Andy Langley is a wildlife enthusiast, who for the last seven years has completed an annual sponsored birdwatch to raise money for World Land Trust (WLT). Each year, money raised up to £5,000 is matched by his employer, Ecclesiastical Insurance (part of the Benefact Group), and multiplied again as part of WLT’s Big Match…
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Guest blog – Walshaw Turbine 6 by Nick MacKinnon
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Nick MacKinnon is a freelance teacher of Maths, English and Medieval History, and lives above Haworth, in the last inhabited house before Top Withens = Wuthering Heights. In 1992 he founded the successful Campaign to Save Radio 4 Long Wave while in plaster following a rock-climbing accident on Skye. His poem ‘The metric system’ won…
Patrick Galbraith now a Telegraph environment correspondent
The most interesting thing about this story in the Telegraph is its byline: that of Patrick Galbraith, former editor of Shooting Times and author of this blog’s Book of the Year (2022), In Search of One Last Song, and his most recent book, Uncommon Ground which in my view is a cracking read (see review)…
Hen Harrier English reintroduction project closes after eight years of failure
Natural England has admitted (click here) that its badly-judged (click here) Hen Harrier reintroduction project isn’t going anywhere and has pulled the plug. In a blog that tries to make the best of publicly-funded activity through 2018-25, cuts to NE’s budget were given more of the blame than the difficulties that NE had to persuade…
Operation Turtle Dove criticises Turtle Dove reintroduction scheme
Operation Turtle Dove is a collaboration between RSPB, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, Fair to Nature and Natural England (click here) which aims to improve the dire status of Turtle Dove’s in the UK. On its website the four bodies say: Operation Turtle Dove is aware of reports of individuals and groups releasing captive-bred Turtle Doves. Whilst…
BSBI press release – Rare fern rediscovered in iconic Cwm Idwal – more than 150 years after last sighting
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The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) is thrilled to announce the rediscovery of Holly Fern (Polystichum lonchitis) in Cwm Idwal, a glacial cirque in the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia). The fern was found by naturalist, author and mountain leader Jim Langley, more than 150 years after it was last seen in the area. Holly Fern…
A tale of (one, two, three, four) fleabanes
I blame Trevor Dines (click here) for the fact that I glanced at a plant in the car park of the Helston Premier Inn last week and wanted to know what it was. With my (lack of) botanical knowledge it was a toss-up between realising it was a plant I’ve seen thousands of time before…
RSPB comment on Defra burning announcement and Defra summary of consultation responses
In response to this morning’s announcement by Defra of tighteneing of reguations on vegetation burning on peat soils, Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: “Extending the ban on burning over peat in the English uplands is a hugely positive step forwards towards protecting these precious habitats and reducing carbon emissions. Peatlands are one of nature’s greatest superheroes,…
Defra press release – a move forward on burning on deep peat soils
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Burning banned on England’s deep peat to protect wildlife Ban on burning heather and grass on deep peat extended to improve air quality for local communities, reduce flood risk and protect wildlife. Local communities are set to benefit from improved air quality, following an announcement that the government will extend the ban on burning vegetation on deep…
The new Defra, all female, team
Following the departure of Angela Rayner, and a smallish reshuffle, the new Defra team is led by Emma Reynolds (in place of Steve Reed) and in comes Angela Eagle as Minister of State (replacing Daniel Zeichner). Mr Reed directly takes the place of Angela Rayner at Housing, Communities and Local Government – let’s hope he…