The NFU is lobbying hard to be able to cut hedgerows a month earlier than is currently allowed. This is being billed as an unfair restriction on farmers imposed because of EU legislation. I’m not quite sure about that – do any readers of this blog know whether that is actually true? Is this the…
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
Guest blog – by John Swift, chair of the Lead Ammunition Group
Mark writes: John Swift is the former boss of BASC and for more than five years has been the Chair of the Lead Ammunition Group set up by the last Labour government and treated so shabbily by the outgoing Secretary of State for Environment Liz Truss only a matter of 12 days ago. Here he…
The Shooter’s Lament by John Cantelo
Shooter’s Lament We grouse shooters have some gall, You cannot trust us, not at all. Our chaps in Defra raised the hope, That brood meddling would soft soap, The likes of Rory and Ms Truss. Whilst we got on with little fuss, With the business we like the best, Ridding moors of every damn pest:…
RSPB humming Shania Twain
The RSPB today turned its back on the failing and doomed Defra Hen Harrier plan – and quite right too. Humming a Shania Twain song, ‘Dance with the one that brought you‘ the RSPB turned its back on the grouse moor owners and came back to us. Thank you RSPB. Where does that leave the…
Therese Coffey left to pick up the pieces
The outgoing Defra ministers of Liz Truss and Rory Stewart, most particularly the latter, bear much of the responsibility for the shambles that is the government approach to Hen Harrier conservation in England. After today’s withdrawal of the RSPB from the hopeless Defra Hen Harrier Inaction Plan – because it is already clear that it…