2010 Biodiversity
Biodiversity - The variety of life on earth and the habitats that support them.
We need biodiversity because our lives depend on the natural world for clean water, food, the air we breathe, health, clothing and more. In recognition of this the UN have designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. It is shocking to learn that plants and animals are becoming extinct at a faster rate today that at any time in the last 65 million years. 17,000 different species are on the brink of extinction including one fifth of the world's mammals. Reasons for this include habitat destruction and fragmentation, pollution and over exploitation of natural resources. For more information visit the Natural History Museum website Go
In the UK, in addition to already rare species, many others, that we take for granted, have also declined such as the Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Common Toad, Grass Snake, Hedgehog, Brown Hare and various Bat species. For a full list of UK animals, plants and habitats of conservation concern visit the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Go
In Hampshire we have a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) which details the national priority species/habitats that occur within the county and our locally rare/declining/threatened species/habitats.
For information on Hampshire's Biodiversity please contact Biodiversity Officer, Jacklyn Johnston on 01962 832315 or email jacklyn.johnston at hants.gov.uk or visit Hampshire Biodiversity online Go
Back in Froyle itself, many people in the village are already very active in creating and maintaining wildlife friendly habitats in their gardens. It would be great, if via the Village Magazine and this website, people shared their sightings and hints and tips for sustaining and growing biodiversity in our gardens. For example:
  • What have you found to be the best nectar and berry rich trees, shrubs and flowers to attract and feed different birds, bees, butterflies, bats and moths in your garden?
  • Has anyone put up bird and bat boxes in their garden and seen positive results?
  • What foods do you put out to attract and feed different species of birds or other animals e.g. hedgehogs?
  • Where do you get your bird/other garden visitor food supplies from?
  • Do you have any recipes for making bird / garden visitor food treats at home?
  • Has anyone consciously used compost heaps and log piles to create wildlife habitats and if so, what results have you had?
  • Are there any species that you are particularly worried about and how are you supporting and maintaining these in your own garden?
  • What would you like people to do in their gardens in 2010 and beyond to help sustain and grow the biodiversity we have in Froyle?
Michelle Essenson has volunteered to collate people’s input in a format ready for insertion in the village magazine each month. So please send any input to her at Barns End or via email.
Sue Clark & Michelle Essenson

We are happy to receive any Froyle wildlife photos for the website site to help everyone enjoy and learn about our own local biodiversity - send them to naturepix@froyle.com

We start our galleries with three photographs from Sue Clark of Springtime Bumblebee lookalikes.