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Author Archives: Miles King
The Pillar 2 Coup: Rural Payments Agency poaches Countryside Stewardship from Natural England.
this is just a copy of an earlier post which I have now deleted as it looks like it might have been infected by malware. Last week the Government launched its long awaited “what on earth are we going to … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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The People’s Manifesto for Wildlife
It was back in June that I first heard about the idea of a manifesto for wildlife, to accompany a walk for wildlife in London. Chris Packham asked me if I wanted to be Minister for Farming (and I extended … Continue reading
Did Socialism kill off Mrs Tiggywinkle?
Hedgehogs are back. Well, when I say they are back, they aren’t back. They are disappearing rapidly. But they are back in the news. Perhaps this is just a valiant effort by a few newspaper editors to keep former Foreign … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture policy, Brexit, Lush Times
Tagged Agriculture policy, Brexit, Hedgehogs, Lush Times
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The People’s Walk for Wildlife
I’ve shamelessly nicked this piece from Martin Harper‘s blog. It’s by Chris Packham and he’s demanding we all join him on the People’s Walk for Wildlife. I will be there. Will you? 56%. It says 56%. Since 1970 I … Continue reading
Posted in Chris Packham, people's walk for wildlife, Uncategorized
Tagged Chris Packam, people's walk for wildlife
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Vested Interests fight back against Gove’s Green Brexit for farming
Yesterday we returned to the Great Dorset Steam fair for our annual pilgrimage. The ground had dried out a bit following sunday’s deluge, but not enough for the traction engines to trudge around the main ring, which was a small … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture policy, Brexit, Michael Gove, NFU, RSPB
Tagged Agriculture policy, Brexit, Gove, NFU
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Rearranging the deck chairs on the Natural England Titanic.
Natural England chairs come and go, and today’s publication of the advert inviting applicants to be the next chair, gives me an opportunity to look, once again, at the absolute state of Natural England. Some may feel all I do … Continue reading
A Monday morning Round-up
Round- up. It’s a clever name, isn’t it. Combine two alternative, but complimentary, meanings – first, the “rounding-up” of weeds, like cattle. Just round-’em up and dispose of them. So simple. A second more subtle meaning might also seep into … Continue reading
Posted in Agriculture policy, agrochemicals, glyphosate, monsanto
Tagged agrochemicals, glyphosate, monsanto, nature
23 Comments
Looking after farmers as well as the land : Guest blog by Heidi Saxby
I recently read a fascinating paper exploring how farmers gain personal benefits to their wellbeing, from taking part in projects which help wildlife on farms – in this case a project to help conserve rare cornfield wildflowers in North Yorkshire. … Continue reading
Posted in Agri-Environment Schemes, wellbeing
Tagged cornfield flowers project, Heidi Saxby, nature, wellbeing
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Will the New Environment Bill be Michael Gove’s golden opportunity, poisoned chalice or a dead duck
Let’s face it, it’s been a pretty disastrous couple of weeks for our Prime Minister Theresa May. After the apparent success of the Chequers Brexit agreement, May has lost two of her most outspoken pro-Brexit ministers, whose departure triggered a … Continue reading
Posted in Brexit, Environment Bill, Michael Gove
Tagged Brexit, Environment Bill, Lush Times, Michael Gove
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Where has all our wildlife gone?
What is really, truly happening to wildlife across the UK? Is wildlife disappearing, or are the reports of disappearing insects, road-verge dwelling wildflowers being mown to destruction, and swifts vanishing from our skies, merely agenda-driven doom-mongering by extreme environmentalists, hell … Continue reading
Posted in bioblitz, Chris Packham, farming, Lush Times
Tagged bioblitz, Chris Packham, farming, Lush Times, nature
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a new nature blog 