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

Some of Jonnie Fisk’s brilliant artwork

Mark 2 Comments

I really love these drawings – I think they are very skilfull and very attractive.  Here are a few of them that have appeared on this blog over the last few months with some comments from me:   Don’t you think that Roller is brilliant? I do. Look at the economy of lines that still…

And meanwhile, up in the hills…

Mark 2 Comments

I thought I ought to go and have a quick look. As you drive up the road, northwest, from the Pack Horse Inn you are on the route of the Pennine Way.  On your left there is this sight… It doesn’t look very pretty does it? I looked over it for a while and didn’t…

Unprofitable farming in the uplands

Mark 33 Comments

At last week’s uplands conference at Newton Rigg, speaker after speaker pointed out that upland farming wasn’t really profitable.  Different speakers, and different participants, drew different lessons from this. One of the best speakers at the conference was Neil Heseltine.  I’m told he’s a good-looking young man (it’s difficult for me to tell) but I…

The Laburnum is buzzing

Mark 5 Comments

This Laburnum in the garden looks very pretty at the moment, don’t you think? If you stand back and look at it, it’s really lovely. And I can see it from several rooms in the house, so it’s brightening my days right now. But if you stand underneath it, as I did, it hums. It…