Category Archives: Downland

Dorset chalk downland site sprayed with herbicide and re-seeded for farming.

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Miles King

It seems almost inconceivable that 20 years has passed since a Chalk Downland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) was ploughed up in Sussex. The Offham Down case became a minor cause celebre during the election campaign of 1997 which … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, Downland, EIA, farm subsidies, Natural England | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Saum, Clarkson, re-wilding and whither British Conservation?

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Miles King

the challenge of maintaining Saum I just read an excellent review of Feral on the blog of Green Alliance Director Matthew Spencer. It arrived, in timely fashion on the same day as George published his challenge to British Conservation in … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, carbon storage, climate change, Downland, forest elephant, George Monbiot, management, Mesolithic, rewilding, Saum, scrub, straight tusked elephant, uplands | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Feral by George Monbiot – a review

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Miles King

The Feral Shore I have promised myself, and some of you, that I would write a review of Feral by George Monbiot. I enjoyed the book, at least in parts. Although I will try and refrain from Ad hominem criticism … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animism, anti conservation rhetoric, anti-environmental rhetoric, biodiversity, carbon storage, climate change, Common Agricultural Policy, Cultural Cringe, Downland, ecosystem services, environmental policy, farming, forest elephant, George Monbiot, invasive species, management, Mesolithic, neoliberalism, rewilding, self-willed land, soils, straight tusked elephant | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Bloggers Block

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Miles King

  Dear Reader, you might have been wondering why there have been no new blogs since the 5th August. I have been on an unscheduled blog break – I may have Bloggers Block. Work has intervened, in a good way … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, Downland, George Monbiot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments