Archived News January 2006 Fuel being priced out of rural areas Jan 31st Rural petrol stations, like rural post offices, are increasingly becoming threatened with closure. Training boost for traditional skills Jan 30th The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given a lifeline of almost £7 million in training bursaries to the UK's dying traditional skills. Winter bird-feeding study Jan 29th With the prospect of freezing winter conditions still possible, farmers and landowners are being urged to keep feeding game and farmland birds during late winter and early spring, as this is the time when many declining bird species struggle for survival due to a lack of food. Wind farms blamed for eagle deaths Jan 28th Wind turbines have caused the deaths of huge birds of prey on isolated islands off the Norwegian coast. Best Rural Retailer Announced Jan 26th The Countryside Alliance has announced the winner of their Best Rural Retailer competition, a grocers in Yorkshire Hunting is Top cultural Icon Jan 24th Foxhunting is currently leading a government poll to find England’s greatest cultural icon. Management of byways needs co-operation. Jan 23rd Guidelines for dealing with vehicle abuse on rights of way have been published. Lifeline For Dying Heritage Skills Jan 22nd Britain’s dying traditional skills have been given a £7 million boost towards training bursaries by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Village life with artistic flare Jan 20th Teenagers from a Derbyshire village are mounting an exhibition of their own art work just months after joining a county council run youth project designed to cut down on anti-social behaviour. Project to protect village greens Jan 19th A project has been launched to protect and catalogue Cumbria's village greens. Musical mobile store is a big hit Jan 18th A businesswoman concerned about the decline in the corner shop has decided to bring a mobile store to villagers. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Information Jan 17th Advice on Avian Influenza Canal hedgerows get helping hands Jan 16th Volunteers are learning the skills of laying hedges to improve those along canalsides in Cheshire. Kites Fly Over London Again Jan 15th The return of the Red Kite to London signals the full reintegration of one of the most majestic sights in our skies British public oppose Olympic shooting ban Jan 14th A poll commissioned by the Countryside Alliance finds that 73% of the population opposes the ban on the UK Olympic Shooting Outdoor recreation strategy Jan 12th A strategy on how to encourage open-air recreation and promote access to the countryside is being produced. Volunteers sought to help gardening Jan 11th The RHS is looking for volunteers to help at shows and gardens throughout the year. Definitive English Icons Revealed Jan 10th Stonehenge has been chosen as one of 12 official Icons of England in a new online scheme designed to identify what exactly defines England. The future of our heritage Jan 4th The public is being consulted on how the Heritage Lottery Fund should direct its funding in the future. Constable country noise airbrushed out Jan 3rd Dedham Vale Society has reached an agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority over the impact of aircraft over-flying the Dedham Vale. New food regulations for wild game Jan 2nd Stricter food safety rules for those selling wild game came into force this month. TB Row Escalates in Devon Jan 1st The NFU has joined the row over a farmer in Devon who is refusing to allow Defra to put down a calf which may have contracted Bovine TB