Wildlife Rebound: Creatures in the West Country making a comeback for the first time since Queen Victoria's rule

In the quaint village of Vogue, Cornwall, The Star Inn has introduced an innovative policy to combat food waste. Landlord Mark Graham explained that customers who pile their plates high and fail to eat their meal will be charged. This policy, rarely enforced, aims to reduce waste and encourage mindful eating.

Meanwhile, in parts of Gloucestershire and the New Forest, pine martens, once driven to extinction at the beginning of the 20th century, have made a comeback. Conservationists believe these animals could help reduce grey squirrel numbers. The reintroduction of pine martens in the south-west of England was overseen by the Vincent Wildlife Trust, while the re-introduction in Dartmoor was managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust.

The impacts on rare birds and bats will be carefully monitored during the reintroduction. Pine martens, known for their agility, might easily target red squirrels, but there is some evidence from Ireland that red squirrels are better equipped to evade these predators.

On a different note, Toby Keel, Digital Director of our platform, has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. His writings cover a wide range of topics, including property, cars, lifestyle, travel, and nature.

In other news, the manse near Dunvegan, Skye, has been on sale for a few months and its price has been trimmed to under £700,000. For those with a penchant for literature and landscape, the Literature & Landscape Festival is on from Friday to Sunday this week in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. The festival is run by our platform contributor Charles Rangeley-Wilson and his wife Vicky.

Lastly, it's worth noting that approximately £14 billion in food is wasted in the UK each year. The Star Inn's policy is a small step towards addressing this issue, aiming to slow down and stop the excessiveness of food waste. One customer was charged an extra £4.80 for not eating all her meal, a price roughly the same as a house in Luton. Mark Graham stated that the problem arises when customers go back for seconds which end up largely untouched.

Wildlife Rebound: Creatures in the West Country making a comeback for the first time since Queen Victoria's rule