We are 18,900 signatures ahead

The supporters of a ban on driven grouse shooting, are now 18,900 signatures ahead of the forces of conservatism who wish this unsustainable hobby of shooting birds for fun and profit to continue. But it’s not quite as simple as that, as there are three e-petitions including Ed Hutchings’s e-petition, supported by the RSPB, which…

Guest blog – An end to Peak pessimism by Alex Lees

Alex Lees is a lecturer in biodiversity at Manchester Metropolitan University and lives in the Peak District. Twitter: @Alexander_Lees             Towards a wilder future – an end to Peak pessimism? Story 1. Nearly three decades ago I visited mid Wales on a family holiday. It was a successful quest for…

George Monbiot backing the ban on driven grouse shooting

George Monbiot’s Twitter account, @GeorgeMonbiot, is echoing the feelings of many readers of this blog when he comes out strongly in support of a ban on driven grouse shooting.   And as a result of widespread support after Fred the eagle took to the seas, some Twitter activity by Chris Packham and George Monbiot’s intervention,…

Sustainable dilemmas (6) – more milk

My milk comes from a milkman (or milkperson) and arrives on my doorstep.  But it comes from cows before then. Which cows? When my house was built in 1899 I imagine there were milk deliveries (were there?) but of a very different nature. I imagine that the distance between my house and the cow that…

Tim Melling – Little Forktail

Forktails are a family of birds native to SE Asia that inhabit rivers and streams.  I have seen several different species (always a treat to see) but the Little Forktail surprised me by being really tiny.  Also it does not have the exaggeratedly forked tail that the others have.  In fact its scientific name Enicurus…