You can listen to the one-sided discussion between the NFU and Owen Paterson on the Today programme this morning here (at 0650). We heard from the industry and from a known strong supporter of the agri-industry model. What was needed was a different perspective or some more pointed questions from John Humphrys. ‘Why should the…
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Nature in the media
Did you go back to work yesterday? Or maybe today? One of the aspects of being self-employed is that there is less of a hard line between work and play and so I was working over some of the mid-winter break and did a little bit of ‘work’ on almost every day of the last…
More bird flu cases in wild birds
Defra is being quite cryptic about the details of new cases of H5N8 but the RSPB has disclosed that cases have been found on its nature reserves at Frampton (Lincs) and Marshside (Merseyside). There is also a confirmed case in Gloucestershire. Updated information from Germany here. Thankfully, so far, there has only been one case…
Guest blog – Food for Thought by Miles King
Lately I have been eating porridge for breakfast. I had forgotten how much I liked it, but there is another reason for having taken it up again. Oats are very good, apparently, at helping to restore gut flora and as I have been recovering from an infection which meant taking an awful lot of antibiotics…
Who says we live in a post-truth era?
I’m worried about this post-truth label. It seems to have gathered a lot of credence in a very short period and I don’t like the picture it paints. First though, as was pointed out to me, we haven’t exactly been living in a present-truth world for the last few decades, have we? Have we all…
Please support Chris Packham’s e-petition
Chris Packham’s e-petition calling for a pause in killing of rapidly declining wader species is cantering along again. Before Christmas it passed 17,000 signatures and yesterday it passed both 18,000 and 19,000 signatures. If you haven’t yet signed then maybe your signature will help move it past 20,000 signatures today. Please sign here. And then…
Last and first
The last species of bird I saw in 2016 was Wigeon (although I heard a Coot call a bit later). I was ultimately glad that I went out for a walk instead of sitting in front of a rather dull TV and a rather sparkling log fire – getting out is always worth it even…
This blog in 2017
What does this blog have in store for 2017? an important part of Brexit discussions will be how and whether public money continues to be handed out to land managers – it’s our money and the public deserves a better return for its massive investment the best wildlife sites, on land and at sea, need…
Martin Warren OBE
Dr Martin Warren OBE! One brilliant entomologist? Our butterfly expert? Many congratulations to Martin! What a nice way to end 2016.
Highlights from 2016
These are just a few image highlights from the pages of this blog from 2016. This Hoatzin image is by Oscar Dewhurst – 6 November One of Ralph’s best cartoons of the year – 21 May One of my favourite birds of the year: This was nice: And this: I saw a White-tailed…