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Three Honorary Life Members
At the Annual General Meeting in 2007 it was good to see all three Honorary Life Members present, and the temptation to record this rare event was just too much...
From the left - Dr Geoffrey Gaunt, Dr Peter Skidmore & Dr Paul Buckland.
Stephen Warburton
Following the sad death of Stephen Warburton,
of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust on the 19th January 2004, the
Forum has established an annual Memorial Lecture.
The second lecture, entitled "Climate Change and
Insects: Past, Present and Future" was held at the York St John University
on Saturday 10th February 2007. Although the audience was not as numerous as hoped the feeling was that the day
was a great success. Having just four fairly long presentations, with ample time for speakers to explore topics
thoroughly, and for questions, discussion and conversation over lunch,
was a civilised and welcome contrast to the over-crammed programmes which have become the norm today.
Phil Thomas's lively, erudite, witty, and highly apposite contributions from the chair added greatly to the day,
and provided some heart-warming personal reflections on Stephen.
Considerable thanks are due to PLACE (People, Landscape And Cultural Environment of Yorkshire) for their sponsorship.
PLACE have published their own book in tribute to Stephen, entitled "Land Use, Ecology and Conservation in the Lower
Derwent valley." Ed. Tim Milsom. Price: £14.99 + £1.50
postage & packing.
This lavishly illustrated volume, inspired by the PLACE
conference on the Lower Derwent Valley in 2002, has
just been published. It includes chapters on all aspects of
the ecology of the Valley and is an authoritative account
of recent research in the area.
Further details from PLACE Office, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York, YO31 7EX - or see the
PLACE website. .
Identification Workshops
We are organising a short series of identification workshops,
aimed at giving local people the field skills to contribute to survey, surveillance and monitoring of the Moors.
The first, on September 23rd 2007, covered the identification of willows, sallows and ossiers,
and will be followed by a second on November 4th 2007 about Heath and Moorland Lichens.
More details of the Lichens workshop are available here..
Translocation Policy
Following the release of Large Heath butterflies on Hatfield Moor
the forum has formulated a policy on translocation, which can be dowloaded
here..
Thorne and Hatfield Moors
included in list of cSAC's
On the 5th March 2003, Thorne Moors and
most of Hatfield Moors were included in the list of cSACs which
were forwarded to the European Commission
Estonian Peat
The Guardian Newspaper has recently highlighted
the plight of Estonian wildlife and peatland habitats as British
gardeners' appetite for peat places these areas at risk of destruction.
Michael Meacher Meets Forum
 
Conference delegates
out on Hatfield Moors at the recent Forum Conference.
The Rt. Hon. Michael Meacher MP, former
Minister of State (Environment)
attended the Forum's recent conference, "Peat - the way
forward, a future for the UK's peatlands", and gave the
key note speech.
The meeting was in Scunthorpe,
3rd - 4th July 2002.The opening welcome to the conference was
by Caroline Flint MP (constituency MP for Don Valley and stalwart
supporter of the Forum’s endeavours for conservation of the
Humberhead Peatlands).Other speakers included Andy Brown (English
Nature), Martin Harper (Plant Life), Craig Bennett (Friends
of the Earth), Adrian Olivier (English Heritage), Richard Buxton
(Solicitor Environmental and Public Law), Ian Goldthorpe (North
Lincolnshire County Council), Stuart Henchie (Royal Botanic
Gardens Kew), Mark Lewington (Terra Eco Systems), Paul Waller
(Scotts Co.(UK) Ltd), Sally Ockendoen (B&Q), Dr. Dan Charman
(University of Plymouth), Dr. Rob Stoneman (Sheffield Wildlife
Trust) and Keith Stanfield (Dept. of the Environment, Northern
Ireland & Peatlands Park). The Sessions were chaired
by Richard Lindsay, University of East London and member of
the IMCG.
The topics discussed included the history
of peatlands, their importance and their conservation, peatlands
and environmental change, growing medium requirements from a
horticultural perspective, peat alternatives, protection through
the planning and legislative frameworks, community initiative
projects – using the Peatlands Park in Northern Ireland as a
model. A question time allowed delegates to address the
speakers on issues or aspects of concern.
The conference was attended by delegates
from members and observers of the Forum itself, by representatives
of English Nature, English Heritage, The Environment Agency,
county Wildlife Trusts, charities with similar aims and objectives
as the Forum, the RSPB, The Council for British Archaeology,
academic institutions with scientific interest in all aspects
of peatland ecology, archaeology and landscape use. Delegates
were invited from horticultural organisations such as the Royal
Horticultural Society, Kew Botanical Gardens and the Soil Association.
Peat alternative companies and the peat extraction industry
were also represented – speakers from both addressed delegates.
Members of the public were also present.
The two day conference was made possible
by receipt of a grant from the National Lottery Awards for
All scheme. Generous sponsorship was also received from
B & Q, North Lincolnshire Council and English
Nature. Financial Assisstance was also provided by the Scotts
Company (UK) Ltd., Terra Eco Systems (a division
of Thames Water), Edinburgh Oil & Gas Plc., Council
for British Archaeology and Petersfield Products.
New! A transcript of the conference proceedings are now available to download as a pdf document (524KB).
Peat Cutting halted on Thorne Moors
Thanks to a new £17.3 m initiative
by English Nature and central government, Thorne and
Hatfield Moors have been purchased from Scotts, an American
multinational corporation. Peat extraction will cease immediately
on Thorne, but continue on Hatfield Moors for a further 4 years.
Incidentally, they will be paid even more money to assist with
"rehabilitation" works over four years...
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