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Author Archives: Miles King
The real story behind Boris Johnson’s Green Industrial Revolution
Imagine the scene. Our fearless Prime Minister is holed up in his flat above Number 11 Downing Street, self-isolating. He’s fuming, having received a message from Dido’s fabulous test ‘n’ trace App, that he has been exposed to covid19, again. … Continue reading
Posted in Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, Uncategorized
Tagged Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, green industrial revolution
8 Comments
All flesh is grass
Are we just slaves to a few members of the grass family – the gramineae? Is there something in these grasses that, like the common parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which elicits an increase in risky behaviour after infection, causes people to … Continue reading
Posted in grass, grasslands, Uncategorized
Tagged Berrier Farm, cereals, climate change, grass, Grassland, perennial rye-grass
3 Comments
Berrier Farm under Trees: 100 acres of peat bog, heath and wildlife-rich grassland destroyed by tree planting
England desperately needs more trees, we are constantly told. And it’s certainly true that tree cover here is lower than most other European countries. The data must he handled with care though, when … Continue reading
Posted in Cumbria, Forestry Commission, peat bog, tree planting, Uncategorized
Tagged Berrier Farm, Forestry Commission, peat bog, tree planting
14 Comments
Covid19 makes the case for Universal Basic Income unarguable
Well it’s no surprise that we are once again teetering on the brink of a national lockdown in England, after yet another unnecessary delay which will lead to the death of thousands of people, either directly from Covid or as … Continue reading
Posted in coronavirus, covid19, Uncategorized, Universal Basic Income
Tagged covid19, lockdown, Universal Basic Income
1 Comment
Jenrick’s Planning Reforms have nothing to say about tax dodges
It’s the last day for responses to the Government’s latest proposals to reform the planning system, to “level up” and solve the housing crisis, if you believe the spin. The proposals … Continue reading
Lambs to the slaughter: What future for the UK’s sheep flock, post-Brexit?
Sheep near Wind Tor, Dartmoor. Photo by Anthea Simmons As we wait for what feels like the final slow-motion spin of the car as it hurtles inexorably towards the cliff edge, wondering if our heroes are going to escape from … Continue reading
Posted in Brexit, Dartmoor, George Eustice, lamb consumption, overgrazing, Sheep
Tagged Brexit, George Eustice, lamb consumption, Okehampton Common, overgrazing, Sheep, UK sheep flock
5 Comments
Ten Years of Blogging
Ten years feels a bit like a significant anniversary – and a long time. Perhaps the last ten years feels longer than many decades have, given what has happened (and is about to happen) over that period. Ten years ago … Continue reading
Six visitors for you, Thirty grouse shooters for me. Counting the iniquity of the new covid laws
The figures for positive covid-19 tests have been climbing inexorably since a lull in the summer. Figures of 3000 new cases a day, despite the shambolic breakdown in testing carried out by the private sector (Pillar 2), look very much … Continue reading
Posted in Boris Johnson, climate change, coronavirus, covid-19, grouse shooting, tax havens
Tagged Boris Johnson, covid19, grouse shooting, Rule of Six, tax havens
26 Comments
It’s just not cricket: reactionary forces gather to challenge beavers’ right to stay where they belong.
In a rare piece of good news for the south-west’s environment, the government recently confirmed that beavers would be allowed to stay on the River Otter in Devon. Beavers were hunted to extinction in Britain about 400 years ago. Hunters … Continue reading
Posted in angling, Beavers, Natural England, NFU
Tagged Angling Trust, beavers, Cricket Bats, devon, National Farmers' Union, Natural England
7 Comments
Ofqual Fiasco and Planning revolution point to where the Vote Leave Government gets its ideas
As I watched the A-level results fiasco unfold over the last week – the latest in a long line of shambolic Government u-turns – it got me thinking about how this Government actually decides on what policies it is going … Continue reading
