Natural England issued an update on their controversial Hen Harrier brood meddling project on Friday but I’ve only just seen it. They’ve also sent me (and the RSPB) a further update from their legal department because both RSPB and I are taking legal action against this daft project. First, the Natural England blog. As reported…
Tag: Natural England
RSPB acts – good!
The Times reports that RSPB has intervened to brief its BirdLife International partners in France and Spain to warn them of the unpopularity and indeed perhaps the folly of reintroducing Hen Harriers to southern England. The Times is reporting old news, the emails are over a year old and were obtained by the Countryside Alliance…
Jane V. Adams – Clutching at Straws
Jane is a naturalist, photographer and nature writer living in Dorset. Her work has appeared in books, anthologies and blogs for charities such as The Wildlife Trusts and the International Bee Research Association. When she’s not exploring Dorset’s lanes and countryside she can be found lying on her stomach watching insects in her garden. Jane’s…
Why is Natural England so reluctant to disclose a piece of science?
I’ve been asking Natural England and the BTO to send me a copy of a 2018 BTO research report. The BTO say they can’t because NE won’t let them (see my email to BTO, their reply to me and my response to them) and Natural England just say I can’t have it (see here). I…
Response from Natural England on ‘secret’ BTO report
At the same time as I contacted the BTO about a report that they produced for Natural England (see my email to BTO, their reply to me and my response to them) I also asked Natural England for a copy of the said report. It’s a report from 2018, it’s referenced in Natural England guidance…
Guest blog – Imagining the uplands by Ben MacDonald
Ben Macdonald is a conservation writer and television producer. The paperback of his book Rebirding is now available from £8.70 here. Twitter: @Rebirding1 Imagine that you want to upgrade your car. You walk into a showroom. There are three models available – all with various degrees of rust. The showman explains at great length that…
Dear Andy (2)
I emailed the BTO Chief Exec Andy Clements a few days ago (see here) and he replied (see here) and now I’ve replied as follows; Dear Andy Thank you for a rapid response (and your reply will be posted on my blog soon). Since emailing you, but just before your reply arrived, I have been…
Reply from the BTO
I contacted the BTO about a report they produced for Natural England and have had this rapid response from Andy Clements: Dear Mark Thank you for contacting me requesting a copy of the report to Natural England, Kettel, E & Siriwardena, GM 2018. Comparisons of breeding bird population and abundance trends within and outside two…
Press release – Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire moors
Calderdale Council votes to support ban on grouse moor burning Wednesday, 22 July 2020 Calderdale Council has backed a ban on heather burning to save the region’s peat moors from being damaged for grouse shooting. In a motion unanimously passed by the Labour Group on Monday night, councillors agreed that the environmentally-damaging practice, which is…
Licence 19020225, and its 1,156 friends
A little while ago Bob Berzins wrote two guest blogs here Natural England licences; a cover up? Part 1 and Natural England licences; a cover up? Part 2. My precis of these two blogs is as follows: Blog 1: The General Licences for the purpose of nature conservation were withdrawn by Natural England in an…