http://www.livingrainforest.org/news Latest news from The Living Rainforest, Berkshire, UK http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=91 The recent sunshine has seen a flush of new plant growth at the Living Rainforest. There are new flowers on many of the Ginger plants and new buds on the Coffee trees. Just past the Crocodile Pit, there are some fantastic flower spikes on the bromeliads and large pink blossoms on the Philippine Medinilla. The Lobster Claw Plants and Cachibou, which produces wax used in cosmetics, are just starting to blossom. Bananas seem to be growing everywhere and the butterfly beds are awash with colour. The birds and reptiles are active, and we are happy to announce the arrival of a male Bronze-winged Pigeon to accompany our female. In Lowland house, there is a new Forest Floor exhibit featuring Giant Millipedes, Hissing Cockroaches, Fruit Beetles and Giant Land Snails. (Please note that our frogs will be off-show until later this year, when the revamp of their enclosure is completed.) 2009-05-01 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=90 We're teaming up with West Berkshire Council to offer three new courses for adults this summer: Darwin & the Rainforest (Saturday 6th June 2009, 10.30am - 4pm). Explore the ideas behind a theory which shook the world, venture into our rainforest glasshouses and observe the scientific principles firsthand, and consider the implications for the future. The Rainforest - what does 'sustainability' mean and why should we bother? (Saturday 21st June 2009, 10.30am - 4pm). Explore global issues of sustainability and consider local challenges of sustainable living. Examine ways to become part of this important and topical global debate. Food from the Rainforest - from them to us (Sunday 22nd June 2009, 10.30am - 4pm). Travel from source to shelf, exploring the origins of rainforest produce. Taste it before delving into the ethical and practical issues of rainforest food production, gaining insights into commodities so often taken for granted. No prior knowledge is needed and enrolment forms are available at The Living Rainforest or West Berkshire Council. For further information, please ring the Helpline on 0800 917 5779 (10am-4pm weekdays) or email aclteam@westberks.gov.uk. 2009-04-29 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=88 Spring is definitely in the air at The Living Rainforest. Animals at the Berkshire eco-centre – including free-ranging reptiles, birds and butterflies – are busily laying eggs in anticipation of warmer weather. Visitors and staff have observed a Chinese or Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) digging a hole near the main pond. Chinese Water Dragons spend most of their time in trees above the banks of small freshwater lakes or streams. If threatened, they drop down into the water and swim away or remain submerged for up to 25 minutes. Males can grow up to 3 feet in length (2 feet for females) and eat a main diet of insects, supplemented with occasional small mammals, fish or other reptiles. But water dragons are not the only animals getting into the spring-time spirit. Animal keepers have noticed a distinct change in behaviour in the bird population. They anticipate that more ‘Easter eggs’ may soon be laid by the Ringed Teal (South America), Roul-roul Partridges (South-east Asia) and Mouse-birds (Southern and Eastern Africa). The Roul-roul Partridges (Rollulus roulroul) are building nests. The distinctively-crested Roul-rouls live on the forest floor in large groups of up to 40 birds, and spend the day foraging for fruits, seeds and insects. Five to six eggs are laid at a time and incubation lasts about 18-19 days. Chicks stay with their mother during the first week and with their parents for a further three months. The butterflies are also doing their bit, laying caterpillar eggs on leaves and bark around the rainforest. And more tortoises and turtles are being caught ‘on walk-about’ outside their enclosures, which suggests that their spring urges are being expressed through their feet! The mood may just be a little crazy but it’s also fun and educational. The staff at Living Rainforest want to share the special spirit of spring with lots of visitors this Easter. 2009-04-03 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=89 The Living Rainforest is teaming up with the Prince's Rainforests Project Photo Competition for Schools. Schoolchildren aged 4 to 18 have an opprtunity to win photographic equipment for their school and national recognition for their images. To win, children are invited to take a picture that best represents: 1. The beauty of the rainforests 2. Rainforests in your daily life 3. What climate change means to you 4. What trees mean to you The competition closing date is 2nd June 2009. The winners will be announced online on 22nd June 2009 and in the Summer issue of the National Geographic Kids magazine. For more information, please visit: www.princesrainforestsproject.org/schools/sony-photo-competition 2009-04-02 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=87 Please note that The Living Rainforest re-opened to the public on 17th February. We plan to remain open now, seven days a week, 363 days of the year (excluding only 24-26th December). We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our visitors by the recent closure, which occured due to circumstances beyond our control. Thankfully, no staff, animals or plants were hurt and the fire damage is now being repaired. The trustees and staff wish to thank the public for their kindness and understanding over the last week. 2009-02-19 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=83 Engineering crews have been working virtually around the clock to restore heat and power to the Living Rainforest eco-centre, after a freak boiler-room fire on the evening of Friday 13th February. We are pleased to announce that solid progress is being made and we now hope to re-open to the public at 10am on Tuesday 17th February. Please check this website or the BBC News or Newbury Today websites for up-to-the-minute updates. The management and trustees of the Living Rainforest wish to record their deep appreciation to the staff, engineering crews and West Berkshire Fire Department who have been working around the clock to help contain the blaze, rescue animals and restore the eco-centre to safety. 2009-02-15 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=84 Following the fire on Friday Feb 13th, The Living Rainforest needs donations of the following items: 1. LIDDED ANIMAL TANKS/ENCLOSURES to provide emergency holding spaces for small to medium sized animals 2. CASH DONATIONS to help improve and extend the animal quarantine areas 3. Portable CALOR GAS SPACE HEATERS and GAS CANNISTERS(propane or butane) for temporary/emergency heating 4. LARGE TARPAULINS to cover and protect the burnt boiler building HOW YOU CAN DONATE: CASH Donations - Click the 'Donations' link on The Living Rainforest website. No amount is too small and individual donations can be Gift-Aided for tax relief. IN-KIND Donations - Email us at enquiries@livingrainbforest.org, indicating how you can help (please indicate 'Emergency Appeal' in the subject title) Any and all help will be appreciated! 2009-02-15 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=82 The Living Rainforest visitor centre is temporarily closed due to loss of heat and power caused by a fire on Friday 13th February 2009. Thankfully, we managed to contain the blaze and move our more cold-intolerant animals to safety with the help of the Newbury Fire Department and our dedicated team of animal experts and maintenance personnel. We were extremely lucky that our operations manager, Mr Rupert West, was on site and able to alert the Emergency Services before the fire could spread. The blaze appears to have been the result of an off-property electrical failure, which is now being rectified. A team of engineers is working to restore power and heat to the area over the Valentine's Day weekend. There is a possiblity that the visitor centre will re-open after the weekend. However we are not in a position to confirm this at the present time. Please continue to check for news updates on this website or on www.newburynews.co.uk, or listen for news updates on BBC Radio Berkshire. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank our visitors for their understanding. Every effort is being made to re-open as soon as possible. 2009-02-14 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=85 Please note that the B4009 is closed at Hermitage (between Newbury and Hampstead Norreys) between 16th and 21st February 2009. Traffic from Chieveley (near the M4-J13 and A34) is being diverted to East Ilsley (north on the A34). However, smaller roads around Hermitage remain open and can be used to access Hampstead Norreys and The Living Rainforest (e.g. through Oare, Beedon, World's End, Yattendon, Compton, Ashampstead, Aldworth and Streatley). Please consult a map before setting out! The Living Rainforest will re-open to the public at 10am on Tuesday 17th February 2009. 2009-02-14 http://www.livingrainforest.org/news/item?id=81 This winter, The Living Rainforest is teaming up with London's Young Vic theatre to help raise awareness of the amazing Amazon. Imagine ... Deep in the Rainforest, life is changing for the villagers of Todos Os Santos. Danger and desire are unleashed and the Amazon trembles. Amazonia is Christmas, Brazilian style! 2008-11-26