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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 24th May 2022
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New app to help reverse decline in pollinators
“We are encouraging people to give just 10 minutes of their time to count the pollinating insects they see using this app" - Rebecca Pow.
Government asks public to collect data on garden visitors.

The public is being asked to count bees, butterflies and other pollinators using a free app in their gardens and green spaces.

The new FIT Counts app will help track pollinator numbers and movements, providing crucial data that the government can use to support pollinators in their natural environment. 

It forms part of Defra's new “Pollinator Action Plan”, which aims to improve nature recovery and reverse declines in these species.

FIT Counts, supported by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, asks people to spend 10 minutes a day collecting data on the number of insects that visit particular patches of flowers, including dandelion, buttercup and lavender.

Data gathered will be used to help the government and conservationists understand where pollinators are declining or how populations are shifting in response to climate change.

Defra's new Pollinator Action Plan promises to focus on a number of key areas, including:
  • strengthening the evidence base to improve understanding of trends and impacts on pollination; 
  • managing land more effectively to encourage better-connected habitat and recovered species; 
  • sustaining pollinator health of managed and wild populations’ by supporting beekeepers and bee farmers, ensuring there is surveillance of diseases and invasive species, as well as research and advice; and 
  • engaging the public through Bees’ Needs events, alongside celebrating successes and promoting a wide range of training. 

Announcing the app at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday (23 May), environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “We all want to see an abundance of butterflies and bees in our gardens, parks and countryside. We are encouraging people to give just 10 minutes of their time to count the pollinating insects they see using this app to help us track their numbers and movements and support our efforts to reverse the decline of these vital species.”

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RCVS Knowledge appoints Veterinary Evidence editor-in-chief

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence.

A world-renowned expert in evidence-based veterinary medicine, Prof Cockcroft will lead the strategic development and editorial quality of the open-access journal. He was previously in the role from 2017-2020.

Katie Mantell, CEO of RCVS Knowledge, said: "We are excited about the extensive knowledge of evidence-based veterinary medicine and clinical veterinary research that Peter brings, and we look forward to working with him over this next phase of the journal's development." 

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CVS Group hit by cyber attack

CVS Group, which owns more than 450 veterinary practices in the UK, has been hit by a cyber attack.

In a statement, the group said the incident involved unauthorised external access to a limited number of its IT systems. As soon as the attack was discovered, the group took its IT systems temporarily offline, causing 'considerable operational disruption'.

It has warned that the security steps taken and ongoing plans to move its operational systems and IT infrastructure to the Cloud are likely to have an ongoing impact over a number of weeks.

Due to the risk that personal information was accessed, CVS has informed the Information Commissioner's Office. The company is working with third party consultants to investigate the incident.