Greater Dodder, a rare parasitic plant, has been recorded on the banks of the River Avon in Warwickshire: the first county record for 64 years. Because it lacks chlorophyll and can’t photosynthesise, Greater Dodder has to get all its water, nutrients and carbon from a host plant, usually nettle. The find was made this summer…
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Guest blog – ‘Birds in England’ at 100 by Conor Mark Jameson
Conor Mark Jameson worked in conservation all of his career and now lives and writes in west Norfolk. He is also the author of Silent Spring Revisited (reviewed here), Looking for the Goshawk (reviewed here), Shrewdunnit (a collection of his feature articles, (reviewed here) and Finding W. H. Hudson – The Writer Who Came to…
Catfield Fen – another legal victory
The owners of Catfield Fen, Tim and Geli Harris, have featured in this blog quite a few times – click here – but recent recruits to this blog might be unaware of their tenacity and determination to protect Catfield Fen from water loaded with nutrients from nearby farmland. I’m delighted to report that…
Press release from Dino Decking – Hedgehogs
With hedgehogs now officially listed as vulnerable to extinction on the UK Red List, habitat fragmentation, such as fences and walls blocking their nightly travel routes, has become one of their biggest threats. Research carried out for Dino Decking offers rich data on public attitudes toward wildlife-friendly gardens. Some key standout stats include: 41% of…
Blue Planet III – we’ve been spoiled again
The first episode of Blue Planet III – click here – was brilliant: interesting sharks, a dying and then dead whale and those Harlequin Shrimps! I’ve scuba’ed on the Great Barrier Reef (Nemo is on my lifelist!) and coral off Malindi, Kenya, but I’m very happy to get my insights into the marine world from…
RSPB press release – Bird of the Year
The RSPB’s Bird of the Year is back – which of our feathered friends will get your vote? Five brilliant bird species are contending to be crowned The RSPB’s UK Bird of Year 2026 This year’s competition sees the return of reigning champion the Swift, alongside the Lapwing, the Greenfinch, Gannet and Montagu’s Harrier The…
Defra call for evidence on game shooting – closes midnight today
The Defra call for evidence – click here – on gamebird shooting closes at midnight today. I’ve penned five blogs which give you words that you might consider using if you wished to respond: click here , click here, click here, click here, click here. It has taken me ages to get this far and…
This is evidence (5) – wildlife crime and its impacts on ‘protected’ species.
I’m thinking of how to respond to the Defra call for evidence – click here – on gamebird shooting (as readers of my monthly newsblast will know). I’ve already penned something on the overall death toll of the tens of millions of released birds – click here and another on densities of gamebirds at distances…
This is evidence (4) – studies of wider environmental impacts of management for grouse shooting
I’m thinking of how to respond to the Defra call for evidence – click here – on gamebird shooting (as readers of my monthly newsblast will know). I’ve already penned something on the overall death toll of the tens of millions of released birds – click here and another on densities of gamebirds at distances…
This is evidence (3) – pets killed by upland gamekeepers (people are too scared to come forward)
I’m thinking of how to respond to the Defra call for evidence – click here – on gamebird shooting (as readers of my monthly newsblast will know). I’ve already penned something on the overall death toll of the tens of millions of released birds – click here and another on densities of gamebirds at distances…