Category Archives: bees
clean ponds and encouraging bees: Bayer influences public debate on future of farm subsidies
A public survey, paid for by mega Agrichemical industry business Bayer, has found that three quarters of the public supports farmers continuing to receive subsidies. So far the survey has received little publicity, just a couple of articles in the … Continue reading
Ecosystem Services for whom?
Ecosystem Services – the idea that we benefit from goods and services provided for free by nature. To be frank, the phrase is ugly. It’s ugly language to use to describe so much beauty – Nature; the bringer of joy, … Continue reading
O Rose thou art sick: on bees, flowers and pesticides
It was national poetry day on Thursday. After reading something today I thought of this poem which was in an anthology I had long ago: O Rose thou art sick. The invisible worm, That flies in the night In the … Continue reading
Countryside Alliance get their man into Defra
The slow death of Defra continues, as it loses Lord de Mauley as the Defra minister in the Lords. Lord de Mauley is a decent sort of chap. He didn’t agree with his former Boss Owen Paterson’s ravings about being … Continue reading
Beavers: Common Sense may have broken out at Defra
The Beavers of the River Otter in Devon have been under threat of being “rehomed” in a zoo, thanks to pressure from The Angling Trust (no beavers do not eat fish). This was partly due to paranoia that the beavers … Continue reading
De Mauley’s maturity shows up former boss Paterson
Prince Charles speaks at the Reversing The Trend Conference on meadows (c) Miles King Earlier in the Summer I helped organise a conference on the plight of wildlife-rich grasslands, especially wildflower meadows. Plantlife, Rare Breeds … Continue reading
Gone to the Dogs
I grew up with dogs. We had a succession of Welsh collies. Kirsty was a family pet before I was born, but sadly died young. Meg accompanied me through childhood into teenage years – I will always remember going up … Continue reading
Goodbye Peter Kendall
Peter Kendall, President of the National Farmers Union, has announced his intention to retire from the role next February. I for one, will miss him – simply because he provides me with so many easy blogs to write. Peter is … Continue reading
Bye Bye Benyon
So Richard Benyon, Biodiversity and Fisheries Minister, has gone. One of the innocents sent for sacrificial slaughter yesterday in the first reshuffle run almost completely on Twitter. Benyon had done nothing wrong, he was just too old and too rich. … Continue reading
What do Pollinators need?
Last week, after a long time coming, The Government announced at a Bee Summit, that it would prepare a national pollinator strategy, to be published this November. This is thanks mainly to the efforts of Friends of the Earth, who … Continue reading
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