Rory Stewart is a new Defra minister and everyone says that he seems his own man and a bright guy. Certainly, he looks like he is a rather different kettle of fish from recent Defra ministers. So I thought that it would be worth the following gambit on Twitter: @markavery: Minister, if I send u…
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LUSH bath-bomb the criminals
This Hen Harrier bath bomb goes on sale today in Lush stores around the country – what fun. Named Skydancer – far from the madding guns, this liquorice-scented bath bomb will ‘disappear’ in your bath but fill it with a lovely aroma. Just add water (not gamekeeper). Remember that five male Hen Harriers disappeared from…
Henry is puzzled
Henry is confused – but then, he only has the brain of a bird. The National Trust sometimes describes itself as ‘one of Europe’s leading nature conservation organisations’ but sometimes it seems to be lurking at the rear rather than leading anything. It’s puzzling for we National Trust members not just for a bird-brained Hen…
A lie can travel…
A Lie Can Travel Halfway Around the World While the Truth Is Putting On Its Shoes You will have noticed, if an avid reader of this blog, that I wasn’t impressed by the Daily Telegraph error-strewn article about Hen Harriers earlier in the week (see here, here and here). And it was error-strewn. But anyone…
Chris Packham talking naturally to Charlie Moores
You’ll enjoy listening to this podcast recorded on Monday when a small gang of us visited Chris Packham in the New Forest. Chris talks to Charlie Moores about Hen Harriers and Hen Harrier Day, Cecil the Lion, hatred and deep loathing, the state of wildlife NGOs, the BTO, looking at butterflies and what the future…
The two successful Northumberland Hen Harrier nests
Following the nonsense in The Telegraph and the correction to the misinformation in the Guardian yesterday, it is good to see a press release from the Northumberland Hen Harrier Protection Partnership with information about the two successful nests of Hen Harriers that have nested on FC land this year. First, note that this partnership involves…
M&S find a reason not to sell grouse this year – good!
Under a photograph of heather, but no grouse, M&S state that they won’t be selling grouse in their stores this year but they are selling a range of other game from October onwards. M&S claim that they have made lots of progress in identifying estates where raptors have ‘high’ (surely they mean ‘absolute’ – this…
Ban driven grouse shooting e-petition reaches 10,000 signs
That was quick! Last year we reached the 10,000 signatures milestone on 31 July – after 65 days. This year, the milestone was reached on 5 August – on Day 15. More than four times quicker! Thank you to everyone who has signed – all 9,999 of you. Thank you to all who have promoted…
Closer and closer to the Goyt Valley
Comments Off on Closer and closer to the Goyt Valley
Henry has been flying around now for months and months. He started his journey around the country after the BAWC conference in Buxton in late March and is now, here, almost back to where he started. He’s looking forward to meeting people at Hen Harrier Eve on Saturday evening (ticket sales have closed) and then…
It gets worse, or better, depending which side you are on…
Read this piece in the Guardian by Karl Mathieson. The YFTB press release: The government figures show that there were 12 hen harrier nests in England this year of which 6 succeeded and 6 failed. All 6 of the failures were on RSPB controlled land in Bowland and Geltsdale. All 6 of the successful nests…