The news that the European Commission is starting infraction proceedings against the UK, presumably for lack of action in England, over upland management issues, revealed on Martin Harper’s blog today is very welcome. It’s very welcome because it shows that the EU is a force for environmental good (but we knew that anyway) – although…
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
Freudian slip minister?
Environment Minister Rory Stewart encourages everyone to visit their nearest National Park or public woodland this Bank Holiday weekend. The minister says: ‘The UK’s National Parks, forests and woodlands are right at the heart of our national identity. These spaces belong to each and every one of us, and I’d challenge anyone visiting to enjoy…
Whooshhhh! 33,000 in Week 6
That was quick! We have passed 33,000 signatures inside Week 6 of our e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting. We will soon pass 33,333 which means that we will be a third of the way to 100,000 signatures in less than 6 full weeks of the 26 weeks at our disposal. It seems unlikely, but…you…
Five years on
Five years ago today I left the RSPB and started life as a …well, I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew it was time for a change. Now I tend to call myself a writer and environmental campaigner. In that time I have written seven books – so I probably…
The Peak District – a fulcrum for change
What happens in the Peak District National Park is vital to the future of driven grouse shooting, to the future of our upland National Parks, and, indeed, to the future of the UK uplands. That’s quite a claim, so let me back it up. The pernicious impact of driven grouse shooting is now pretty well…
Books that I am reading
I hope to review George Monbiot’s new book ‘How did we get into this mess‘ on Sunday. I’m still reading it. But then I am also reading Mike Dilger’s book ‘Nightingales in November‘, Theunis Piersma’s Guests of Summer, and Kevin Parr’s Rivers Run too. Since Monday is a Bank Holiday, and therefore like a Sunday,…
NE will reply individually to comments on the ‘man guarding his model Hen Harrier ‘ incident
The Natural England Press Office say that their Chief Executive will respond individually to emails he receives on the subject of armed men with model Hen Harriers in the Peak District. That’s James Cross, Chief Executive, Natural England: james.cross@naturalengland.org.uk
Peak District – what they say
This post starts with a simple round-up of who has said what since the breaking of the faking it blogpost on the Raptor Persecution UK (yes really!) website on Tuesday but ends with a challenge. Later today I will blog on the importance of the Peak District in the future of driven grouse shooting and…
Some of us get to vote a week today
If you live in England and Wales, but not in London or Greater Manchester, you will have the chance to vote for your police and crime commissioner a week today. P&CCs are charged with ensuring effective and efficient policing of a police area. Wildlife crime is part of that role – certainly not the most…
A comment from a regular
This comment was posted earlier today on this blog by ‘jbc’. It’s so well written that it deserves a wider airing. Thank you all for your comments – they help make this blog what it is – whatever it is! I don’t work for an NGO now and have never worked for RSPB –…