Checking out

It’s better to be wildlife abroad than at home if you are relying on the English government for help; that appears to be the message from the report card issued by 29 environmental groups on the government’s progress. Defra gets green lights for whales and elephants but seven ambers and seven reds for everything else….

Not to everybody’s liking

The proposals for a new Common Agricultural Policy have not been welcomed with uniform approval. The existing system is not simple and understanding the changes is not simple either.  It will take time before all the implications are thought through but here is a rather good summary (it’s a good summary but it isn’t light…

Still plenty of hope

The success of the RSPB’s Hope Farm project gave me a lot of pleasure when I worked for the RSPB and I hope its continued success brightens the life of my successor, the excellent Martin Harper, now and again too. And it still pleases me that bird numbers continue to be so impressive on this…

Is it catching?

I saw a bus in London the other day with an advert for the film Contagion on it.  I haven’t seen the film but I have seen the trailer and the striking thing for anyone who loves nature is this: “Character 1: Is there any way you can weaponize the bird flu? Is that what…

38 degrees, conservatism and forestry

38 Degrees has made quite a big impact in its short life.  Its praises have been sung by people leaving comments on this site several times and I have suggested that readers of this blog should sign up to some of its campaigns. Let’s do it again now – how about signing up to its…