This paper is in the current (November) issue of British Birds and it’s a thorough review of the successful conservation of this globally threatened species in the UK, based on science, largely RSPB science and largely led by the author. I think it’s becoming fashionable these days to ignore species conservation as a bit easy…
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
Wednesday book review – Future Sea by Deborah Rowan Wright
Living as I do, inland in east Northants, I don’t get to see the sea very much, and when I do it’s usually a bit of sea with some land not very far way on the other side of it. But we live on an oceanic planet which is dominated by vast water expanses that…
Another case of bird/poultry flu – this time in wild birds
DEFRA report a case of bird/poultry flu on a Canada Goose and two Greylags found dead near Stroud in Gloucestershire. Slimbridge is near Stroud in Gloucestershire, I wonder whether that is the location.
Guest blog – Amanda Tuke interviews Josh Styles.
Amanda is a nature and environment writer and blogger based in the wilds of suburban south London. She writes mainly about suburban wildflowers, insects and birds on her blog. Her nature writing has appeared in anthologies, on the London Wildlife Trust blog and in Devon Life Magazine. She also blogs on www.freelancenaturewriter.com about her…
Press release – Beaver Trust
British beavers face fragile future without public support and government leadership, says new film exploring reintroductions Britain’s beavers could be major allies in tackling the climate and extinction crises – but without more public and government support face a fragile future, says Beaver Trust as it launches a new documentary film exploring the country’s relationship…
RSPB press release – Westminster government set to fail first major domestic test of its commitment to saving nature
The Government looks set to fail in its first major domestic test over its declared commitment to the environment ahead of an upcoming speech by the Prime Minister. A recent PR charm offensive by the energy company EDF extolling the green credentials of its proposals to build the Sizewell C nuclear reactor seems to be swaying government opinion, despite the fact that the project may irreversibly damage one of the UK’s most important and well protected wildlife…
More on the new general licences for England
Farming Today has just covered the new general licences (9mins into programme). Heather Simons gave a good overview of the history and issues. BASC were interviewed and apparently they love dialogue. This is quite a turnaround. In 2019 BASC welcomed the decision (of which we believe they were a part) to rescind the invitations to…
Wild Justice statement on the English general licences
Click here.
News: English general licences, for 2021, published – and they are different
DEFRA has just published the general licences for England for 2021 (helpfully alongside the existing licences which expire on 31 December 2020 so that one can compare and contrast). Click here for ‘conservation’ licences. Click here for serious damage licences. Click here for safety licences. I’m reading them, as are the Wild Justice lawyers.
New English general licences to be published today
It will be very interesting to view the new English general licences which are to be published later today. I honestly have no idea what they will look like. Last week we had a flurry of activity with our lawyers over the Wild Justice legal challenge of the Welsh general licences which goes to court…