Received yesterday (see here): Good afternoon Mr Avery Many thanks for your enquiry. In terms of the `culling of lesser Black-backed Gull in the Bowland Fells SSSI this year`, there is an ongoing investigation taking place so we cannot comment further until our investigations are concluded. Thank you once again for your enquiry….
Category: THE STATUTORY AGENCIES: NE, EA, FE etc
Response from NE – Bowland Gull Cull 3
Well! I suppose I might accept their answer to the first question – I don’t want adversely to affect the course of justice, do I? But either NE have or haven’t given a consent… As far as the second answer is concerned (in the course of completion) – I don’t really believe…
Dear Natural England
Dear Natural England I’m planning to do some walking over grouse moors during the grouse shooting season and I came across your very useful website as I was trying to plan my trips. Living in Northamptonshire, my nearest grouse moors are in the Peak District National Park so that’s where I started my search. Your…
Those gulls again (Bowland Gull Cull 2)
The revelation towards the end of Friday afternoon that nesting Lesser Black-backed Gulls were being killed, perhaps under licence from Natural England, in the Forest of Bowland AONB has attracted a lot of comment on social media over the weekend. Natural England responded very quickly to say that they were investigating matters. The Forest…
Denton Wood – here’s another FC mess up!
I bet you don’t know much about Denton Wood do you? Neither did I until very recently even though it’s only about 20 minutes drive from my house. It’s an area of Ancient Woodland which has, like many in this area, conifers planted in it in the past, but many such woods are recovering as…
Election comment 4 – Fineshade wood
Comments Off on Election comment 4 – Fineshade wood
Local politicians have generally been very supportive of the local and national opposition to the plans to wreck Fineshade Wood by building holiday chalets on this wildlife-rich site (for previous blogs see: Dear Mr Pursglove, 6 May 2016; Fineshade Wood should be an SSSI, 15 April 2016; Fineshade Wood should be an SSSI, 28 March…
Poor show from National Parks
The Campaign for National Parks has published its ‘manifesto‘ – which is actually a small begging letter – for the general election. It’s a disappointing list. The CNP wants: Strengthening national planning protections for the National Parks Protecting the funding currently committed to the National Parks for the next five years so they can be…
Natural England – let’s be fair
I’m told that I should read the 18 January issue of Country Life for a more positive insight into the Chair of Natural England’s views (by one of his loyal staff). Well I’m keen to have a look but it may take some time as Country Life doesn’t squeeze through my letterbox on a regular…
What would Mick Carroll have said?
Last week the RSPB announced that a Hen Harrier called Carroll, named after the raptor worker Mick Carroll, had been found dead in late January – the bird died of parasites but the post mortem showed that it had also been shot (two pellets were in its body in healed wounds). That was late January….
Questions 2
As well as Natural England, the Hawk and Owl Trust also has questions to answer over the non-publication of the details of Rowan’s death – Rowan was shot! Why would a wildlife charity, indeed, a raptor charity, which had funded the tagging of a young Hen Harrier, want the details of his death to be…