William Hague questions HS2 Ltd’s due diligence in relation to wildlife law William Hague (Lord Hague of Richmond) has written a letter to the Rt Hon. Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, in support of evidence relating to potential wildlife crime issues of the High Speed Two (HS2) project, compiled by a team of…
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Lockdown2 – the first week’s bird list
My Lockdown2 garden bird list is a fairly servicable 27 species, so far. Nothing unusual but the occasional flocks of Redwing, Fieldfare and Skylark make me attentive to what is up in the sky. Here’s my list so far: Woodpigeon Collared Dove Black-headed Gull Common Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Sparrowhawk Red Kite Buzzard Green Woodpecker…
Guest blog – A Pheasant Surprise? Possible Implications of In-Combination Effects on the Gamebird Shooting Industry by Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson is a professional ecologist with 20 years’ experience undertaking surveys for a range of clients, His specialist knowledge is in invertebrate and avian ecology, and his technical knowledge informs Environmental Impact Assessments, including when relevant, Appropriate Assessment. His professional background has led to a keen interest in EU and UK law in the context…
Joint press release RSPB and HIWWT
Plans for Portsmouth ‘super peninsula’ should be binned not backed, say wildlife charities – 4000 new homes and new marine hub would rip up internationally important wildlife site and tear a hole through legal safeguards – Development could destroy vital line of natural defence against rising sea levels, meaning the public will pay over decades…
Corncrake conservation in the UK – a well-told tale.
This paper is in the current (November) issue of British Birds and it’s a thorough review of the successful conservation of this globally threatened species in the UK, based on science, largely RSPB science and largely led by the author. I think it’s becoming fashionable these days to ignore species conservation as a bit easy…
Wednesday book review – Future Sea by Deborah Rowan Wright
Living as I do, inland in east Northants, I don’t get to see the sea very much, and when I do it’s usually a bit of sea with some land not very far way on the other side of it. But we live on an oceanic planet which is dominated by vast water expanses that…
Another case of bird/poultry flu – this time in wild birds
DEFRA report a case of bird/poultry flu on a Canada Goose and two Greylags found dead near Stroud in Gloucestershire. Slimbridge is near Stroud in Gloucestershire, I wonder whether that is the location.
Guest blog – Amanda Tuke interviews Josh Styles.
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…
Press release – Beaver Trust
British beavers face fragile future without public support and government leadership, says new film exploring reintroductions Britain’s beavers could be major allies in tackling the climate and extinction crises – but without more public and government support face a fragile future, says Beaver Trust as it launches a new documentary film exploring the country’s relationship…
RSPB press release – Westminster government set to fail first major domestic test of its commitment to saving nature
The Government looks set to fail in its first major domestic test over its declared commitment to the environment ahead of an upcoming speech by the Prime Minister. A recent PR charm offensive by the energy company EDF extolling the green credentials of its proposals to build the Sizewell C nuclear reactor seems to be swaying government opinion, despite the fact that the project may irreversibly damage one of the UK’s most important and well protected wildlife…