General News
CWU: The Communication Workers Union has announced a further day of strike action commencing the evening of Thursday 12th July and continuing through Friday 13th July. Royal Mail Group workers will begin 24 hours of strike action with shifts commencing after 1900 hours.
In announcing the strike, the union says that it is again providing a further opportunity for Royal Mail to return to negotiations or face more strikes. The Union has written to Allan Leighton, Royal Mail chair, to personally take part in fresh negotiations.
NE: The ‘boom’ of the male bittern’s mating call has been heard at Natural England’s Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Kent. The bittern is one of England’s rarest breeding birds and every male has a distinctive ‘boom’ which acts as a fingerprint for recognising individuals.
Visitors to Stodmarsh NNR - an internationally important site for these birds - have been able hear the distinctive ‘boom’ in the early morning and late evening throughout May and June. In the past week, another bittern has been sighted, possibly a female, raising the possibility that they may have made a breeding attempt on the reserve.
Press release ~ Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve (NNR) ~ Kentish Stour Countryside Project ~ RSPB – Bittern BAP report
NE: Natural England has launched its 'Future of Farming Awards' scheme which will celebrate environmental excellence & innovation in farming and recognise those farmers who have made the greatest contribution to both conserving England's special wildlife & landscapes, whilst helping people have greater access to our natural environment.
A winner and runner up will be chosen in August from each of England's nine regions by a regional judging panel made up of regional Natural England specialists and representatives from the farming industry. A national panel will select the overall winner and runner up, to be announced at a special event this autumn.
Press release ~ Future of Farming Awards' scheme ~ Natural England ~ Environmental Stewardship ~ Map ping a better natural environment ~ Countryside Quality Counts (CQC) ~ Countryscape ~ Landscape Character Network ~ Countryside Access
BSA: The Basic Skills Agency (BSA) began work as part of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) on 2nd July 2007 - and the expanded NIACE will work in alliance with Tribal in the field of literacy, language & numeracy to form the country's leading concentration of expertise across all age ranges.
The BSA's work in Wales will be assimilated into the Welsh Assembly Government in line with the Welsh Assembly policy with NIACE, working with Tribal, contracted to support that work.
Press release ~ Basic Skills Agency at Niace (for the time being the BSA will retain its own website) ~ National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) ~ Tribal
DfCSF: The Government's commitment to children's safety is being backed with a grant of £30m to the NSPCC to make sure every child has someone to call on for help & advice, the newly formed Department for Children, Schools and Families has announced.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) will get the money over the next four years to strengthen its ChildLine Service - the free helpline for children and young people in the UK. As part of the partnership with the Government the NSPCC will also be putting more money into its helplines.
The money will also help expand the NSPCC's other helpline services, including those provided online, and the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline which allows adults to report concerns. In future children will also be able to access services via text message.
Press release ~ National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) ~ChildLine Service ~ Department for Children, Schools and Families
Defra: Defra has announced a ban on all international pigeon racing from continental mainland Europe (including the Channel Islands) to the UK.
The ban is being introduced with immediate effect, as a precautionary measure, following the recent finding of H5N1 in wild birds in France. It will not affect domestic pigeon racing activity within the UK which is permitted to continue.
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