Defra doesn’t have a clue

Defra doesn’t have a clue about who the Secretary of State has met recently. That’s the most charitable interpretation of their behaviour. In March this year (Defra have the date wrong in their response) I asked Defra the following questions: What meetings has Michael Gove had with Ian Coghill (GWCT) and/or The Ninth Marquess of…

Letter to my MP

Dear Mr Pursglove It has been some time since I wrote to you during which time the Conservative-run Northants County Council has basically gone bust, and the Conservative government has made a terrible mess of Brexit.  But I write to let you know that on 22 September I will be travelling down to Hyde Park…

Icelandic Ravens

I met this Raven in Iceland.  It seemed to have bought itself a kebab and was eating it on the top of this rock.  It was so engrossed that it let me get very close. Well, maybe it was quite a tame Raven – it was right in the centre of Reykjavik with people passing…

Three more gone – Defra’s plan is wholly inadequate.

Hen Harrier, Hilma.  Photo: Steve Downing. Hen Harrier, Octavia.  Photo: Steve Downing Hen Harrier, Heulwen.  Photo: Guy Anderson. Three more young Hen Harriers have disappeared  – all in areas of driven grouse shooting.  See the RSPB Skydancer blog for details. Rory Stewart’s Hen Harrier Inaction Plan is working very, very badly – just as many…

RSPB’s Nature of Scotland awards

These are the shortlists for this year’s categories.  Lots of good contenders but I wish Ruth Tingay the best of luck in the political advocate category.  Given the judging panel, I would rate her odds of winning at around 9/4. We will learn the identities of the winners on the 22nd of November at a…