With The Lake District and The Yorkshire Dales on our doorstep - KDCS offers an exciting selection of cycle rides throughout the local area and beyond. There are social gatherings including slide shows, talks and supper evenings and members are kept up to date with cycling news and issues through this web site, emails and our Facebook pages. KDCS are an affiliated group of Cycling UK.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Sustainability group - opportunity to campaign for our marine environment


Marine Conservation Zone

Our seas need you! Now’s the chance for you to have your say and influence the future of our seas. We have until 31 March 2013 to voice our opinions to the Government and show our support for Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).


Below is a copy of an email that we wanted to be available to as many people as possible - the item highlighted in red lower down is of interest to all cyclists.

Hello everyone.

Apologies for this email being rather long, but as fellow members of the sustainability group, I thought that you would like to know about an important public consultation that is currently being held in relation to proposed Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).  These are essentially nature reserves in the sea; areas where the most damaging activities will be appropriately managed to ensure effective protection of the species and habitats within the reserve.

Disappointingly, only four of the 19 recommended MCZs in the Irish Sea were put forward for designation in 2013. It is unclear when the remaining sites will be designated and whether damaging activities will be restricted in the meantime

So how do I know about this work?  Well, until fairly recently, I worked for Cumbria Wildlife Trust.  I still keep in close contact with my ex colleagues - hence me learning about this important area of campaign work.  So I hope you don't mind me letting you know about it too? 

If you would like to know more about the marine life in our coastal waters and why we need to lobby for its protection, then please follow the link below. 


The website also has a smashing little video and further information about the issues, including how you can help the campaign.

I hope you find this of interest that you don't mind me emailing you about it.  I think that its a great way of acting upon our commitment to sustainability as it concerns the future viability of our marine environment as well as fish stocks and associated wildlife habitats.  

I have just sent a petition letter and it was very easy.  I have also copied the text as a word document - see attached and plan to send it to Tim Farron.

In friendship ....and apologies if you are already aware of this work.

Izzy
ps.  Morecambe Bay Partnership is also holding its AGM in Grange-over-Sands on the 26th March 2013.
Speakers include:
  • Sustrans on the Bay Cycle Way - our plans to connect and sign a 200 Km long cycle route
  • Peter Fendley of the National Grid
  • Maddi Nicholson of Art Gene talking about the creative work that is giving the Ship Inn on Piel Island a new contemporary resonance and other work with Coastal Communities in the NE.
  • Walter Menzies and James Rebanks looking at the Morecambe Bay and other Local Nature Partnerships in the North West
  • Peter Caton - Author of "No Boat Required"
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