Nature Confused By Scotland`s Warm Autumn

After a rotten summer Scotland has been enjoying a glorious autumn - and nature's not sure what's going on.

Primroses were spotted flowering in Inverness

The Woodland Trust reports that some plants and animals are behaving as if autumn is spring.

It is taking part in a UK-wide project called Nature's Calendar which records seasonal changes which may be related to climate change.

The trust said that, this autumn, primroses have been flowering in Inverness and roses in Perth.

There are still live tadpoles in Fife and young newts in Edinburgh. Experts are not sure whether these events, which normally happen in the spring, are really late or exceptionally early.

Destructive flower pest confirmed

The fuchsia gall mite is spread by the wind, insects and birds
A destructive pest that attacks the fuchsia flower has been confirmed in three separate cases in the South.

The fuchsia gall mite is a notifiable infestation, which means any suspected outbreaks have to be reported to Defra.

Plant health and seed inspectors confirmed the latest case in Allington, Kent, this week. It has previously been found in Hampshire and Middlesex.

A government scientist said the mites could spread very quickly, and all infected flowers have to be destroyed.

The mites were found in California in 1981, in Brittany, France, in 2003, and then in Guernsey last year.

Preston pensioners scoop top gardening award

A group of pensioners have won an award for maintaining their beautiful garden.

A group of residents in a home for the elderly have been honoured with the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society award for their efforts in gardening.

All of the residents at Windsor Court Sheltered Housing Scheme in Poole Road, Fulwood, are involved in maintaining the beautiful garden and it is the first year that they have entered the competition.

The pensioners have now become the only entry in the area to be given an excellence award in the north-west in Bloom's neighbourhood gardening category, the Lancashire Evening Post reports.

Biggest Survey Of British Birds Underway

The biggest survey of birds ever carried out in Britain has been launched as part of a project to create an ornithological atlas.

More than 250 species will be surveyed by an estimated 50,000 volunteers who will spot, count and record all the birds they can find.

As part of the scheme volunteers will seek out as many birds as possible while walking around Britain’s countryside, or simply spy on birds in their gardens from the comfort of their lounges.

The survey is expected to provide enough information to allow conservationists to assess whether measure to improve barn owl numbers are working.

It is designed to enable researchers to plot the population location and concentration of each species of bird in Britain.

Information obtained from the survey will be used to create an atlas of bird populations, the first for 20 years and the most detailed.

Free trees to help reduce global warming

Free trees are being offered to people in Gloucester to help towards reducing global warming.

The scheme is part of the city council's commitment to addressing climate change.

A council spokesman said planting a tree was one of the most simple things people could do to help.

It`s claimed that just one mature beech tree can process one kilogramme of carbon dioxide in 30 minutes.

People who want to take part need to register their interest by picking-up a leaflet from the council offices or libraries in the city.

Registration can also be completed on the council's website.