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United Kingdom: HS2 tunnel could save ancient woodland, campaigners say
Posted by Guardian: Jessica Aldred on February 27th, 2014
Guardian: A short tunnel extension could save up to one-third of the ancient woodland threatened by the HS2 high-speed rail project, campaigners say.
Figures show that 32 hectares (80 acres) of ancient woodland will be lost in the first phase of HS2, that will be constructed along a 140-mile route between London and Birmingham.
But a coalition of conservation groups and the local council says that more than 10 hectares (25 acres) could be preserved by increasing the length of the planned Chilterns tunnel...
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UK floods: Raise roads and redesign houses, engineers say
Posted by Guardian: Jessica Aldred on February 25th, 2014
Guardian: Houses should be redesigned, roads raised and tidal lagoons built that generate energy to reduce the impact of flooding in the UK, according to a panel of senior engineers and academics.
Recent flooding has affected large parts of southern England in the UK's wettest winter on record - particularly the Somerset Levels and Thames valley, resulting in more than 5,000 homes and businesses being flooded, major road and rail networks disrupted, and a political row over who is to blame.
"In some...
UK public asked to spot biggest threats to tree health
Posted by Guardian: Jessica Aldred on May 9th, 2013
Guardian: Members of the public are being asked to spot the "six most unwanted" pests and diseases threatening UK trees, as part of a citizen science survey starting on Thursday.
Recent outbreaks of the oak processionary moth and ash dieback disease have added to the increasing number of pests and diseases that have been attacking trees in the past few years, leading to a decline in tree health and in some cases tree loss.
In order to manage the threat, Open Air Laboratories (Opal) researchers, together...
Australia links ‘angry summer’ to climate change – at last
Posted by Guardian: Jessica Aldred on March 7th, 2013
Guardian: The hottest summer on record. The hottest January on record. The hottest day on record for Australia as a whole. Bushfires in every state and territory. Daily rainfall records and major flooding. Over a period of 90 days, these were some of the 123 extreme weather records broken during Australia's "angry summer".
Despite the dramatic headlines and "flame-seared images" that documented extreme weather over the summer, the Australian media largely failed to make the link to climate change. Of 800...