UK Biodiversity information and data

UKWildlife – Fossilized

December 21st, 2015 by UKW No comments »

For the past 20 years or so (since around 1996!) UKWildlife has presented the Wildlife and Countryside Act online.

Since 2000 the site has been powered by a content management system on UKwildlife.com and has been maintained as a free resource to those interested in the conservation of UK wildlife.

Our latest development has been to convert the site into a ‘static’ site that is generated by an underlying CMS.

This means that the site requires fewer resources to maintain and keep secure.

The downside of this is that you can no longer comment on any of the articles and there is no search function live on the site.

The upside is that the site is exceptionally fast, secure and free from unwanted comments and attacks.

Thanks for your interest in the site and if you have any suggestions or queries get in touch.

 

Web Hosting for Biological Recording Sites

April 29th, 2010 by UKW No comments »

If you are thinking about starting up a web site to present information about biological recording or to support a community of users with a common interest in natural history, such as supporting a Recording Scheme then Blue-Bag working with UKWildlife can provide an ideal solution for you to quickly get up and running.

Modern web sites are increasingly based on free ‘open source’ Content Management Systems (CMS) such as Drupal, Joomla and WordPress. These CMS provide free solutions to getting a community site up and running very swiftly that will grow and scale with you and your needs.
It can be daunting at first to get going;  so much to consider – registering a domain name, finding a suitable host and choosing the correct Content Management System, choosing a design and setting up a site. Fortunately there are experts who can help who speak your language. » Read more: Web Hosting for Biological Recording Sites

Well shrimps in Norfolk

May 2nd, 2014 by UKW No comments »

Tim Holt-Wilson has written a nice piece about well shrimps (Niphargids) on his blog ‘Living World’.

What are Niphargids??

They are small, blind, colourless crustaceans inhabiting groundwater and known to science as Niphargids. As it turns out, hardly anyone has heard of them; they are an invisible part of Britain’s biodiversity in more ways than one. The first recorded specimen in England was found in the well at Bart’s Hospital, London, in 1812. Further examples of these stygobitic (‘styx-living’), hypogeal (‘beneath the earth’) crustacea were identified in wells and caves in the 19th century, including Niphargus kochianusN. fontanus and N.aquilex; all three have since been found living in East Anglia. The most widespread is N.kochianus, which lives in the Chalk (Proudlove et al, 2003).

Go over to Living World to read the full story – A hidden piece of UK Biodiverity!

Earthstar in full glory

September 26th, 2010 by UKW No comments »
Geastrum sp.

Rounded Earthstar (Geastrum fimbriatum)

Came across this great example of an earthstar fungus the other day – real treat. I think it is Geastrum fimbriatum (but the ring around the spore hole could make it G. saccatum). Any feedback welcome!
» Read more: Earthstar in full glory

Fungal forays this autumn

September 20th, 2010 by UKW 2 comments »

Great Autumn for Fungi – wet and warm. A trip to your local woodland trust or local wildlife trust woodland will be rewarded with some great fungal finds this autumn. As always – look and don’t touch – many of these are pleasant to look at but harmful if eaten (some not so pleasant to look at) – These are some photos taken with an iPhone and posted to our TwitPic service over the weekend.



Conserving geodiversity

August 13th, 2010 by UKW No comments »
The British Museum excavations at Barnham

The British Museum excavations at Barnham, 1993

We are really fortunate this month to have a special guest editorial by Tim Holt-Wilson. Tim has contributed a great series of articles about the importance of geodiversity and the conservation of our geological diversity.
Tim writes:

Conserving geodiversity is part of the core business of nature conservation. Geodiversity is essentially the abiotic part of the natural world, and may be defined as the natural range or diversity of geological and geomorphological features, soil and water that compose and shape the physical landscape.

Read the full article here» Conserving geodiversity
View on North UistRiver Nar at MiddletonRaised beach GwyneddCrowns Mine BotallackCrownhill TorThe Wiltshire Downs at Cherhill

57 UK Environment web sites to close

July 2nd, 2010 by UKW No comments »
Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude

The UK Government Cabinet office announced on 24 June 2010 that 75% of the 820+ government web sites will be closed down by 2011 and that the remaining sites should cut costs by 50% and ‘move onto common infrastructures’.

A rationalisation of websites set up by public bodies has been undertaken since 2006 when the previous government pledged to cull the number of web sites and to review the value of those that remain. After reviewing 1795 web sites run by government and partner agencies, over 1000 had been taken off line. Following a parliamentary question from Tom Watson (see Theyworkforyou.com- DEFRA web sites affected ) it was announced that 57 sites managed by DEFRA would be closed by April 2011 (Spot the missing site – 57 announced – only 56 listed!) » Read more: 57 UK Environment web sites to close

Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 Part 1

February 10th, 2010 by UKW No comments »

We have finished adding all of the species listings for the Schedules of Part 1 of the Wildlife and Coutryside Act 1981.
This includes all of the plant and animal schedules in addition to the bird schedules.
We have yet to add the listings for Schedule 10 (Endangered Species Import and Export)

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – listings

January 27th, 2010 by UKW 1 comment »

We have just finished migrating the listings of species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to the new site (you can find them here – http://www.ukwildlife.com/index.php/wildlife-countryside-act-1981/).

There are details of all the schedules, the closed seasons and updates from any variations.

Let is know if you find any issues!

Welcome

January 22nd, 2010 by UKW No comments »
linnet

Welcome to UKWildlife!
For over ten years UKWildlife has supported initiatives to provide access to information relating to the conservation of our natural diversity. We have recently migrated our Wildlife and Countryside 1981 listings to this new site and welcome any feedback you may have.
We shall be providing special editorials on a range of issues of relevance to conservation of both biotic and abiotic diversity.

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