Guest blog – Down the Pub by Ben Hoare

Ben lives in Somerset and was Features Editor of BBC Wildlife magazine from 2008 to 2018. Now he is a freelance wildlife journalist, editor and children’s author, but his daughters just call him the word policeman. He is the only Guardian reader in the village. Twitter: @benhoarewild With Super Saturday looming, pubs are on many…

Guest blog – The Great Divide by Dominic Woodfield

Dominic Woodfield is the Managing Director of Bioscan, a long established and well respected consultancy specialising in applied ecology. He is a life-long birder, a specialist in botany, habitat restoration and creation and in protected fauna including bats, herpetofauna and other species. He is also a highly experienced practitioner in Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations…

Guest blog – Swift Awareness Week 2020 by Mike Priaulx

Mike Priaulx is a sustainable buildings consultant who founded the Islington Swifts Group in 2016. Working with the Council, residents and local organisations, there are now more than 200 new nesting spaces for swifts in the borough. His twitter handle: @islingt_swifts Why do we need Swift Awareness Week? There are many other similarly endangered species…

Jane V. Adams – Stag Beetles

Jane is a naturalist, photographer and nature writer living in Dorset. Her work has appeared in books, anthologies and blogs for charities such as The Wildlife Trusts and the International Bee Research Association. When she’s not exploring Dorset’s lanes and countryside she can be found lying on her stomach watching insects in her garden. Jane’s…

Guest blog – I wish I had swatted it by Jonathan Wallace

After studying zoology at university Jonathan was involved in ornithological research and conservation for a number of years in France, Scotland and West Africa.  Subsequently he has spent most of his career as an environmental consultant, assisting industry in managing its environmental impacts.  Wildlife, particularly insects, remain his first love however and he is a…

Guest blog – Afterwards… by Louise Bacon

I used to be a biochemist studying human immune system malfunction whilst being a part-time naturalist and conservationist. Then I converted to being an environmental data geek, which is what I do part of the time in a vague attempt to pay the bills. I have been a birder since childhood, and am now the…

Guest blog – No Further Action by Anonymous

This account is by a raptor worker who witnessed the illegal shooting of a Hen Harrier near Bowland Knotts in October 2019 within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Understandably, he wishes to remain anonymous although his identity is known to the police, the RSPB, myself and a few others. NO FURTHER…