Standing up for Nature
Here is the email chain, or most of it, that prompted this sensible briefing from Forest Enterprise England on their decision to use non-toxic ammunition on their land for the culling of deer and wild boar. It’s not very interesting really but you can see that this blog is read by people other than your…
‘There is a widespread consensus now that there is no safe level [of lead]’ BBC Radio 4: In their element – lead listen again here. The striking thing is the passage where the point is made that as techniques have improved it has become possible to demonstrate that lower and lower amounts of lead still…
Bradford Council Labour group voted overwhelmingly last night not to renew the grouse-shooting lease on Ilkley Moor. Result! The Labour group (48 councillors) holds a majority on the Council (89 councillors in all) and the move to end grouse shooting is also supported by the LibDems (10 councillors) and Greens (3 councillors). This makes it…
Press release by Ban Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor On the eve of a key decision which could spell the end for grouse shooting on Yorkshire’s iconic beauty spot Ilkley Moor, Naz Shah MP (Bradford West) has joined some of the region’s most prominent politicians in giving her backing to ending the practice on Ilkley Moor….
Here is an update on three e-petitions about grouse shooting: Gavin Gamble’s e-petition in favour of banning driven grouse shooting – c25,547 signatures Jane Griggs’s e-petition supporting grouse shooting – c14,486 signatures Ed Hutchings’s e-petition in favour of licensing grouse shooting – c2,046 signatures Last week saw the ‘Gamble-ban’ e-petition pass 25,322 signatures (the highest…
The government 25-year plan for the environment is a significant document. It covers most of the correct ground and says many good things. The proof of it, as noted by many others, will be in the extent to which it is delivered, but in six months Michael Gove has moved the Conservative Party quite some…
Oscar writes: I visited Bushy Park for the deer rut for the first time this year, as I had heard that the deer go in the water more than at Richmond Park. Sure enough this turned out to be true, with a large stag spending some time drinking in the early morning sun. I wish…
This blog isn’t about the natural world but it is about the political one in which the natural world sits. As an author I’m quite keen on people reading books – indeed last year I got the huge sum of £77 as my share of the Public Lending Right pot. But the local library is…
What is the nation’s favourite nature book? The shortlist of 10 alleged nature books is open for you to vote for your favourite. How one can possibly choose between Fingers in the Sparkle Jar by my mate Chris Packham (which is a superb book but not really what I would class a nature book) and…
Tim writes: What amazing headgear this tiny Malachite Kingfisher has. Looks like it is dressed up for Ascot Ladies’ Day. Malachite Kingfishers are only about two thirds the size of the British Kingfisher but they have much longer crest feathers and have a different shade of blue on their backs. They are common and widespread…