Craig Bennet of the Wildlife Trusts said; We are preparing to take legal action unless the Government can prove it acted lawfully. The Government refused a request for emergency authorisation in 2018 and we want to know what’s changed. Where’s the new evidence that it’s ok to use this extremely harmful pesticide? Using neonicotinoids not…
Tag: Natural England
Hen Harrier brood meddling on trial (5)
Comments Off on Hen Harrier brood meddling on trial (5)
Today we go back to the online Court of Appeal. It’s inappropriate to comment on how yesterday went but at times it was quite gripping. Our and the RSPB’s appeal is being heard by Lord Justice Newey, Lord Justice Phillips and Lord Justice Underhill. I’m represented by David Wolfe QC, the RSPB by David Forsdick…
Hen Harrier brood meddling on trial (4)
Today we go to court – to the Court of Appeal – although I won’t actually be going anywhere. I’ll be facing the same computer screen at which I spend a lot of my time. I had better have a shave and put on some clothes before then although video cameras will be off. Both…
Interesting and important paper
Peatlands cover <3% of the world’s land surface but account for >33% of soil carbon – that’s a fact with which to amaze your dinner guests (when you are allowed to have them again). This paper reviews studies of the impacts of road and track building through peatlands – this sort of thing: see here,…
Hen Harrier brood meddling on trial (3)
Assessing the success or failure of brood meddling for Hen Harriers cannot adequately be measured by looking at survival of chicks in captivity even if this were to be compared with correctly comparable nests in the wild. How about post-release survival too? There are plenty of potential reasons why captive-reared chicks might fail to survive…
Hen Harrier brood meddling on trial (2)
Comments Off on Hen Harrier brood meddling on trial (2)
The investigation of brood meddling of Hen Harriers which Natural England has licensed has resulted in 14 chicks being taken into captivity and 13 of them being released into the wild again. That sounds quite good, but how would we assess how good it is? Obviously, we can’t simply compare the number of captive-reared chicks…
Hen Harrier brood meddling on trial (1)
On Wednesday and Thursday this week, three Court of Appeal judges will hear appeals from myself and the RSPB on the subject of Natural England’s controversial licensing of brood meddling of Hen Harriers. The three judges will be considering the legal point of whether Justice Lang was right to dismiss our judicial reviews on this…
Cotswold Water Park SSSI
Natural England recently announced that the 177 lakes of the Cotswold Water Park have been ‘granted’ SSSI status, although this decision is out to the standard consultation with owners, occupiers and other notified parties. This must be good news because it is a very rare event that new areas are protected. It’s worth reading the…
Guest blog by Celtic Reptile and Amphibian
Celtic Reptile & Amphibian is an organisation which focusses on ex-situ conservation of UK and European native herps, through captive breeding. Twitter @CelticReptile See more here. Harvey Tweats is one Co-director of Celtic Reptile & Amphibian and focusses on ecology and species restoration. He is a longstanding rewilder and widescale nature restoration advocate, inspired by…
Hen Harriers and moorland management
The week after next may see a flurry of activity on the future of driven grouse shooting and Hen Harrier conservation. On Monday 25 January we may see a Westminster Hall debate on driven grouse shooting (following one on trespass) and then on Tuesday and Wednesday 26 and 27 January the much delayed appeal of…