The success of the RSPB’s Hope Farm project gave me a lot of pleasure when I worked for the RSPB and I hope its continued success brightens the life of my successor, the excellent Martin Harper, now and again too. And it still pleases me that bird numbers continue to be so impressive on this…
BLOG POSTS
Is it catching?
I saw a bus in London the other day with an advert for the film Contagion on it. I haven’t seen the film but I have seen the trailer and the striking thing for anyone who loves nature is this: “Character 1: Is there any way you can weaponize the bird flu? Is that what…
38 degrees, conservatism and forestry
38 Degrees has made quite a big impact in its short life. Its praises have been sung by people leaving comments on this site several times and I have suggested that readers of this blog should sign up to some of its campaigns. Let’s do it again now – how about signing up to its…
Top scientist slams government
In his acceptance speech when receiving the RSPB Medal, Professor Sir John Lawton FRS described the coalition government’s proposed ‘dismantling of the planning system‘ as ‘truly terrifying‘ and the ‘backpedalling‘ on climate change in George Osborne’s conference speech as being ‘deeply worrying‘. Sir John, who is an RSPB Vice President, Chair of the Yorkshire Wildlife…
RSPB AGM
Yesterday’s RSPB AGM was, for me, the most relaxed one I have ever attended, as I was there as an RSPB member rather than an RSPB member of staff. And the most difficult question I had to answer was ‘Mark – how are you?’. You do learn a bit by attending these events and keeping…
Francis Maude – misquoted
Francis Maude is widely regarded as the hard man of the Cabinet Office – if you look at the photographs of Cabinet Office Ministers he can’t even manage a proper smile, more of a ‘I’m coming to get your quangos‘ leer. Having said that, Oliver Letwin, who is a cultured gent and so tends to…
Guest blog – Peter Marren
Following his article in The Independent, and the flood of views on the subject that have washed through this blog, I asked Peter Marren whether he would like to comment on the views expressed so far. Here is his response: When you embark on a new venture you feel very alone, so it is…
The environmental content of David Cameron’s Conference speech
“…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………”. Please check against delivery here. And comment here, here, here, here.
Guest post on Friday – Peter Marren
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Peter Marren will be the guest blogger here on Friday – commenting on the discussion that has sprung up here since he dropped a pebble in the wildlife NGO pond with his article in The Indpendent newspaper. And the offer is open to the Chief Executives of any and all of the wildlife NGOs to…
Chancellor mentions environment shock!
George Osborne felt confident enough to say it as he saw it at the Tory party conference yesterday. “Yes, climate change is a man made disaster. Yes, we need international agreement to stop it. Yes, we must have investment in greener energy. And that’s why I gave the go ahead to the world’s first Green…