Dr Euan Dunn MBE is an ecologist who lives in Great Eversden near Cambridge. For 25 years he led on developing marine conservation policy for the RSPB and was awarded the Society’s medal in 2024. Not long after retirement he turned his attention from sea to land to assist Cambridge Approaches – click here –…
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
Press release – SCOTTISH REWILDING ALLIANCE
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Seven decades for Scotland to reach 30% nature recovery target at current rates, new figures show It could take seven decades before large-scale nature restoration is underway across 30% of Scotland’s land, new figures from the Scottish Rewilding Alliance show. The coalition of more than 20 organisations calculates that rewilding across Scotland is now underway across…
Guest blog – A Prayer of Protest by Vanessa Wright
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
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
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…
English Hen Harrier population increase modelled – brood meddled nests not a factor
A recent BTO report – click here – comes to the unsurprising conclusion that brood meddling of Hen Harrier nests made little or no contribution to the recent rise and fall of the Hen Harrier breeding population. As was predicted in advance, brood meddling is a distraction and an irrelevance. The drivers of the steep…
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 Borders: The Lands We Share by Andrew Bibby
This is an account of a walk from Edinburgh to the River Swale. Each of 21 chapters tells the tale of a section of the walk but also discusses a land use or issue relevant to that part of the journey. Such an approach must take quite some planning but the account has a steady…
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…