Dr James Robinson, RSPB Chief Operating Officer, said: “Dropping 67 amendments to the Planning Bill at the eleventh hour isn’t just poor process, it’s legislative chaos. There’s no time for proper scrutiny, no clarity on the cumulative impact, and no confidence this is about good planning rather than political optics. It looks like a cynical…
Category: THE WILDLIFE NGOs – RSPB, Wildlife Trusts Wild Justice, BSBI etc
Guest blog – How donations to World Land Trust can be Multiplied Six Times by Andy Langley
Andy Langley is a wildlife enthusiast, who for the last seven years has completed an annual sponsored birdwatch to raise money for World Land Trust (WLT). Each year, money raised up to £5,000 is matched by his employer, Ecclesiastical Insurance (part of the Benefact Group), and multiplied again as part of WLT’s Big Match…
Hen Harrier English reintroduction project closes after eight years of failure
Natural England has admitted (click here) that its badly-judged (click here) Hen Harrier reintroduction project isn’t going anywhere and has pulled the plug. In a blog that tries to make the best of publicly-funded activity through 2018-25, cuts to NE’s budget were given more of the blame than the difficulties that NE had to persuade…
Operation Turtle Dove criticises Turtle Dove reintroduction scheme
Operation Turtle Dove is a collaboration between RSPB, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, Fair to Nature and Natural England (click here) which aims to improve the dire status of Turtle Dove’s in the UK. On its website the four bodies say: Operation Turtle Dove is aware of reports of individuals and groups releasing captive-bred Turtle Doves. Whilst…
BSBI press release – Rare fern rediscovered in iconic Cwm Idwal – more than 150 years after last sighting
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The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) is thrilled to announce the rediscovery of Holly Fern (Polystichum lonchitis) in Cwm Idwal, a glacial cirque in the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia). The fern was found by naturalist, author and mountain leader Jim Langley, more than 150 years after it was last seen in the area. Holly Fern…
RSPB comment on Defra burning announcement and Defra summary of consultation responses
In response to this morning’s announcement by Defra of tighteneing of reguations on vegetation burning on peat soils, Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: “Extending the ban on burning over peat in the English uplands is a hugely positive step forwards towards protecting these precious habitats and reducing carbon emissions. Peatlands are one of nature’s greatest superheroes,…
Guest blog – Taking a stand for marine protection by Chris Corrigan
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Chris Corrigan is CEO of the Sussex Wildlife Trust and has worked in nature conservation for almost 40 years. He spent most of his career with the RSPB, most recently as Director England, but has also worked for BirdWatch Ireland and Butterfly Conservation and is a trustee of the South Georgia Heritage Trust. He is…
Wild Justice wins judicial review against Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
The decision of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) to grant planning permission for an outdoor centre at Moylegrove, Pembrokeshire was deemed unlawful and quashed in a judgment handed down by Justice Eyre yesterday. This was as a result of a legal challenge brought by Wild Justice on which I worked whilst I was…
Canvey Wick: the Essex oasis home to more than 3,200 species
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. Canvey Wick on the Thames Estuary has recorded more than 3,200 species of invertebrates, birds and plants. It was the first brownfield site to be protected specifically for invertebrates and given SSSI status in 2005. Originally the site of a proposed oil refinery before being left abandoned for 30 years, habitat efforts have helped…
Trees for Life press release – Unique Highland Juniper forest given special European status in UK first
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Unique Highland juniper forest given special European status in UK first In a UK-first, a genetically unique juniper forest at Trees for Life’s Dundreggan rewilding estate in the Scottish Highlands has been awarded a special European designation to protect and enhance its globally significant diversity. The 10,000-acre estate in Glemoriston near Loch Ness now joins…