prone. new media. new way. new world.

LAST BITE OF THE APPLE

Small traditional orchards could vanish from the British landscape by the end of the century unless action is taken to save them, environmental experts and campaigners warned yesterday.

Natural England and the National Trust claimed 60% of England’s orchards had disappeared since the 1950s as they launched a £500,000 project aimed at halting the decline. The crisis has been even worse in some areas, such as Devon, which has lost almost 90% of its orchards.

The organisations argued that if nothing was done, a focal point for communities across the country and a crucial habitat for flora and fauna could be wiped out forever.

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS

AN ice bridge which held a vast Antarctic ice shelf in place shattered at the weekend and could herald a wider collapse linked to global warming, a leading scientist has warned.

“It’s amazing how the ice has ruptured. Two days ago it was intact,” said David Vaughan, a glaciologist with the British Antarctic Survey.

A satellite picture from the European Space Agency showed that a 25 mile-long strip of ice believed to pin the Wilkins Ice Shelf in place had splintered at its narrowest point, about 500 metres wide.

Iceland is Melting

EVERY year since the 1930s volunteers have measured Iceland’s central glacier.

The island, once totally hidden beneath frozen water, is now only 20% covered.

And, alarmingly, more of the bare ground beneath the glacier is being revealed each year.
The annual check reveals the ice has receded by 120 feet.

Celebrating nature Bristol fashion

THE UK’s biggest festival of the natural world will be happening on 7 and 8 June 2008 in Bristol.

prone met the festival organisers at Bristol Zoo. It’s the fifth oldest zoo in the world (since 1835) and these days, one of the most well-loved.