The GWCT describes itself thus: ‘The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is the leading UK charity conducting scientific research to enhance the British countryside for public benefit’. Not, you note as ‘very good’ or ‘one of the leading’ or ‘has a distinguished record’ but ‘the leading’. That’s blowing one’s own trumpet quite loudly. I only…
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Guest blog – BTO science by Andy Clements
Dr Andy Clements was trained as a scientist with a PhD in animal behaviour from the University of Wales, and has spent 30 years as a professional nature conservationist. He is currently the Chief Executive of the BTO. It was great to see science for nature conservation discussed in Mark’s blog last week, and…
The two, or three, cultures
I had a great time at the New Networks for Nature meeting at Stamford on Thursday and Friday. This was partly because it blended art and science in a novel and stimulating way. Where else, in the space of less than 24 hours would you be able to hear about their work from the lips…
Ralph Underhill cartoon
It’s always nice to hear from you…
I received this letter by email a little while ago. I thought I’d share it with you, without commenting on it (except I couldn’t resist adding a photo (or three) of a magnificent sea eagle (or sea eagles)). Dear Mr. Avery I have never written to you before but have heard a great deal…
Whose science counts? Don’t droop your ‘h’s!
I remember attending a Game Fair, in fact it was the last one in 2011 (rained off this year) when in the space of two days I heard people say that we British have the ‘best farmers in the world’, the ‘best foresters in the world’ and the’ best shooters in the world’ – and…
Book review – Birds in a Cage by Derek Niemann
I liked this book. Birds in a Cage is the story of four British prisoners of war, Second Lieutenant Peter Conder, Second Lieutenant John Buxton, Second Lieutenant George Waterston and Squadron Leader John Barrett, who, after WWII, went on to influence nature conservation practice and policy. It’s a remarkable tale which is beautifully told. On…
Wild Travel
The latest edition of the 6-times-a-year Wild Travel is out now, with my column explaining how you and other animals can get through the winter. But after reminding myself of what I wrote I always enjoy thumbing through the fantastic images and interesting words of the rest of the magazine. There is a feature on…
BASC and Countryside Alliance – the chocolate scare
You may remember that the Food Standards Agency recently updated its advice on eating game shot with lead. And you may remember that BASC (see link) and the Countryside Alliance (see link) trotted out some outrageous nonsense about there being more lead in chocolate than in the meat of game that had been shot with…
Waging war
Today is Remembrance Sunday and this year it falls on the 11th day of the 11th month. The Second World War was the deadliest conflict in human history but I was surprised to learn that the First World War was ‘only’ the sixth deadliest. Are you wearing a poppy? It’s interesting that we use a…