By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

Recently, I came home to find the beautiful, mature whitebeam outside my home was missing. I felt utterly devastated.

Despite my frequent grumbling about masses of fallen leaves, trails of squashed berries on carpets, bird muck forcing a weekly wash of the car, I really loved that tree.

Trees are major capital assets in cities across the UK. In particular, big trees are critical. We cannot replace them in our lifetimes.

There is a current loss of urban trees by stealth. Many were planted when there was little asphalt or underground servicing to consider and in many cases the forest species selected are reaching the end of their term.

Often the poor health of the tree and the perceived risk results in its total loss. This disease may be caused after damage to the trunk from vehicles or to roots from underground cable installation.

Occasionally urban trees fall over and cause an accident, but compare this to other accidents that occur in urban areas to put this into real perspective. In fact, the environmental damage accrued by the loss outweighs the risk.

There are obvious wildlife benefits of trees for shelter, nesting, living space and as a green corridor for moving around an urban environment but there are real, measurable benefits to human inhabitants.

Shelter offered by a tree reduces heating and cooling costs of a house by 10%.
Pollution control - they produce oxygen and lock up carbon during their growth cycle.
Reduces risk of skin cancer.
Intercepts rainfall and runoff.
Reduces windiness and noise.

One of the primary reasons for planting trees in the city remain aesthetic. Otherwise ugly areas can be transformed by the introduction of several species of trees, especially natives. Tree-lined streets and green spaces have been shown to have positive psychological benefits including lower rates of mental illness, violence and crime.

Trees have a tremendous symbolic value, humanising the city by acknowledging our affinity for the natural world. They provide a focus for community participation and act as "green magnets", attracting businesses and employees into an area.

Luckily, my moaning to the council meant a replacement rowan tree was planted. But it will be some time before it provides much benefit for my local wildlife, or blocks my view of the neighbours. If only it had been planted earlier.

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

Noisy and gregarious, the house sparrow is probably the most well-known urban bird.

They are real opportunists, but are now struggling to survive in the UK, along with many other once-common birds. Their recent declines have earned them a place on the UK Red List.

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

I read earlier that apparently a leading shark expert reckons it is possible for great white sharks to be present in British waters.

Indeed the closest verified great white shark was captured off La Rochelle, western France, a mere 200 miles south of the UK. However, because of its globally- threatened status, this is very unlikely as there are so few left anywhere.

Declines are more than 50% in some species in just a few recent years throughout the North Atlantic.

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

There are many changes afoot at the minute among our wildlife. It can be a time of great excitement, or even heartbreak as all the effort comes to nothing, but one thing for certain is that it's never dull.

The dreaded mother-in-law said the other week: "There are no birds in me garden and I've seen that blasted hawk about again."

Quick as a flash I said: "Well he mustn't have eaten them all because he's still hanging around." There was no reply, just "the look".

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

I cannot hide my passion for otters - I have had it since I was a small boy and I don't understand it. It is just one of those strange traits of life.

I don't, however, view them as cute, cuddly creatures much beloved by the media, and I have often been at pains to point this out, much to their disappointment. That cute whiskered face hides a fierce and fiery temperament, and an astonishing array of teeth set within very powerful jaws. On top of this is the mustelid mindset of determination and that wiliness never to give in, coupled with a brain-powering logic to solve problems that most other creatures (apart from the primates) would find impossible.

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

I can be a lucky swine at times, often having the knack of being in the right place at just the right time, but I suppose if you live in a "field", as I have for most of my life, then you narrow your chances down.

I've witnessed the exact moment when "cock robin" was snatched in mid-song by an aerial assassin, seen the precise emergence of an emperor dragonfly, and much, much more. I have been very fortunate to the extent that I become a little blasé at times, and unsurprised at some of my escapades.

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

Now, here's the thing, I like gulls (yes, those big things that harass the life out of you until you relinquish your chips whilst on a day trip to Seahouses).

I'm being very broad-brushed here, as there are so many different types, but at this week's Sunderland International Air Show it dawned on me why I have so much appreciation for these often less-welcome members of our avifauna.

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

Late July can often be a dull time for nature as most birds have fledged and they are hidden either in the leafy canopy or have moved from breeding grounds to other areas.

As we have had a warmer than normal year, so far, with some wonderful spring sunshine, it could possibly be the bumper year we need after two particularly hard winters. One thing that is certain is that smaller creatures, the beetles, bees, bugs and other insects are certainly making hay whilst the weather is good.

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

There is nothing better than a good walk in the countryside through the lanes and along the rides, over the moors or even through the woods.

Each time of the year holds something different - spring greens, summer bursts of life, autumn golds and even in this overcrowded little island of ours, there are still places where you can find peace and solitude.

By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara

One of the hardest things to do in conservation is to try to repair the damage of the past.

Why this can be so difficult probably falls into two areas.

One is quite obviously the limitations of cost, and the second - which can be equally difficult - is trying to convince people that there is a problem which needs to be remedied.