Guest blog – BTO science by Andy Clements

Dr Andy Clements was trained as a scientist with a PhD in animal behaviour from the University of Wales, and has spent 30 years as a professional nature conservationist. He is currently the Chief Executive of the BTO.   It was great to see science for nature conservation discussed in Mark’s blog last week,  and…

Guest blog – Ashes to ashes – Peter Marren

Like you, I expect, I cannot imagine what the landscape will be like in, say, ten years’ time. My window on the world is in Ramsbury, in the upper valley of the Kennet in Wiltshire. We have long been used to dying trees. Death took all our mature elms long ago, and they have gradually…

Guest Blog – Mollusc of the Glen – by Peter Cosgrove

Peter Cosgrove’s passion for pearl mussels began in 1996. He carried out the first national pearl mussel survey and in one of those wonderful moments of happenstance, submitted his final report which recommended full legal protection during a periodic review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.  It had the desired effect and the law was…

Guest Blog – One year on – Jennifer Avery

Jennifer Avery has recently worked for the RSPB in northwest England and will soon start work for the RSPB in southwest England.  She has been blogging for a year and this blog appeared on her blog in late September. Follow Jennifer on Twitter as @jennifercavery. I’ve always loved wildlife and I was lucky enough to…

Guest Blog – response to Mark Avery by Magnus Linklater

Magnus Linklater is a former editor of The Scotsman and Scottish Editor of The Times. He is trustee of an estate in Perthshire, and a regular commentator on rural affairs.   I knew that taking on the RSPB would be nothing but trouble. But I was not quite prepared for the volume and ferocity of…