Ali West has lived in the Hebden Bridge area for more than 40 years and has walked extensively in the surrounding hills over all of that time, including on Walshaw Moor, a favourite spot. She has a science degree and has been self-employed for all her working life. Since her early 20s she has also…
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First Hen Harrier for Barbados?
I posted some photographs of a ringtail harrier a few days ago (click here) without being very forthcoming about their origin. Such birds are difficult to identify as there are quite a few options, and the probabilities of seeing the different species vary depending on where in the world you are. These photographs came from…
Passenger Pigeon Day, 111 years gone
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The pigeon was known as Martha, and the species was the Passenger Pigeon. Amongst all extinctions, this example remains unusual in two respects: the precision with which the timing is known and the overwhelming abundance of the species just a few decades earlier – for, just a few decades before Martha died, the Passenger Pigeon…
Sunday book review – Just Earth by Tony Juniper
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Tony Juniper is arguably the leading UK environmentalist of his generation so his latest title raises hopes and expectations. This is, in my opinion, his best book and provides a detailed analysis of our failure to make enough progress with environmental issues such as biodiversity loss and climate change. He provides a compelling argument for…
Sunday book review – Life Changing by David North
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This is a gorgeous book – the most gorgeous book that I have read this year. David North and the design team at Mascot Media are to be congratulated on the sheer beauty of what they have produced. Cley and Salthouse marshes are on the north Norfolk Coast at its northernmost point and have long…
Sunday book review – Forgotten Forests by Jonathan Mullard
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I’ve been meaning to review this book for weeks as I’ve had it on my desk for what seems an age. I don’t know why I didn’t get round to it earlier but I’m glad I finally did because I enjoyed it very much. We are taken in a dozen chronological chapters from the end…
Which harrier?
I was sent these images asking me for an opinion on which species of harrier is involved. The discussion around the bird centres on whether it is a Northern Harrier or Hen Harrier – but you might have other views. It was photographed in a location where neither of those species is a breeding bird…
Sunday book review – Love, Anger & Betrayal by Jonathon Porritt
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Jonathan Porritt was working for environmental improvement long before the birth of any of the young climate campaigners given a voice in this book. Indeed, before some of their parents! I found this a moving book. Many Just Stop Oil campaigners, often in their twenties, talk about their lives, beliefs, campaigns, fears and struggles. It’s…
Sunday book review – Bugwatching by Eric R. Eaton
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I’ve done a lot of bug-watching so far this year. One of my favourites is the Dock Bug. This small book (180 pages) is packed with enthusiasm which might rub off on those who have not yet discovered the joy of bugwatching. The subtitle discloses the fact that this is a book produced in North…
Our solar panels
We had these seven solar panels installed in early July on the part of our roof that is south-facing. The panels and their battery are working well and we spend quite a lot of time looking at an app that tells us how much solar electricity we are generating and the state of play of…