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I'm the RSPB's Conservation Director. My aim with this blog will be to comment on matters of conservation importance and give you a few insights into the RSPB's conservation work - there's plenty to write about! More...

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Still worried I guess!

Back in the spring and summer we were lobbying for set-aside to be replaced with a mandatory set of actions for farmers to implement to benefit wildlife. That didn't happen, instead Defra went for a voluntary option for farmers. The NFU's and...

Published 11-05-2009 5:01 AM by mark avery

Tags farmland birds Hope Farm Defra NFU 10 most read
The eagle hasn't landed - yet

Charles Clover is a distinguished environmental journalist whose book, The End of the Line is an excellent read (and now a film). Charles understands the countryside quite well too but today in his Sunday Times column he has a go at Hilary Benn for announcing...

Published 10-04-2009 9:22 PM by mark avery

Tags Defra reintroduction bittern
Parakeets, forms and the General Licence

Yesterday, taking us slightly by surprise, Natural England announced changes to the General Licence that will come into effect in 2010. What is the General Licence? It is a bit like a 'pest list' so we aren't terribly keen on it from that...

Published 10-01-2009 10:58 AM by mark avery

Tags non-native species Defra parakeets
It all depends where you start the graph...

Defra produces a very interesting little booklet entitled 'UK Biodiversity Indicators in Your Pocket' and the 2009 version is out. It's certainly not all bad news - do have a look yourself to see - but it doesn't paint a great picture...

Published 08-26-2009 6:30 PM by mark avery

Tags farmland birds squirrels Defra Northants marine
Set-aside - the new deal

Hilary Benn has made his decision on set-aside and it's not exactly what we wanted - let's not beat about the bush. But nor is it exactly what the NFU and CLA wanted either so the Secretary of State has done a good political job in steering a...

Published 07-10-2009 10:50 AM by mark avery

Tags farmland birds Defra NFU
Set-aside all sense - in the Daily Telegraph

Some farmers may be choking on their cornflakes when they read in the Daily Telegraph that Lord Mandelson is their most powerful ally in their campaign to avoid being required to replace the environmental benefits of set-aside. Lord Mandelson's Business...

Published 06-26-2009 10:18 PM by mark avery

Tags farmland birds Defra NFU 10 most read
Set-aside in the press?

We are approaching the decision on set-aside replacement that has cropped up a few times in this blog. We aren't hopeful of a good environmental choice from Defra - rumour has it that the NFU 'voluntary' approach may be the chosen option....

Published 06-26-2009 9:08 AM by mark avery

Tags farmland birds Defra NFU
Reply from NFU and CLA

The presidents of the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners Association have replied to the letter in the Guardian referred to earlier in this blog. What do we think of it? Their reply is good in parts. We welcome the words about providing...

Published 06-04-2009 4:44 PM by mark avery

Tags farmland birds Defra NFU
Wildlife organisations ask Defra for a wildlife-friendly set-aside replacement

A letter in today's Guardian is signed by a wide range of wildlife conservation organisations, including the RSPB, and makes it clear that the NFU's 'voluntary' approach to replacing set-aside will not deliver for wildlife. Will Hilary...

Published 05-28-2009 6:03 PM by mark avery

Tags farmland birds Defra NFU

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