Archived News March 2004 England's best loved countryside comes of age - 31 March 2004 Mar 31st England's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), nationally recognised as some of its finest countryside, finally come of age today. Countryside too dry for birds Mar 30th The declines of some familiar countryside birds can be linked to half a century of field drainage and the disappearance of ditches and other wet landscape features, according to new research. A burning opportunity for Welsh farmers Mar 30th A £7 million grant scheme to kick-start a sustainable energy industry in Wales based on wood fuel has been launched. Rural pensioners encouraged to take up allowances Mar 29th Pensioners suffering financial hardship in rural areas will receive fresh encouragement to take up benefits and allowances to which they are entitled through a new £1.25m fund Lords Save the Planning System Mar 28th CPRE Urges MPs Not to Reject Vital Changes. Transport, young people and rural areas Mar 27th Young people in rural areas have particular transport needs and it is crucial to understand these needs if we are to increase their work opportunities, improve their choice of leisure and social activities and overcome difficulties they may have accessing education, training and healthcare. Black Death village gets new life Mar 26th A government grant means more areas of a famous deserted medieval village will be opened to the public. Tax boycott over travellers' site Mar 25th More than 400 residents of Cottenham, a village in Cambridgeshire, have voted to withhold council tax in a row over a travellers' site. Police moving into pole position Mar 24th A police team, searching for a base in a Cumbrian village, have found a home in the local fire station. CPRE's health check of market towns Mar 24th Spreading Blandness Afflicting Our Market Towns, Big Survey Reveals Angling Generates £113m for Scots Mar 24th Angling in Scotland generates as much as £113 million a year, says research done for the Scottish Executive. Elvis roots 'lead to Scotland Mar 24th Elvis Presley's ancestors can be traced back to a village in Aberdeenshire, according to a Scottish author More homes needed to cut house prices Mar 23rd England needs to build more houses to curb the rise in prices and make housing more affordable, according to a Treasury report. Traditions of the New Forest to be conserved Mar 22nd A ten-year grant to the Verderers’ court will allow practicing commoners to continue grazing stock in the New Forest. Butterflies indicate a mass extinction event Mar 21st The continued decline of Britain’s butterflies supports the theory that the world is experiencing a mass extinction event of our own making, according to a new study just published in the journal Science. More war memorials to be repaired Mar 20th A scheme to help preserve war memorials which stand at the heart of communities across the country is to be extended with funding help from the Wolfson Foundation. Barker report on housing Mar 19th unnecessary environmental tragedy looms claims CPRE Welsh village claims St Patrick Mar 18th A south Wales mining village is laying claim to be St Patrick's birthplace. Villagers may face quitting homes Mar 17th More than half of the residents of a Devon village are told they might have to leave their rented homes within weeks. Ring out the bells Mar 16th The church bells in a small village church are once again ringing out across the Hertfordshire countryside thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of two teenagers.. Removing obstructions from rights of way Mar 15th New provisions for removing obstructions from public rights of way have been published in guidance for local authorities. A paneful end for millions of birds Mar 14th Estimates suggest that up to 100 million birds collide with windows in the UK every year and one-third of these birds die as a result. Plan to improve common land Mar 13th A plan to revitalise common land surrounding former slate quarrying communities in north Wales has been given more than £360,000 in funding. Villagers in bid for hydro power Mar 11th A group of villagers in Calderdale are planning to harness the power of a stream at the bottom of their gardens to produce their own electricity Protect our hedgerows Mar 11th The beauty and character of rural landscapes and valuable habitats for wildlife under threat Guards hired to 'police' village Mar 11th A shortage of beat officers and a vandalism problem lead a Bedfordshire village to hire a security firm. Road fear villagers don jackets Mar 11th Devon villagers are being given reflective jackets following the death of a local pensioner. Housebuilding boost won’t meet the nation's housing needs Mar 11th Kate Barker's interim review on housing supply provides no solid evidence of an undersupply of new homes in the UK How many new houses do we need? GM Crop Given Go Ahead Mar 10th The growing of GM maize in the UK was given the green light this morning by Margaret Beckett. RSPB Concern Over Wind Farms Mar 10th The RSPB today reinforces its concerns about the development of more wind farms, saying that bird populations could be at risk. Rural Railways Rethink Mar 9th Local and rural railways throughout the UK could get a proper boost following a new consultation by the Strategic Rail Authority Films Come to the Countryside Mar 9th Local film clubs can now apply for extra cash to help them show movies in rural areas, thanks to a Lottery funded initiative. Village hairdryer speed trap plan Mar 8th Residents of a West Yorkshire village are asked to dress up as police officers and point hairdryers at traffic in a bid to slow down speeding motorists Villages get vital hospital link Mar 7th People in outlying villages in Teasdale are offered a vital bus link to their nearest hospital. Village green bid to protect dunes Mar 4th People in a Pembrokeshire coast community want their foreshore to be made a village green to block future development. Last orders - to save your local pub Mar 2nd A new guide has been launched on how communities can save and buy a pub that is under threat of closure. Supporting rural schools in Wales Mar 2nd A special grant to support small and rural schools with innovative projects is to be continued for 2004-05. Rural railways could branch out and blossom Mar 1st New proposals to maximise the potential of 1,300 miles of local and rural railways throughout England and Wales have been published. Residents restores village services Mar 1st People in Tackley, West Oxfordshire, angry at the closures of shops and a pub have opened their own village centre after raising more than £400,000.