The ‘most Guardian of candidates’ – vote Hen Harrier

On the day after we learned of the ‘disappearance’ of three adult Hen Harriers in an area of Lancashire moorland (with large areas of grouse moor), it is time to send the next government a clear signal that wildlife crime must stop. On this election day you can have another vote, until midnight, for Britain’s…

Done their time

Five parliamentarians who have done their bit for the environment are standing down at this general election. The danger is that they will be overlooked so here’s a very quick mention for them: Joan Walley – chair of the Environmental Audit Committee through, possibly, its most successful period. John Randall – birder who spoke out…

Time to decide – a voter’s guide

It’s a fascinating general election which has been preceded by a tedious and shallow election campaign. None of the political parties, certainly not the ‘Big Two’, come out of the campaign with much credit. It’s been a ‘heads down’ rather than an ‘eyes up’ campaign, with little analysis, little laying out of political philosophy and…

Three Harriers go missing

The RSPB has just disclosed that three adult male Hen Harriers have gone missing from their ‘stronghold’ in the Forest of Bowland over the last three weeks. All three birds had active nests on United Utilities land and all three disappeared away from their nesting sites.  Two of the nests have failed (as the males…

Timing is everything

Yesterday I did the first visit to my first BBS square. I might have done it on Bank Holiday Monday but my plan, based on a favourable forecast, was to see lots of butterflies in the Chilterns on Monday. However, the forecast was an accurate weather forecast rather than a butterfly forecast and the Dukes…