Cider tax increase leaves artisan producers fearing for the future
Britain's new breed of cidermakers have revived a dying craft – but they say Alistair Darling's tax rise could threaten their success.
The Guardian - 29 March 2010 - 14

Countryside birds chill out in towns to beat the winter
The plight of farmland birds emerged in the latest survey of bird populations from the RSPB, released today.
The Times - 29 March 2010 - 11

Letter to the Editor on rural broadband
The broadband levy might mean that urban citizens, who have long enjoyed faster speeds, will subsidise the cost of bringing rural broadband up to scratch. That would be quite an outcome on two counts: rural Britain is desperate for fast broadband, and out here our taxes fund transport, police and other services that don’t extend further than urban areas.
Daily Telegraph - 29 March 2010 - 21

Letter to the Editor: wind power
The hidden costs of relying on wind turbines in the remotest parts of the country.
Daily Telegraph - 29 March 2010 - 21

Recession-busting lottery boom adds millions to heritage fund
The nation's attempt to gamble its way out of the recession has generated a bonanza for ruined castles, weedy public parks and neglected archives. The Heritage Lottery Fund will have an extra £25m a year to distribute in grants from now until 2018.
The Guardian - 29 March 2010 - 15

Scientists find the key to sweeter tomatoes
Researchers have found a gene that not only controls tomato yields but also their sugar content. It is so powerful that by tweaking it, they can create a 60 per cent increase in tomatoes, while at the same time making them sweeter.
Daily Telegraph - 29 March 2010 - 9

Siemans to make Britain a wind powerhouse with £75m investment in new turbine plant
The Government will receive another boost to its green manufacturing momentum this week when Siemens of Germany announces plans to create hundreds of jobs in Britain and invest more than £75m in a new wind turbine plant.
The Guardian - 29 March 2010 - 23

Siemens to boost UK wind turbine industry
Siemens will this week announce plans to build a wind turbine factory in the UK. The investment, which is likely to be between £50 million and £100 million, will seek to capitalise on Britain’s expanding market for offshore windmills.
The Times - 29 March 2010 - 35

Small birds hit hard by coled winter, RSPB study shows
Goldcrest, coal tit and long-tailed tit numbers plummet after frozen ground limited food supplies during the coldest winter in Britain in 30 years.
The Guardian - 29 March 2010 - 12

Smaller songbirds suffered this winter
Small songbirds suffered during the harsh winter but the freezing temperatures brought an array of unusual birds to our gardens, according to the RSPB's biggest wildlife survey in the world.
Daily Telegraph - 29 March 2010 - 9

Tally ho! 'Barbour cavalry' rides to Tories' rescue
Hundreds of hunt supporters are under orders to ride into action in key marginal seats within hours of a general election being called, in the knowledge that David Cameron will allow a return to hunting with dogs if he gets to Downing Street.
The Independent - 29 March 2010 - 1

Teenage farm worker dies in slurry pit
A teenage farm worker died after becoming trapped when his tractor fell into a slurry pit, police said yesterday.
Daily Telegraph - 29 March 2010 - 2

Teenager dies on slurry accident
A teenage farmhand died after becoming trapped when his tractor fell into a slurry pit.
The Independent - 29 March 2010 - 15

Tomato plant yield raised by 60 per cent
A hybrid tomato plant that gives a bumper crop of sweeter tomatoes has been created by scientists, by cross-breeding from two parent plants.
The Independent - 29 March 2010 - 11

Opinion on wind farms
Whenever I am defending toffs one of the main points I like to make is what great conservators they are, until wind farms came along, says James Dellingpole.
Sunday Telegraph - 28 March 2010

Wealthy landowners make millions in the wind rush
SOME of Britain’s richest landowners are set to earn millions by building wind farms to exploit the lucrative system of subsidies for generating renewable energy.
Sunday Times - 28 March 2010 - 5

Are we cider-drinkers really such a menace?
Columnist Charlie Brooks argues that the way to tackle anti-social drinking is to tax supermarket sales, not hurt pubs.
Daily Telegraph - 26 March 2010 - 28

Cider campaigners target pop charts
The paper reports that cider drinkers are starting a campaign against the Budget increase on cider which could include a new single by the West Country band The Wurzels.
Daily Telegraph - 26 March 2010 - 7

Farmhouse cider makers fear Darling's 'super-strength' levy
The paper reports that the Budget's 10 percent increase on cider and the Government's announcement that it intends to clamp down on "super-strength" cider could devastate the traditional farmhouse cider industry.
The Times - 26 March 2010 - 19

Kite-strike: Please do not feed the birds, the RAF urges
The paper reports that villagers feeding birds of prey near an RAF base have been warned that they are putting the lives of airmen at risk (because of collisions between aircraft and red kites)
Daily Telegraph - 26 March 2010 - 18

'Green bank' welcomed amid calls for more capital
A new state-backed lending bank will finance offshore wind farms and other renewable energy projects, but analysts yesterday called for more capital than the £1bn offered by the Treasury.
Daily Telegraph Business - 25 March 2010 - 5

'Lost pathways' could be rediscovered
A network of 'lost footpaths' could be rediscovered under plans to make it easier to open up ancient byways. William Worsley, President of the Country Land and Business Association, said landowners were relieved. "We are very pleased the end is in sight, even though it may still be some way off. People's homes or businesses could be damaged by erroneous claims that, because the public had a right to cross that stretch of land in ancient times, they still do, even if that right has not been exercised for decades or even centuries."
Daily Telegraph Online - 25 March 2010

50p broadband tax confirmed
The Government stuck by controversial plans to fund the roll-out of superfast broadband by adding a 50p a month levy to phone bills, which has been heavily criticised by the Conservatives.
The Independent - 25 March 2010 - 18

50p lanline tax to pay for rural broadband
Households will have to pay a monthly 50p tax on their telephone landlines to help pay for rural areas to receive improved access to broadband internet.
Daily Telegraph - 25 March 2010 - 9

Blow to biofuels but a boost for biomass
Petrol stations hoping to supply green biofuels to vehicle owners have been dealt a blow after the Government refused to extend tax breaks.
Daily Telegraph Business - 25 March 2010 - 5

Broadband plan to exceed cost forecasts
A scheme to fund the deployment of superfast broadband will cost the industry significantly more than expected, the Government admitted yesterday as it pushed ahea with its 50p monthly levy on landlines.
Financial Times - 25 March 2010 - 18

Green bank equity sets focus for big renewal
The £2 billion green investment bank announced in the budget is likely to attract between £10 billion and £20 billion in private sector investment in offshore wind, carbon capture and in time, nuclear power.
Financial Times - 25 March 2010 - 9

Green investment bank to boost wind power
The Government set out plans to create a green investment bank to help to boost investment in low-carbon sources of electricity, including giant offshore wind parks.
The Times Budget Special - 25 March 2010 - 9

Reforms to help low-carbon electricity generators
The energy market will require significant reform to secure the investment in low-carbon electricity generation required beyond 2020, according to a policy review released alongside the Budget yesterday.
Financial Times - 25 March 2010 - 17

£2bn fund to boost green businesses
The Government is to create a £2bn Green Investment Bank to address the "equity gap" threatening investment in low-carbon infrastructure. The scheme will be funded by £1bn from the sale of assets such as the Channel Tunnel rail link, and another £1bn from the private sector.
The Independent - 25 March 2010 - 18

Bananas grow in National Trust garden of the future
The traditional English garden of green lawns surrounded by foxgloves and lupins could be wiped out by climate change, the National Trust has warned.
Daily Telegraph - 24 March 2010 - 11

BT quotes businessman £56,000 to install home broadband line
Tony Simkin of Beulah west Wales, has accused BT of being unfair to customers who live in rural areas.
Daily Telegraph - 24 March 2010 - 14

BT urged to share superfast broadband network
Telecoms watchdog sets 24Mbps as slowest broadband speed that can be classed as 'superfast'.
The Guardian - 24 March 2010 - 26

Government announces crackdown on anti-social behaviour by gypsies
John Denham, the Communities Secretary, is urging councils to work with police and other organisations to tackle problems such as fly-tipping, noise, straying livestock and untaxed vehicles.
Daily Telegraph - 24 March 2010 - 14

National Trust warns of not-so-rosy future for British gardens
The traditional British garden could be ravaged by climate change, the National Trust said yesterday, as it produced paintings showing how hotter summers may fry herbaceous borders, while wet winters could rot spring bulbs.
The Times - 24 March 2010 - 8

Notes on a scruffy island, by Bill Bryson the anti-litter campaigner
The British countryside it being 'trashed' by litter, according to Bill Bryson, who suggested dropping rubbish should be as unacceptable as refusing to wear a seat belt.
Daily Telegraph - 24 March 2010 - 9

Ofcom plans to force BT to open network to broadband rivals
Ofcom, the communications regulator, hopes to accelerate the march of "superfast" broadband across the UK by demanding BT offer rivals access to its fibre network as well as its underground ducts and telegraph poles.
The Independent - 24 March 2010 - 44

Ofcom rules BT must open network to rivals
Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, today unveiled a plan designed to force BT to rent its "super-fast" fibre optic broadband network to rivals and allow competitors to build their own fibre networks along its telegraph poles and underground ducts.
The Times - 24 March 2010 - 36

Ofcom to force BT to open its network to rivals
BT will be forced to allow its rivals to use its network of tunnels and telegraph poles to create competing broadband networks.
Daily Telegraph - 24 March 2010 - 14

Renewable energy can generate enough power to meet the world's needs
Letters to the Editor saying wind turbines can supply electricity demands.
Daily Telegraph - 24 March 2010 - 23

The need for speed
From the clunky days of dial-up to the era of superfast broadband as a basic human right. Where will the information superhighway take us next?
The Independent New Technology pull-out - 24 March 2010 - 2

Wind farm shut after 150ft blade breaks off
Britain's largest windfarm was shut down after a blade snapped off one of the huge turbines.
Daily Telegraph - 24 March 2010 - 9

Britain: the doddering, digital dump
Comment from James Moore on Gordon Brown's announcement on broadband.
The Independent - 23 March 2010 - 49

Council cuts down 6,000 trees
6,000 conifers have been felled on a 12 hectare site in Lancashire, after a "health and safety survey" by United Utilities.
Daily Telegraph - 23 March 2010 - 5

Green investment fund hit by delays
A state-financed £2 billion green investment fund being unveiled in tomorrow's budget will not start before next year, Governmnet insiders said yesterday.
Financial Times - 23 March 2010 - 2

Heritage crafts at risk
A campaign to save traditional skills, often kept alive by just one exponent, is being launched today by the Heritage Crafts Association.
The Guardian G2 - 23 March 2010 - 12

Ofcom push to give broadband rivals access to BT tunnels
BT would be required to open up its underground tunnels so rivals could run their own broadband networks in the ducts, under the proposals due to be published today by Ofcom.
Financial Times - 23 March 2010 - 4

Queen guitarist Brian May calls proposed badger cull ‘genocide’
Brian May, the Queen guitarist, gave his support yesterday to a legal challenge by protesters who want to halt a cull of badgers in west Wales to protect cattle from the threat of bovine TB.
The Times - 23 March 2010 - 20

Aliens in the woods: public asked to record wildlife and track invaders
Ordinary people are being invited to head outdoors, sweep hedges, comb hills and measure burrows for a more detailed recording of Britain's wildlife by "wildlife minister" Huw Irranca-Davies.
The Guardian - 22 March 2010 - 7

The war of the sea eagles
Would you want a bird with an 8ft wingspan hovering over your back garden? Controversial plans to reintroduce the majestic sea eagle to England has locals up in arms.
The Guardian G2 - 22 March 2010 - 10

A Danish man's home is his castle
Rich foriegn buyers are changing the face of our countryside by snapping up the finest estates. Profile on high-profile, overseas land buyers.
Sunday Times Home - 21 March 2010 - 8

Britain. A breath of foul air
The UK faces £300m in fines after failing to meet EU pollution targets, but Britons also pay the price with heart disease, asthma and cancer. Nitrogen oxides and the ozone directly affect animal and plant life on land and water.
Independent on Sunday - 21 March 2010 - 8

Feeble wind farms fail to hit full power
THE first detailed study of Britain’s onshore wind farms suggests some treasured landscapes may have been blighted for only small gains in green energy.
Sunday Times - 21 March 2010 - 11

How off-roaders are wrecking the beauty of my beloved Peak District
A farcical piece of legislation allows off-road drivers to churn up ancient tracks in Britain's national parks – but locals have vowed to stop them, writes Roy Hattersley.
The Observer - 21 March 2010 - 34

Labour plans £1bn green fund as part of new hands-on strategy
Alistair Darling will this week announce a £1bn fund to kick-start investment in green transport and energy projects as part of a "budget for growth".
The Observer - 21 March 2010 - 49

Marine energy farms off the north coast will test a range of technologies
Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, plans to turn Scotland into the “Saudi Arabia of marine energy” as he begins a scheme in league with the Crown Estate, which owns the first 12 miles of seabed round the British coast.
Sunday Times Business - 21 March 2010 - 11

The hunt death and the war in the countryside
Tensions between anti-hunt protestors and hunt supporters have been exacerbated in the run-up to the general election following the acquittal of an animal rights campigner accused of killing a huntsman with a gyrocopter.
Sunday Telegraph - 21 March 2010 - 14

Too much wind and not enough puff
Leader on the report of the study of Britain’s onshore wind farms.
Sunday Times - 21 March 2010 - 20

Wildlife havens to be abandoned to the sea
Protected wildlife havens that are home to rare birds, plants and insects, are to be lost to the sea under government plans to abandon coastal flood defences.
Sunday Telegraph - 21 March 2010 - 17

A cracking good breakfast as Waitrose stocks ostrich eggs for Easter
Demand for pheasant, quail, duck and goose eggs has also increased, with sales of goose eggs increasing by 101 per cent, Waitrose said.
The Times - 19 March 2010 - 24

Buy local – and buy your local pub, says Labour
Hundreds of pubs doomed to closure could be rescued under Government proposals to help to fund “community buyouts”, promote local beers and cut planning red tape.
The Times - 19 March 2010 - 15

Case study on the local community pub in Cookham Dean
Charles Benson is one of 60 residents in Cookham Dean, Berkshire, who have kept the Jolly Farmer pub afloat for the past 20 years. Now the pub, which serves local beers, contains a post office and there are plans for a local community shop on its land next door.
The Times - 19 March 2010 - 15

Cheltenham Festival 2010: For passion, my money's always on the horses
This week's Cheltenham Festival shows that no sport can match the thrill of racing, says Charlie Brooks.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 24

Comment from Simon Jenkins: Votes for dogs appeals, but giving animals rights is moral chaos
Should animals get the vote? Country Life magazine this week asks, if animals did vote, which party would they support? Using random sampling (a "fox pop") and presumably assessing closeness to a polling station, the magazine lists voting intention by species, based on predictable responses to recent laws.
The Guardian - 19 March 2010 - 33

How we'll keep the lights on, by Tories
Conervatives' energy plan created to ensure supply is always above peak demand.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 10

Kingfisher sightings take a dive after winter takes it toll
Kingfishers are the latest victims of the harsh winter and numbers appear to be in sharp decline, say conservationists.
The Times - 19 March 2010 - 24

Kingfishers 'at risk' after harsh winter
The harsh winter may have significantly reduced numbers of kingfishers on Britain's rivers and canals, British Waterways said as it launched its annual wildlife poll.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 11

Letter to the Editor: Taxing green fuel from Director of Corporate Affaris at Wm Morrison supermarkets
The cost of petrol is about to hit a new high (report, March 16). Green-minded motorists are also about to be penalised for choosing biofuels. Unless the Chancellor intervenes next Wednesday, the removal of the duty differential for biofuels will lead to the pump price going up by 20p per litre. Morrisons has already withdrawn B30 biodiesel from forecourts. The high- ethanol blend, E85, will soon follow. This month, the Netherlands cut duty on E85 by 27 per cent. Our Government is going in the other direction. It will kill the market for a proven product that helps reduce carbon emissions and could be critical to the development of hybrid electric vehicles.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 25

MPs support tax relief for planting trees
Farmers who plant forests should be exempt from inheritance tax, a committee of MPs has suggested.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 11

Ostrich eggs to be stocked by Waitrose - at £18.99 each
Ostrich eggs which can make an omelette big enough to feed 15 adults are to appear in supermarkets across Britain in time for Easter. The eggs are laid by South African Black Ostriches on a farm in Lincolnshire.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 1

Rural schools head for crisis
Village schools are facing a leadership crisis as they struggle to appoint new headteachers, according to research.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 8

Sort your waste into six bins or face £1,000 fine
Householders could be forced to recycle virtually everything they throw away or face fines under new Government proposals to cut landfill.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 10

Tories' green bank to fund wind and nuclear power
Huge offshore wind parks and new nuclear reactors to be financed by a state-backed Green Investment Bank would be built under plans to reform energy policy and meet tough emission reduction targets to be announced by the Conservatives today.
The Times - 19 March 2010 - 51

Tory carbon tax
A Conservative government would impose a carbon tax on electricity generation to foster investment in renewables and nuclear power, David Cameron will say today as he sets out his party's energy strategy.
Finanicial Times - 19 March 2010 - 1

Vegetable seed sales jump as grow your own takes root
According to a leading retailer, sales of seeds for tomatoes, courgettes, beans and other vegetables now outstrip seeds for flowers by a considerable margin, after the recession and the allotment revival encouraged an increasing number of people to take up their trowels.
Daily Telegraph - 19 March 2010 - 11

Energy policy 'nowhere near' ready
Energy policy is "nowhere near" having the right framework in place to deliver the investment and job creation that will be needed to hit government targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, a group of leading academics backed by the Royal Academy of Engineering warns.
Financial Times - 18 March 2010 - 4

How Britain must live to hit climate targets
All cars need to be electric and most homes will need solar panels, while 10,000 onshore wind turbines and 40 new low-carbon power stations will also be required for the Government to stand a chance of meeting climate change targets, it has been claimed.
Daily Telegraph - 18 March 2010 - 13

Pilot is cleared over death of huntsman hit by gyrocopter
In a case that highlighted the passions and entrenched attitudes on both sides of the hunting debate, an animal rights campaigner who had been at the controls of a gyrocopter when it cleaved open a huntsman’s head was cleared of manslaughter yesterday.
The Times - 18 March 2010 - 12

Britain 'turns brown' as cold winter kills off spring growth
Britain's usually green and pleasant land has been turned a shade of brown this spring after the coldest winter in 31 years.
Daily Telegraph - 16 March 2010 - 9

Grass cuttings 'to be used as biofuel'
Grass cuttings could soon be used to power cars, under a scheme to transform garden waste into biofuel.
Daily Telegraph - 16 March 2010 - 9

Population of migratory bird falls after loss of suitable nesting places
Swifts, the rapidly declining birds of the high summer skies, are overwhelmingly dependent on houses for nesting sites, a survey has found.
The Independent - 16 March 2010 - 21

Shoots 'forced to rely on French pheasants'
British shoots will be forced to rely on French pheasants in future following a ban on battery cages for raising game birds, it has been claimed.
Daily Telegraph - 16 March 2010 - 11

Beauty of Chilterns may be put at risk by fast rail link, say critics
Historic town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire in path of London to Birmingham high-speed network.
The Guardian - 12 March 2010 - 7

Chatsworth reopens to public with exhibition amid £14m restoration
The second phase of a £14 million restoration project at Chatsworth, near Bakewell, Derbyshire, is due to finish this weekend. On Sunday it will reopen to the public.
The Times - 12 March 2010 - 23

Company boss jailed over 'free range' egg scam
A company boss was jailed for three years today for his part in a scam which saw tens of millions of eggs falsely passed off as free range.
The Independent - 12 March 2010 - 18

Country houses like Chatsworth still provide a gold standard
A £16m refit at Chatsworth shows these seats of privilege are in surprising good health, says Clive Aslet.
Daily Telegraph - 12 March 2010 - 24

Egg boss jailed for 'free range' fraud
Around 100m mislabelled eggs sold by Keith Owen ended up on the shelves of supermarkets including Sainsbury's and Tesco. That the fraud was able to carry on for two years while he made a £3m profit raises questions for the food industry about the provenance of goods.
The Guardian - 12 March 2010 - 3

HIgh-speed rail line will destroy 440 homes
Owners and rural campaigners say they'll fight the 250mph rail project.
Daily Telegraph - 12 March 2010 - 12

Industries hoarding greenhouse gas emission permits
Saved permits can be used to meet future targets to cut emissions without reducing pollution.
The Guardian - 12 March 2010 - 2

Protests as Lord Adonis reveals plans for £30bn high-speed railway network
Across the Chiltern escarpment and the fields of Warwickshire and into the marginal constituencies of the West Midlands, the lines were drawn yesterday for a planning battle over Britain’s high-speed rail network.
The Times - 12 March 2010 - 11

Route of super-fast rail lines revealed
The future shape of Britain's high-speed rail network began to emerge yesterday when the Department for Transport unveiled plans for a £30bn, Y-shaped network of track set to slash journey times between London and northern cities.
Financial Times - 12 March 2010 - 4

Supermarkets tricked in organic egg fraud
Consumers bought free-range and organic eggs from Britain’s biggest supermarkets, believing they were the best quality and that hens enjoyed the highest of standards.
The Times - 12 March 2010 - 21

The 100m free-range and organic egg scam
A company director of Heart of England Eggs Unlimited, has been jailed for three years for his part in a fraud in which tens of millions of eggs were falsely sold as free-range.
Daily Telegraph - 12 March 2010 - 11

View from the new 250mph rail route
Idyllic countryside chosen for first leg of Britain's high-speed train revolution.
The Independent - 12 March 2010 - 12

Virgin goes aerial in attempt to bring broadband to the country
Plans to string fibre optic cables along telegraph poles to connect rural areas.
The Independent - 12 March 2010 - 55

250mph rail line will slice through the Chilterns
A high-speed line is planned through an Area of Outstanding Beauty in the Chilterns as the first stage of a proposed new route between London and Birmingham.
Daily Telegraph - 11 March 2010 - 11

500 lost species of Britain's countryside
Some of Britain's most distinctive wildlife now only exists in nature reserves, conservationists have warned, as a small number of species start to dominate the countryside.
Daily Telegraph - 11 March 2010 - 11

Extinction crisis sees hundreds of animal and plant species threatened in England
The biggest national study of threats to biodiversity found nearly 500 species that had died out in England, nearly all in last two centuries.
The Guardian - 11 March 2010 - 11

High-speed rail network to slice through the Chiltern Hills
Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, will set out detailed plans in a White Paper today. The proposed route is drawn to within 5 metres in urban areas and 25 metres in open country and will ignite a battle with thousands of people and landowners whose properties will be affected.
The Times - 11 March 2010 - 9

Human activity blamed as 500 species of plants and animals disappear in England
Nearly 500 species of plants and animals have disappeared in England in the past 200 years, according to the first comprehensive audit of native wildlife.
The Times - 11 March 2010 - 17

Shooting of the brown hare is closely monitored
Letter from Dr Stephen Tapper of GWCT.
Daily Telegraph - 11 March 2010 - 27

Wading birds thrive on game estates
Shooting estates are helping to bring back rare wading birds like curlew and lapwing, according to a major new study by GWCT.
Daily Telegraph - 11 March 2010 - 11

'British classics' made with meat from the other side of the world
Food companies are selling products labelled "British" or "traditional" which contain meat from thousands of miles away, research for The Independent shows.
The Independent - 10 March 2010 - 20

Dog curbs are barking up the wrong tree
Opinion from Roy Hattersley who says this new legislation will penalise the elderly but do nothing to stop the real culprits.
The Times - 10 March 2010 - 22

Editorial: Bring back the dog licence
There is a tinge of desperation to the Government's plan to introduce a requirement for all dog owners to insure their pets to be able to pay compensation to anyone whom the unhappy animals might bite.
The Independent - 10 March 2010 - 34

Japanese Knotweed: curse of the alien species
Importing tiny insects to tackle Britain's Japanese knotweed problem could easily backfire on us, warns Michael Leapman.
Daily Telegraph - 10 March 2010 - 17

Penalising responsible dog owners is wrong
Leader commenting that too many laws have been introduced which bear down on the law-abiding without making any difference to the problem they were supposed to address
Daily Telegraph - 10 March 2010 - 19

'Gribble’ marine pest may be key to biofuel breakthrough, say scientists
A marine pest could be the key to a biofuel breakthrough, say scientists.
The Times - 9 March 2010 - 16

Alien v predator: moth out to kill Japanese knotweed
Chosen insect feeds on invasive species but not other closely related plants and crops.
The Guardian - 9 March 2010 - 6

Bovis buying land as prices stablise
Bovis Homes will take advantage of low land prices to begin building up its pipeline of new houses, after edging back into the black with a £4.8m pre-tax profit last year.
Daily Telegraph - 9 March 2010

Bovis to focus cash on buying land instead of selling homes
Bovis Homes will plough money into buying land instead of selling homes as it expects the housing market recovery to flatten out this year.
The Times - 9 March 2010 - 41

Bugs to fight alien invaders
A small insect known as a psyllid – Latin name Aphalara itadori – will be released on sites blighted by Japanese Knotweed. The psyllid feeds on the knotweed and should help to prevent its advance.
Financial Times - 9 March 2010

Canals boss floats plan for 'aquatic National Trust'
British Waterways chairman Tony Hales says fear of cuts is behind move to leave state control.
The Guardian - 9 March 2010 - 8

Crackdown on dangerous dogs to make microchips compulsory for all
Plan to extend dangerous dogs law to cover attacks on private property and to require third-party insurance.
The Guardian - 9 March 2010 - 1

Dog owners face a new pet “tax” in a government initiative to tackle the menace of dangerous dogs
Compulsory microchipping of every dog — which would cost owners an average £30 — is included in a consultation report published today. It also suggests that the six million dog owners in Britain should be covered by third-party insurance to cover injuries to victims of dog attacks.
The Times - 9 March 2010 - 6

Dog owners to be forced to take out insurance policies
Dog owners would be forced to take out insurance to cover compensation payments should their pet be responsible for a violent attack, under government proposals.
Daily Telegraph - 9 March 2010 - 1

Gardeners urged to stop using peat-based compost
Yesterday the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced a new target to phase out the use of peat compost in amateur gardens by 2020 but shied away from imposing a ban, provoking criticism from members of wildlife groups who said that ministers should have taken stronger action years ago.
The Independent - 9 March 2010 - 18

Insects to be brought in to control Japanese Knotweed
A superweed that has been the bane of gardeners across the UK for more than a century has finally met its match - a tiny bug from Japan.
Daily Telegraph - 9 March 2010 - 3

Battle ahead over power plan for rivers
Rivers could be harnessed to generate electricity for almost a million homes with the building of up to 26,000 controversial hydropower turbines around the country, according to a report by the Environment Agency.
Sunday Telegraph - 7 March 2010 - 2

Britain's 'big cat X files' revealed
There have been more than 100 sightings of exotic and unidentified animals in England since 2005, according to a dossier compiled by Natural England.
Sunday Telegraph - 7 March 2010 - 5

Crackdown on battery eggs sold as free range
Derbyshire investigation by trading standards officers finds that nearly 40% of eggs fail in quality and labelling.
The Observer - 7 March 2010 - 24

Rise in UK carbon emissions disputed by report
Soil deposits of CO2 'not fuelling global warming yet – but will in future'
The Observer - 7 March 2010 - 24

VAT on food: new plan to cut debt
The imposition of VAT on groceries is being actively considered by Whitehall officials as a radical means of reducing the national deficit.
Sunday Telegraph - 7 March 2010 - 1

Birdsong is the best wake-up call
Birdsong is the best sound to wake up to in the morning, according to a survey of the nation's favourite alarm tones.
Daily Telegraph - 5 March 2010 - 13

Country life, urban rule
Comment piece describing that at the end of 13 years in office, the Labour Party leaves the countryside in a worse condition than it found it.
Daily Telegraph - 5 March 2010 - 25

Downpours threaten extinction for Britain's rarest butterfly
Duke of Burgundy needs cowslips and rough grassland to survive after UK survey records worst ever year in 2009.
The Guardian - 5 March 2010

Green energy industry asks for £500m cash injection to meet targets
RenewableUK wants money for research and development.
The Guardian - 5 March 2010 - 26

Met Office analysis reveals 'clear fingerprints' of man-made climate change
Climate scientists say the 100 studies of sea ice, rainfall and temperature should help the public to make up their own minds on global warming.
The Guardian - 5 March 2010 - 9

New reforms to take control of Commons business from whips
MPs voted to wrest control of Commons business from the whips yesterday in the most significant change to the way that the House operates in 30 years.
The Times - 5 March 2010 - 11

Problems of limiting the damage that heavy lorries do to rural villages
Letters on the restrictions on lorries say they just lead to drivers flouting the law.
Daily Telegraph - 5 March 2010 - 25

Tax could fund faster broadband
One in three households could be unable to access super fast broadband in the future, a major Government report has warned. The Country Land and Business Association has launched a new campaign calling on the Government to roll out broadband to the "final third" of the country that still has problems accessing the service.
Daily Telegraph - 5 March 2010 - 6

The countryside is dying at the roots without broadband
Without high-speed broadband, businesses can't operate in rural areas, says Charlie Brooks.
Daily Telegraph - 5 March 2010 - 24

Zero-grazing farms and animal health
Letters in response to the proposed 8,000 herd in Lincolnshire.
The Guardian - 5 March 2010 - 35

Could the future for UK biofuel be oilseed rape and hemp?
Intensive agricultural practice of any sort rarely uses less fossil fuel energy than the solar energy that it conserves as biomass. Letters to the Editor page.
The Times - 4 March 2010 - 25

Exodus of the young puts rural life at risk
Rural communities across Britain are in danger of disappearing because young people are leaving in droves to seek jobs and homes, the government's countryside "tsar" has warned.
Financial Times - 4 March 2010 - 4

Fury as EU approves GM potato
Critics claim plant could spread antibiotic-resistant diseases to humans.
The Independent - 4 March 2010 - 16

Grow your own veg in a skip...or at the hospital
Gardeners will be able to grow cabbages in skips on building sites and tomatoes in hospital car parks under government plans to increase the amount of land available for grow-your-own vegetables.
Daily Telegraph - 4 March 2010 - 10

No phone, no net: why rural children are leaving
The lack of mobile phone reception and broadband coverage in rural areas has become the No 1 issue in dissuading young people from staying on in the countryside, the chair of the Commission for Rural Communities has said.
The Guardian - 4 March 2010 - 14

Solar panels have a bright future - they are not a fashion accessory
Economies of scale in manufacturing are causing rapid reductions in costs and solar energy has a bright future.
The Guardian - 4 March 2010 - 37

Villages dying as young flee 'broadband deserts'
Village life is in danger of dying out as a record number of young people desert the countryside because of a lack of modern services like faster internet speeds, the Government's rural tsar has warned.
Daily Telegraph - 4 March 2010 - 10

Feed-in tariffs are key to energy innovation
Letters in response to George Monbiot's article on feed-in tariffs.
The Guardian - 3 March 2010 - 33

Firefighter arrested after farmer is killed by stampeding cows 'spooked' by siren and lights
A fireman has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a farmer was trampled to death by a herd of cows which were spooked by his siren.
Daily Mail - 3 March 2010 - 5

GM potato to be grown in Europe
Farmers will be able to grow fields of genetically modified (GM) potatoes in Europe for the first time after a controversial ruling by the European Commission.
Daily Telegraph - 3 March 2010 - 16

Gyrocopter rotor blade killed hunt supporter instantly, court told
A hunt supporter trying to stop a pilot from taking off in a gyrocopter had his head sliced open by the machine's tail rotor blade, a court heard today.
The Guardian - 3 March 2010 - 11

In praise of … the Severn bore
Whether it has a future is open to doubt, all the more reason to surf the bore while it.
The Guardian - 3 March 2010 - 32

Call for deer cull to be extended
The Scottish Wildlife Trust yesterday called for the annual cull of deer across Scotland to be extended to avoid them starving during the unusally harsh winter.
Financial Times - 2 March 2010 - 5

Supermarkets to offer 'green energy makeovers'
Supermarkets and DIY chains will offer 'green energy makeovers' to home owners as part of Government plans to transform Britain's housing stock.
Daily Telegraph - 2 March 2010 - 8

Bears, lynx, wolves and elk considered for reintroduction into British countryside
Lynx, brown bears, wolves and elk are among a range of animals being considered for reintroduction to the countryside centuries after they died out in Britain.
Sunday Telegraph - 1 March 2010 - 10

Biofuels 'more polluting than diesel'
Using fossil fuel in vehicles is better for the environment than so-called green fuels made from crops, according to a government study seen by The Times.
The Times - 1 March 2010 - 3

Dog owners face 'competency test'
Owners of all dogs could have to undergo a "competency test" under plans being considered by the Government.
Daily Telegraph - 1 March 2010 - 9

Dog owners test is barking up the wrong tree
Proposed new rules for the dog-owning classes are a model of useless state interference, says George Pitcher.
Daily Telegraph - 1 March 2010 - 24

Spring is back to normal – after 15 freak mild years
Spring begins today, Monday 1 March, and it is running about three weeks to a month late compared to recent years.
The Independent - 1 March 2010 - 11

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Newsround-up

March 2010

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