For most of July, I was on holiday on the West of Scotland where, during my stay, I visited one particular island twice. This was Eigg, one of the Inner Hebrides, and an island with a remarkable story. Eigg, having been passed through successive landowners since the 12th century, suffered notorious mismanagement in the 1980s … Continue reading Edward Grierson: The Importance of Community-Owned Land
More of the same from the grouse industry
It's been over a year since I last blogged on the issue of driven grouse shooting: since I last expressed a view on a subject that, as both a raptor lover and a pragmatist, deeply interests me. I would be delighted to say here that things have changed over the past year; that the brazen … Continue reading More of the same from the grouse industry
The Lake District granted UNESCO World Heritage Status
I am, by my own admission, quite fond of the Lake District: affection born of pleasant memories forged during my time in the area as an undergraduate. Memories build on exhilarating wildlife encounters - with ospreys at Bassenthwaite, with rutting red deer at Martindale and, most indelibly of all, with England's last remaining golden eagle at … Continue reading The Lake District granted UNESCO World Heritage Status
Here’s why I, personally, watch birds
My attention was recently drawn to an interesting article authored for The Conversation by the esteemed and eloquent Dr Robert Lambert. Centred on the logic behind birding (or twitching, if you prefer), I found the piece highly interesting, both as a birder who spends a great deal of his time observing our feathered friends and as an … Continue reading Here’s why I, personally, watch birds
Gull cull? No thanks
The last few days have seen an infuriating surge in the rhetoric of those calling for the control of Britain's gulls; as campaigners clamour for the lethal action, red-faced MP's bluster and the national press embarks on yet another misinformed wildlife witch-hunt. It has all been rather depressing, at least for those, like me, rather fond of … Continue reading Gull cull? No thanks
Martin Hughes-Games is wrong about Planet Earth
For clarities sake, let us get this out of the way first: I, personally, am a fan of both the Planet Earth series and presenter Martin Hughes-Games. More fond of the former than the latter, in truth, but boasting a positive perception of both. This post is not at all intended as an attack on Martin. … Continue reading Martin Hughes-Games is wrong about Planet Earth
