Kids stuff?

A couple of weeks ago Stephen Moss wrote a guest blog here about the National Trust report, Natural Childhood,  (which he wrote) which discusses the lack of connection between children and nature.  Did you read the full report – it’s well worth it if you didn’t and it is quite short. Now the National Trust…

Are you going out looking for nature this weekend?

Last weekend was a bit of a disappointment nature-wise so I am experiencing nature-deficit grumpiness.  Most of my nature watching is within 10 miles of where I live but an occasional trip further afield adds variety now and again. Living as far from the coast, almost, as it is possible to be, a trip east…

Love ’em or hate ’em

Yesterday I launched a new poll – or actually two of them – on this website through my (free) monthly newsblast. These two polls give you the opportunity to vote for your favourite and least favourite UK nature conservation organisation. Are wildlife NGOs like Marmite – you either love ’em or hate ’em? We’ll see….

NPPF

I’ve only had a very quick look at the government’s planning policy that was unveiled yesterday.  It’s not my area of expertise and I would have to be led by others as to its overall impact. But I find it interesting to note that everyone seems to be claiming that they ‘won’ – which is…

Proud of…?

A week ago a poll emerged which showed that the countryside is top of the list for what makes us proud to be British. Tomorrow the government will unveil its conclusions on the future of the planning system in England and it seems that the presumption in favour of ‘sustainable’ development will remain.  This pleases…

NIAs again

Nature is everywhere, it’s all around us and it is in trouble in many places around us.  When government was looking for areas to qualify as Nature Improvement Areas it had plenty of places from which to choose – 76 proposals came forward for the £7.5m funding that was available for just 12 sites. Those…

Habs Regs Review

Defra is carrying out a review of the regulations that implement the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. They’d like to hear from you at HDimplementationreview@defra.gsi.gov.uk . I’m glad to say that they have already heard from a large group of wildlife NGOs who have submitted their views on the nature directives – good for them!…

An everyday story of country folk

Last week, a scene in a long-running play was acted to a conclusion.  The play is a bit of a ‘whodunnit’ with heroes and villains – but since we haven’t yet seen the ending there is time for villains to repent.  Sometimes it’s difficult to know on which side some people are until the final…