Land & People activist, Barry Bennett, provides us with the results of a midnight’s “amphibian safari” conducted in the depths of a Dorset garden.

Barry writes: Amongst the plants found in a leafy suburban garden in Bournemouth, a watchful pair of eyes is seen glaring hungrily at slugs and snails. The light of the torch reveals golden eyes patiently watching its prey.

This should be “the night of the amphibians”, but in this location, it’s “the night of the toads”!

As recently reported by Land & People, frogs have been suffering the effects of the upsetting of their delicate ecological balance of nature, due to pollution and the introduction of deadly diseases carried by imported species.

Fortunately, in this area, the toad has found refuge in many locations. But for how long?

The toad pictured (left), has recently started out in life. It’s a baby, not much larger than the pound coin shown.

Whether it will reach adulthood and help us rid our gardens of the unwanted slugs, snails and other pests that destroy our prized plants, is up to you!

Its habitat is under attack. It needs ponds to breed, gardens to live in and clean water. It also needs the assistance of humans who understand that there is more to life in Britain than TV and cash. Oh, and ditch the slug pellets please! If the toads aren’t happy, ultimately nor will you be. It follows that what poisons them will ultimately poison us.

The toad (left) is blissfully unaware that its existence, along with its cousins - the frogs and newts - is under attack.

Attack from the developer who knocks down family homes, fills in ponds and builds on the green belt.

Attack from the government and Establishment political parties- - who see amphibian habitats as fair game for blocks of flats and the housing estates needed to house a booming immigration-fuelled overpopulation.

Attack from GM pollutants, herbicides, pesticides and a thousand and one chemicals. The latter being responsible for the death of 90 million bees in France it is claimed.

Attack from people who live in boxes, watch boxes, and end up in boxes �“ people who never take the time to find out what wildlife exists beyond their front doors.

Well amphibians do exist, and they are probably resident in a garden near you - if you are lucky to live in an environment free from the scourge of overbuilding and pollution.

Next time you are stressed out, because of increasing bills; or you are not sure which Euro zone you live in, or for any reason whatsoever; then just think how lucky you are that nature and its wonders are all around you and for free!

Maybe then you’ll start to fight for yours and our wildlife’s rights to exist in Britain �“ OUR green and pleasant land.

Take a look, make sure it’s quick or you might miss a glimpse of these amazing creatures living in your very own back yard.

Our amphibians need you!

When well-meaning people introduced the American grey squirrel into Britain in the 19th century they could hardly have foreseen the disasterous impact it would have on our native red. Today, of course, the native red has been driven to the very fringes of Britain, although - with a little help from man - it is making something of a comeback in some areas.

Now experts claim that Britain’s native toad species are at risk from an imported infection that has already eradicated some of the world’s amphibian colonies.

Fortunately, the fungal disease is currently confined to Kent, where it is believed to have been introduced from frogs imported into this country.

However, the fear is that it could spread further and, in theory at least, completely wipe out the British toad population. This is the conclusion of British scientists, according to research published in the journal of the Royal Society last year.

Consequently environmentalists are urging tighter controls on the aquarium trade involving the importation of amphibians, to protect our native toads from this infection.

According to the experts, the chytrid fungus, or Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (BD), infects the skins of amphibians such as frogs, toads, salamanders and newts. Such is its potency that a full one-third of all the losses in amphibian species recorded around the world are thought to be due to the disease. Research also indicates that although the frogs that brought the fungus to Kent have long since disappeared, it is likely that they have left a reservoir of infection in the environment. Now scientists claim that the deadly disease is being repeatedly brought into Britain through the world trade in amphibians.

A scientist at London’s Imperial College warned: “We strongly suspect BD is being introduced into the UK on a daily basis through the amphibian trade. Our borders are wide open to the introduction of this infectious disease.”

Meanwhile experts at the Institute of Zoology in London have developed mathematical models to evaluate various scenarios relating to infection in Britain’s common toad breeding populations. They found that the critical parameter was the length of time the fungus could survive in the environment away from its natural host. Their models suggest that there would be little impact on British toads if the fungus was only able to live outside its host for seven weeks. However, they also concluded that if it was able to survive in water for a year, the impact would be considerable - resulting in severe declines in the numbers of toads, and in some cases extinction in 10 years within infected areas.

Their research, which was first published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society towards the end of last year, makes clear the need to test all amphibians for the disease before they are brought into Britain. Indeed, the wildlife charity Froglife said it was important to make people aware of the danger to native amphibians. A spokesman for the charity is reported as saying: “It is thought that it could have been brought to the UK by exotic pet species, such as the African clawed toad, that have escaped or been deliberately released. It is vital strict controls on the health of imported animals are in place to help limit the spread of this devastating disease.”

Land & People consider the suggestion an eminently sensible one and recommend its adoption as a matter of some urgency.

Back in the late 1970’s the large blue butterfly was pronounced extinct in Britain. However, following a reintroduction programme in the 1980’s, it has once again become established �“ if somewhat precariously so. The good news is that it is reported as having “bounced back” following last year’s bad weather to increase its numbers.

Last year the populations of the large blue butterfly fell alarmingly at Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Green Down nature reserve, near Somereton, as a result of a spring drought and poor weather during the flight period.

This year, however, more than 3,000 butterflies took flight in June at the site, which was recently selected as one of 20 “Butterfly Survival Zones” in a bid to save the country’s rarest species. According to the Somerset Wildlife Trust, the site is one of the best in Europe for the large blue since the species was reintroduced to the reserve in 1992.

The large blue butterfly is still considered to be globally threatened, as a result of loss and bad management of its habitat, and is one of a number of species prioritised for conservation action under Britain’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).

The large blue population at the Green Down reserve has been used as a donor site for further re-introductions in the area. Encouragingly the butterfly’s numbers have been boosted by a local farmer whom, we are informed, uses his Dorset horn sheep and ruby red Devon cattle to graze the site in a way which help the reserve’s wildlife.

Just another example of farmers and environmentalists working together for the preservation of our countryside and its habitats.

More on the sterling work being undertaken by the Somerset Wildlife Trust may be found here .

It is reported that over the last two years London’s beekeepers lost half their hives. Indeed, during last winter alone, it is estimated that almost a third of British hives lost their bees. According to the chairman of the London Beekeeepers Association: “If you give hives a thump, you get a little roar coming back, and I didn’t get any roars. Some had bees but the mysterious ones had virtually nothing. Everything had disappeared.” The last time bee losses were this serious, according to the record books, was before the First World War.

Land & People has previously reported on “Colony Collapse Disorder” (CCD), a so far unexplained phenomenon that has led to the loss of more than a third of US hives this year and a considerable number across Europe. Although a number of theories to explain this phenomenon are extant �“ the favoured appears to be that the radiation from mobile phone mast transmitters are disorientating bees to the extent they are unable to find their way back to their home hive.

The problem is larger than many appreciate and goes much further than the production of honey. According to DEFRA, bee pollination alone is worth around £200 million per annum to agriculture. So potentially serious is the issue that DEFRA commenced a public inquiry on improving the health of honeybees, which concludes at the end of this month. In addition the loss of so many bees will inevitably have an effect on Britain’ honey producers �“ an industry that normally produces around £30 million of honey per year.

In the US not only has the industry been ravaged by CCD for much longer than either here in Britain, or across the Channel in Europe, but the scale of the problem is far larger. There the US Department of Agriculture estimates that bee pollination adds around £8 billion to crop values. Consequently it should come as no surprise that US government scientists are engaged in an investigation into the problem. Amongst possible causes being investigated are pesticides, natural diseases, parasites, man-made factors (mobile phone radiation) or any combination of these!

Here in Britain the experts tell us that we have all the components of the US-style disorder in terms of disease. In addition, it is clear that the onus is on DEFRA to act because failure to resolve the problem will be reflected in lower crop yields. Bee pollination is estimated to be worth around £90 million to apple producers and around £20 million to both oilseed and raspberry growers.

The importance of the humble bee to agriculture is enormous - bees pollinate a third of everything that we eat - a shortage of bees means a shortage of food �“ the problem extends far beyond honey.

Yet despite the importance of this issue Labour’s DEFRA has only budgeted a paltry £200,000 on research �“ this is about what it costs to “run” a single one of their parasitic Westminster MPs. To put this figure into some sort of comparison, the beekeepers’ association says an extra £7.7 million is needed over five years to properly fund bee studies. As one expert commented: “In the sum of the whole of the agriculture business, it’s a drop in the ocean. There’s insufficient allocation for research, and bees are so fundamental to our environment.”

To make matters worse it is believed that funding of the bee health program is unlikely to change next year, though an additional £90,000 is being spent this year for the National Bee Unit to study the winter losses, DEFRA claims.

Land & People are agog at the Government’s apparent apathy in respect of this problem. Are ministers incapable of grasping the potential enormity of this issue we ask? Can’t they comprehend that failure to pollinate crops on a substantial scale not only threatens abysmal harvests but puts huge sections of the farming industry at risk? In a recent article on this Government’s attitude towards the farming industry we asked whether Labour’s mismanagement of farming was due to misfortune or design? We are still asking!

There can be no doubt that few things are more essential to our everyday lives than food.

Unfortunately not enough people are asking themselves whether they can trust the food they eat. The politicians and food industry spokesmen tell us that the chemicals, growth hormones, additives and antibiotics the food industry insists on adulterating our food with is both “essential” and “good for us”! In addition, those who campaign for wholesome food and especially against GM products, are ridiculed as being “misinformed” or “backward looking”!

The British National Party believes the road ahead is for a return to unadulterated organic food, food we can trust. In particular we want a GM-free Britain and a return to proven organic production methods as far as is practically posible. During the last decade the quantity of organic food produced in Europe has gone up five fold, so clearly there is a demand for real food in this country of ours. Unfortunately the Government has done little to encourage British producers to expand organic production �“ this despite our country having one of the largest markets for organic produce in the Western World. It is a sad fact that less than half of the organic food we eat is actually homegrown. The British National Party will promote real food over the processed and adulterated variety, and encourage food producers to meet the resulting growing demand for real food, at an affordable price to the consumer.

Furthermore, British Nationalists advocate proper and prominent labelling on food packaging. We believe the consumer has a right to know what they are being sold, so that they are better equipped to decide for themselves whether they want to buy it.

In addition, as part of our drive for a return to real food, British Nationalists advocate a major expansion in the provision of the traditional allotment �“ this being a facility that has served both families and communities well for many decades.

British Nationalists also believe that the British public, by and large, care - as we do - about the treatment of animals. We believe that farm animals have a right not to suffer, and our stand against intensive factory production lines promotes respect and compassion in farming. Furthermore, British Nationalists, unlike the so-called “Green” Party, are opposed to the most prolific form of animal cruelty practised in Britain today �“ that of the cruel and barbaric slow-death ritual slaughter of millions of our farm animals every year - for no other reason than to appease the theological dogma of certain religious groups.

The British National Party believes in local family owned shops selling the wholesome produce of local family owned farms and allotments, at affordable prices, to local people.

Hence our stance that as far as is possible food should be grown locally, for sale in local shops and markets, to local people. We see little value in chemically grown produce that has been transported thousands of polluting miles to reach the consumer - it’s time to rediscover real food and to refocus our farming industry into fulfilling that need.

Land & People reported earlier this year that a search for new homes for more than 65,000 birds has begun as part of a study into building a Severn barrage. A Government spokesman has now announced a feasibility study into the barrage to establish whether the benefits would outweigh the costs. It is claimed that a tidal barrage across the Severn Estuary would have the “breathtaking” potential to provide almost 5% of Britain’s electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions significantly. In operation the proposed barrage would operate like a hydroelectric dam to generate electricity, with the water being pushed in by the tide. The Barrage proposed would stretch 10 miles from Lavernock Point west of Cardiff to near Brean Down in Somerset, impounding an area of 185 square miles.

The downside is that the barrage, which is estimated to cost £15 billion, would destroy large stretches of mud-flats, saltmarshes and other habitats vital to wetland birds that spend the winter in Britain. Presently the estuary is home to some of the most valuable bird habitats in Europe �“ attracting species such as Bewick’s swan, pintail duck, shelduck, dunlin, redshank and, at risk of extinction in Britain, the curlew.

The estuary is also an important environment for fish such as lampreys, salmon, sea trout and eels. Any barrage could potentially block their migratory routes along the Severn. The study, which will take some two years to complete, will assess the cost of providing alternative areas of wetlands and the chances of finding suitable land.

It is claimed that more than 65,000 wetland birds are attracted each winter to sites that would be affected and they would need to be found alternative areas. To make matters worse saltmarshes, like those in the Severn estuary, are among the rarest types of habitat to be found in the British Isles. Similar work has taken place in parts of Essex, also as previously reported on by Land & People, but there remain doubts about how easy it would be for important fish species to transfer to restored areas.

Understandably ornithologists have considerable reservations about the Severn barrage proposal and a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, recently said that the Government needed “to think long and hard” before committing itself. He said: “Supporting this scheme to the tune of £15 billion would not leave much spare change for alternative projects should it fail to deliver, so the Government has to be sure it is the right place to risk so much taxpayers’ money.”

The attraction of the Severn estuary, in terms of energy generation, is because it has the second-largest tidal range in the world �“ the difference between the highest and lowest tides is up to 42ft (14m).

It is further stated that the feasibility study would be followed by public consultations if it were felt that the project should go ahead �“ a questionable eventuality considering recent legislative proposals to ignore such consultation where the “national interest” is said to be in question!

In addition the feasibly study will look at several options, including the biggest proposal - for a barrage between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare and will consider tidal lagoons.

According to the politicians and their friends in the energy and construction industries, the barrage is needed to meet the growing energy requirements of the nation. Surely, we suggest, a far cheaper and less environmentally destructive solution would be to curtail energy demand growth by simply halting immigration into our overpopulated land? And could not significant savings be made in existing energy demand through deporting the one million or so, illegal consumers currently squatting in our country �“ people having neither moral nor legal right to be here in the first place?

A growing number of scientists are suggesting that the growth in the use of mobile phones could be a major contributory cause behind massive food shortages, as the world’s harvests fail. They are proposing the theory that the radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible explanation behind the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops.

As recently as last month, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon - which was first reported in the United States - was beginning to hit Britain as well.

The theory that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees’ navigation systems, preventing them from finding their way back to their hives was initially regarded as improbable - however some scientists now claim that there is evidence to back it up.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), as this outbreak is known, occurs when a hive’s inhabitants suddenly disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature workers. The vanished bees are seldom ever found, but thought to die singly far from home. And, strangely, the parasites, wildlife and other bees that normally raid the honey and pollen left behind when a colony dies, refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives.

It is reported that CCD now affects half of all US states. The US West Coast is thought to have lost 60% of its commercial bee population, compared to an even more alarming 70% missing on the East Coast.

CCD has reportedly since spread to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. And only last month one of London’s biggest bee-keepers, announced that 23 of his 40 hives have been abruptly abandoned! Furthermore, other apiarists have recorded losses in Scotland, Wales and north-west England. Yet despite the growing concern in Britain, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) insists: “There is absolutely no evidence of CCD in the UK.”

The implications of the spread are alarming - not least because most of the world’s crops depend on pollination by bees. Indeed, Albert Einstein once famously said that if the bees disappeared, “man would have only four years of life left”!

Yet despite research no one knows for certain why it is happening. Various theories involving mites, pesticides, global warming and GM crops have been proposed, but all have drawbacks. Yet, interestingly, German research has long shown that bees’ behaviour changes near power lines. Now a study at Germany’s Landau University has found that bees refuse to return to their hives when mobile phones are placed nearby. Dr Jochen Kuhn, who carried it out, said this could provide a “hint” to a possible cause.

Meanwhile the head of a massive study conducted by the US government and mobile phone industry of hazards from mobiles in the Nineties, is reported as saying: “I am convinced the possibility is real.”

Although it is clear that much more research is urgently needed, Land & People wonders what the reaction from both government and mobile phone manufacturers will be, should it be proven that the radiation from mobile phones and their supporting networks, are responsible for this catastrophic decline in bee numbers. Bees are expendable - mobile phone companies profits are not, will be the reaction, we suspect!

It is reported that another two more of Britain’s regularly nesting birds are heading towards extinction. In the latest revision of Bird Life International’s “Red List’” the curlew and the Dartford warbler have been listed as “Near Threatened” - which is a classification only one step below those species facing global extinction.

The latest additions swell the numbers of nesting “Near Threatened” birds in Britain to five; joining the red kite, corncrake and black-tailed godwit on the list of endangered bird species.

In Britain the curlew, although still widespread, is a rapidly-declining species in many areas. Meanwhile the Dartford warbler, a largely heathland bird, is said to be expanding its range rapidly from the southern counties of England, largely because of heathland conservation, restoration programmes and milder winters. But the news is not so good for the warbler - which is declining rapidly in other parts of its European range, meaning Britain’s population of this species is of greater global significance.

The latest assessments are based on the population declines of both birds across their global ranges. The curlew is generally found across a belt of central and northern Europe and Asia, while 90% of the Dartford warbler is found in southern and western Europe.

In Britain, curlew numbers have fallen by 53% between 1970 and 2005, and by 37% between 1994 and 2006. It is believed that around 30% of the western European curlew population nests in Britain. The global population is suspected to have fallen by around 25% in the past 15 years.

BirdLife International estimates that the Dartford warbler may have declined in Europe by as much as 40% over the last decade. In its Spanish heartland, the warbler decreased by nearly six per cent per year between 1998 and 2006. Although, in Briton, the Dartford warbler has extended its range and increased its population to a total of 3209 territories in 2006.

Globally, the majority of species on the Red List are confined to islands or have very small ranges, perhaps limited by available habitat.

A RSPB scientist, recently claimed: “Since 1600 only two species of European bird - the great auk and the Canarian black oystercatcher - have become globally extinct. But the inclusion of widespread and familiar species like the curlew and the Dartford warbler to the list of birds facing trouble is deeply concerning and a warning that we will lose more species without urgent action. It is a sign that more and more birds are unable to cope with the fundamental changes, like habitat destruction and climate change that we are wreaking on our continent and the planet. Currently, 50 out of Europe’s 540 bird species are on a path towards extinction. We now need more urgent action to prevent some of our once-familiar birds from joining the great auk in the extinction ledger.”