Writing to your MP is one thing (a thing to which I’ll come back) but after you have written then you are likely to receive a reply. Here is a checklist of things to do when you get a response from your MP: enjoy the yellow envelope with the portcullis on it, and the thick…
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Peak District update
I’m grateful to the NT in the Peak District who have forwarded my contact details to their shooting tenants in the Peak District just in case any of them would like to have their grouse shooting filmed over the next few weeks. I’ll let you know if I hear from any of them. The NT…
Last chance…
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If you’d like to enter this blog’s writing competition then you had better get a move on – entries close at midnight tonight. Your task is to write a review of George Monbiot’s Feral and send it to me at mark@markavery.info. I’ve had some entries already but not so many as to make you think…
BBS 2016
This report of bird population trends as measured by the Breeding Bird Survey (and Waterways Breeding Bird Survey) is the result of, first, the voluntary work of around 3000 volunteers (including me) who collected the data, followed by the analytical and presentational skills of BTO staff aided by JNCC and the RSPB. There are two…
The Well-Read Naturalist (1)
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I have to admit that John (Johannes) Riutta’s excellent website, The Well-Read Naturalist, first came to my attention when he wrote a very kind review of my A Message from Martha, but I have been dipping into it regularly ever since. I like the ethos of the site ‘The Well-read Naturalist publishes reviews and news…
Birdwatch and British Wildlife
I didn’t plan it, but if I’d thought about it then maybe I would have done. In my columns in the current issues of British Wildlife and Birdwatch I discuss two issues where opinions differ. In British Wildlife I discuss the rather poor working relationship between animal welfare organisations and nature conservation organisations and contrast…
Your species champions at Westminster
Westminster MPs have stepped forward to become champions for different endangered species (and a similar scheme exists in Scotland). There is an interesting article about this in the current BBC Wildlife Magazine written by James Fair. I’m quoted in the article and my point is whether these MPs will speak out for their species on…
Trusted trustees (3) – Sir John Randall
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Former Conservative MP for Uxbridge (1997 by-election until 2010), and then for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (until 2015), Sir John Randall is a birder and trustee of the RSPB – although he has just had to resign after being made the Number 10 Policy Unit’s Special Advisor on the environment. John was a parliamentarian with…
A research opportunity
You have just over a week to apply for this interesting PhD opportunity at Northampton University ‘‘Taking Aim’ at the Social Impact of Driven Game Shooting in England‘. I notice that the GWCT and BASC are in some way involved, as are 40 estate and shoot owners. Looks like an interesting study encompassing health impacts…
Guest blog – Building for wildlife 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…