Cats and sparrowhawks among the pigeons

Gary Burgess posted a comment on this blog on 18 February on a rather old blog and I thought that few would notice what he had written and so I offered him the chance of a Guest Blog to air his views more prominently.  I’m really glad that Gary took up the offer but I…

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…

November was the cruellest month…

November was a dismal month for nature in our country – just dismal.  This week the Westminster government issued figures showing that farmland birds were at an all time low but didn’t bother to comment on what they might do about it.  The Chancellor had a swipe at the environment and announced a review of…

Peregrines – moor is fewer.

I see peregrines quite often these days, but it’s usually in the middle of London (like this image is of one in the middle of Manchester) rather than in the uplands where I would only have expected to see them in my youth.  This is good – I’m glad they have become commoner and more…