Monthly Archives: January 2014

Planting Trees in the Uplands? There’s an idea….

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Miles King

I was so excited at the thought of OPatz going to live in the woods, foraging for mushrooms and curing  badger hams , that I forgot to check what was actually said earlier this week, in relation to flooding and … Continue reading →

Posted in flooding, Forestry, Forestry Commission, Owen Paterson, rewilding, uplands | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Owen Paterson embraces Re-wilding.

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Miles King

Thanks to Phil Brewin (@waterlevels) for the photo of flooding on the Somerset Levels. It was only a couple of months ago, that Owen Paterson gave his most significant speech since he became Environment Secretary, to the Tory’s favourite Think … Continue reading →

Posted in badgers, flooding, Forestry, George Monbiot, Owen Paterson, rewilding, uplands | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

What is a life?

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Miles King

What is a life? This is a question I found myself asking (to myself) as we collected my late brother Simon King’s possessions from his flat. I went through the vinyl records, LPs, 45’s, some I recognised from our childhood, … Continue reading →

Posted in Simon King | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Paterson latest: Badgers stole my bovine TB data

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Miles King

Owen “goalposts” Paterson. (photo by US Department of State [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons) Here’s an interesting take on the latest Badger Killing machinations from The Ecologist (is it owned by Zac Goldsmith?). They suggest Owen “Goalposts” Paterson may be … Continue reading →

Posted in badgers, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Welcome to your new job Mr Sells

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Miles King

Andrew Sells starts as Chairman of Natural England on Monday (20th). If we could wave our magic wands and appear in his office that morning, what would we suggest to him as his top priorities? Some might suggest the Badger … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Sells, badgers, biodiversity offsetting, Common Agricultural Policy, flooding, Matt Ridley, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Floods and SUDS

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Miles King

As the flood waters recede they reveal that the “Greenest Government Ever”‘s environmental credentials have finally all been washed away. The idea of Sustainable (Urban) Drainage Schemes, or SUDS has been around for a long time. I can remember arguing … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Sells, flooding, Floodplains, greenspace, mental health, Owen Paterson, SUDS | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Have we reached Peak Paterson?

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Miles King

is the sun setting on Owen Paterson? ((c) Miles King) Some say we have seen Peak Oil, but are now witnessing Peak “Owen Paterson”? After yesterday’s performance in the Commons, where Paterson repeatedly failed to respond to questioning on his … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-environmental rhetoric, biodiversity offsetting, climate change, flooding, Floodplains, Matt Ridley, neoliberalism, Owen Paterson, Policy Exchange | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Paterson fails to see wood, only trees

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Miles King

Happy New Year everybody. Let’s hope 2014 is better than 2013. I was wondering what to write for my first blog post of 2014 when my usual supplier turned up. Yes, you’ve guessed it – Owen Paterson Secretary of State … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient Woodland, anti-environmental rhetoric, banking crisis, biodiversity offsetting, enlightenment, Matt Ridley, neoliberalism, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments