RSPB statement on Number 10’s 10-point plan

In response to the Prime Minister’s 10-Point Plan, Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “We are facing a nature and climate emergency, so must take this opportunity to build back better. While we welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement of new money, new national park designations and new landscape plans, in truth this barely…

Nature books and gender

It is a privilege to have published Stephen Moss’s round-up of nature books for the last three years, including this year’s which was published here yesterday. The number of books covered increases every year and many have said that this year provided not only a bumper crop but also more really good books than usual….

For peat’s sake

I was pleased to read in the Guardian that my old stomping grounds of the Flow Country (see Fighting for Birds, Chapter 2) might be edging towards World Heritage Site status. It’s a bit like when an old friend gets a gong in an honours list – it’s not necessarily that one thinks the gong…

Friday book review – Naturalist by Edward O. Wilson adapted by Jim Ottaviani & C.M. Butzer

This is a graphic adaptation of the great E.O. Wilson’s memoir Naturalist. I haven’t read the original but I have pretty much read all of this graphic book, and enjoyed it very much. On the back cover it is claimed that this book is ‘Perfect for all, young naturalists and accomplished scientists alike‘ and whereas…

Stephen Moss’s 2020 Round-up of Nature books.

Stephen Moss is a naturalist, author and course leader of the MA Travel & Nature Writing at Bath Spa University. His latest book, The Swallow: A Biography, is published by Square Peg (£12.99). Here is his annual round-up of books about wildlife, nature and the environment. @stephenmoss_tv [Mark writes: where I have read and reviewed…

Press release – UK Overseas Territory becomes one of the world’s biggest sanctuaries for wildlife (Tristan da Cunha Government, RSPB, National Geographic)

UK Overseas Territory becomes one of the world’s biggest sanctuaries for wildlife The Government and people of Tristan da Cunha make visionary declaration with support of an international partnership including the UK Government, RSPB, National Geographic Pristine Seas, Blue Nature Alliance, Becht Family Charitable Trust together with Blue Marine Foundation, Wyss Foundation, Kaltroco, Don Quixote…

Writing, reading and comprehension over non-native gamebirds.

I think Matt Cross writes quite well, it’s his reading and comprehension that let him down! This is the Matt Cross who leapt into a long Twitter chain which contained a gross error because he hadn’t properly read the papers on which he was commenting. He has calmed down a bit now, for his current…

More avian/poultry flu cases in captive and wild birds.

Poultry establishments: 2 November nr Deal, Kent 2 November, nr Frodsham, Cheshire 11 November, nr Leominster, Herefordshire ‘Wild’ birds including non-natives: Canada Goose and Greylag at WWT Slimbridge, Glos ‘Swan’ nr Dawlish, Devon (this was a Black Swan and cygnets according to the BBC) ‘Goose’ nr Weymouth, Devon (illustrated with a Canada Goose in the…