That power list

The BBC Wildlife Power List is being talked about wherever I go – well, not in the Post Office, or the supermarket, or the garage… But talked about by the nature conservation community? It certainly is! Thanks very much to Ben Hoare for his Guest Blog on the subject on Tuesday – some interesting points…

Lord Gardiner

I had hoped there would be a Gardiner in Defra after the election, but I had hoped it would be Barry Gardiner MP. What has happened is that Lord Rupert de Mauley has gone and he hasn’t been replaced as a full minister (and as far as I can see he hasn’t got another job…

The grouse moor industry

Henry is, by chance, very topical this week, seeing as how he is in the Forest of Bowland. Yesterday, Henry reminded us of how many Hen Harriers used to nest in that area in the recent past. The number of nests has often been in double figures – several times higher than the current whole…

Henry in Bowland 2

Henry is pining for a ringtail. He’d heard that the Forest of Bowland was his best chance for a hot date.  ‘this one looks rather cute’ Henry told me. ‘I’m sure you’re right, Henry’, I said ‘They all look much the same to me’. Henry gave me a bit of a glare, I thought. He…

Henry in Bowland

Yes, Henry is in the Forest of Bowland – the so-called stronghold for Hen Harriers in England. Henry was pretty brave to show up here as three male Hen Harriers have disappeared from active nests in this area this season.  There may be lonely ringtails around, but are the risks worth taking Henry? It was…