Nobody would say that the EU is perfect but it has been, with the UK at times being a leading player, and at other times with the UK being a laggard, a leader for environmental protection. One has only to look at the Habitats Directive, written by a former UK MEP and Department of Environment…
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Coming soon to your bookshelf – Red Sixty Seven
A new creative collaboration, bringing together two of Britain’s wild bird charities and leading writers and artists, has just been launched. Titled ‘Red Sixty Seven’, the project seeks to raise awareness of our most at-risk birds and secure additional funds for BTO and RSPB scientists to carry out important research, work that should help to…
Tim Melling – Przewalski’s Nuthatch
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Tim writes: Przewalski’s Nuthatch (Sitta przewalskii) is a scarce Nuthatch that only occurs in mature pine forests in southeastern Tibet and west central China. It was formerly considered just a subspecies of the White-cheeked Nuthatch of the western Himalayas but recent molecular work has confirmed it as a good species. In addition, the ranges of…
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Uptown girl…
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Two Cambridge colleges, at either end of The Backs, have recently announced their new ‘Masters’. At the up-town end of the waterway, and said to be the richest per student capita college of all, St John’s, the new Master will be Heather Hancock. Mrs Hancock has featured in this blog now and again over the…
Guest blog: Planting Trees (2) by Ian Parsons
Ian Parsons spent twenty years working as a Ranger with the Forestry Commission, where he not only worked with birds of prey and dormice, but where he developed his passion for trees. Now a freelance writer, Ian runs his own specialist bird tour company leading tours to Extremadura. For more details see www.griffonholidays.com This is…
Garden birds
I keep glancing out of the window at the birds in the garden – many of them are on bird feeders and fat balls. There is often a good selection of Goldfinches, House Sparrows, Great and Blue Tits, Robins, Blackbirds and more. One of the ‘more’ at the moment is an occasionally-seen male Blackcap. ‘Pretty…
And so…
…who would you vote for in the Labour leadership contest?
NE and the planning system
Back in December 2017 I asked Natural England about their involvement, as a statutory consultee, in the planning system and received this information; I recently asked for an update and have been sent this: Now, there are many ways in which one could read these figures and really one would need an expert opinion and…
GWCT asks about lead ammunition
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, whose Twitter account describes themselves as… Leading UK charity conducting scientific research to enhance the British countryside for public benefit. Follow us for latest news and practical advice. https://twitter.com/Gameandwildlife … is carrying out a poll on whether you are happy to move from toxic polluting lead shot to its…