Spring 2016 Newsletter

Displaying 1 - 14 of 14

Welcome to the spring edition

A primrose bank, surrey, credit author
Rosie Whicheloe
The spring edition features articles discussing projects from around the UK. We also announce the ialeUK 2016 conference and student workshop. Several articles focus on cities including: one on bat urban ecology; SuDS and their multi-functionality and an open space strategy for pollinators and people. Two are located in Scotland and relate to work undertaken by the RSPB. The regular features include "The day in the life of a Landscape Ecologist" and we hear from a lecturer from the University of Greenwich. I hope you enjoy it and as always we are keen to hear any feedback or suggestions.

ialeUK student workshop 2016

Anja Helena Liski
The topic of the 2016 student workshop is "Mapping the lived environment - participatory GIS for landscape and seascape". It will be held over two days from the 18th - 19th May in Edinburgh and is open to all students who are interested in, or already using participatory GIS methods in their research. It will provide an opportunity for students to explore a range of techniques for producing and using GIS with people. More information below and how to sign up.

Greening the grey: Does urban green space cater for societal well-being and biodiversity?

Gloucester City Open Spaces Map, credit Jackie Jobes, Gloucester City Council
Jackie Jobes & Rosie Whicheloe
Keeping research straightforward and easy to replicate is critical if local authorities are to implement and replicate new methods of assessment for green infrastructure and ecosystem services. If there are ways to maximise benefit by combing two priorities into one study then this is likely to be particularly useful. So the question is, is it possible to deliver a city wide campaign for both access to nature and spaces for nature? Jackie Jobes, Master’s student at Oxford Brooks University tells us about the methodology behind her research for Gloucester City Council.

City frogs: Understanding the value of sustainable drainage

ASDA's SuDS, Inverness, Credit: author
Marcia Rae
Are SuDS maximising ecosystem benefits in cities? Scottish Natural Heritage, The Highland Council and Salford University hope to answer that question in a long-term research study, the first of its kind in Scotland, to determine if SuDS ponds in Inverness are, in practice, providing these multiple benefits. Marcie Rae, from the Highland Council provides ialeUK with some initial results.

Greater London’s bat landscape

Noctule bat at a London Bat Group bat box check in South London Credit: Author
Richard Gowing
It’s surprising how little we know about some basic aspects of bat ecology in towns and cities. For example, how do bats move about the urban landscape? How are different bat species affected by different configurations of grey and green habitat? Bats are thought to be a general indicator for the ‘health’ of the natural environment too. Richard Gowing, from the London Bat Group discusses the lesser known aspects of bat urban ecology.

We all need to be data aware

Adder, South Downs National Park, Credit: author
Rosie Whicheloe
Tom Hunt
Richard Smith
Peter Johnson
Sarah Jarwood-Lovett & Mandy Rudd
Across the UK, there is currently a vast amount of wildlife data that is not being shared. A large proportion of this data is been held within the private sector, but what are the barriers preventing its release? This article presents the current situation and calls to action from everyone involved in the industry: from construction professionals, planning authorities to university graduates.