You can find an article by me in the current edition of British Wildlife – it’s about farming and doesn’t mention Peter Kendall. It does mention farmer-bashing, Defra Ministers, the Farmland Bird Index and asking for our money back – but that’s enough clues, you will have to read the article to fill in the…
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Red kites
I see red kites quite often over my garden in east Northants now – practically every day if the weather is OK and I spend enough time looking. I saw one as I was on my way to the Post Office on Tuesday, and on both Tuesday and Wednesday, on trips to London, I saw…
You are directly affected, but Defra has forgotten you
Defra has started a consultation on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy – don’t panic, you have until 5 March to respond. But Defra only wants views from those who may be affected by these proposals. And that appears to mean English farmers, environmental groups, rural communities, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties. But there…
Just like Cleopatra’s nose?
It was a dreary morning and I felt a bit grumpy as I made my way past Birmingham on the M42 heading south. It was rainy and drizzly and the traffic was difficult. I was surprised to see snow on the Malverns to my right and not at all surprised that I could hardly make…
Costs and benefits in Wonderland
I am still waiting for a copy of the letters that my MP, Louise Mensch, should by now have sent to the Treasury and Defra asking for the evidence from HMT that the Habitats Regulations are a brake on the UK economy (and Defra’s response to the fact that I intend to make a complaint…
Sunday bits and pieces
I think I delivered some quite thoughtful blogs to you this week, even if I say it myself (which I just have), and all of them attracted great comments from you readers – for which many thanks. I get a lot from your comments and I am certain that it is the mixture of blog…
Boffins – for or against?
Italy finally persuaded Berlusconi to sling his hook and instead brought in a technocratic government of experts. With wildlife in a sorry state in the UK would you like to see some Ministers in charge of the natural environment who know what they are talking about? Well, the fact is, that you already have them…
Badgers – slow Paice
On Wednesday, Defra announced their next slow pace towards a large amount of badger-bothering. What they said wasn’t very much and wasn’t very clear. It seems that some time in the autumn, that’s autumn 2012, there will be a six-week trial of farmer-led badger killing in two ‘pilot’ areas of southwest England which are yet…
Gonshaw, gone for sure.
Matthew Gonshaw is in prison again for stealing birds’ eggs. On Tuesday he was convicted of stealing and possessing eggs which included those of golden eagles, ospreys and avocets. Over 700 eggs were found in his east London home in Bow. This is the fourth time that Gonshaw has been jailed for similar offences. Rather…
Jim Paice doesn’t make stewardship pledge to taxpayers
The Defra Agriculture Minister James Paice told his fellow farmers that he wanted them to be able to opt out of their current agri-environment agreements if CAP reform changed the rules. This seems fair enough to me. I can’t quickly find his words on the Defra website but the Farmers Weekly report them here. Mr…