The analyses presented here (provided by ‘a reader’ – to whom many thanks) resemble closely those generated last time. They show that rural constituencies (England only was analysed) are stronger supporters of banning driven grouse shooting than are urban constituencies (with mixed urban/rural constituencies in the middle)(top graph). We’re used to this – but it…
BLOG POSTS
Guest blog – ELS/HLS madness by Andrew Carter
Andrew Carter is a farmer in South Wilts with a pedigree Aberdeen-Angus herd which is making use of both chalk downland and meadows in the Hampshire Avon valley – much within the current Higher Level Stewardship scheme. He practices conventional arable farming, but with a high quantity of environmental balancing. A lifelong interest in natural…
First bus is in the garage
It seemed back before Christmas that e-petitions about grouse shooting were a bit like buses – you don’t even see one for ages and then three come along together. Well, the first bus, Gavin Gamble’s e-petition is now parked in the garage. That means that the focus passes to the Jane Griggs pro-shooting e-petition which…
Congratulations Paul Fisher!
Regular commenter on this blog Paul Fisher was the closest guess/estimate of the closing number of signatures for Gavin Gamble’s e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting which reached 48,123 (plus any remaining clicks on confirmation emails) signatures last night. I’ll be sending Paul a signed copy of Remarkable Birds in the next few days. Thank…
Gavin Gamble’s e-petition 48,090 signatures
Congratulations to Gavin Gamble! 48,090 signatures is a massive total however you look at it (and the total will creep up a little as people click on their confirmation emails this morning). We haven’t gone away – the campaign to end driven grouse shooting continues. And thank you to all those who promoted and supported…
Any idea who that ‘keeper is?
Maybe the Vice Chair of the GWCT was having a forgetful moment…allegedly. See Sev Carrell in The Guardian (including a great quote from GWCT which says nothing at all) and Raptor Persecution UK. Why was this kept so quiet for so long? Not because of the identity of the family apparently involved, surely? There is probably…
Last day for Gavin Gamble’s e-petition
All good things must come to an end and Gavin Gamble’s e-petition is a good thing which ends at midnight today. On this rainy Bank Holiday Monday you could just spend a few moments emailing a few friends and asking them to sign up using this link https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/201443 Yesterday was a brilliant day for Gavin’s…
Bank holiday book review – Pressing On by Robert Gillmor
This book is a real treat – full of clear, crisp, concise linocuts by Robert Gillmor. Is Robert Gillmor the nation’s favourite nature artist? Who knows? But over a period of seven decades he has been publishing drawings, paintings and linocuts with subjects primarily drawn from the natural world. This book of linocuts is…
Paul Leyland – Bloody-nosed Beetle
Paul writes: It’s a pity that the appearance of this beetle isn’t quite as dramatic as its common name suggests. The name comes from the beetle’s defence mechanism, which is that when threatened the beetle releases a bright red fluid from its mouth. It’s a slow moving domed beetle, up to 20mm long, coloured black…
Natalie Bennett says ‘Ban driven grouse shooting’
Natalie Bennett is a Green Party politician, and says; ‘I first learnt about the damage driven grouse shooting moors were doing to their neighbours with disastrous land management practices after the 2015/16 floods. And I found out about the carbon emission impacts of their activities. Then I learnt about the plight of the hen harriers…