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 – A Prayer of Protest by Vanessa Wright

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Vanessa divides her time between Hertfordshire and the Hebrides and loves to write about birds, butterflies and beachcombing. She gave up corporate life during the pandemic, taking the plunge to follow her passion for wildlife. Recently finishing a Masters in Nature and Travel Writing, she has been announced as a Runner-Up in the BBC Countryfile…

Guest blog – The Cost of Planting by Ian Parsons

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Ian Parsons spent 20 years as a ranger. He now writes books and articles on wildlife. He has contributed many articles to this blog – click here and find his guest blogs (in an alphabetical list).   When it comes to establishing new woodland, it is fair to say that I would far prefer this…

Guest blog – Walshaw Turbine 60 by Nick MacKinnon

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Nick MacKinnon is a freelance teacher of Maths, English and Medieval History, and lives above Haworth, in the last inhabited house before Top Withens = Wuthering Heights. In 1992 he founded the successful Campaign to Save Radio 4 Long Wave while in plaster following a rock-climbing accident on Skye. His poem ‘The metric system’ won…

BTO steps back from ‘Global’ Bird Fair

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I was interested to see BTO saying: “We’ve taken the difficult decision to not return to Global Birdfair as an exhibitor. While we recognise that Birdfair provides an opportunity to meet with members and volunteers, our continued investment in other ways to engage with supporters is proving to be a more effective use of resources. …

Press release – Mineral Products Association nature awards

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Top conservationists celebrate quarrying’s role in nature recovery Leading figures in UK nature conservation gather in London to celebrate the essential role quarrying plays in nature recovery and biodiversity gain. Leading figures in UK nature conservation gathered at The Royal Society, London this week to celebrate the essential role quarrying plays in nature recovery and biodiversity…

Sunday book review – The Secret Life of a Cemetery by Benoît Gallot

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‘In the midst of death, we are in life’ might be the subtitle of this book about the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, where wildlife shares a place of rest with its human occupants. For many town-livers, the few green spaces, with their somewhat limited wild species, are important oases of peace. The author celebrates…

Sunday book review – Scientists on Survival by Scientists for XR

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These are personal stories – by interesting people. What brings them together is that they are all from scientists involved with activism in the area of climate change. I know a few of the authors, and know of some more, so I read those first and they got me off to a good start. Unusually,…

Sunday book review – A Wilding Year by Hannah Dale

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The author is an illustrator who lives on a farm in North Lincolnshire that she and her husband have rewilded – or allowed to rewild itself. We don’t hear a lot about the farming but it is clear that this was difficult land to farm and some of it has reverted to sogginess and other…