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In GNS News (March 2014) I have published an article entitled Biodiversity Offsetting – the new planning buzz-word. As promised in the article, copies of the Green Paper, the Wildlife Trusts’ response and overview are below for those who may wish to read more.

Also below is a copy of the article from GNS News for those who do not receive the magazine.

Comments or queries are always welcome.

Andrew Bluett

Biodiversity Offsetting

Biodiversity offsetting green paper

Biodiversity Offsetting TWT Nov 2013

biodiversity_offsetting_july_2013_final

The March issue of GNS News is on its way to you now. There are many interesting articles as usual – thank you to the recent contributors.

Look out for two important inserts: an invitation to the GNS Cirencester Brach’s 50th year celebrations (details included within), and information on how to receive the soon-to-be-published provisional Red Data Book of Gloucestershire Bryophytes by Richard Lansdown.

The new “Atlas of Dragonflies in Britain and Ireland” is due to be published in May 2014. This is a full colour book of approximately 400 pages from the British Dragonfly Society that maps the distribution of all 56 species of damselflies and dragonflies in Britain and Ireland.

Copies may be ordered on-line from FSC Publications at £20.00 plus postage. This special pre-publication offer is very good value but the offer ends on 31st March 2014.

Order your copy now using the following link – http://is.gd/odonata

Posted on behalf of the Gloucestershire Odonata Recorder, Ingrid Twissell.

Gordon Kirk, while organiser of the BTO Bird Atlas fieldwork in Gloucestershire, issued a regular newsletter, which he called the “Gloucestershire Tetradder”. Now that the national Atlas, like the “Birds of Gloucestershire”, of which Gordon was one of the co-authors, is completed and published, he intends to continue producing the newsletter with the same title – even if we are no longer surveying atlas tetrads. Here is the latest version. Please send any comments direct to Gordon.

GlosTetradder27 (PDF file)

Now that the floodwaters are on the way down, the boardwalk by the towpath at Coombe Hill Canal is now accessible, but members should know that the new Grundon Hide has floated away, so care must be taken at this site.

Posted on behalf of John Sanders.

“A new group has been established in the Forest of Dean to encourage conservation of nature in the Forest.  The Dean Natural Alliance held its inaugural meeting in Soudley Village Hall on Monday  24 February.  Their immediate concern is conservation of the Cinderford Northern Quarter, and the meeting heard a number of presentations about the importance of the area, in many cases by naturalists who are long-standing members of GNS.  David Priddis emphasized the importance of the site (recognised by establishment of an EU Special Area of Conservation) for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat, one of the rarest bats in Britain.  Simon glover spoke of the importance of the area for butterflies, and in particular for Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Grayling (sadly now extinct in the area) and especially for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.  David Dewsbury spoke of the unusually rich reptile and amphibian fauna: Great Crested Newt, Smooth and Palmate Newts, Common Frog and Common Toad are all present, the only missing amphibian is Natterjack Toad; while among reptiles Adder, Grass Snake, viviparous Lizard and Slow worm are all present.

DNA aims to raise public awareness of the importance of this and other sites in the forest.  Anyone can join as an individual at £5 per annum.  Their website is www.deannaturalalliance.org and their next meeting is on 10 March.

GNS looks forward to cooperating with DNA in the future.”

(Posted by Andrew Bluett on behalf of Mike Smart)

See also the attached article –

DNA Article The Forester 19 2 2014

The latest edition of The Gloucestershire Naturalist (No.24) has been published and will be posted out shortly. John Sanders is a new contributor to this magazine and, having studied Gloucestershire’s gulls for some years, has now been studying Curlews on the River Severn. He writes about their movements through colour-ring observations. John Harper describes the discovery of a spider species new to Gloucestershire. The county’s flora and fauna also receive attention from the many recorders, contact details for whom are given at the back of the magazine.

Needless to say the flooding around Gloucester and throughout the Severn Valley is having its effects on people and the infrastructure as it usually does. Similarly, there are effects on wildlife with Swans and Ducks particularly showing up in places where there is normally no water for them to utilise.

One of the more tragic effects is that of terrestrial animals being forced out of their normal haunts in search of dry ground and food; on the morning of Saturday 15th February on the Gloucester Northern by-pass, Mike Smart and Andrew Bluett discovered the body of an Otter (Lutra lutra) that had fallen victim to a collision with a vehicle whilst crossing from one flooded area to another.