I sent this FOI/EIR request to Natural England a week ago: Please send me the Habitats Regulations Assessments for the Catchment Restoration Plan for Walshaw Moor Estate and all associated documents, email correspondence etc. Note that I am requesting the Habitat Regulations Assessments – plural, as I believe that more than one version exists and…
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February Red Kites
I’m keeping a note of whether I see Red Kites on each day through the year – in January I saw Red Kites on 22 days out of 31. February has had a higher strike rate – 24 out of 28 days.
Local Issue – chicken farm update
You might remember a few blogs about the proposal to build an intensive broiler unit locally to me (Local issue – further comments, 1 December 2017; Local issue – seems I was right (2), 2 November 2017; Local issue – seems I was right (1), 1 November 2017; Local – bird records, 26 October 2017;…
Guest blog – Real country people by Norman McCanch
Norman McCanch was born in South Wales and trained as a taxidermist, then worked as a Lighthouse Keeper with Trinity House, before studying Graphics and Illustration in Kent. He subsequently worked in a boat yard, in the Agricultural supply industry, as a part-time gamekeeper and as warden of two different Bird Observatories. He worked on…
We are 19,700 signatures ahead
The supporters of a ban on driven grouse shooting, are now 19,700 signatures ahead of the forces of conservatism who wish this unsustainable hobby of shooting birds for fun and profit to continue. But it’s not quite as simple as that, as there are three e-petitions including Ed Hutchings’s e-petition, supported by the RSPB, which…
An amazing response – thank you
Starting a crowd funding campaign is a little like throwing a party – when you start, you imagine what great fun it will be and how everyone will want to come. Then as the time approaches you begin to wonder whether it is going to be such a success and as the hour draws near…
#justice4henharriers
Last week I met two barristers and a couple of solicitors and was advised that there is a good legal case on which we can challenge the ridiculous plan by Michael Gove’s Department of the Environment (Defra) to remove eggs or chicks of Hen Harriers from grouse moors – a scheme they call brood management…
Paul Leyland – Clytus arietis
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Paul writes: This is a small longhorn beetle, averaging about 14mm body length, commonly known as the Wasp Beetle. This mimicry of the Common Wasp (amongst others) helps protect it from predators, mainly birds, even though it is harmless. It’s a good pollinator of flowers as it likes sunbathing in hedgerows and woodland rides in…
Wild food (29) – Tadpoles by Ian Carter
The second half of winter is perhaps the least productive time of year for foraging. Spells of cold weather have eliminated all but the hardiest of wild flowers. Most of the nuts and berries have been consumed or have rotted away. There are a few winter season fungi but many of those seem to fade…
Sunday book review – The Long Spring by Laurence Rose
I enjoyed this book a lot. It is written by a former RSPB colleague of mine and his knowledge of birds and nature conservation are clearly demonstrated in this book. But he can write too! The long spring starts in Spanish Ceuta on the north African coast at the beginning of February, and ends…