Here in Bedfordshire we have 14 different habitats on the National Priority List. That's quite a lot for such a small county! It just goes to show how much ecological diversity there is here. So what we thought we'd do is make it a little easier for you to learn about our Priority Habitats. We have local action plans for most of these, and we're working on the ground to improve and maintain what we have, and create more for the future. Check out the Spaces and Species page for links to our new habitat pages. We've even made a little 'field guide' for you to print out!

We'll soon be creating pages for each of our Priority Species too. Bedfordshire is home to at least 211 of the 1149 species on the National Priority List. We haven't got action plans for all of them, but we do have a list of them - have a look!

Photos: top (L-R) Peter Wakeley, John Comont, John Comont, Steve Halton, Phil Irving. Bottom (L-R) Michael Wilson, Phil Irving, Alexis Pym, Richard Woolnough, Mark Opitz

Beds BioNews has merged with The Muntjac, the newsletter of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society! The 'new' Muntjac includes the regular BioNews features along with great articles by local naturalists. What this means is that we can bring you lots more information on Bedfordshire's wildlife - do check it out on the BNHS website!

Are you an educator looking for places to get students exploring and working with nature? The Bedfordshire and Luton Environmental Education Working Group has compiled a directory of organisations offering environmental education opportunities in our county. Check it out to find out where and what kinds of facilities and services are available!

The Bedfordshire Natural History Society was recently mooching around in Roxton in search of a special critter. The aptly named scarce chaser is one of our local dragonfly species. Over time it has become increasingly rare due to habitat changes and loss.

The scarce chaser lives in wet areas in floodplains along slowly moving rivers. They prefer sites with good water quality and lots of plant life. Submerged vegetation provides good cover for the eggs and larvae, which live underwater. Mature larvae use plants as support when emerging from the water to take their adult form. Adults also rely on vegetation, for cover and sites to bask in the sun.

Scarce chasers are 'sexually dimorphic'. In other words, the males and females are different. The male has blue eyes and bright blue on the abdomen, and the last few abdominal segments often turn black. The female is orange, with triangular black marks on the abdominal segments.

Adults can be seen from May to July, and sometimes even into August. After mating, the female deposits eggs in slow flowing water while the male stands by on guard nearby. The eggs sink to the bottom, where they become attached to the mud in the riverbed. The larvae can take two years to develop before emerging. As with all dragonfly species the larvae are voracious predators.

Photos: top and middle, Clifton Beard; bottom. G. Švitra

The Nude Ewe project is selling wool spun from Bedfordshire's own conservation grazing flocks. Proceeds are all returned to the flocks working to keep our countryside beautiful.

By munching the bramble, shrubs and other rough vegetation, grazing flocks maintain our meadow and heathland habitats. Without these natural lawnmowers our beautiful grassy hills and fields would turn to scrub.

So support our meadows: visit The Nude Ewe website and knit up your own piece of Bedfordshire!

'bio' = 'life'

'diversity' = 'variety'

So biodiversity = the variety of life on earth: all the different species, habitats, ecosystems and genes that make up the natural world. Every creature - including humans - depends on others for survival. That's why biodiversity is so important!

To find out more check out the DaVersity Code and watch Robert Penguin and Sophie Minnow try to solve a murder at the Natural History Museum!

What does this mean? It means that we - along with hundreds of agencies in Europe and around the world - are working hard to conserve and enhance our local habitats and species. It's a big job and we can't do it alone. Find out what you can do to help us out!