The Campaign for National Parks wants us to have a big conversation about the future of our National Parks – what a good idea. It’s a pretty good survey and doesn’t take very long to complete. The survey has useful questions such as: Q What, if any, changes would you like to see to National…
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
Martin Warren to flit off in the autumn
Dr Martin Warren, one of the wisest and most knowledgeable conservationists on the scene during my lifetime, is to retire from the role of CEO of Butterfly Conservation in the autumn. He will be missed not only because he knows a lot and has never been known to say anything daft, but also because he…
That FSA response on lead
Yesterday’s response from the FSA on lead was very helpful. Here is what they wrote (in blue) and comments from me: There is no agreed safe level for lead intake. Independent scientific expert groups across the European Union advise that exposure to lead should be reduced as far as possible. You can’t get much…
Common?
I like Common Gulls – otherwise known as Mew Gulls. When people ask me how to recognise them I say they are the gulls with friendly faces (there is no feature more diagnostic of a Herring Gull than its annoyed expression). But Common is a misnomer most of the time – in these parts, Common…
Just like buses
Responses from the FSA are a little like buses – you don’t see one for a while and then two come along together. This one was very rapid though, in response to an email to them this morning I got this this afternoon. It’s in response to this morning’s blog. Here it is, in full:…
Well, well – what a coincidence
Following my blog of this morning about the appointment of Heather Hancock as Chair of the FSA I’ve received a communication from the FSA – in response to questions I posed to them when their Board meeting was broadcast live on the internet in late January. Although their response is not a complete answer to…
FSA Chair-designate is married to grouse moor (owner)
Congratulations to Heather Hancock on her appointment, from April Fools’ Day, as Chair of the Food Standards Agency. The appointment involves a time commitment of 2 to 3 days per week and remuneration at a rate of £60,000 per annum. The Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial government department (as is Forestry Commission), which says…
Looking forward to BAWC conference at the weekend
I’ll be speaking at the BAWC conference on Saturday and will be around on Sunday too. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll bring a few copies of Inglorious with me
Best and worst at Defra – what you think
There have been six secretaries of state at Defra since it came into existence in the wake of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. Defra was born out of the thought that MAFF was too inward-looking and that farming wasn’t that important really but was a bit of a problem. Prime Ministers also…
Oscar Dewhurst – Cheetah mother with cubs
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Oscar writes: Nearly two years ago now I was on holiday with my family in Kenya, more specifically around the Masai Mara. Rather than actually staying inside the main park, we stayed in conservancies, areas where the number of beds are tightly regulated, meaning you can drive around all day and see only a couple…