Arthur, a Hen Harrier tagged this summer as a nestling in the Peak District has disappeared in North Yorkshire says RSPB (although this is, slightly confusingly (it confused me), a repeat of a previous press release). The bird, named Arthur, hatched from a nest in the Peak District the summer of 2018. This was the…
Tag: Natural England
How many would you think?
I care deeply about the performance of Natural England – the government agency which is supposed to act in nature’s interests. That’s why I am taking a judicial review against their decision to license brood meddling (see here – we had two days in court last week but we need another day and we are…
Waitrose needs to get to an answer quickly, now
I have had the following further holding reply from Waitrose over the inaccurate health warning on their game meat. Thank you for your patience Dr Avery. Thank you for your recent email regarding our on pack advice about the consumption of shot game for certain groups of customers. Your comments about our current statement have…
Peter Melchett remembered
I attended a lovely memorial event for Peter Melchett this morning after two days in the Royal Courts of Justice battling against Natural England’s brood meddling licensing decision (a third day is needed – we don’t know when that will be yet (see short account in today’s Times, page 23)). I learned some new things…
Smoke and mirrors from Defra/NE
This post exposes the worthlessness of Defra’s/NE’s formal agreements with grouse moor managers in the matter of burning of vegetation of blanket bogs. Introduction: Grouse moor managers want to burn our uplands to blazes in order to maximise the habitat quality for Red Grouse – the shooting of which can be sold at high prices…
A response from NE
Here is the link to the NE Enquiry Service. On the face of it, it looks like I may have been misinformed, or, in other words, I was wrong. But, it pays to check the wording carefully. Answer 2 seems to say that there is a more accurate or up to date dataset being finalised. …
RSPB demands
RSPB press release: The RSPB demands governments stop talking and start acting to save nature Over half of British people (63%) want stronger laws to protect our environment Seven out of ten British people (68%) would like to see an independent body set up in their country to enforce environmental laws And, nine out of…
NE Chair breaks ranks and calls for Vicarious Liability
Giving evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee this morning, the outgoing Chair of Natural England, Andrew Sells, said that he, personally (ie not as NE Chair), favoured the introduction of vicarious liability for wildlife crimes. He added that he was surprised that Defra had ruled it out. Mr Sells did not have…
Sunday book review – On the Marshes by Carol Donaldson
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Reviewed by Ian Carter I’ve always liked books about alternative lifestyles, especially by people seeking out a gentler pace of life, more attuned to the natural environment. This is a good example and it’s a book I gradually warmed to as the author’s journey across the North Kent Marshes (contrary to the sub-title) unfolds. In…
Minister – do your job!
Dear Dr Coffey, Each week seems to bring news of another Hen Harrier disappearing on or near a driven grouse moor. You must have been briefed on the findings of the study presented in Vancouver back in August on the analysis of NE’s Hen Harrier data. You do know that the science suggests that there…