In the Languedoc area of France, the bourgoisie kill House Sparrows by throwing daggers at them. It’s a traditional pastime that came into existence when technology allowed the perfect manufacture of sets of spadger daggers. Many areas of the Languedoc are managed to produce high numbers of sparrows for la chasse. Trees are felled (sparrows…
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
What they say 7:
From: Hen Harriers: your essential brief by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust: Q: Is discussion of a ban on driven grouse shooting simplistic? A: Yes. Firstly, it ignores the wider conservation, employment and economic benefits of moorland managed for grouse; and secondly, it fails to address why there are so few hen harriers on…
What they say 6:
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Here is street artist ATM talking to BAWC‘s Charlie Moores to raise the profile of Hen Harriers and Hen Harrier Day: Hear about his artwork… … and this refreshingly different take on things – click here.
What they say 5:
Here is Chris Packham talking to BAWC‘s Charlie Moores to raise the profile of Hen Harriers and Hen Harrier Day: It’s just brilliant stuff: ‘I intend to go on the day (August 10th) and I hope I’ll be able to speak to people there, and thank them for coming, and motivate them to take more…
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Guest Blog – The Hen Harrier Affair by Tim Birch
The Hen Harrier Affair – a personal perspective Tim Birch is the Conservation Manager of the Derbyshire Widlife Trust. He has worked in nature conservation for many years, much of it abroad, but grew up in Derbyshire to which he has now returned. It’s now been almost 18 months since I’ve been back…
FoI Friday – 5
This is a copy of my earlier blog post but now including the Peak District National Park’s rapid and helpful response to points 1 and 2. They tell me that they are checking on point 3 now. Dear Peak District National Park This is a request under the Freedom of Information regulations, but in…
Martha and Martha 2 and a great review in the Independent
The World at One say they had such a strong response to the chat between Martha Kearney and me on the subject of Passenger Pigeons that they have put up a separate link to it and included a film of the interview too – click here to hear and see the interview. I also enjoyed…
FoI Friday – 4
Dear Defra You may have noticed, though I wouldn’t bet on it, that there is an e-petition relevant to you rapidly gathering signatures. Once it reaches 10,000 signatures, you will have to reply to it. I point this out to you so that you might, with all this warning, make a better fist of it…
FoI Friday – 3
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Dear Defra You really are shocking. You have not acknowledged or answered this FoI request made on 7 April this year. I have reminded you about this once before. Please respond by Wednesday next week or else I will complain to the Information Commissioner about your woeful disregard for the principles of open government. Mark…