National charities challenge Government to get High Speed Rail on the right track

A powerful alliance of respected organisations has agreed a Charter that will hold the Government to account on its approach to High Speed Rail. The Right Lines Charter, which is published today [Thursday], sets out four core principles ‘for doing High Speed Rail well’.

The Charter calls for a national transport strategy, better future-proofing of big transport proposals, effective public participation and a more strategic approach to minimising adverse impacts. Its supporters seek to engage positively with the Government, as they believe the approach to High Speed Rail currently falls well short of the Charter's principles.

Many groups commenting publicly on High Speed Rail to date have represented either people living along the proposed route or businesses and cities that could profit from it. Today’s Charter draws together for the first time many well known national charities, covering environmental, heritage, countryside, legal and wildlife issues, in addition to other organisations. It seeks to achieve the best long-term outcome from high speed rail for the country, the climate, communities and the countryside.

Doug Parr, Policy Director of Greenpeace UK, said: “Tackling transport emissions means an increase in rail capacity. High speed rail can only help if it’s in a proper policy framework which ensures people move from car and plane onto the train.”

Mark Avery, RSPB Director of Conservation, said: "A switch to rail is critical if our future transport system is going to be green and clean. But the environmental benefits won't materialise on their own. Government must demonstrate how High Speed 2 plans will respect nature, minimise damage to important wildlife sites, and help us in the fight against climate change."?

Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “High speed rail needs to be part of a broader policy to reduce road and air traffic, with extra rail capacity to improve people’s travel choices and to get freight off the roads. Only if there is this broader policy can the full impacts of high speed rail be assessed properly.”

The following organisations support the Charter: Campaign for Better Transport, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Chiltern Society, Civic Voice, Environmental Law Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust.

Scientific study backs fight to save farmland birds

A major research study on 70 farms over seven years has shown the vital importance of publicly funded environmental measures to save threatened farmland birds.

The study – published in the Journal of Applied Ecology – focuses on one of the UK’s most threatened farmland birds, the corn bunting. The once widespread species has crashed by almost 90 per cent since 1970 and is now a rare sight in our countryside.

The research has shown conclusively that targeted agri-environment schemes paying farmers to include measures for corn buntings on their land can make a real difference. Populations of the bird continued to decline rapidly on farms without agri-environment schemes, remained roughly stable in numbers on farms with basic schemes, and increased markedly on those with targeted measures and expert support.

RSPB conservation director Mark Avery said: “Corn buntings are just one of a number of species which are disappearing from our countryside. We cannot allow this to continue.

“Farmland bird numbers overall have halved since 1970. Imagine turning the volume of birdsong in today’s farmland up twice as loud – that’s what our countryside sounded like 40 years ago.

“This research proves just how vital it is that farmers receive proper funding and support if they are to help reverse these dramatic declines. We know what the problems are and we know how to solve them - now farmers, conservationists and Government all need to work together to make it happen.

“UK farmers receive £3.3billion a year through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), but only a small part of this pays for agri-environment schemes. The upcoming reform of the CAP is a vital opportunity to ensure this money benefits both farming communities and threatened wildlife.”

Corn buntings are suffering from a lack of places to feed and nest in our countryside. They prefer nesting in growing crops and survive on a diet of insects in summer, and grain and weed seeds in winter. Measures that have been shown to boost the fortunes of corn buntings include over-winter stubble and insect rich field margins.

The study took place in Eastern Scotland, where 85 per cent of Scotland’s corn buntings are found, between 2003 and 2009. Surveys were carried out on 71 arable and mixed lowland farms. Corn buntings increased 5.6 per cent per year on farms with target agri environment measures, showed no significant change on farms with basic agri environment measures and declined by 14.5 per cent per year where there were no agri-environment measures in place.

UK PENGUINS IN REHAB AFTER DEVASTATING OIL SPILL

Hundreds of oil-soaked rockhopper penguins in the South Atlantic have now been put into 'rehab' by Tristan Islanders facing a race against the clock to help save the endangered species.

But those assessing the impact of the disaster believe more than 10,000 birds could have been affected.

The grounded cargo vessel MS Oliva crashed into Nightingale island – part of the Tristan da Cunha UK overseas territory– ten days ago, and local conservationists and volunteers have been working tirelessly ever since to help the threatened birds.

Almost 500 penguins are already in a rehab shed where a team has begun efforts to stabilise them with fluid, vitamins and charcoal to absorb ingested oil.

Another 500 penguins arrived on a rescue boat late last night and a further 500 are awaiting transport to Tristan for the same treatment.

Katrine Herian, who works for the RSPB on the island, says: 'The priority is to get food into the birds as they are very hungry. We are trying locally caught fish and some are starting to take small half inch squares of the food.

'We will do all we can to clean up as many penguins as possible after this disaster.'

A local barge went out specifically to catch fish for the penguins, which was filleted and fed to the oiled birds.

Washing of the birds will be started once they are stabilised and heaters or infrared bulbs are available to keep them warm afterwards. There is a high risk of pneumonia developing if they are cold.

The swimming pool on Tristan has been closed for bathing and is being drained of chlorinated water to be partially refilled and used for birds that are not as badly oiled as others.

The crew of the Oliva, which is still ashore on Tristan, are helping out by building a facility for the birds.

Sarah Sanders from the RSPB's International Division says: 'We still can't believe this has happened and suspect that the full impacts of the oil spill will still be coming to light in weeks to come.

'Unlike previous spills of this size, it didn't happen way out to sea and gradually approach such a vital conservation area. It struck right at the heart of the penguin colony and it's devastating to them.'

Nightingale Island includes nearly half of the world population of northern rockhopper penguins, one of the world's most threatened species of penguin.

One salvage tug from Cape Town has now arrived on the island and it is hoped a decision will be made quickly to send a second ship shortly.

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Scientific study backs fight to save farmland birds