This is the sixth Defra response to an e-petition attempting to press them into action on wildlife crime and unsustainable upland management associated with grouse shooting. And this is the sixth response in Defra which has failed to admit the scale of the problem of wildlife crime and failed to bring forward any sensible response….
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An evening in Ipswich
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On Wednesday I had the privilege of giving the first Derek Moore Memorial Lecture to a crowd of c130 people in Ipswich. Derek was a mate of mine and a character, and achiever, in the nature conservation world. We miss him, and in particular the Bird Fair is a diminished place each year without catching …
Thought-provoking Findlay Wilde
Did you read this blog by Findlay Wilde? I’ve got my cards. I’m wondering to whom they should be sent…
North York Moors
There are indications that many intensive grouse-shooting estates are undertaking more heather (and in some cases Sphagnum) burning this year because they feel that the Walshaw Moor net is closing in on them. Here are some examples of what heather burning actually looks like from the North York Moors. Does this burning follow the heather…
Blue Planet 2 – programme 3
Coral reefs – you can’t go wrong with coral reefs and I enjoyed this programme more than the two preceding ones. Why was that? I’m really not sure. Manta rays, spawning groupers, another grouper working with an octopus to catch their prey and saddleback clown fish. All terrific. And all potentially to be lost from…
Bitterns up, Corncrakes down
Two species which have been conservation success stories, and ones for which the RSPB has led the species recoveries, have had very different recent fates. Bitterns continue to go up in numbers (yes, they’re booming!) and Corncrakes are declining. In 1997 there were just 11 male Bitterns making their booming calls from reedbeds in the…
A week today
Prince Charles, van Cutsem and the forests
Much though my gossippy side would love a juicy scandal over the monarchy, grouse moor owners and huge amounts of money I can’t get too het up over the revelations over Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall investing a small amount of his pile of money in rainforest carbon. Having once been on Today to account…
Government in a mess – not news
Priti Patel must be for the chop – surely? And under other circumstances then no-one would find such a senior role in Cabinet for the bright buffoon Boris – surely? Liam Fox is an embarrassment. David Davis is struggling in his role – but then who wouldn’t? All are Brexiteers by the way. And Michael…
Not at all cool at Coul
You read about this proposed development here back in August 2016 but things are moving on. Media release from Buglife, Plantlife, Marine Conservation Society, Butterfly Conservation, RSPB and Scottish Wildlife Trust. Sutherland golf course proposals more environmentally damaging than Trump’s Aberdeenshire course warn conservationists Unique Coul Links would be destroyed An alliance…