Who I am – Scottish with a fascination for wildlife from childhood – in lieu of formal qualifications (and not being able to flash them about!) – was on the 1990 International Youth Conservation Exchange to Hungary, was the 1993 winner of the BBC Wildlife Magazine ‘Realms of the Russian Bear’ competition and spent nearly…
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
Walk for Wildlife – take the next step
Photo: Luke Dray/Woodland Trust If you were one of the 10,000 people who walked through London on Saturday, soaked but happy, you were acting politically. You were using your freedom of speech in a democracy to call on your government to do more for wildlife. And thank you for doing so – your action, combined…
A Conservative MP responds to the Manifesto for Wildlife
One reader of this blog, who was unable to attend the Walk for Wildlife on Saturday was quick off the mark in contacting his MP about the Manifesto for Wildlife – and his MP was quick to respond. ‘I read it and I think I got to page 67 before I found something I could…
Letter to my MP
Dear Mr Pursglove I didn’t see you at Saturday’s Walk for Wildlife but as there were around 10,000 attendees we could easily have missed each other. I didn’t actually notice any Conservative MPs and Michael Gove decided that he was unable to meet Chris Packham and some of the younger participants in the rally and…
Writing competition – deadline is midnight Sunday
This blog runs a writing competition each year. This year, your task, should you choose to accept it, is to write a short essay on which is the ‘best’ month for enjoying wildlife (or alternatively, the ‘worst’ one). A few rules: Entries should be sent as WORD (.doc or .docx) attachments to emails sent to…
5 and 6 December – are you coming? #justice4henharriers
Our legal challenge (and RSPB’s) of Natural England’s crazy decision to license brood meddling of Hen Harriers will be heard in the High Court, in the Royal Courts of Justice on 5 and 6 December. You can attend and watch and listen to the arguments. The public can attend. You can attend. I’d like you…
RSPB: BirdCrime report
Pole trap on Brewlands Estate, Scotland. RSPB’s Birdcrime report reveals 68 confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecution in the UK during 2017, but many illegal killings are going undetected or unreported. Incidents occurred in all 4 UK countries with England having the highest number of confirmed incidents The RSPB believes the introduction of a…
Have you heard the one about…?
Have you heard the one about the three conservationists in the station waiting room? This, I am assured, is a true story which played out in the distant north of England early on Saturday morning. Man1: Are you going to London?Man2: (with 2 excited children): Yes, I work for the RSPBMan1: ah, I work for…
Guest blog – NE, Badgers and Judgement by Dominic Woodfield
Dominic Woodfield is the Managing Director of Bioscan, a long established and well respected consultancy specialising in applied ecology. He is a life-long birder, a specialist in botany, habitat restoration and creation and in protected fauna including bats, herpetofauna and other species. He is also a highly experienced practitioner in Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats…
Paul Leyland – The Long Hoverfly
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The English name for this hoverfly describes it perfectly. Although the fly is only small, 10mm, the long thin body is instantly recognisable. The fly’s Latin name is Sphaerophoria scripta, which probably explains why it needs an easy English name. It’s a Latin name that is easily remembered in print but one I’ve never heard…