Bird flu – some comparisons between 2021 and 2022

This year and last: this time last year, from the end of July to the beginning of October, there were hardly any positive cases of bird flu in wild birds recorded by the government surveillance scheme. In 10 full weeks there were only three weeks with positive cases, though these were all Great Skuas, and…

Press release – Trees for Life

UK and Scottish Governments recommend vast Affric Highlands rewilding project for global UN flagship status Britain’s largest rewilding initiative has been earmarked by the UK and Scottish Governments as a globally-prestigious showcase project to help nature, people and climate, as the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ecosystem Restoration steps up action to halt climate breakdown…

Sunday book review – Wild Fell by Lee Schofield

This is a book about rewilding and joins a growing list of good books on the subject which are essential reading for all those engaged in present-day UK nature conservation (Feral, Wilding (my book of the year for 2018), Rebirding (one of my books of the year for 2019), Regeneration (one of my books of…

Brood meddling update

1. Legal challenge: there is a saying that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ and I’m beginning to feel that quite strongly. The RSPB and I, separately, were granted the right to appeal the original judgment over the lawfulness of brood-meddling of Hen Harrier nests in autumn 2019 – yes, 2019. Our appeal was scheduled for…

Fair Game Fair

Yesterday I went to the Game Fair to chat to Andrew Gilruth of the GWCT in front of a fairly full audience in the Carter Jonas marquee. I’ve been going to the Game Fair for years, my first was over 30 years ago and I’ve never turned down an invitation to attend. A couple of…

Sunday book review – Moorland Matters by Ian Coghill

I enjoyed reading this book very much. It immediately gets into my list of books of the year although I’d be surprised if it gets to the top of that shortlist, but you never know. I enjoyed it for three main reasons. First, it is a good read, clearly expressed and argued with some passion…

Sunday book review – Lakeland Wild by Jim Crumley

I have come late to the works of Jim Crumley as this is the first of his books I have read. It’s wonderful – I have some catching up to do. This is a book about the Lake District, Crumley’s first venture south of Hadrian’s Wall, I gather. Well, he’s very welcome. Come back again…

Press release – Earth Optimism event, 26 March – 4 April

Conservation and sustainability experts to highlight the need for optimism in an online celebratory festival. Celebrity speakers, leading conservationists and youth leaders are coming together to deliver stories of hope for our natural world in a free, open-to-all virtual event running from the 26 March to 4 April 2021. Led by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative,…