[NatureNS] UK Butterflies decline

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To quantify Dave=92s comment a bit more from the same useful source that he=
 has dug up (cited again below):  450,000 km of hedgerows were left by the =
1990s, and 121,000 km had been lost, so the total aboriginal length in, say=
, the Middle Ages would have been ~571,000 km.  A loss of 121,000 km by the=
 1990s therefore represents a ~21.2 percent loss of the total original hedg=
erow in UK.  Of the current remainder, 190,000 km are estimated to be speci=
es rich and =91ancient=92.

Unusefully, the article doesn=92t say whether the losses have been concentr=
ated more on the species rich hedgerows.  If this were so, the losses of th=
is superior habitat would have been greater than 21%.  The poor condition o=
f even the remaining hedgerow is attributed to excessive use of fertilizer =
and pesticides in intensive farming, and decline in traditional management =
practices.   This article concerns hedgerows, and doesn=92t touch on the ma=
ssive deforestation in much of the UK, to fuel such early practices as char=
coal production for iron smelting.

On a comparative technical point, we've also been back several times in the=
 last few years, using rental cars in England, Scotland and Wales.  At leas=
t as the main driver, I couldn=92t hazard a guess at the state of the hedge=
rows because even though UK major road surfaces are generally much better m=
aintained than here, traffic density and speed there in England at least is=
 frightening these days, such that loss of attention for even a second or t=
wo to view the scenery would likely lead to annihilation.  Parking a car on=
 the side of the road is often now difficult to almost impossible, even in =
small villages.  Next time I think we had better take a bus tour.
Steve (Hfx)

On Dec 17, 2015, at 10:32 AM, David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com<ma=
ilto:dwebster@glinx.com>> wrote:

Thanks Peter,
    Perceived loss may depend upon the time frame involved and the specific=
 area. According to http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/habitats/hedgero=
ws
some 121,000 km of hedgerows had been lost in the UK by the 1990.
    This may be small or large relative to the total remaining; not sure.

    I would expect the impact of habitat shrinkage on a population to frequ=
ently be delayed until some other factor, e.g. adverse weather, caused a dr=
amatic decline in numbers. In such circumstances, sparse habitat, could rea=
dily preclude recovery.

    Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
----- Original Message -----
From: Hubcove@aol.com<mailto:Hubcove@aol.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 9:07 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] UK Butterflies decline

In our frequent visits to the UK we haven't noticed much decline in hedgero=
ws, probably because there are quite strict regulation governing their remo=
val
Peter Stow
Hubbards

In a message dated 2015-12-16 8:32:43 P.M. Atlantic Standard Time, dwebster=
@glinx.com<mailto:dwebster@glinx.com> writes:
Hi Steve & All,                            Dec 16, 2015
    It seems odd that there was no mention of the obvious; loss of hedgerow=
s by consolidation of fields and crop specialization which would surely imp=
ly for some species not only loss of habitat but habitat fragmentation.
    Yt, DW, Kentville
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Shaw<mailto:srshaw@Dal.Ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 6:38 PM
Subject: [NatureNS] UK Butterflies decline

Continuing an earlier thread, this short Guardian article summarizes a robu=
st increase in a few, but drastic decline in many species, in UK.  Causes u=
nknown but pesticides and climate change among suspects fingered.
Steve (Hfx)


Begin forwarded message:

Subject: UK Butterflies decline
Date: December 15, 2015 at 11:57:09 AM AST

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/15/decline-in-over-three-qu=
arters-uk-butterfly-species-final-warning-says-chris-packham?utm_source=3De=
sp&utm_medium=3DEmail&utm_campaign=3DGU+Today+main+Charity+appeal+151215&ut=
m_term=3D143781&subid=3D14439812&CMP=3DEMCNEWEML6619I



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To quantify Dave=92s comment a bit more from the same useful source that he=
 has dug up (cited again below): &nbsp;450,000 km of hedgerows were left by=
 the 1990s, and 121,000 km had been lost, so the total aboriginal length in=
, say, the Middle Ages would have been
 ~571,000 km. &nbsp;A loss of 121,000 km by the 1990s therefore represents =
a ~21.2 percent loss of the total original hedgerow in UK. &nbsp;Of the cur=
rent remainder, 190,000 km are estimated to be species rich and =91ancient=
=92. &nbsp;&nbsp;
<div>&nbsp; &nbsp;</div>
<div>Unusefully, the article doesn=92t say whether the losses have been con=
centrated more on the species rich hedgerows. &nbsp;If this were so, the lo=
sses of this superior habitat would have been greater than 21%. &nbsp;The p=
oor condition of even the remaining hedgerow
 is attributed to excessive use of fertilizer and pesticides in intensive f=
arming, and decline in traditional management practices. &nbsp; This articl=
e concerns hedgerows, and doesn=92t touch on the massive deforestation in m=
uch of the UK, to fuel such early practices
 as charcoal production for iron smelting.&nbsp;</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>On a comparative technical point, we've also been back several times i=
n the last few years, using rental cars in England, Scotland and Wales. &nb=
sp;At least as the main driver, I couldn=92t hazard a guess at the state of=
 t