Wiltshire | Archive | 2007 | August | 19
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Sunday 19th Aug 2007.
PEOPLE aren't the only victims of flooding and climate change, the South West Wildlife Trust has warned.
The recent floods have caused misery for wild animals and birds in Swindon's surrounding countryside.
The Wildlife Trust is planning a two-week awareness campaign in September to teach the public how they can help.
"We see that nature is being knocked out of kilter," said campaign publicist Pam Beddard.
"It is a gloomy subject but there are positive things we can do which is quite nice."
Although, scientists are unsure if the July floods can be definitely attributed to climate change, experts agree torrential rain is one possible symptom of global warming.
And the trust warns that the suffering endured by wildlife during the July floods is set to increase because of more erratic weather.
Many chicks of low scrub nesting birds including willow warblers and reed buntings have drowned in the floods.
Young skylarks and lapwings, which hadn't learned to fly before the floods, have also died. Hedgehogs nesting in gardens have also drowned along with small mammals including mice.
Hay fields immersed in water will not get their annual cut this year, which means late summer wildflowers will not grow, affecting insects.
Ms Beddard said: "We don't know if these floods are down to climate change but we have been told by experts that we can expect more wet weather due to climate change.
"We are asking people to look at how they can meet the challenge of climate change and help wildlife. Although there is a lot of attention to climate change, it is felt people don't understand what happens to wildlife."
Warmer weather also adversely affects the web of nature with birds hatching early when there is little food available, according to Ms Beddard.
She also said without a cold spell hedgehogs will not hibernate, which means they have two sets of babies - but there is no food so one set starves.
Awareness events, in Swindon, which will run from September 15 to 30, are set to include local picnics, wildlife gardening events and nature walks.
Members of the public are encouraged to take part in quick fixes such as composting, wildlife gardening, carbon-low travel and use of local foods.
Climate change champion Jane Laurie said: "We've seen how lives and livelihoods are upturned by overflowing rivers and floods. It's heartbreaking.
"And wildlife also suffers when rain lashes down, rivers overflow, the sun blazes, or drought strikes - exactly the conditions we've been warned to expect if our carbon emissions aren't reduced."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008