In an article in today’s Guardian, Michael Gove writes ‘While there is still uncertainty in the science, it is increasingly pointing in one direction. Not to act would be to risk continuing down a course which could have extensive and permanent effects on bee populations. That is not a risk I am prepared to take,…
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
Bitterns up, Corncrakes down
Two species which have been conservation success stories, and ones for which the RSPB has led the species recoveries, have had very different recent fates. Bitterns continue to go up in numbers (yes, they’re booming!) and Corncrakes are declining. In 1997 there were just 11 male Bitterns making their booming calls from reedbeds in the…
A week today
Dr Coffey’s reading list (18)
Dr Therese Coffey is the junior minister at Defra. Now that Gavin Gamble’s e-petition in favour of banning driven grouse shooting has passed 10,000 signatures Dr Coffey will need to sign off a government response. In order that she does not make Defra look even more foolish than they do already I am providing a…
Prince Charles, van Cutsem and the forests
Much though my gossippy side would love a juicy scandal over the monarchy, grouse moor owners and huge amounts of money I can’t get too het up over the revelations over Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall investing a small amount of his pile of money in rainforest carbon. Having once been on Today to account…
Government in a mess – not news
Priti Patel must be for the chop – surely? And under other circumstances then no-one would find such a senior role in Cabinet for the bright buffoon Boris – surely? Liam Fox is an embarrassment. David Davis is struggling in his role – but then who wouldn’t? All are Brexiteers by the way. And Michael…
What do they know?
There was a bit of a fuss last week that the new Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson (species champion for the Barn Owl by the way) doesn’t know much about military matters. Well, I have some sympathy with that view but if we did have person specifications for cabinet posts which required detailed knowledge of the…
Wild food (13) – The Blusher and friends by Ian Carter
One of the most fascinating aspects of wild fungi is the huge diversity of different substances they contain and the alarmingly varied effects of their consumption. This is well illustrated by this pair of very similar species in the notorious Amanita group. One will provide you with an excellent meal, the other may well…
Dr Coffey’s reading list (17)
Dr Therese Coffey is the junior minister at Defra. Now that Gavin Gamble’s e-petition in favour of banning driven grouse shooting has passed 10,000 signatures Dr Coffey will need to sign off a government response. In order that she does not make Defra look even more foolish than they do already I am providing a…
Not at all cool at Coul
You read about this proposed development here back in August 2016 but things are moving on. Media release from Buglife, Plantlife, Marine Conservation Society, Butterfly Conservation, RSPB and Scottish Wildlife Trust. Sutherland golf course proposals more environmentally damaging than Trump’s Aberdeenshire course warn conservationists Unique Coul Links would be destroyed An alliance…