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

Bank Holiday Monday book review – On Land and Water by Sheena Jolley and D.J. O’Sullivan

Mark Comments Off on Bank Holiday Monday book review – On Land and Water by Sheena Jolley and D.J. O’Sullivan

This book melds the poetry of the late D.J. O’Sullivan with the photographic images of Sheena Jolley – it’s a very successful and satisfying combination. O’Sullivan died in 1993 and, I have to confess, his name meant nothing to me but I learn he was a lighthouse keeper with an eye for wildlife and a…

Bank Holiday Monday book review – Clouds by Edward Graham

Mark Comments Off on Bank Holiday Monday book review – Clouds by Edward Graham

This book’s title makes it sound like a field guide to clouds, and to some extent it is, but, what a field guide! The illustrations are by the likes of Constable, Doré, Turner, Monet, Courbet and many others. But it really is about clouds as the author is an atmospheric scientist and former editor-in-chief of…

Sunday book review – Waters of Life by Tom Bowser

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The European Beaver is a Marmite species – people do seem either to love it or hate it. And by ‘hate’ I am not exaggerating ‘mildly dislike’; some people really do hate it. Considering this is a species that has been absent from the UK for centuries and is still found only in relatively few…

Sunday book review – Beastly Britain by Karen R. Jones

Mark Comments Off on Sunday book review – Beastly Britain by Karen R. Jones

There are times, particularly if I listen to the news, read a paper or scroll through social media when I think that the the UK is considerably more beastly than it used to be and that the same applies to the world at large. But this book is about the role that animals play in…

Sunday book review – Pine Marten by Dan Bagur

Mark Comments Off on Sunday book review – Pine Marten by Dan Bagur

This is a timely book as this native UK (and Ireland) species is making a strong comeback and so may be appearing in a wood near you soon. Pine Martens are spreading on their own once released from the pressure of illegal killing but also because they are being reintroduced in several parts of their…

Sunday book review – Uncommon Ground by Patrick Galbraith

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I’m a fan of Patrick Galbraith’s writing – his book In Search of One Last Song –see my review – was my blog’s book of the year in 2022 but this is an even better read. Here, again, Galbraith travels the land and talks to some interesting people in some interesting places and the subject…

Sunday book review – Rare Plants by Peter Marren

Mark 1 Comment

The first thing that strikes you on picking up this book is that it is heavy. That’s what 400 pages of high quality paper feel like. On those 400 pages are high quality images and high quality words from an author who knows how to write and who knows his subject very well. What more…

No whaling for Fin Whales in Iceland this summer

Mark Comments Off on No whaling for Fin Whales in Iceland this summer

There will be no whaling for Fin Whales this summer by the sole Icelandic whaling company, Hvalur hf. Kristján Loftsson, CEO of Hvalur hf told Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið “As the situation appears to us, Hvalur hf. sees no other situation than to wait for better times, but the situation will be taken up again in…

Guest blog – Walshaw Turbine 13 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…

Press release – Trees for Life

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NatureScot accused of ‘great beaver betrayal’ ‘Mystifying’ decision by Scotland’s nature agency comes despite huge public support for return of native species and ‘exemplary’ local consultations Scottish government agency NatureScot has unexpectedly delayed its decision to grant a licence application for the historic official release of beavers in Glen Affric citing ‘concern among the local…