Thunderclap reaches 500 supporters

The thunderclap launched by Moving Mountains Nature Network to support our e-petition on driven grouse moors gained its 500th supporter today – well within a week of its initiation. This is far, far quicker than I had thought. In fact, I have to admit, I had looked at the figure of 500 and wondered whether…

Ilkley

I’m looking forward to talking at the Ilkley Literature Festival on Saturday. Last weekend, to coincide with the opening of the heather burning season, the Ban Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor group staged a protest outside Bradford City Hall.  Maybe I’ll meet some of them at my talk and they’ll be sitting next to the local…

My home is my Rook

I’ve lived here for about 30 years but nature can give you new sights every day, not just every year. There are plenty of cheerful-sounding Jackdaws that career up and down the road, sticking to the chimneys and rooftops. I like them a lot. Just because they are here every day it doesn’t mean that…

Reviews good and bad

I review quite a lot of books on this blog, and I’ve reviewed many books elsewhere over the years too.  I’ve tried to adopt an approach of describing what I like or dislike about a book – the way it’s written, illustrated and the arguments inside it – rather than saying that it is a…

Regulatory failure

  There’s an excellent post today on the Raptor Persecution Scotland blog about what manner of things might be in any grouse meat that you eat.  Watch out Henry! I wonder how much medicine from medicated grit gets into Hen Harriers, Peregrines and other wildlife through ingestion? Has anyone looked at that? Game meat, including…