Guest blog – Sorry Tony, you cannot spin this into a good news story for Natural England 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 – Grassland management (2) by Paul Sterry

Back in July a botanist friend from New Zealand came to stay. Anne, my guest, wanted to visit Hay-on-Wye for the books and to see some floral sights in Wales, so we spent a few days roaming around. Hay’s bookshops did not disappoint but I am not sure I can say the same for the…

A poem – Inglorious Bastards by Jeremy Sabel

England’s uplands are infested By old money and interests vested Lords, Earls, Viscounts and Dukes Morally bankrupt driven grouse shoots But don’t meddle with The rural way of life Swathed in lies Publicly subsidized Cloak and dagger Soaked in blood This traditional slaughter Fusillade and laughter Wildlife murdered Where are our Hen Harriers? Insurmountable barriers…

Guest blog – Grassland management (1) by Paul Sterry

Looking back through the prism of late middle age, I think the truth is I hated school. Not just disliked it, but hated it. My last and worst experience was at Queen Mary’s in Basingstoke, a Grammar School that thought it was a minor Public School. It wasn’t the institutionalised bullying, or the sadistic masters…

Guest blog – Bermuda Petrel by Paul Sterry

Bird Photographer of the Year and the Bermuda Petrel The Cahow (to give it its local name) is Bermuda’s national bird and over the years this exquisite grey Pterodroma petrel has acquired almost mythical status, thanks to its remarkable story. Thought to be extinct for over three centuries, it was rediscovered and then brought back…

Guest blog – Hookpods by Paul Sterry

. Bird Photographer of the Year and Hookpod As naturalists, photographers and conservationists, the Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) team sees firsthand the mounting pressures on bird populations around the World. If bird photography is going to thrive and not become metaphorically speaking a dying art we must all do our bit to reverse…