You may have noticed that the BBC has compiled a list of new Elizabethans as a celebration of the Diamond Jubilee. 60 men or women who have lived during the Queen’s reign were selected for their contributions to the new Elizabethan age. One of the selected 60 is naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough. If you…
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Buzzards – where next?
Yesterday Defra did a U-turn on their proposals to investigate buzzard control for the benefit of pheasants. It’s not easy for governments to do U-turns, although this one is getting the hang of it, and we should thank Defra Minister, Richard Benyon for his re-think. Thank you! The RSPB did a good job, after being…
Buzzards
Please sign this petitionto persuade Defra to think again if you are already convinced that 375k of your taxes could be better spent than a poorly thought-through study of buzzards and pheasants. How might £375k be better spent?: employ a teaching assistant for 25 years study the impacts of non-native pheasants on native flora and…
A name
There is lots of cow parsley in flower by the roadsides at the moment. As a hopeless botanist – or plant-identifier – I like cow parsley because I usually recognise it and know what it is. Cow Parsley has a variety of other names – like most of our plants, it seems. The nicest, which…
The final curtsey and a dead eagle
If Glenmazeran is indeed Richard Benyon’s place in the Highlands then I’ve just come across an interesting story from there in last year’s book, The Final Curtsey, written by Margaret Rhodes, the Queen’s cousin. Margaret, used to pop up to Glenmazeran for a spot of fishing and shooting as any gel would. On the way…
Buzzards
The news that Defra is going to spend £375,000 on looking at how to reduce buzzard impacts on pheasants shows how deeply this department has now fallen into the hands of the shooting brigade. I have no doubt that buzzards take a few pheasants but why a government department is spending my taxes (and yours,…
Really wild?
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This new magazine is available in WH Smith, all good newsagents and Sainsbury’s (I bought my copy in Wellingborough Sainsbury’s). I bought it because I have a column in it – flick through to page 21 please – but then read it because it’s a really good read about nature at home and abroad. You’ll…
The toad that croaked
Yesterday was an anniversary – I don’t think many people noticed it. Does it matter that a small, bright, shiny toad was last seen on Earth on 15 May 1989 – does extinction matter? The golden toad was only discovered in the Monte Verde cloud forests of Costa Rica in 1966, by herpetologist Jay Savage…
Oh oh!
I went out for a drive last week and saw a couple of red kites. They are fantastic birds aren’t they? If you remember I set myself the target of seeing red kites on 200 days of 2012 – and enjoying the moment each time. I am falling short so far – I’m heading for…
Bits and bits
Good luck to Jonny Rankin and team in seeing as many species as possible today in Norfolk. Looks like it will be a fine day and so my guess of 121 species looks on the low side. I’ll give Jonny and team £1 for every species above 121 that they see – the money goes…