The Scottish Wildlife Trust is calling for the urgent introduction of legal protection for Scotland’s beavers following the discovery of a dead beaver on a wildlife reserve in Tayside. Examination of the female beaver shows that it is likely to have died from an infection after being shot in the chest. Jonny Hughes, Chief Executive,…
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Chris Davies MP
I keep a kindly eye on those MPs who spoke in the ‘debate’ over banning driven grouse shooting in October 2016. One, the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire described me thus; ‘Only the other week I had the privilege of attending the evidence session on grouse shooting. Several right hon. and hon. Members have already…
Iceland may resume whaling
The news that whaling may occur in Icelandic waters from 2019-24 is very disappointing. I’m not suggesting that a 15-minute chat with the Icelandic Prime Minister is likely to have made that much difference but it did feel, when I was in Iceland in September, that the movement was in the right direction. We’ll have…
National Trust press release
Puffin. Photo: ©National Trust Images/Paul Kingston Farnes puffin numbers rally after initial concern in five-yearly survey results Results from a five-yearly survey reveal puffin numbers are stable on the remote Northumberland Farne Islands, cared for by the National Trust. Last May concerned rangers speculated that the initial low numbers from the outlying islands of this…
Save the Gwent Levels from the Welsh Assembly Government
If Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government’s regulator and advisor, is against the plans to drive a motorway through the wildlife-rich Gwent Levels, then why is the Welsh Assembly Government intent on doing just that? My mother grew up in this part of South Wales and so I have personal memories of it. And…
Well done BBOWT and friends!
Yesterday I was in London so I had the opportunity to pass by the Royal Courts of Justice and wish these campaigners the best of luck. Last month the High Court refused permission for Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust’s (BBOWT) claim against the government regarding the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway – the story is…
Warm words on burning
Natural England has issued a position statement on burning of blanket bogs – the position is basically ‘Don’t!’. We understand that the serial blanket bog burners in the uplands are less than chuffed by actually being told what they can and can’t do. We can’t see any comment from the Moorland Association on this subject…
Please support the World Land Trust appeal
I’ll be in London tomorrow for a workshop of World Land Trust trustees and supporters so I thought I ought to urge you to support this appeal please. World Land Trust does a great job (I am slightly biased as a trustee, but also well-informed) and occupies a unique niche in raising money for land…
Dear Petitions Committee
Dear Petitions Committee (petitionscommittee@parliament.uk) I am a great supporter of the petitions process set up by the Westminster Parliament – at least I am in principle, but in practice my enthusiasm is waning a little. I’d like to suggest some changes to the system that, I believe, would improve its ability to command the confidence…
Hen Harrier champion goes independent
One of the MPs departing the Labour Party today is Angela Smith, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, and the Hen Harrier champion in Westminster. I know Angela to speak to, and she attended the Hen Harrier Day rally in the Goyt Valley in 2015, and so I sent her a quick message of support today….