Author: Mark

Born Bristol, UK Educated: Cleeve House School Bristol, Bristol Grammar School and Downing College Cambridge Ph.D. University of Aberdeen, Winter activity of pipistrelle bats. NERC post-doctoral Research Fellow, Edward Grey Institute, Oxford University Former Conservation Director of the RSPB, 1989-2011

Calling National Trust members

Mark 13 Comments

National Trust members have an opportunity to vote on a couple of important issues, and on their new Council members, in person at the NT AGM on 21 October 2017 or by other means before then. I voted a few days ago online and you have until midnight on Friday 13 October to cast your…

RSPB press release

Mark Comments Off on RSPB press release

RSPB Scotland comment on Government response to environmental justice consultation Commenting on the publication today of the Scottish Government’s response to its consultation on environmental justice, Lloyd Austin, RSPB Scotland’s Head of Conservation Policy, said: “RSPB Scotland has long argued for improvements to Scotland’s environmental justice systems, welcomed the debate sparked by the Scottish Government’s…

Natural England 11 years old on Sunday

Mark 53 Comments

Natural England is a failing organisation. It is no longer a champion for the natural environment and it is no longer a leader in environmental thinking and it is no longer doing its job. The statutory nature conservation agency in England is now highly politicised (ghastly word for a ghastly impact) and no longer trusted…

Preston magistrates court

Mark 32 Comments

Yesterday I headed up the M6 to attend a trial in Preston magistrates courts.  Appropriately enough, at Keele Services, a Peregrine flew over as I was returning to the car. The defendant, James Hartley, 34, denied a number of offences against Peregrine Falcons on the Bleasdale Estate, Bowland, Lancashire in April 2016.  These included the alleged…