Defra – dire, egregious, failing, risible and adrift.

It’s more than 18 months since the current ministers walked confidently into Defra’s headquarters at Nobel House after the May 2010 General Election (with one change of Lord in the interim).  I’m glad that we have not seen too much chopping and changing of ministers under the Cameron (Clegg) coalition government, as that rarely leads…

Dogger Bank – I wonder what is happening

This blog has raised the plight of the Dogger Bank in the past.  That started with a Defra announcement of the listing of the UK portion of the Dogger Bank as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive a couple of months ago. Regular readers may recall that after the proud announcement…

Sparing the Dogger Bank

This blog brings together information and ideas from several previous blogs. A long time ago, in another life, I wrote this blog about data loggers and kittiwakes heading from Bempton cliffs to the Dogger Bank.  It’s a long way to go if you are a little kittiwake – 150km of sea to cross to get…

I’ll be Doggered now I know a bit…

Many thanks to Amanda in the Defra Press Office for the following answers to my questions: Does the Dogger Bank have any extra protection already? On 26th August Dogger Bank was put forward to the European Commission to be selected as a candidate Special Area of Conservation. Under Article 6(2) of the Habitats Directive there…