Yorkshire Times

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Snipe being tagged Photo: ©GWCT, Bleddyn Thomas

New data from seven common snipe being tracked as part of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) project to map the routes to their breeding grounds has so far shown five of the birds travelling to Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Germany.

12:00 AM 9th May 2026

Local Teachers Could Win National Conservation Award

Conservation Education Awards

A national award will celebrate the educators inspiring young people and encouraging the UK to go green. Nominations are open for Chester Zoo’s National Education Awards until May 17, and the zoo’s Conservation Education & Engagement team is urging teachers and educators from Lancashire to get involved.

P.ublished 6th May 2026

Wild Salmon River Conservation Award Winners Raise More Than £44,000

Imnage: Héctor Berganza on Pexels

The first projects supported by 'The Orri' Award have raised more than £44,000 for wild salmon conservation in UK rivers, exceeding their original targets and highlighting growing grassroots support for river restoration with more than 300 donors.

P.ublished 4th May 2026

How to enjoy International Dawn Chorus Day

Blackbird in full song. Image by Ben Andrew

Ahead of International Dawn Chorus Day on May 3, the RSPB shares how to experience nature’s greatest symphony Five top species to listen out for . Easy tips to experience the Dawn Chorus at its best. Top nature reserves and events across Yorkshire to immerse yourself in birdsong. With the days growing steadily longer and warmer, spring is unmistakably here.

P.ublished 2nd May 2026

Countdown Is On To The 167th Great Yorkshire Show

Cock of the North Winner William Whittaker on Millfield Quickstep Photo courtesy GYS

The countdown is on to the 167th Great Yorkshire Show, with tickets selling fast for the grand celebration of farming, food and the countryside in Harrogate on Tuesday 14 – Friday 17 July 2026. Ticket prices are capped at the same as last year. Expect the best of British farming, food and agriculture, with traditional favourites as well as new additions to be announced in the coming weeks.

P.ublished 4th May 2026

NFU Survey Reveals 85% Of Farmers Oppose White-Tailed Eagle Reintroduction

Image by Penny from Pixabay

An NFU survey of farmers and land managers in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Durham has revealed significant opposition to the reintroduction of white‑tailed eagles, with 85% of respondents against the proposal.

P.ublished 1st May 2026

Here’s How You Can Get Tickets To Chester Zoo’s New Live Stage Show With TV Presenter Steve Backshall

A new stage show all about sharks, hosted by world-renowned wildlife conservationist and TV presenter Steve Backshall, is coming to Chester Zoo this May half term.

P.ublished 25th April 2026

Make It Bloom This Spring With The Perfect Colourful Planter

Spring is the perfect time to refresh outdoor spaces with a burst of colour, and as part of the Make It Bloom campaign, British Garden Centres is encouraging gardeners of all abilities to get creative with vibrant spring planters. Whether brightening a doorstep, patio or garden, creating a professional‑looking display is simple with the right plants and a few easy steps.

P.ublished 25th April 2026

Amazon Doncaster Team Supports Tree-Planting Project

Amazon Doncaster employees rolled up their sleeves and donned gardening gloves to volunteer with City of Doncaster Council to plant trees in the city. Seven employees from Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Doncaster spent the day planting trees as part of the Children’s Future Forest programme, planting over 350 trees in the city.

P.ublished 24th April 2026

Hedgerow Greetings Cards Bundle With A Beautiful, Seasonal Illustration For Every Month Of The Year

The Hedgerow Cards Collection, designed exclusively by Welsh artist Lizzie Spikes, has a beautiful, seasonal illustration for every month of the year. As the artist at Driftwood Designs, Lizzie’s passion is creating colourful illustrations that can be translated to any number of items.

P.ublished 23rd April 2026

Claws For Celebration

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Wildlife Correspondents

Signal crayfish Photo: YWT©

The first young white-clawed crayfish raised in Yorkshire’s first crayfish hatchery site have been released into the wild yesterday, marking a turning point for rare and endangered native populations clinging on across the county. 182 juvenile crayfish have been released into Haverdale Beck in North Yorkshire, where their pregnant mothers were collected back in summer 2025.

P.ublished 22nd April 2026

400th Tree Planted In RSPB Celebration Wood In Memory Of Prominent Conservationist

Bea Normington with her late husband Jamie's oak tree in Celebration Wood Photo: Matthew Scott

The family and friends of Jamie Normington, a prominent conservationist who lived and worked in Cumbria, have planted a Sessile Oak last week in the RSPB’s Celebration Wood at Wild Haweswater near Penrith in the Lake District, in memory of his remarkable life.

P.ublished 21st April 2026

We Need To Reconsider Elephants In Zoos

Elephant Photo: Dawn Vose©

Issues for zoo-housed elephants include limited space, inadequate social groupings, reduced survivorship, and health problems such as foot and joint disorders and obesity. Currently, there are over 500 elephants in over 140 zoos across 31 European countries, including 49 elephants across 10 zoos in the UK.

P.ublished 11th April 2026

Garden Birds Need Your Help — But Feeding Them Wisely Matters More Than Ever

Robin with insect food Photo: Ben Andrew

The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch results are in, and while the familiar faces still top the charts, a troubling decline further down the rankings has prompted the charity to issue new guidance on how we feed our garden visitors More than 650,000 people across the United Kingdom took part in this year's Big Garden Birdwatch — the world's largest garden wildlife survey — counting upwards of ni…

P.ublished 10th April 2026

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Celebrates 80 Years With A Call For Wild Action

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust was founded in 1946 as Yorkshire Naturalists Trust to care for Askham Bog nature reserve, gifted to the Trust by confectioners and naturalists Sir Francis Terry and Arnold Rowntree. The charity is launching a new community fundraising pack to encourage the public to take meaningful and impactful action for wildlife across the county. There will also be a bumper year of events and activities, including a poetry competition, wildlife hero awards and a region-wide birthday celebration.

P.ublished 7th April 2026

Local River Restoration Campaign Launched To Help Save Atlantic Salmon

Led by Ribble Rivers Trust and the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, Hodder Together for Salmon is an ambitious, community-driven project focused on restoring the River Hodder and supporting the recovery of the endangered Atlantic salmon. Flowing through the heart of the Forest of Bowland, the River Hodder has long been a stronghold for salmon, with generations of fish returning each year to spawn.

P.ublished 7th April 2026

The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre Welcomes Its One Millionth Visitor In Northumberland National Park’s 70th Anniversary Year

Northumberland National Park Authority is marking a landmark moment as The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre welcomes its one millionth visitor, a milestone that coincides with the 70th anniversary of Northumberland National Park. Since opening in 2017, The Sill has transformed how people connect with the landscapes, nature, and cultural heritage of Northumberland and beyond.

P.ublished 6th April 2026

One Of The World's Tiniest Antelopes Has Been Born At Chester Zoo...

One of the world's smallest baby antelopes has taken her first wobbly steps at Chester Zoo - standing barely taller than a tin of baked beans. The tiny Kirk's dik-dik fawn, named Dotty, was born weighing just a few hundred grams. When fully grown, she'll reach just 40cm tall - making her one of the smallest antelopes on the planet.

P.ublished 4th April 2026

Africa's Rarest Antelope Gets Lifeline As Zoo-Bred Males Head To Kenya In Conservation First

Critically endangered mountain bongo at Chester Zoo

Fewer than 50 mountain bongos survive in the wild. Now, that number is about to grow. Four males, carefully bred in European zoos, are to be transported to the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) in what conservationists are calling a historic moment for one of Africa's most endangered species - and a landmark example of how modern zoos can pull a species back from the brink.

P.ublished 31st March 2026

Give Birds Space: RSPB Calls On Visitors To Help Yorkshire’s Ground-Nesting Birds

Avocet and chick by Chris Gomersall

Spring has finally sprung and the upcoming Easter break is expected to attract thousands of visitors to enjoy Yorkshire’s coast and countryside, with staycations increasing in popularity and tourism businesses across the county booking up fast.

P.ublished 28th March 2026

Conservationists Hope For Cubs As Endangered Red Panda Meets Her Perfect Match At Chester Zoo

Akashi the red panda has arrived at Chester Zoo to help safeguard her species from extinction Photo: Chester Zoo ©

A female red panda has met her ‘blind date’ after arriving at Chester Zoo – and early signs suggest she’s found her perfect match. Two-year-old Akashi has just arrived from Blackpool Zoo as part of conservation efforts to help safeguard one of the world’s most charismatic species from extinction.

P.ublished 27th March 2026

North York Moors National Park Centres Celebrate 50 Years

Sutton Bank accessibility Photo: Olivia Brabbs©

Celebrations begin in April to mark 50 years of the North York Moors National Park Centres. The events will highlight how both Sutton Bank and Danby Lodge have gone from being simple visitor information points to attractions in their own right where people can spend a nature-filled, free and fun day out.

P.ublished 26th March 2026

Rivers To Reef: Yorkshire Launches New Movement For Cleaner, Healthier Waters

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has today launched Rivers to Reef, a landmark new initiative designed to protect Yorkshire’s rivers, estuaries, and coastal reefs from pollution.

P.ublished 24th March 2026

Three Common Pests That Could Invade Homes In March

Waste management company We Waste has issued advice and warnings around how to spot and prevent infestations of three common pests that often reappear in March and throughout spring.

P.ublished 21st March 2026

Vet Tips - Preparing Pets For Clock Change

With clocks due to go forward by an hour on Sunday 29th March, David Martin, Group Director of Animal Welfare at IVC Evidensia shares his expert advice on helping owners navigate a change in routine the clock change brings. Pets thrive on routine, and even small changes can impact them.

P.ublished 21st March 2026

Critically Endangered Monkey Gives Birth After Surgery Saves Her Foot

A critically endangered monkey has given birth just months after pioneering surgery saved her from undergoing an amputation. Masaya, a 15-year-old roloway monkey at Chester Zoo, had a golf-ball-sized mass removed from her foot last summer in a complex operation carried out jointly by zoo vets and surgeons from the University of Liverpool's Small Animal Teaching Hospital.

P.ublished 19th March 2026

Biodiversity Forum: “Time For Action”

Dr Jane Smart, then from left to right: Rima Berry (Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust), Tony Serjeant (North Yorkshire Council), Matt Beadle (YDNPA), Ian Court (YDNPA), Richard Dimon (Natural England), Graham Jackson-Pitt (Cumbria Wildlife Trust), Jane Smart (independent Chair), Fran Graham (Woodland Trust), Anthony Bradley (Farming and Land Management Forum), Helen Keep (YDNPA), Jim Smith (Forestry Commission), Jono Leadley (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) , Ian Clement (National Trust) and Marie Taylor (Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust).

Some of the key players in nature recovery in the National Park have gathered for the first meeting of a reset “Yorkshire Dales Biodiversity Forum Delivery Group”. “It’s time to turn words into action to address the biodiversity crisis,” said the new independent chair of the group, Dr Jane Smart.

P.ublished 17th March 2026

UK Set For A Summer Of Butterflies!

Big Butterfly Count

Wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, is calling on the public to prepare for a bumper summer of butterflies. This year, alongside its hugely popular Big Butterfly Count, the charity is launching something brand new - a vote to discover Britain’s Favourite Butterfly!

P.ublished 14th March 2026

British Garden Centres’ Top Cut Flowers You Can Grow Now

Dahlias Photo: BGC

Forget expensive florist bouquets. With careful planning and a little effort, you can fill your home with stunning, garden grown cut flowers that rival those from the finest florists and at a fraction of the cost. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a complete beginner, growing your own cutting garden is easier than you might think.

P.ublished 14th March 2026

Sheep Death Due To Dog Attack At Potteric Carr Nature Reserve: A Statement From Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Photo credit: naturepic

Sadly, one of our sheep on our land adjoining Potteric Carr nature reserve in Doncaster was violently attacked and killed by a dog last week. We have reported this incident to the police, and are working with them on next steps.

P.ublished 13th March 2026

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Launches Appeal To Secure Future Of Oldest Reserve

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is appealing for support to protect and safeguard Askham Bog nature reserve, described as Yorkshire’s ‘cathedral of nature conservation’ by Sir David Attenborough. Created as the founding reserve of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in 1946, Askham Bog sits nestled between the A64, the railway and the York ring road.

P.ublished 9th March 2026

No Garden? No Problem: British Garden Centres Guide On How To Grow Big In Small Spaces

Research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that one in eight British households (12%) has no access to a private or shared garden. Yet the appetite for growing, whether it be flowers, herbs and vegetables, has never been stronger. Even if you have a small space, a balcony or a patio, you can make your garden your own.

P.ublished 7th March 2026

First Puffin Arrives Back In Yorkshire…in Readiness For New “Save Our Seabirds” Campaign

The first Puffin has arrived back at RSPB Bempton Cliffs on the East Yorkshire coast and the nature reserve’s conservationists will be watching closely as the seabird breeding season begins.

P.ublished 6th March 2026

Optimism On Coquet Island As Seabirds Show Resilience

Ahead of International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March), the first female reserve manager of Coquet Island has spoken of her pride in leading one of the UK’s most important seabird sanctuaries — as thousands of birds prepare to return for the breeding season.

P.ublished 4th March 2026

How To Give Your Houseplants A Fresh Start This Spring

Photo: BGC

As the growing season gets underway, now is a good time to take a closer look at your houseplants. After a winter spent indoors, many will have quietly outgrown their pots, and a little repotting could be all it takes to get them thriving again.

P.ublished 28th February 2026

Kick Start Your Veg Patch: What To Plant This February And March

Photo: BGC

As winter starts to fade and spring edges closer, February and March are the ideal months to get your vegetable patch up and running. Whether you've been growing your own for years or you're just starting, the next few weeks are ideal for setting yourself up with a garden that'll keep you in fresh vegetables all season long.

P.ublished 21st February 2026

Rare Winter Spectacle At Yorkshire Nature Reserve

Record-breaking numbers of scarce White-fronted Geese, a mix of Greenland and Russian, have arrived in Yorkshire’s Dearne Valley. More than 100 White-fronted Geese have been recorded at RSPB Old Moor’s satellite nature reserve, Adwick Washlands, this month, smashing the previous site record of just over 35 birds, set in 2016.

P.ublished 21st February 2026

How To Get Rid Of Moss In Time For Spring

Photo: Pixabay

After a long winter, many will find their lawns looking worse for wear, especially with moss taking over. To help restore your lawn, Yell is sharing expert tips on preparing it for spring and tackling stubborn moss growth, with the help of Simon Akeroyd, Head of Estates and Landscapes at Painshill Park Trust.

P.ublished 21st February 2026

Chester Zoo Becomes First UK Zoo To Gain International Botanic Garden Status

Chester Zoo has become the first zoo in the UK to be officially recognised as an internationally important botanic garden. The Cheshire-based conservation charity is only the second zoo in Europe to receive a prestigious accreditation from Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the global organisation dedicated to plant conservation.

P.ublished 14th February 2026

The Farm Was My Childhood Happy Place - Now It’s My Career

Lizzie McLaughlin is a passionate advocate for bridging the gap between the public and the farming community. Growing up in Middlesbrough, Teesside, she proudly identifies as a townie who has carved out a remarkable career as an award-winning food and farming podcaster, despite coming from a non-farming background.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

‘Extinct’ Snail Officially Saved As Conservationists Bring Rare Species Back From The Brink

A tiny, button-sized snail once thought lost forever has been declared safe from extinction. The greater Bermuda snail was thought to have disappeared until being rediscovered in an alleyway in Bermuda a decade ago. Numbers were boosted through a pioneering breed-to-release programme led by international experts including Chester Zoo conservationists.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

Rare Pennine Wading Bird Given Boost As RSPB Survey Reveals Dunlin Breeding Success

A pioneering survey led by the RSPB has confirmed that Dunlin – a rare and declining upland wading bird – are breeding across large areas of suitable habitat in the Cumbrian Pennines, part of the North Pennines National Landscape, offering fresh hope for the species’ future in England.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

Grubsup! Project Branches Out To Strengthen Wildlife Corridors In The Heart Of The North York Moors

Grubs Up! Blue heart campaign Photo: North York Moors National Park

A successful nature recovery project is branching out into new landscapes, creating and restoring vital wildlife corridors in two of the North York Moors’ most distinctive valleys. GrubsUp! is extending its work into Bransdale and Farndale, thanks to new funding secured through the National Parks Partnerships, supported by global hospitality partner Levy.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

British Garden Centres’ Expert Guide To Growing Seed Potatoes At Home

Eve with potatoes

With the spring planting season beginning in March and the cost of living still at the forefront of people’s minds, British Garden Centres is here to help families grow their own potatoes, the nation's most consumed vegetable, and reduce household food costs.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

Fascinating Surinam Toads Breed At Chester Zoo For The First Time

Surinam toads have made their debut at Chester Zoo.

Surinam toads - a species that carries its developing young beneath the skin of the female’s back - have bred at Chester Zoo for the first time. The aquatic toads, which are native to South America and rarely seen in UK zoos, are famous for their distinctive reproductive process.

P.ublished 31st January 2026

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Shares Its February Gardening Advice

Image by Ulrike Mai from Pixabay

Gardeners don’t expect much in winter but there is not much to be dissatisfied over in recent weeks. Recent rainfall has recharged the soil water levels after they hit a low point in the very hot, dry summer last year. There is still some winter left and therefore time to add more water butts to capture and store rainfall.

P.ublished 31st January 2026

Turn Your Big Garden Birdwatch Into Year Round Bird Care With British Garden Centres

As thousands across the UK complete their Big Garden Birdwatch counts, British Garden Centres is encouraging participants not to let their bird-watching efforts end with the weekend. The annual RSPB event, now in its 47th year, saw families spend an hour recording garden visitors between 23rd and 25th January.

P.ublished 31st January 2026

British Garden Centres Guide On How To Love And Support British Wildlife During The Coldest Months

As temperatures drop and natural food sources become scarce, the team at the UK’s largest family-run garden centre group, British Garden Centres, is calling on gardeners to help wildlife through winter, as native species face tough conditions during the coldest season.

P.ublished 31st January 2026

Exhibition Anticipates Curlews’ Return

People longing for the imminent return of the call of the curlew in the uplands are invited to enjoy a new art exhibition about the bird and its moorland habitat. Richmond artist Sally Zaranko is exhibiting dozens of lino cut prints at Yoredale, the office of the National Park Authority in Bainbridge.

P.ublished 28th January 2026

Sean Bean The New Host Of Get Birding

Actor Sean Bean is the new host of Get Birding, the multi-award-winning podcast for all birders, from first-timers to experienced field observers. A passionate birder himself, Sean will host the new, always-on series of Get Birding, with the first episode earlier this week – just in time for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend.

P.ublished 24th January 2026

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