Wildlife wonder

THE Disneyland of Wildlife … that’s is how Chris Packham, BBC Springwatch presenter, describes RSPB Minsmere in Suffolk, the location for this year's programme airing from May 25 to June 11. 

According to the show's producers, Minsmere is the most wildlife-rich site in the show's 11 year history. It has 5,600 plants and animals species including 1,000 species of moth and butterfly, 336 kinds of bird and 37 mammal species.


While Springwatch is on the box for just two weeks of the year, it's impact has been much more enduring, according to the tourism industry. George Bradley, general manager of holiday lettings company Suffolk Secrets, said he's looking forward to welcoming wildlife tourists during 2015 following the Springwatch effect. 

Last year, 11,000 people visited the site during filming, double the usual visitor numbers, and it was a major boost to short break tourism throughout the year.

www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/m/minsmere

 

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Picture Credit: Common brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) male in flight by Charlesjsharp - Own work, from Sharp Photography. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons, FEMALE COMMON BLUE by Mike Darlow from UK Uploaded by Amada Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Marsh Harrier - geograph.org.uk - 923027" by Dave Green. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Flickr - don macauley - Red Deer by Donald Macauley from Carshalton, Surrey, UK - Red DeerUploaded by Amada Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Northern pleasures

VISITNORTHUMBERLAND.COM is flagging up the delights to be found in England’s most northerly county: history, wild countryside, jaw-dropping coastline and sea birds on off-shore islands.

National walking trails (including the 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall footpath) and cycle ways snake their way across the Northumberland National Park and along the coast.

Lucky visitors on their way to the Farne Islands might see dolphins.

There’s 250 square miles of open air adventure at Kielder Water and Forest Park. Try flying down a mountain bike track, a family cycle ride (cycles are available for hire), horse riding or water sports on northern Europe’s largest man-made lake.

Bamburgh Castle – on a plateau 125ft above sea level offers unmatched views across the coast and the unspoilt beach below – attracts 125,000 visitors a year. For many hundreds of years its dominating presence has stood resolute in the face of everything that has been thrown at it – from the harsh East winds to marauding Scots and Vikings. The castle is open daily from February until November 1.

More must-see castles include the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh, accessible by a coastal walk from nearby Craster, and Alnwick.

Lindisfarne Priory – cut off from the world on Holy Island – was the original home of the Lindisfarne Gospels and one of the most important centres of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England.

Going even further back in time, holidaymakers absolutely must see Hadrian’s Wall and its best known Roman fort, Housesteads, where the empire’s soldiers were based for 300 years. It is the most complete Roman fort in Britain. Chesters Roman Fort on the wall has the best preserved cavalry fort, and the best preserved Roman bathhouse in Britain.

www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk
www.visitkielder.com
www.bamburghcastle.com
www.english-heritage.org.uk/lindisfarne
www.english-heritage.org.uk/dunstanburgh
www.alnwickcastle.com
www.english-heritage.org.uk/hadrianswall
www.visitnorthumberland.com

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Picture Credit: "Bamburgh Castle" by xlibber via Wikimedia Commons; 

Woodland wonders

A TOURING exhibition of photographs taken by the general public is being launched by Plantlife and its partners in Devon this April, to celebrate the Atlantic woodlands of the South West of England.

Amateur photographers will be able to see their photographs on display for the first time at the Lynmouth Pavilion on the North Devon Coast.

Close to the Atlantic, the woodlands are important plants areas – internationally recognized hotspots for wild plants – and home to some of the smallest yet most important wild plants in the UK. Wild plant conservation charity and competition co-ordinator Plantlife organized the photo competition to encourage the public to see the special woodlands and the lower plants they support in a new light and be inspired to visit one.

Exhibition co-ordinator and plantlife project manager, Rachel Jones, says: ‘We hope that this exhibition will inspire people to not only discover the beauty and atmosphere of these important Atlantic woodlands on their doorstep and the lichens, mosses and ferns that grow there, but also to go out to see what they can capture through a camera lens.’

The Wonders of the South West's Woodlands photographic exhibition can be seen at:

• April – Lynmouth Pavilion, Exmoor National Park, Lynmouth, Devon

• May – Braunton Countryside Centre, North Devon

• June – Fyne Court, The Quantock Hills, Somerset

• September to February 2016 - National Park Visitor Centre, Princetown,
Dartmoor National Park

www.plantlife.org.uk

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Picture Credit: "Wistmans Wood, Dartmoor" copyright - Amelia Vanstone

Scotland's answer to Route 66?

ROUTE 66 – famously running from Chicago to LA – is America’s most iconic road. Does Britain have anything to match it?  .... 

Scotland says it does ....  The North Coast 500, being promoted by the North Highland Initiative – is a northern touring route that takes visitors through 500 miles of the best scenery the North Highlands has to offer.

Known as the NC500, it runs from Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, to the Kyle of Lochalsh on the West Coast via the rugged north coast. It links natural heritage and scenery with places to stop on the way.

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland said: 'There is nothing quite like the open road, and this particular route really does take in some of the most picturesque parts of our beautiful country. People travel from all over the world for Route 66, and with our scenery, there's no reason why the North Coast 500 can't prove to be just as popular. At the end of the 500 miles, visitors might just be tempted explore 500 more.'

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Picture Credit: Courtesy North Highland Initiative.

Tourism boom form St.Lucia

SAINT LUCIA tourism has seen a strong start to 2015, with UK travel companies and agents reporting good bookings to the end of February. 

This comes against a backdrop of the highest total number of arrivals in the island’s history recorded for the month of January at 31,541, up 14 percent on the same month in 2014.

Aiming to help drive sales, an integrated campaign ran during January and February, raising awareness on five themes including Beach Lover, Nature Explorer, Active Families, Luxury Traveller and Weddings and Honeymoons.




Atlyn Forde, Director of Marketing at the island’s tourist board, said: ‘We’re looking forward to a great year ahead, with big names confirmed for the 2015 Jazz and Arts Festival, and good airlift continuing.’

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Picture Credit: "'Reef-247' - Taken in the Soufriere area of St. Lucia" by WRI Staff (Reef 247) via Wikimedia Commons; 'St. Lucia' by David Kernek via Go Holiday

Island delights at Easter

ON the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, parents can enjoy the island’s countryside coming into spring-time blossom while youngsters are kept busy with colouring, crafts, and an Easter treasure hunt. Open April 3-6.

THE former country home of Queen Victoria and her family, Osborne House will be providing an abundance of family activities this Easter. As well as exploring the stately home and beautiful outdoor gardens, visitors can take part in mini-dramas and children can follow in the footsteps of royal children playing traditional Victorian games.

AT Blackgang Chine, youngsters can play in a life-size game of snakes and ladders, take on the cliff-hanger roller coaster, or sail a pirate ship. It’s open throughout the Easter period from 10am-5pm.

ON Dinosaur Isle, visitors can see skeletal remains found by fossil hunters and watch palaeontologists work on their latest finds.

*Getting there: Wightlink Ferries depart from Portsmouth and Lymington. Offering day return travel and unlimited access to island buses from £21 per person, Wightlink’s Wight River Rover ticket is tailor-made for foot passengers looking to hop over to the island for the day.


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Picture Credit: "Return from Smallbrook Junction - geograph.org.uk - 1422405" by John Webber via Wikimedia Commons; "Blackgang Chine" by Editor5807 (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons.

Coming up on the Mount

JUST 400 yards off Mount's Bay in Marazion, St Michael's Mount is a Cornish landmark and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the South West. Its spring season kicks off with the annual Cadbury Easter Egg Trail (April 3, 5, and 6).

Spring will see a spotlight put on St Michael's Mount - www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk - unique terraced gardens, which open on April 20. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet members of the gardening team, including new head gardener, Lottie Allen. Learn what they do day-to-day and hear about the garden's history and current design.

For many visitors, it is astonishing that a garden exists here, but despite the gales and salty winds, the Gulf Stream tempers the climate so that frosts are a rarity and the rock acts a gigantic radiator – absorbing heat by day and releasing it at night creating a micro-climate in which unlikely plants flourish. Puya, agave and aloe rear out of the bedrock, agapanthus wave their heavy heads, and binding threads of rosemary, lavender and coronilla tumble down the terraces.

A Garden in a Castle Festival (May) will bring the glories of the mount's sub-tropical planting into the castle itself.

With 30 islanders calling the village their home, the mount is a living community. On the village tours (daily at 11am and 2pm) hear about the families which live here, explore the buildings that have played many roles in the village's history, and discover what life here today is like.

At low tide, a cobbled causeway appears from the sea and the mount can be reached on foot. When the tide comes in, boatmen ferry visitors across the water to the island.

Tickets/Opening Times: St Michael's Mount castle, shops and restaurants are open daily (except Saturdays) until November 1.

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Picture Credit: Go Holiday

Fact or fiction, the challenge for Nature Watch

A SURVEY by UK holiday property rental company holidaycottages.co.uk suggests that one in seven children believe that they might come across fictional creatures from the Harry Potter series in the British countryside. 

Fourteen percent of the 7-12-year-olds questioned said they believed in dragons and werewolves, creatures commonly spotted at Hogwarts, while 11 percent thought Gilly Weed and Whomping Willow were real plants and trees.

In response, holidaycottages.co.uk is urging families to remedy this and encourage children to explore the country’s wildlife as part of its Nature Watch campaign.

When asked to state whether certain species were real or fictional, almost half of the children surveyed either didn’t know or thought that common native trees and plants, such as Silver Birch, Holly, Bluebell and Honeysuckle, were imaginary species.

The agency’s Nature Watch campaign is designed to encourage families to spend more time in the countryside this spring and summer. In an effort to raise children’s awareness and understanding of wildlife, nature and the importance of protecting their natural habitat, it has developed a free wildlife activity pack that can be download from its website.

It’s also running a competition. Young explorers who share their wildlife picture, photograph or short story have the chance to win a £500 voucher towards their next family holiday. Full details at www.holidaycottages.co.uk/blog/nature-watch.

‘We take great pride in offering holidays to some of the UK’s most beautiful locations and want to encourage the nation’s children to enjoy the great outdoors with Nature Watch,’ said James Morris, director at holidaycottages.co.uk. ‘I come from a generation that spent a great amount of its childhood playing outside, not cooped up in front of a television or computer screen. The fact that a third of today’s 7-12 year-olds don’t know or think that dragonflies, honeybees, and daddy long legs are not real just shows us that we need to get back to that and celebrate our native wildlife more.’

Go Holiday editor David Kernek comments: The company was either extraordinarily unlucky in surveying what turned out to be an exceptionally dim sample of children, or education standards in our schools are far worse than even the pessimists fear. Either way, these findings are terrifying!

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Picture Credit: GoHoliday via Wikimedia Commons.

Cornwall in bloom

SPRING comes early in Cornwall and in 2015 it brings with it new cultivars of daffodils and magnolia. 

A new type of daffodil was discovered in the grounds of Pentillie Castle high above the River Tamar in the autumn of 2014 and has been named Narcissus pseudo narcissus Pentillie Duke in honour of Chris Duke, Pentillie's head gardener.

It is due to flower in March.

Pentillie Castle's - www.pentillie.co.uk - gardens will be open to visitors in 2015 on Sunday 15th March (Mothering Sunday); Easter Monday 6th April and Bank Holiday Monday 4th May.

Further along the south Cornish coast at the Grade II Listed gardens of Caerhays, a new hybrid magnolia named Caerhays Splendour 

will also be bursting into bloom. 

The dark pink magnolia joins the Caerhays Magnolia collection of more than 600 varieties and was awarded National Collection status in 2011.

Caerhays Gardens - www.caerhays.co.uk - will be open from February 16 until Sunday June 21. 

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Picture Credit - FRom Top: ‘Pentillie Duke’ courtesy pentillie.co.uk; "Pond on Pentillie Castle Estate" by Rod Allday via Wikimedia Commons; "Caerhays Castle" by Claudiu Bichescu (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons; "CAERHAYS 'SPLENDOUR'" courtesy caerhays.co.uk

Find the real Caribbean on Tobago

THE Tobago Travel Guide highlights what the island has to offer in terms of culture, food, wildlife, and nature.

Responsibletravel.com managing director, Justin Francis, says: ‘Despite its size, Tobago is setting a real example to other Caribbean destinations in terms of responsible, authentic tourism. With insider tips, podcasts and expert advice from Tobagonians, our travel guide gives tourists a chance to discover that a Caribbean holiday can be much more enriching than just a traditional beach break’.

Taken from the guide, responsibletravel.com gives ten reasons to visit Tobago. Here are some of them:

Board a boat: Its cove-filled coastline and outlying Little Tobago and Goat Islands, are best explored from the water, giving tourists a chance to be a real pirate of the Caribbean.

World-class underwater wildlife: Jacques Cousteau rated Tobago’s Buccoo Reef as the third most spectacular reef in the world, so it’s not surprising that the island has some of the best diving in the Caribbean.

Turtle time: Discover some of the Caribbean’s most secretive residents. 

Hawksbill and endangered giant Leatherback turtles lay their eggs on Tobago’s Caribbean shores, around Courland Bay, Grafton Beach and Mt Irvine Back Bay from March to September each year.

Roam the rainforest: The Main Ridge Forest Reserve has protected the island’s trees and main source of freshwater since 1776, when it was a pioneer of conservation. 

Now visitors can roam the 10,000 acres of untouched rainforest in search of armadillos, hummingbirds, peccaries and iguanas.

Local recipes over international imports: Island cuisine is stubbornly local and often the only option served.

Hail local heritage: With home-grown festivals across the island each month, there’s no escaping traditional Caribbean culture on Tobago. The Tobago Heritage Festival, each July and August, parades its way around the island, with individual communities showcasing their own cultural highlights.

Delve into history: The English, Dutch, and French have fought over Tobago, and its colonial history has shaped the island today. Heritage festivals and forts tell some stories, but the best tales are those told by the Tobagonians themselves.

www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/tobago/travel-guide

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Picture Credit: "Castara Village Beach" Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons; "Tobago-sunset" by Reinhard Jahn via Wikimedia Commons;  'Leatherback LEVIATHAN' by Steve Garvie - Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland via Wikimedia Commons

10 Things you might not have known about … Exmoor

1.     The Exmoor shoreline is the most remote in England. Because of the height and steepness of the cliffs, there is no landward access to the six mile stretches of shoreline from Combe Martin to Heddon's Mouth and Countisbury to Glenthorne and there are few places where you could land even a small boat. It is estimated that if you were to wait for tides low enough to walk between access points it would take five years to walk the 34-mile length of shore. Even then some serious rock climbing would be involved.

2. Exmoor has the most extensive broadleaved coastal woods in Britain. Woods stretch along ten miles of cliff from Countisbury to Porlock. Parts are ancient sessile oak woodland and are amongst the most natural woodland in England. Elsewhere strong salt-laden winds prevent the development of coastal woods except around sheltered inlets. On Exmoor the coastline is sheltered from the prevailing south westerly winds by the high cliffs and the Foreland shelters the eastern part of the coast from most strong winds sweeping up the channel. On the gentler parts of the cliffs, trees sweep right down onto the beach.

3. Exmoor has the highest coastline on the British mainland. It reaches a height of 1,350ft at Culbone Hill.

4. Exmoor has species of plants that are found nowhere else. These include at least two species of whitebeam tree: Sorbus subcuneata and Sorbus 'Taxon D'. Taxon D is named after the area around Desolate where it is found. Other whitebeams endemic to the West Country have subspecies endemic to Exmoor. They are Sorbus devoniensis, Sorbus vexans and Sorbus porrigentiformis. Also found on Exmoor are Sorbus anglica and Sorbus rupicola, which are more widely distributed but nationally rare. A lichen, Opegrapha fumosa, is also thought to be endemic. Exmoor is the only national location for the lichens Biatoridium delitescens, Rinodina fimbriata and Rinodina flavosoralifera, the latter having been found only on one individual tree.

5. The South West Coast Path, which starts along the Exmoor coast, is the longest national trail in England and Wales. The route includes a number of options and changes are being made continually but at present the distance from the start at Minehead to the finish in Poole is 613 miles. It takes roughly 40 days to walk the entire route

6. Exmoor is the national stronghold of the heath fritillary butterfly, one of the rarest of the butterflies breeding in Britain.

7. Exmoor ponies are the closest breed to the original wild horses which roamed Britain and the rest of the northern hemisphere in prehistoric times. Some say they are not a breed but a race of wild horse. There are only a few hundred on Exmoor and worldwide they are rarer than the giant panda.

8. Most of Exmoor's rocks were in the southern hemisphere when they were formed, about 350 million years ago. Continental drift has caused them to gradually move thousands of miles to the north. then. Parts of the surface of Exmoor are among the oldest landscapes in the world. The surface of the Chains and the Vale of Porlock are thought to be at least 200 million years old.

9. Hollow Brook at Martinhoe is arguably the highest waterfall (689ft) in the West Country and among the highest in Britain.

10. Beech trees grow at greater altitudes on Exmoor than anywhere else in Britain. The country's highest beech wood is at Birch Cleave at Simonsbath, with trees growing up to 1,200ft above sea level.

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Picture Credit: Frm Top -  Coast at Hollow Brook - Exmoor by Derek Harper via Wikimedia Commons; Waterfall on Hollow Brook by Philip Halling via Wikimedia Commons

Cities under the waves

GET close to spectacular seascapes next year at Natural History Museum’s Coral Reefs: Secret Cities of the Sea exhibition. 

It will include a live coral reef, a virtual dive and more than 200 specimens such as corals, fish and fossils. Opening in March 2015, it will explore the richness of life beneath the waves.

Dr Ken Johnson, coral reef researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, says: ‘Coral reefs are not simply beautiful environments. They provide food, income and storm protection for many millions of people around the world.' 

'The Museum has an exceptional collection of corals from ancient and modern reefs that we have been studying, to understand how these animals, and the diverse habitats they create, have responded to changes in the ocean. ‘Climate change, pollution and overfishing have had a major effect on them. A quarter of coral reefs around the world are sadly damaged beyond repair and many more are still under serious threat.'

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An island’s history, in 100 objects

Ħaġar Qim a megalithic temple complex
dating from the Ġgantija phase via Wikimedia Commons

AN exhibition at Malta’s National Museum of Archaeology tells “the great story of a small island-nation through 100 objects” from its geological formation 35million years ago. It runs until January 31, 2015.

www.heritagemalta.org

"Malta Roman beehives"
by Gokoenig via Wikimedia Commons

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Malta in focus

WITH news that Angelina Jolie has chosen Malta as the location for her forthcoming film with Brad Pitt, the spotlight is once again on this Mediterranean island, now a firm favourite with movie-makers. 

Saint Paul's Bay, Malta  via Wikimedia Commons 

The favourable tax rates might be one reason (the Malta Film Commission offer various incentives to attract overseas film-makers) but it's the architecture, scenery, beaches and historic sites that have secured its status as an ideal setting for blockbusters and top TV series.

Many of the films have used multiple settings across the island; including The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only and Casino Royale, but if you're looking for some recognizable locations, here's a film buff's guide on where to visit:

• Valletta

Must-do: Visit the Lascaris War Rooms, used in the Malta Story (1953). This is the secret bunker where the defence of Malta and later the invasion of Sicily were managed. It has been faithfully restored using the original equipment. Admission and tour costs €10, open daily from 10 am-5pm.

• Mdina

Mdina, Malta
via Wikimedia Commons

Once the capital of Malta and a settlement of Imperial Rome, the tiny walled city of Mdina is known as the Silent City and is made up of winding cobbled streets and mesmerizing views thanks to its strategic position on high ground. You'll find a mix of medieval and baroque architecture.

Films: Gladiator and The Count of Monte Cristo are two of the best-known films that have used this setting.

Must-do: Take a carriage-ride around the cobbled streets in a traditional karozzin, departing from the city gates which Game of Thrones fans will recognize. The tour costs €30 for one hour.

• Mellieha

In the north west of the island, Mellieha's long beaches with shallow water make it popular with families. It's also home to many rare and protected species of wildlife, as well as Malta's only natural national park, Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park.

Films: Troy was filmed here.

Must-do: Those with families might like the Popeye Village. Built as the set of the 1980 film starring Robin Williams, it was later turned into a tourist attraction, complete with lido and play pool. Entrance costs around € 14 per person.

• Vittoriosa

Vittoriosa (Birgu) one of the „Three cities“, Malta.
© Plamen Agov • studiolemontree.com
via Wikimedia Commons

Known as one of the Three Cities, together with Cospicua and Senglea, Vittoriosa is steeped in history, dating back to prehistoric times.

Films: The Da Vinci Code used Vittoriosa as well as other settings on the island.

You can fly to Malta from 16 UK departure airports with airlines including Air Malta, British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair.


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Dorset hill fort bought by National Trust

AN Iron Age hill fort has been bought by the National Trust for £450,000, the BBC reports. Built more than 2,000 years ago, Hambledon Hill, near Blandford Forum in Dorset, stands at 620ft and spans the size of 50 football pitches.

The trust said its historical uses included communal occupation, farming, feasting, conflict, and burial.

It is the first hill fort acquired by the trust in Dorset for 30 years and joins its six other sites in the county, including Hod Hill, Lamberts Castle, Badbury Rings and Pilsdon Pen.

The National Trust said it decided to buy the site to secure its future, and ensure maintenance and access for the public was maintained.

The chalk grassland is home to at least five species of orchids, while 28 species of butterfly have been recorded at the site over the years.

From its summit visitors can see across three counties: Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

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The other side of Essex

ESSEX gets a bad press, but there’s much more to the county than what’s shown on TOWIE or reported in the Sunday tabloids. A free Rough Guide has been published to help you discover the magical coastline of one of Britain’s most beautiful counties. 

Essex - Wallasea Island seals

Not only is Essex’s coastline the longest of any county in England, but more than 70 percent of it remains rural – and all less than an hour’s train ride from central London. Make The Most of the Discovery Coast takes you on a tour of beaches, creeks and remote inlets, while stopping to admire the must-see sights.

The first Rough Guide about a single English county, it packed with local experts’ knowledge of the very best things to see and do around its shoreline.

It will be a surprise to many that Essex is a nature lover’s paradise. Wallasea Island, near Burnham-on-Crouch, is arguably the jewel in the crown from a twitcher’s point of view. The wildlife reserve is owned and managed by the RSPB and is one of the most ambitious conservation projects in Europe. Seals area a popular sight and can be spotted along the coast from Walton Backwaters in the north to Leigh-on-Sea near on the Thames Estuary in the south.

George Kieffer, chairman of Visit Essex, said: ‘Essex is only one hour from London, but so different that it could be hundreds of miles or an age away. There is much to discover, from vineyards and oysters, cockle-sheds and pubs, to one of the oldest chapels in England and the longest pleasure pier in the world. You can wander around Harwich and imagine yourself in the days of Samuel Pepys, who was the local MP, or Christopher Martin who sailed the Mayflower to America. The Rough Guide is an excellent start to your explorations.’

The guide is available from tourist information centres, and from www.visitessex.com/brochures

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Dinosaurs Unleashed at the Eden Project

A JOURNEY 67 million years back in time to the lost world of dinosaurs awaits visitors to the Eden Project in Cornwall this summer. 

Avaceratops : with thanks to http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/

Dinosaurs Unleashed, which runs from July 21, will turn visitors into true explorers as they track down and discover the giant beasts that once roamed the planet.

Dr Jo Elworthy, Eden's Director of Interpretation, says: ‘This will be the biggest, most compelling summer activity Eden has ever staged. As well as immersing you into the Cretaceous world to give you a close encounter with some incredibly realistic dinosaurs, you can become a dino detective and learn how scientists worked out how these animals looked, what they ate, where and when they lived, how they moved and even how they smelt and saw.

‘As a living reminder of the lost world of dinosaurs, you will be able to meet some of the plants that were around then and which are still thriving today. See more about it at www.edenproject.com/dinosaurs-unleashed 

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Exmoor trail extended

A 15-MILE extension to the Coleridge Way on Exmoor has been opened. 

The extension is an inland route from Porlock to Lynmouth following in the footsteps of the Romantic poets. It extends the current 36-mile route from Nether Stowey to Porlock, creating a 51-mile walk taking in some of the finest countryside in the country and linking the Quantock Hills with Exmoor National Park.

www.coleridgeway.co.uk

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Public gives thumbs down to marine park shows

A survey of 2,050 people indicates that watching dolphins and killer whales perform tricks in small tanks is no longer on the travel bucket list of the average British tourist. The poll was carried out by Censuswide on behalf of the leading ethical travel company, responsibletravel.com, and the international wildlife charity, the Born Free Foundation.

Growing public awareness of the ethical issues and physical implications of keeping dolphins and whales in captivity is changing public opinion. More than 85 percent people surveyed said they would not wish to visit a marine park to see whales and dolphins as part of an overseas holiday.

Will Travers OBE, President of the Born Free Foundation, said: ‘Are the days of the dolphinarium over?  It seems clear that when presented with the information on which to make an informed decision, British travellers have had enough.  It is time to bring the curtain down on the exploitation of whales and dolphins in captivity – just like the exploitation of wild animals in travelling circuses.

‘There are no longer any captive dolphins in the UK, and I hope that the result of this survey will hasten the day when there are no captive dolphins kept for public entertainment anywhere in the world.’ 

                                   

More than 2,000 dolphins, 227 beluga whales, 52 killer whales, 37 porpoises and 17 false killer whales (collectively referred to as cetaceans) are held in 343 captive dolphin facilities in 63 countries across the world.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

Make a date with Lyuba

IF you’re planning a holiday in London, think about putting a date with Lyuba at the Natural History Museum on your to-do list.

Lyuba © International Mammoth Committee and Francis Latreille

Lyuba is a 37-day-old animal which died 42,000 years ago, but today she’s the star of Mammoths: Ice Age Giants, an exhibition which showcases the fascinating creatures which met their end less than 4,000 years ago.

Discovered in 2007 in Russia, Lyuba was preserved in the Siberian permafrost. Her body – approximately the size of a large dog – was buried in wet clay and mud which then froze.  It was found by a reindeer herder Yuri Khudi and his sons as they were looking for wood along the frozen Yuribei River. She was sent to the Shemanovsky Museum in Salekhard, Russia, and named Lyuba (pronounced Loo-ba) after Yuri’s wife, meaning love in Russian.

Columbian mammoth Short faced cave bear and Saber toothed cat NHM London

The exhibition takes visitors on an inspiring journey from the time when these creatures roamed the planet through to today’s research into the causes of mammoth extinction and ways to protect their precious modern relative, the elephant. Exhibits include the spiral-tusked Columbian mammoth, dwarf mammoths, the mastodon,  sabre-tooth cats and giant cave bears.

Professor Adrian Lister, mammoths researcher at the Natural History Museum says: ‘This exhibition is very exciting, as these amazing creatures were not only giants of the Ice Age, but the science behind their incredible lives is still relevant to the natural world today. This exhibition promises a rare glimpse into the Ice Age world of mammoths and their relatives through life-sized models, original skeletons and fossils and of course Lyuba, the best preserved and most complete mammoth ever discovered.’

The exhibition runs from May 23 to September 7. Adult entry is £9.00, children and concessions £5.40, family tickets are £25 and entry for children under four is free.

www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2014/may/emotional-welcome-for-beautiful-mammoth-lyuba130851.html

http://www.nhm.ac.uk

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk