Although this is described as the 2nd edition of the book of 1993 it is much, much more than just a revamp. This edition includes data from the recent atlassing frenzy and so it is pretty much up to date (and was published in 2012). Buckinghamshire is one of those mysterious counties as far as…
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Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Did you hear Nigel Lawson on the Today programme?
Gloucestershire
I gave a talk in Cheltenham on Monday evening and another in Gloucester on Tuesday evening – so I’ve been largely in Gloucestershire for a while. Here are a few rather random thoughts: It’s very wet out there! When I head back to Cheltenham in two and a half weeks time I’d be surprised if…
That flame should be fizzling out
Natural England are in a bit of a mess over the uplands – you might say they have been bogged down. NE had to dump their vision for the uplands of England because landowners – perhaps including their Minister at the time (Richard Benyon) – didn’t like it. They went back to basics and looked…
Water flows downhill
The ‘Ban the Burn’ group is having a demonstration outside the head offices of Natural England tomorrow morning as NE staff arrive at work. It’s not only lowland flat places that suffer flooding – Hebden Bridge has had more than its fair share over recent years. Many residents there feel that poor management on the…
Let’s have another warm summer please
Farmland butterflies had a good year in 2013 – benefiting from the best summer weather for seven years. I bet you noticed more butterflies in your garden – I certainly did – and my (our?) garden observations were reflected in a much better year for butterflies across the fields of farmland Britain. Common Blue, Small…
Nice one Squire!
A little while after 1430 this afternoon, John Squire Armitage’s epetition on licensing of grouse moors passed 10,000 signatures. This means that Defra will have to write a response to it. John is to be congratulated on this highly successful e-petition – few do this well. This e-petition is open for another 160 hours or…
A question for Natural England
‘Our studies of the movements of satellite tagged birds are continuing, as they are yielding much useful information on the movements, habitat use, and ecology of Hen Harriers. But they are also raising questions about their ultimate fate. We have, for instance, been looking into the disappearance of six Hen Harriers at an autumn roost…
Proof of the book
I am going through the proofs of A Message from Martha. I’m not very good at checking proofs – not of things I wrote – because I let the words on the page take me back to the ideas and the places and the species about which I was writing. Surely all writers are like…
In the words of the song…
…I can see clearly now the rain has gone! I can see all obstacles in my way… We wish Owen Paterson clear vision for the months ahead. 1. Climate change is real 2. Fixing bovine tb cannot be done by a cull of badgers alone 3. Culling badgers is quite likely to increase the…