Wild Things Column: 'A grave mistake'

First up are endangered dormice. Trainee gravediggers disturbed a local population of these cute mammals when they excavated a Somerset field of “irreplaceable ecological value” in error. Asked to dig a mock grave in a cemetery, they instead used their mechanical digger to excavate a huge pit in an adjacent field near the dormouse colony. When challenged by conservationists the dozy trio insisted on continuing, claiming they were following orders as part of their grave-digging education. A grave mistake.

At least they didn’t use a crane. Cranes, one of Britain’s largest birds, now number a record 64 breeding pairs which produced 23 chicks last year, according to figures from the Great Crane project. The long-legged birds, up to four feet tall, went extinct here in the 1600s but the current population including non-breeders is around 200.

Our beaver population will be boosted by the UK’s first urban beaver colony being established near a Shrewsbury housing estate next year to help control regular floods in the area. Other releases are planned elsewhere.

Wild Things: An unusual visitor

European Beaver by Ralph Todd

A microscopic wasp is being used by the National Trust to kill clothes moths damaging tapestries, bedding and clothes at their stately homes.

Happy birthday Wisdom who has become the world’s oldest bird mother after hatching an egg at the age of 70 on the Pacific Island of Midway Atoll, the 40th year she has produced her single egg.

Poor conditions in UK rivers are responsible for the loss of 80 freshwater fish species since 1970 says a report by nature organisations. Salmon, eels and trout have also declined by 76 per cent and the report blames city authorities for treating rivers as “pipes” to supply water, power and industry.

Wild Things: The Big Garden Birdwatch

Confirmation we produce too much food arrived in a UN Environmental Programme report revealing Britain exceeds the global average waste rate of 74kg(163lb). Britons throw away an average 77kg(170lb) per person of food each year. Five million tons of household food is binned here annually – more than in the US and India.

Perhaps the government should nationalise farms and hand some of them over to conservation organisations for management as subsidised wildlife reserves.