LIVING BRITAIN.

WINTER REFLECTIONS
PART 3
Match the words and expressions you’ll hear in the next passage with their
definitions:
Timeless 3) unaffected by the passing of time
scarce 17) rare
retreat 5) a safe quiet place
forage 8) food for horses and cattle
to re-create, ;;; 7) to reproduce
to set aside 9) to put (establish) on one side for future use
to retain 10) to keep, to continue to have or hold
to browse, 6) to feed on leaves, bushes, shoots, etc.
heathland/ moorland, 1) an area of open uncultivated land covered with low shrubs
(mostly with heather)
woodland, 20) land covered with trees.
scrub, 11) trees and bushes of poor quality
to keep down, 4) to prevent growth
to revert, 2) to return to a former state, condition, etc.
to assemble, 13) gather together
turn-out, 16) those who have assembled
to vie for, 18) to compete
a courtship ground, 19) a place where birds prepare for mating (by singing, displaying,
etc.)
an inflated ego, 15) (an air of) excessive self-importance
posture, 12) a way of holding the body
а culprit. 14) someone/something that is responsible for wrong-doing; the source of guilt

Watch the passage and a) decide whether the statements are true, partly true or
false:
1. Ancient places such as the New Forest have changed beyond recognition in the
course of time. F ..have a timeless character which is impossible to re-create. These
places must have looked like this since the time of William the Conqueror.
2. Almost a thousand years ago William the Conqueror established the New Forest as
a sanctuary for wildlife of all kinds. F.. instructed that the New Forest should be set
aside as a place for hunting deer
3. It is not enough to have law protection for preserving natural diversity of the New
Forest. T
4. Historically a forest was not a place of trees, but a large area covered with bushes
and shrubs. T
5. Fire has first created heathland, but today it poses a threat to heathland.. F ..and it is
still the most effective way of conserving it.
6. The warbler, the adder, the sand lizard and the black grouse are all rare heathland
inhabitants. T
7. It is rather difficult to keep up the suitable habitat for various heathland species. T
8. To see a male black grouse exhibiting its plumage is an unforgettable, but rare
experience. T
 9. One can see only a couple of black grouse on their courtship ground as this bird has
been hunted to near extinction. T

b) Fill in the gaps in this summary with the above words in the right form:
Ancient places such as the New Forest have a timeless character which is impossible
to re-create. It was William the Conqueror who almost a thousand years ago ordered that a
new forest should be set aside a place for hunting deer. Today this is a retreat for wildlife
of all kinds. The New Forest needs regular control if it is to retain its natural diversity.
Forestry commission staff cut holly to provide winter forage and to encourage fresh
growth for browsing deer and ponies.
The New Forest includes a large area of heathland. Today’s foresters use controlled
burning to keep down the vegetation which would otherwise revert to scrub and eventually
back to woodland.
The black grouse is an impressive heathland creature. In spring male black grouse
assemble on their communal courtship ground, where there occurs rivalry between males
all with inflated egos. Each male vie for the attention of the hens. When a female is
present, the male’s posture turns into a dance competition in an attempt to attract a partner.
Nowadays the turn-out of the black grouse is only a couple of birds. One of the culprits is
the spread of commercial forestry across moorland.

Match the words and expressions you’ll hear in the next passage with their
definitions:
felling 2) cutting down
to mature 4) to come to full development, to grow fully;
to regenerate 1) to grow again
prolifically 7) reproducing rapidly and in great numbers
to churn off 8) to move along violently;.
to fare 9) to progress, get on
scheme 5) plan
prospect 3) the assumed course of the future
daunting 6) discouraging, filling with dismay

Watch on and note down:

1) what commercial softwood plantations are better suited to and how they can be
made nature-friendly;
In the last hundred years thousands of … were planted with fast grain trees, a landscape
better suited to weaken recreation of wildlife. But these days the selective felling a mix of
tree species, even plantations, can be nature-friendly.

2) how these birds and mammals have benefited from man-made conifer forests and to
what extent:

a) coal tits Coal tits in man-made coniferous have begun to mature feeding on seeds and
insects.
b) redpolls Redpolls also eat that seeds, preferring to make their homes in young
plantations. Their number has increased, adding to the list of birds which benefit from the
new style of management.

c) red squirrels d) grey squirrels In some parts of the country red squirrels now depend on
man-made conifer forests, where they have an advantage over the grey squirrels because
they are better adapted to eating the seeds of pine cones. Until native pine forests
regenerate, these plantations will continue to be vital sanctuaries for red squirrels.

e) goshawks The great success story about conifer plantations is the goshawks. Made
extinct in Britain in the late 19th century, this bird of prey has been reintroduced and there
are now nearly five hundred pairs, mostly in Whales. Some people think that there are now
too many of these birds and the dilemma for conservationists is the goshawks’ prey on
grouse.

f) pine martens Some predatory mammals have also benefited from softwood plantations.
Pine martens have made a slow but sure comeback over the last fifty years, as have
wildcats.

g) wildcats Conifer stems provide good habitat for their prey on small birds. And it is now
quite possible that wildcats will spread south into England.

Watch on and summarize the information about these British native mammals that
could make a comeback, answering the questions:
Wild boar
1. What do these figures refer to?
The 1600s
Some 3 million
3 times the weight of a man
2. How can people benefit from wild boars?
3. How adaptable are they?
4. What damage can they cause?

Wild boars which were hunted to extinction in the 1600s are back in Britain.
Imported from France where some 3 million roaming wild they have been bred here for
their tasty meat. The full grown adult is a very powerful beast 3 times the weight of a man.
Wild boars adapt very quickly to any type of terrain and breed prolifically. They
could invade all kinds of countryside as they do in France. However, wild boars can also
be a threat to local residents. raiding vegetable gardens and attacking domestic pets.

Beavers
1.What do these figures refer to?
3 centuries ago
40 species
2. On what condition could the scheme be extended?
3. Who is likely to support the plan to reintroduce beavers and who is not?
 Beavers disappeared more than 3 centuries ago. There are now plans to reintroduce
40 to live in Scotland as a control of the experiment to see how they fare. If they do well
the scheme could be extended. The plan to reestablish beavers is more likely to get
enthusiastic public support but not necessarily from all river users.

Wolves
1. Who would like to see wolves brought back and where would they like to see them?
2. What does the general public feel about wolves’ comeback?

Some naturalists would like to see wolves brought back as top predator. Even restricted
to island reserves, the prospect of this carnivore on our doorstep is daunting.