MP letters

I told you that I went to see my MP Louise Mensch a little while ago and she said that she would write to the Treasury asking for the evidence that the Habitats Regulations are a brake on the UK economy and to Defra asking about implementation of the Birds Directive (given the decline in…

British Wildlife

You can find an article by me in the current edition of British Wildlife – it’s about farming and doesn’t mention Peter Kendall.  It does mention farmer-bashing, Defra Ministers, the Farmland Bird Index and asking for our money back – but that’s enough clues, you will have to read the article to fill in the…

Red kites

I see red kites quite often over my garden in east Northants now – practically every day if the weather is OK and I spend enough time looking.  I saw one as I was on my way to the Post Office on Tuesday, and on both Tuesday and Wednesday, on trips to London, I saw…

You are directly affected, but Defra has forgotten you

Defra has started a consultation on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy – don’t panic, you have until 5 March to respond.  But Defra only wants views from those who may be affected by these proposals.  And that appears to mean English farmers, environmental groups, rural communities, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties.  But there…

Just like Cleopatra’s nose?

It was a dreary morning and I felt a bit grumpy as I made my way past Birmingham on the M42 heading south. It was rainy and drizzly and the traffic was difficult.  I was surprised to see snow on the Malverns to my right and not at all surprised that I could hardly make…