The book, Tarka the Otter, will be 100 years of age next year. This book is the tale of Otters, and waterways in the part of Devon where Tarka was set, and written. This is, in my opinion, Ian Parsons’s best book to date. Ian’s Introduction is very good. He set the scene really well…
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
Sunday book review – The Devil’s Garden by Peter Marren
I’m a fan of Peter Marren’s writing because he knows so much about so many things and can tell a tale so well. He seems to have an almost endless knowledge into which he can dip and he has a knack of presenting that knowledge in an accessible and interesting way. As you read his…
Scotland’s iconic seabird sanctuaries saved for future generations
Scotland’s iconic seabird sanctuaries saved for future generations National Heritage Memorial Fund supports RSPB to acquire Bass Rock and Craigleith islands in the Firth of Forth, safeguarding iconic seabird sanctuaries RSPB and Scottish Seabird Centre plan bright future for conservation and public access backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund As birdwatching rises 1088% among…
Sunday book review – The Return of the Oystercatcher by Scott Weidensaul
Scott Weidensaul visits successful conservation projects in order to celebrate achievements and to try to dispel feelings of gloom about the natural world. I enjoyed reading about these dozen successes, some of which were, for me, close to home (bird of prey recovery in the UK and rewilding at Knepp Castle in Sussex) whereas…
Guest blog – Walshaw Turbines: Stanbury Bog Expressway of CEP (240 MW) 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…
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I’m generally unimpressed by the standard of service delivered by public bodies such as government departments and agencies. And I am generally in favour of us, the public, holding their feet to the fire to ensure better behaviour. The Health and Safety Executive has never impressed me and that is why I was immediately interested…
Stuart Butchart FRS
BirdLife International’s Chief Scientist, Dr Stuart Butchart, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This appears to be the first time a scientist working in a wildlife NGO has had this honour and it reflects well on both Dr Butchart himself and the overall science of the BirdLife family. The…
Moorland burning for upland management is exposing millions to unsafe air pollution levels – Leeds University/RSPB
Moorland burning for upland management is exposing millions to unsafe air pollution levels In the UK, moorland burning, which is widely used to support recreational shooting, releases small particles of pollution, known as ‘particulate pollution’, which pose a serious health risk when inhaled New research shows prescribed burning led to on average more than…
Sunday book review – Wildlife of Middlewick Ranges edited by Russell Leavett
Little did I think that after reviewing the CNHS’s 70th anniversary book (click here) I’d be revisiting them again so soon but this book, describing the wildlife of Middlewick Ranges is now rather topical. In the recent Wild Justice report (authored by Kiera Chapman, Malcom Tait and Rob Davies – click here), Middlewick Ranges is…
Sunday book review – Whale by Asha de Vos
Who doesn’t like whales? If you’ve seen whales I would guess that the memory remains strong in your mind and that it brings you pleasure. I’ve seen a few whales in my time, from Iceland to the Azores, and off the Pacific coasts of the USA and of Australia. I’m really glad that I’ve seen…