November was a dismal month for nature in our country – just dismal. This week the Westminster government issued figures showing that farmland birds were at an all time low but didn’t bother to comment on what they might do about it. The Chancellor had a swipe at the environment and announced a review of…
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Farmland birds reach lowest point since records began
The latest (up to 2010) official figures for the UK Farmland Bird Index (and for that for England alone where things are just a tad worse) were published on Tuesday. They show a further decline in numbers of the suite of 19 farmland birds which brings the index to its lowest ever point. Take a…
Book offer – Simon Barnes’s new book
birdwatching with your eyes closed is Simon Barnes’s new book, published by Short Books. It’s an introduction to birdsong and if you are a novice bird-watcher then it will help you to be an expert bird-listener. Simon told me that ‘Learning birdsong really has changed the way I see the world. I’d love to help…
Nature Directives – use them!
The nastiness of George Osborne came out when he mentioned ‘endless social and environmental goals‘ in his Autumn Statement yesterday. George is keener on economic goals – although not so good at reaching them, so perhaps we can see why he doesn’t want any other goals to miss. As predicted in this blog yesterday (just…
Osborne has a go at environment again
George Osborne doesn’t get the environment and he doesn’t seem to like it. These are the most relevant parts of the Coalition Government’s (yes, the LibDems are in there too) thoughts on the Habitats Directive (which was largely written by that ultra-leftie, Stanley Johnson (yes, Boris’s sire)). This passage comes from that part of the…
The blackest government ever…?
This blog has learned that the Chancellor, George Osborne, will announce in the autumn statement today that there will be a review of the Habitat’s Directive’s regulations. This, if true (and we will wait to hear the details today) is the latest sign that this government – including the hapless Liberal Democrats – is prepared…
Guest blog – Ian Coghill, Chair of GWCT
I’m Ian Coghill. Mark very kindly suggested I do a guest spot on his blog. I’m the Chairman of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). Contrary to some possible expectations that this news may engender, I am not rich, I don’t own a grouse moor and the only estate I have regular contact with…
Various
Tomorrow’s blog is a guest blog by the Chair of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Ian Coghill. He is a character and it’s well worth a read. On Thursday this blog is part of a ‘blog tour’ by Simon Barnes’s new book – and there is a reader’s offer to be had. There is…
Wood for the trees?
Yesterday Plantlife published a report on the future of British woodland. Rather than focus primarily on who owns ‘our’ woods Plantlife put a spotlight on woodland management. ‘More trees do not equal more wildlife‘ says Andy Byfield, Plantlife’s Landscape Conservation Manager. ‘From the point of view of our woodland wildlife, it is what we do…
An open letter to Peter Kendall, President of the NFU
Dear Peter As the President of the National Farmers Union you claim to be the ‘voice of farming’ and last week you made a speech where you said that there is no ‘biodiversity crisis’ and government should ‘switch its focus from biodiversity’ to production. Speaking as one of the people who pays for your and…