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

Power to which people?

Mark 19 Comments

This report was published earlier this week – it is about competition and red tape and how we’d all be better off with more of the former and less of the latter. It may be full of brilliant stuff but it irritates me a lot as it exemplifies what the Right of politics does so…

Tim Melling – Red Grouse in the snow

Mark 6 Comments

Tim writes: Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) usually defend a territory throughout winter, in which the pair will breed in spring. Birds that haven’t managed to find a territory form a nomadic flock and will take up any vacancies if any territory-holders die. But over the last few days I have noticed that all the usual…

Not really a ban is it?

Mark 3 Comments

Today 17 conservation and countryside organisations, coordinated by Wildlife and Countryside Link, wrote to DEFRA’s George Eustice to call for proper measures to limit burning on peat soils instead of the government’s weak proposals. The organisations comprise: RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Plantlife, Butterfly Conservation, Rewilding Britain, Open Spaces Society,…

Guest blog – Cloak and dibber: the rare plant introduction controversy by Amanda Tuke

Mark 10 Comments

Amanda is a nature and environment writer and blogger based in the wilds of suburban south London. She writes mainly about suburban wildflowers, insects and birds on her blog.    Her nature writing has appeared in anthologies, on the London Wildlife Trust blog and in Devon Life Magazine.  She also blogs on www.freelancenaturewriter.com about her…

Sunday book review – Restoring the Wild by Roy Dennis

Mark 3 Comments

Roy Dennis is a ‘name’ in ornithology and nature conservation – he was the warden of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory from 1964-70 (following Ken Williamson and Peter Davis), the RSPB’s person in the Highlands (under various job titles) from 1970-90 and, ever since, an independent conservationist mostly involved with species reintroductions and habitat restoration….

Tim Melling – Little Grebe eating a Bullhead

Mark 2 Comments

Tim writes: I used to catch Bullheads (Cottus gobio) in a small stream near my home as a child, but I haven’t seen one for maybe 50 years.  That is until two days ago when I watched this Little Grebe emerge from the water with one.  These fish are also known as Miller’s Thumb and…