There are four art works on which I have bid, and I have been outbid for each of them. But I may well be trying a bit harder in the run-up to 5pm today. There is artwork to suit most tastes but feel free not to bid on the items that are to my taste!…
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Questions and answers in Scottish parliament
Here is an exchange in the Scottish Paliament yesterday – quite useful. Thank you to John Mason MSP (GLasgow Shetleston, SNP) for asking and to Mairi Gougeon for an encouraging answer. John Mason: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the persecution of raptors. The Minister for Rural Affairs and…
The milk of avian unkindness
When I was a kid our milk was frequently attacked by marauding gangs of Great Tits and Blue Tits. For younger, perhaps puzzled, readers this was a long time ago in the days when doorstep deliveries of milk were the norm and milk was full fat and the ‘cream’ was noticeable in floating to the…
Natural England and crowdfunding
Last year I wrote about Natural England asking you for your money, through crowdfunding, to carry out a mixture of tasks which ranged from the daft to what seemed to me to be Natural England’s statutory duties (and therefore what I was paying for through my taxes). Tony Juniper responded to the ENDS report with…
BASC and NE – cosiness
Natural England has a range of memoranda of understanding and partnership agreements with a range of organisations. That’s not unusual (although my experience is that it is only the shakiest of professional relationships that need such generalised written agreements). I’ve asked Natural England about some of these and heard back from them about their agreement…
Dear Mr Pursglove
Dear Mr Pursglove I hope you are well, particularly at this time of COVID-19 and particularly as our local area of Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering all seem to be hotspots for the disease. I feel that your government has dealt very badly with this emergency but that is not why I am contacting you. I…
Letter in Guardian
In Europe most lead exposure is via the diet, and one source that can be readily eliminated is lead fragments from ammunition used to shoot wild game. …in 2018 the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) recommended against screening for elevated blood lead levels in young children, so the extent of children’s exposure is unknown, and…
Press release – Trees for Life, Golden Eagle
Golden eagles breed at Highlands rewilding estate for first time in 40 years A pair of golden eagles has successfully reared a chick in an artificial nest at Trees for Life’s flagship Dundreggan rewilding estate in Glenmoriston between Loch Ness and Skye – marking the first known return of the spectacular birds of prey to breed at the Highlands…
Thoughts on today’s Inglorious 12th
I’ve enjoyed today’s Inglorious 12th more than most. I’ve had a relatively relaxing day. When I watered the vegetables at 6am this morning before making a cup of tea, I had seen the expected news that Labour had come out in favour of licensing grouse shooting. This is very much to be welcomed. Looking back…
Come on Scottish government!
With today’s call for grouse moor licensing by the Labour Party the SNP needs to act to maintain its formerly leading position on grouse moor reform. In the race to be ‘top UK government’ on grouse shooting reform the SNP government is strolling down the straight, way out ahead of the Conservative Party in England…