Understanding the Biodiversity Crisis

Earlier today, I signed up for an online course at (with?) Oxford University. The full title is "Understanding the Biodiversity Crisis: Introduction to Ecology and Conservation", and it runs between late April and late June. It shouldn't be too onerous, being but a few hours a week; assuming all goes well, I "attend" the mandatory weekly lecture and do a good 1,500 word assignment, it'll be 10 CATS points, equivalent to 5 ECTS, on the academic portfolio.

However, while it's useful to bank more ECTS to the already large collection I have, my main reason for undertaking the course is to learn. 

Traditional (English) orchards and biodiversity

There's an article in today's Guardian about traditional orchards (a whole thesis could be written on what is exactly meant by 'traditional' and their decline). There's several nods within to the biodiversity within these environments, including:

David Lindgren of cider producer Bushel+Peck, who is chair of trustees at the Gloucestershire Orchard Trust, says traditional orchards are among “the most biodiverse agricultural environments”. Lindgren said tree preservation orders - legal orders protecting trees - did not go far enough, and called for “more support for the conservation and creation of traditional orchards, and greater preservation and protection for orchards within the planning system”.

... and ...

Nash said that, while traditional orchards are a priority habitat under the UK biodiversity action plan, “to change the agricultural land use, the owner must conduct an environmental impact assessment - however, this does not normally apply to a commercial decision to replace a traditional orchard under two hectares with an intensive bush orchard”.