I’m glad that Forest Holidays have decided not to appeal the planning authoritiy’s decision not to permit a major habitat-destroying development in Fineshade Wood. But rumours are that a revised application is heading our way. It’s a pity that Forest Enterprise have not learned their lesson on this one, given that there is much to…
Category: THE STATUTORY AGENCIES: NE, EA, FE etc
When will Natural England come clean on their (ie our) Hen Harrier study
Natural England has been carrying out a Hen Harrier study with radio-tagged and satellite-tagged Hen Harriers for years and years (since 2002 in fact). It formed part of the basis for the excellent NE report (A Future for Hen Harriers in England? which was published under a Labour government in 2008). Natural England has been…
Natural England opens consultation on controversial measure on rainy Bank Holiday Monday
Natural England would like your views on moving Water Voles for development purposes. This damn nature sure gets in the way, doesn’t it?
A better year for Hen Harriers in England – not a good year
The ‘government report’ mentioned in yesterday’s awful Telegraph misconstruction of a story has turned, as I said it would, into a Natural England press release (copied below)(Telegraph fail). And the criticism of the RSPB has turned into … well … nothing (Telegraph fail). It’s interesting that two of the successful nests are on FC land…
FoI Natural England
Comments Off on FoI Natural England
Dear Natural England A few things for your attention please. 1. Yesterday I submitted an FoI request to you asking for all the records of, and documents related to, NE Board discussions on SSSI, SPA and SAC designation programmes, ‘gate zero’ and changes in strategy and approach. I look forward to seeing them soon or…
Henry, true grit and SuNH
Henry looks puzzled. And well might he be puzzled. Red Grouse shooting is often described as the shooting of ‘wild’ game – and it is certainly true that grouse, unlike pheasants, are not reared and released to bump up the numbers for shooting. However, a grouse moor is about as natural as a wheat field…
Dear Natural England
Dear Natural England This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations. Please supply, in electronic format, the following extracts from Paper ref: NELG/S/07/4, Title: Designations Programme: Process to establish Gate Zero’, Sponsor: Dr Tim Hill, Chief Scientist, which was Item 4 on the meeting of the Natural England…
Natural England says something, again, about Hen Harriers
In a statement on the parlous GOV.UK website, Natural England commented on the loss of a fifth male Hen Harrier from an English nest this summer. Rob Cooke, Natural England’s Director of Terrestrial Biodiversity said: The sudden loss of so many birds is of great concern and something that England’s fragile breeding hen harrier population…
Natural England bleats
Natural England roused itself from slumber yesterday, perhaps after reading this blog (you never know – they do, you know!), and uttered a few weak words on the disappearance of a male Hen Harrier from Geltsdale in Cumbria. It’s good to know that Natural England is ‘very concerned’ about the state of a species on…
Forest Holidays – in case you missed it
Do you remember the case of Fineshade Wood (see here, here and here for example)? Back on 17 March Rupert de Mauley was answering questions in the House of Lords on the subject. Note the fact that Forest Holidays ‘is unlikely to be able to progress a site if it does not have the full…