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
The party manifestos and the environment – a round up
When I vote next Thursday, I won’t vote on solely environmental grounds, but it will be a significant factor in my choice. I hope it will be a factor in your choice too. There is a massive difference in the approach to the environment from the Left and Right of politics which is very clear…
Let’s see the back of Andrew Bingham in High Peak
The Peak District is a fulcrum for change in the British uplands and has been the scene of three Hen Harrier Day events so far. Each of those events was held in the constituency of Andrew Bingham, High Peak, but we didn’t see him at any of them. The constituents of High Peak were strong…
Let’s see the back of Craig Whittaker in Calder Valley
Calder Valley was the constituency that provided the most signatures for my e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting. In fact it produced 871 (out of 123,077) signatures. The rival e-petition, supporting grouse shooting, accumulated just 31 signatures in Calder Valley (and only 25,322 overall). And yet Conservative MP for the Calder Valley, Craig Whittaker, spoke…
Hen Harrier Day politicians
A week today we will have the result of the 2017 general election. It’s your choice. Today I’ll be writing about individual constituencies and candidates. Over the three Hen Harrier Days to date we have seen a few politicians attend. I’d like to see them all re-elected, or in one case elected, on 8 June….
Vote for Policies – my results
It was something of a relief when I found that I had supported the Labour Party policies more than any other party’s policies when I chose them without seeing the policies labelled by party. But it comes as no surprise that Greens and LibDems scored highly too. Of course. the party policies are what they…
UKIP manifesto
I recommend that all should read the UKIP manifesto – I recommend that none should vote for them. The UKIP manifesto has a section on protecting the environment which meets, head on, the belief of many of us that Brexit will almost certainly be bad for the UK environment by saying ‘Brexit will not put…
Plaid Cymru manifesto
The Plaid Cymru manifesto for the Westminster elections has precious little about the environment in it because most environmental issues are devolved matters. Therefore, Plaid Cymru Westminster MPs play little role in debates or votes on such things. So, if a Welsh voter, you know that electing a Plaid Cymru MP will do little…
SNP manifesto
The SNP manifesto for the Westminster elections has precious little about the environment in it because most environmental issues are devolved matters. Therefore, SNP Westminster MPs play little role in debates or votes on such things. So, if a Scottish voter, you know that electing an SNP MP will do little good, and little harm,…
Plant sperm
Aren’t plants disgusting? If you suffer from hay fever, and we are entering the time when the grasses really get going, then you need to check the pollen forecast from the Met Office. My eyes were streaming this morning after I went for a walk on my local patch. I think Plantlife needs to sort…