Nature Check

Today, 41 organisations, under the banner of Wildlife and Countryside Link, publish their assessment of Government’s progress over the last 12 months, on its own stated commitments (a report called Nature Check).  In four areas Government gets the green light indicating good progress, in nine areas a red light for failure, and in 12 areas…

The Minox challenge results

In the end it was close, but the winner was: the rspb. The total 1352 votes cast were as follows: rspb   311 The Wildlife Trusts   274 Buglife   264 Butterfly Conservation   231 BTO   128 Plantlife   75 MARINElife  69   Well done to the rspb – but well done to all.  I hope that being able to…

The Minox Challenge – you decide

Seven organisations took up the Minox challenge on this blog; they each wrote a Guest Blog on why they should get your support.  All made their cases strongly and clearly. Here are the links to the individual blogs:   Joanna Bromley/Plantlife Mike Clarke/rspb Andy Clements/BTO Stephanie Hilborne/The Wildlife Trusts Andrew McLeish/MARINElife Matt Shardlow/Buglife Martin Warren/Butterfly…

Minox Challenge – the RSPB by Mike Clarke

Bins are central to the way a birder views the world – literally and metaphorically. I remember the thrill when I first acquired my pair of ‘Dialyts’ (on joining RSPB staff).  But the symbolism of binoculars risks becoming a deterrent to those who think enjoying birds and other wildlife is the exclusive pursuit of a…

LEAF – turn over a new one

On Monday I went to the Linking Environment and Farming President’s conference in the headquarters of HSBC in Canary Wharf.  I have a lot of time for LEAF, although there were a few moments on Monday when I thought I might have stumbled into an NFU conference instead of a LEAF one. How long should…

Guest Blog – Kids and nature by Andy Simpson

It is hard to imagine a great childhood that would not involve being outdoors, being active and exploring natural places.  From playing conkers and wading through fallen leaves in the Autumn to discovering the magic of a rockpool at the seaside, those are the memories of glorious days we want our children to have. I…

Naff new name – great new(-ish) magazine

I’ve been told to expect good things from the first issue of Nature’s Home – the new name for the RSPB magazine. Mine arrived yesterday and I’ve enjoyed reading quite a lot of it already – more than I have for quite a few issues of the magazine. I don’t like the name Nature’s Home,…

The Minox Challenge(s)

When I wrote about my 37-year-old binoculars being repaired I didn’t expect this to happen.  I didn’t expect an email from Zeiss thanking me for my loyalty – and I didn’t get one, so that’s OK.  And I didn’t expect an email from Minox saying: At MINOX GB we keep an eye on the media…

RSPB AGM

The 122nd RSPB AGM was held in London on Saturday morning. I think I have attended about 25 of them. An AGM sounds dull, and it obviously isn’t a bundle of laughs, but it is more interesting than most AGMs. Now I don’t have to answer any of them, I like the difficult questions from…

RSPB AGM on Saturday

  The RSPB AGM is on Saturday morning in the QEII Centre (opposite Westminster Abbey). It is open to members – and the actual AGM (not nearly as dull as it might sound) is free.