Project Timescape

Spanish invader threatens native bluebells
Story from telegraph.co.uk

Conservationists are to carry out a survey of the country's bluebells amid concerns that the native variety are under threat from a robust Spanish invader.

The survey, by the Natural History Museum in partnership with Plantlife and the Ramblers' Association, will assess the extent to which Spanish bluebell hybrids are taking over from the British species.

The Spanish variety, which are unscented and have straight stems, were introduced into Britain 1680 and became popular with gardeners because they are very fertile and will grow almost anywhere. But they soon spread into the wild and have began cross-breeding with wild British stock.

The public are being urged to visit woodland areas to help record the species for the online survey.

Native bluebells have a heady scent and petals which curl at the ends. The flower heads are usually all positioned along one side of the stem, causing the characteristic droop.

In contrast the Spanish variety have larger, paler and flared petals with little or no fragrance. It flowers on all sides of a stiff stem and has much broader leaves. The hybrid variety has characteristics of both plant types.

Take part in the bluebell survey >>

Story from www.telegraph.co.uk

Video news from BBC News, 2nd May 2008

^{Story from BBC Science & Nature News, 6th March 2008}

Disappointment at 7% drop in plastic bag use

Major retailers have been ordered to achieve a "substantial reduction" in the number of plastic bags used, after a meeting heard they have only achieved a 7% reduction in the first year of a voluntary agreement.

The 21 retailers who had signed up to the Courtauld Commitment reported disappointing figures at a meeting held one year after they agreed to cut the environmental impact of bags by 25%.

Results found that a 14% drop in the amount of virgin plastic had been achieved by the retailers concerned, and that performances among them had been "very variable".

The meeting saw the retailers discussing measures they have already tried for cutting down on bag use, ranging from loyalty points for customers using re-usable bags - such as the scheme tried by Tesco - as well as the dispensing of bags by cashiers only, and the use of recycled content in bags, which has been tried by retailers like Sainsbury's.

Other schemes included the promotion of re-usable bags and the introduction of in-store bag recycling facilities, which many supermarkets now do, the number of in-store facilities increasing by 43% in the last year.

The Courtauld target could still be achieved by its deadline of the end of 2008, insisted WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

^{Story from letsrecycle.com 29th February 2008}

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