In the south of England, the Poole Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been extended by 40%.

Poole harbour is a designated RAMSAR site.  The study of birds and the monitoring of their numbers and behaviour is vital to the ongoing conservation efforts that take place.

The site is now the first such one to specifically include sub-tidal areas.  And these areas matter – they are the feeding areas of tern populations who have an international importance.

Birds of Poole Harbour  explained that the harbour is very important to waders and wildfowl, and that Natural England, who designate the areas, have done a great job in bringing this together.  A number of organisations have been involved in bringing all the needed data together.

Foraging terns, spoonbills, avocets, black-tailed godwits, rare sponges and sub-tidal seagrass beds are all in the area.

Seagrass beds give refuge to juvenile fish and shellfish – and these are a rich food source for roosting seabirds.

Dorset Wildlife Trust marine conservation officer Emma Rance said: "The channels beneath the busy waterways of Poole Harbour are home to a myriad of species.

"Supporting habitats such as seagrass beds provide refuge for juvenile fish and shellfish which become a rich food source for overwintering and roosting seabirds.

Source: Daily Echo

Birds of Poole Harbour’ is a charity dedicated to educating people on the stunning variety of birdlife in the area, be they school children to reisdents or visiting tourists.  It works to rasie the profile of bird conservation, preservation and observation in and around the poole Harbour area.

Children in Urandangi in the Australian state of Queensland are doing wonderful work keeping the local wildlife well watered.

Urandangi was founded in 1885 with a general store. It's grown a bit since then and recently locals noticed that the local wildlife had nothing to drink as the river’s been dry for 2 years.

So locals did something about it to help wildlife.

With local children’s help, a trough is filled every day.  Kangeroos, pigs and birds visit the trough to drink their fill.

The trough is filled with a hose from a nearby property.

Children, local residents and the publican of the Dangi Pub keep a close eye on the water levels to make sure the animals have enough to drink.

There’s even a sign asking locals not to take the water as it’s meant for wildlife!  It says “This water is for our native and wild friends.  Please do not be mean and borrow it.”

Well done to the kids of Urandangi and all the residents there for taking action to look after wildlife.  

Visit the Dangi Pub

Visit the Lonely Planet Online Shop for books on visiting Australia

If you're looking for activities for the kids to do which get them closer to wildlife, take a look at the Woodland Trust's blog.

They have three wonderful ways you can help wildlife, including making your own bird feeder.  No baking is required, either! 

 
©Woodland Trust

As well as listing the ingredients to include, the blog helpfully includes things to avoid, and also the method of making your feeder.

As well as getting messy and making your own homemade bird feeder, you can then watch the visitors coming to your garden to enjoy the feast you've left them!   Get the kids to see how many they can spot and identify - it's a great way to get them close to nature.

Also on the blog you'll find a way to turn used carton into seed holders. 

Visit the Woodland Trust's blog here

If you've been wanting to fill your garden with colour or fill gaps which haven't got anything in them, then this could be a good time to do it.

Online retailers Thompson & Morgan have a great offer on this weekend with 20% off their plants, bulbs and seeds.   

From Friday 18th January 2019 at 00:00:01 ending on Monday 21st January 2019 at 23:59:59, you can enjoy 20% off your order from them.   You just click through to activate your discount.

If that doesn't work, apply TM_TN510W into the promotion order code box within your shopping basket.

This offer excludes all products within their Tool Shed, Outdoor Living, Buildings & Fencing and Wild Birdfood categories.  And it cannot be used in conjunction with promotional vouchers or any other offer including all reader & advert offers. Plus it's applicable to UK postcodes only.

Go shopping at Thompson & Morgan and fill your garden with beauty!

A forest teeming with wildlife in Tanzania has been placed under protection, supported by the World Land Trust and other partners.

The Magombera Nature Reserve protects 6,425 acres of tropical forest.   It’s managed by the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group.  The land would otherwise been threatened by conversation  to a sugar planatation.

The Magombera Forest is internationally recognised for its diverse landscapes and unique wildlife.   It has African megafauna such as African Elephants and Hippos and it’s been identified as one of the top 20 Priority Prmate areas in Tanzania  and up to now, it’s been the only one without protected status. It’s also got over 500 plant species with a number of rare and endemic trees.

Unique Tanzanian Wildlife Protected by new 6,425 acre nature reserve
©Andrew Marshall

It’s home to at least 5 primate species, including Udzungwa Red Colobus, found only in this valley and the neighbouring Udzungwa Mountains, Angolan Black and White Colobus, Sykes’s Monkey, Greater Bushbaby and Udzungwa Galago.

Local communities have shown strong support for the conservation of the Magombera Forest.   It helps regulate climate, present flooding and maintains soil fertility for crops.

But villagers are benefiting from entrance fees paid by tourists to visit the forests.

The TFCG was able to buy 3,030 acres of the reserve from a sugar company, thanks to the joint support of the World Land Trust, Flamingo Land, Aage V.Jensen Charity Foundation and Rainforest Trust. 

The other 3,395 acres belong to the Tanzanian government already and will now be protected as the Magombera Nature Reserve which is the highest level of protection available under the Tanzania Forest Service.

Back in 2008, it had been predicted that the forest understory be gone by 2018 if the rates of logging young straight trees had continued without intervention. There had been drastic deforestation since the 1950s – some 988,420 acres had been lost in the Kilombero Valley and the Magombera Forest was all that had remained.

Visit the World Land Trust here to find out more

Support the World Land Trust's Plant a Tree Appeal