Bits, some bits

went to London on the train from Peterborough on Thursday and saw 3 cuckoos got a reply from NE re Walshaw Moor – will blog later this week spent ages on Friday evening looking at a lone wader in vegetation and gloomy light wondering whether it was a Temminck stint – and it wasn’t, it…

Burning

This post is about the announcement, long-awaited announcement, overdue announcement, that DEFRA made on Friday about burning on blanket bogs. I’ll tell you what I think in the hope that it influences what you think. I’ve read the announcement, and thought about it, and that probably helps. 1. The announcement is good news The announcement…

RSPB’s busy day (1)

Today the RSPB issued two press releases, one on burning in the uplands, the other on the annual Birdcrime report. It’s a bit unusual for two press releases to come out on the same day but today is the start of the burning season in the uplands and so that timing makes complete sense. I…

An NE staff member writes…

The following is a lightly edited version of an email I recently received from someone whose identity I know, and who I know to be a NE employee.  Understandably their identity is not revealed here. The editing I have done is mostly to remove clues as to their identity. I work for NE.  I’m writing…

Guest blog – Whither Now for State Nature Conservation? by Dominic Woodfield

Dominic Woodfield is the Managing Director of Bioscan, a long established and well respected consultancy specialising in applied ecology. He is a life-long birder, a specialist in botany, habitat restoration and creation and in protected fauna including bats, herpetofauna and other species. He is also a highly experienced practitioner in Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats…