If the Victoria Line had been running it would have been a much easier journey to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew for the launch of a consultation document on the Natural Environment White Paper. But we all got there in the end. Was it my imagination that some of the faces that I had seen at the Game Fair over the weekend looked slightly weary today? Maybe they thought the same about me.
The document was launched by the Secretary of State, Caroline Spelman and the Parliamentary under Secretary, Richard Benyon. Both spoke with enthusiasm about biodiversity and reminded us that it was a top priority for Defra. And the phrase 'greenest government ever' was used! I haven't read every word of it but the document looks good - see for yourself here. And we will be encouraging RSPB members to contribute their thoughts on this document.
Mrs Spelman said 'We want everyone to contribute their views on the natural environment - whether they're concerned at the plight of songbirds in their garden, the quality of air in their town, flooding problems worsened by people paving over their gardens or the fate of our wider countryside.' And 'We want to see a real positive change in the future of our natural environment - one which supportsd aq stronger eceonomy and better quality of life.'.
Richard Benyon announced that there would be an advisory group whose members weren't all confirmed as yet but would include our former Chief Executive Sir Graham Wynne, Dame Fiona Reynolds, Tom Burke and Lord Deben (perhaps better known to us all as ex-MP John Gummer).
Mr Benyon said that he teased NGOs for being 'unutterably gloomy'! Well there is quite a lot to be gloomy about - declines in farmland birds, habitat loss, government cuts, poisoning of protected wildlife, climate change, diffuse pollution etc etc.
And it's not just NGOs who get a bit gloomy - ex-Secretary of State Hilary Benn said '“When our natural environment is lost or eroded it rarely, if ever, can be fully restored. The landscapes that make our country wonderful and unique need protecting. That's why the Labour Government created two new national parks and the right to roam, and legislated for the world’s first Marine and Coastal Access Act. We also set up independent bodies to monitor how we were doing. “We welcome the Government’s adoption of our plans for the future of the natural environment. But the real test will be more than words and White Papers; it will be what they actually do. Therefore, abolishing scrutiny bodies and cutting funding to our National Parks - with much bigger cuts to come - does not bode well for the countryside's future.”
But this document, on its own, brings a small shaft of light into our lives. Let's encourage government to make the sun really shine!
Mark, You are much better educated than I am so I will take your word that this is a good looking document. I havent had time to read it yet but will do so and make my own contribution, using my own experience and as a member of the RSPB. My big concern is that we have had a lot of things stopped already (PSA, advisory bodies etc) and any move forward on this is not listed until next April and then that will consist of a statement. That looks like a lost year to me.
I have every faith that our new Government can inspire a green renaissance in the coming decade without having to deep dig in taxpayers' pockets by relying on quangos to deliver its vision. It is down to society to accept that we need a rich biodiversity and for NGOs and the media to highlight its value as a marketable resource in a number of ways, especially through sheer appreciation. The US Department of Wildlife and Fisheries revealed last year that birding was worth $36billion - that's right, billion - dollars to the American economy. Let's make nature-watching the new football this side of the pond then applaud ourselves as our natural heritage is protected and nurtured.
Just know this is intolerant and cynical but Hilary Benn bragging about the right to roam must antagonise everyone who likes birds and wildlife.In my book it was a terrible crime giving everyone the right to more or less go anywhere they wanted with dogs running around like mad things.The number of birds disturbed on nesting sites must be colossal and very surprising have not seen the RSPB oppose it or perhaps I have missed it.The strangest thing of all is that we already had a fantastic array of footpaths connecting up and suchlike whereas quite often right to roam ends up against a big fence or wall with no exit.My only defence is I know I am cynical and not tolerant but would not put out a lot of rubbish about spinning a positive outlook on what lots of us would consider a disaster do not know what will happen when somebody gets shot up the a*** accidentally of course with a twelve bore when they did not realise it was the glorious twelfth.
Hilary Benn was a labour joke !
Much the same as the Scottish twit who brought in right to roam.
Now we have rubbish in the nice areas and Keepers are blocking off any laybys etc. Petrol is good on tents though. Just make sure no one is at home before the fire.
Yes that pesky right to roam must be a constant headache to those hell bent on exterminating Hen Harriers, Red Kites, Golden Eagles etc. All those extra pairs of eyes wandering over the uplands accidentally blundering into pole traps and carburofan laced rabbit carcases must be as inconvenient as hell.
I have about as much faith in this new regime achieving big advances in landscape and biodiversity conservation as I have in that lonely male Haweswater Golden Eagle ever being able to settle down with a new partner that made it across the borders no-fly zone.
Sorry and all that, but I found the post from Meconopsis offensive so I'm in a seriously surly mood.....
Had not thought of that side of it John just shows it is interesting to hear everyone's different views.Would consider myself a B O P lover so my comment was thinking more of disruption to smaller birds.
Fair enough Sooty. Right to roam has its equivalents in many continental countries and it seems to work fine. I think, however, that we made a mistake by not requiring dogs to be on leads, settling instead for merely "under close control.
If we deny people acess to nature and open landscapes there is little incentive for them to try and understand and appreciate it. Appreciation brings conservation.
And I always found Hilary Benn to be a humane and thoughtful Secretary of State.
Right to Roam?
Don’t start me off!
I was brought up to respect people’s property and to ask and say please and say thank you.
I have footpaths crossing my land - they are there for a good reason – eg – so my neighbours can take a more direct route (from their yard to the main road) rather than go ‘round a couple of my fields.
I’ve lived here (Peak District) for 30 (thirty) years – nobody has ever thanked me!
Hiliary Wedgewood Benn MP?
Isn’t he son of Mr Benn Senior - whose house near Southend received ‘grants’ to repair sea walls (whilst his son was in office) and his neighbours didn’t?
And you can’t walk across his land!
That’s Hilary looking after his inheritance for you!
I found his handling of the TB in Badgers problem – at best incompetent and at worst – dishonest!
John B (not the sloop) I find it very offensive as a gamekeeper to be branded a raptor killer by the RSPB but I can live with it.
In the latest poison report for 2009 46 BOP were shown to have been poisoned. Obviously this is 46 to many but in the grand scale of things it really is not a huge number of BOP deaths.
Only last month 9 Red Kite chicks were found to have been poisoned by the parents feeding them with dead rats.
Countless numbers of Buzzards are killed on the roads every day.
Lets not blow things out of proportion please.