Author Archives: Mark
Day 2 – Louisiana to Kentucky
Jet lag is a funny thing. Despite having a very long day yesterday, and feeling knackered as I crawled into bed, I woke after just over four hours and have been awake from 0230 local time until after 2200 local time (although, the six hours that someone gave me as extras yesterday have been reduced …
Long day, number 1
I am writing this in Shreveport, Louisiana. It’s been a long day so it will be a short blog. The day started in the UK at 430 am and at 430 pm I set off in my hire car from George Bush (presumably Snr, but maybe both) International Airport, Houston, TX . It’s now 930 …
Book review – Looking for the Goshawk by Conor Jameson
I liked Conor’s previous book, but I like this one even more. Whereas in Silent Spring Revisited Conor lived through the events described but seemed, to me, to be a little detached from them, this is a book where he describes what he did, and where he went, to get to grips better with a …
Guest Blog – Facebook Nature by Lucy McRobert
Lucy McRobert is an environmental historian, nature writer, wildlife blogger and Creative Director of the ‘A Focus On Nature’ scheme, which seeks to encourage young people into nature conservation careers in Britain. She gained a First Class degree from the University of Nottingham in 2012; she has written for Nottinghamshire Today in conjunction with Nottinghamshire …
Guest Blog – Forever for what? How the National Trust can inspire more by making the most of conservation by David Hodd
Until recently, David Hodd was Countryside Operations Manager on Purbeck for the National Trust. He and his team had the privilege of caring for places like Hartland Moor, Studland Heath and Dancing Ledge. His original inspiration to work in conservation came from a childhood playing at Sharpenhoe Clappers and Barton Hills. David is now working …
A national species? It’s got to be the bluebell!
BBC Wildlife is running a poll for Britain’s national species. The species that makes most sense to me is the bluebell (championed by Plantlife). The bluebell is found just about everywhere in the UK and we hold a larger share of the world’s bluebells than any other country (it’s also found in Ireland, the Netherlands, …
Guest Blog – Why I don’t submit records to Birdtrack by Keith Bennett
Keith is an academic at Queen’s University Belfast, living in Kircubbin on the Ards peninsula, Northern Ireland. His research and teaching focus on ecological and evolutionary responses of organisms to the climate changes of the ice ages (the last couple of million years). He enjoys watching birds anywhere, any time, from the first bird he …
I will miss…
I set off for the USA on Thursday. I will miss: bluebells, orchids, black hairstreaks, Duke of Burgundy butterflies (again), spotted flycatchers, May blossom, cricket, decent beer, the Today programme, Desert Island Discs, the NGO State of Nature launch and the Derby. I will not miss: Defra, George Osborne, cutting the grass, rain stopping play …
Ralph Underhill cartoon
Nigel Lawson thinks that we should leave the EU. Wouldn’t it be simpler if he got on a plane and left the EU? If you think that you should take much notice of Nigel Lawson then read this taking-apart of his book on climate change.
I hope they sink (VII)
Yesterday East Cambridgeshire District Councillors voted by eight votes to three to approve a boathouse complex at Ely (although subject to addressing ecological conditions via conditions and with the approval delegated to the Head of Planning). It is exceptionally unusual for a planning decision to go ahead in this way when the statutory advisor on …