Rumours have begun to circulate about the possibility of DEFRA being disbanded as part of the Government's autumn review and George Osborne's desperate attempts to effect further economies to bring down the UK's borrowing and deficit.
At the Liberal Democrats conference Baroness Parminter urged LibDems to oppose such a possibility wherein agricultural matters could be transferred to BIS. What happens then to other functions has, as yet , received no response despite enquiries ? Given that Liz Truss ( Secretary of State, DEFRA ) has increasingly placed an emphasis on farming issues within her period of tenure I suppose this would come as no surprise to some. Farming sources have suggested they might receive greater benefit from being within BIS, a sure fire indication of the self appointed special case" status they appear to confer on themselves nowadays underscored further by Liz Truss who seems to view her very existence as a sales executive for farm produce or proponent of farmers markets!!
It does make you question whether the dire performance of DEFRA on so many fronts is a deliberate ploy or simply a consequence of them having suffered such dreadful cuts to their funding already. A greater worry is what might happen to Natural England as the seeming only representative body to the natural environment we have. Again, in recent times it's hardly covered itself in glory on some occasions, but one wonders if this is a product of having to act within applied constraints given the Government's lack of enthusiasm and support unless it "turns in a dollar" !
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Record broken of most birds seen in a single year!
News has emerged that the record set up by Ruth Miller and Alan Davies from Wales in 2008 for the most birds seen worldwide in a calendar year has been broken. Ruth and Alan saw 4341species and their story is immortalised in the book " The Biggest Twitch", which is packed full of details that allows you to live alongside their efforts that year. I've read it twice already and will doubtless read it again at some point !
Noah Strycker from America has announced that he has already broken the above record with fifteen weeks still in hand to the year end. His target is 5000 birds seen in a single year, that figure equating to just under half of the world's known species dependent on which taxonomic tome you consult!! Given he's still to visit SE Asia and Australia there's clearly a good chance he'll link up with the 659 species he needs if not more.
Some feat, but I still think we should congratulate our own trailblazers who not only set up the initial record, but then wrote about it and gave us a tremendous bit of escapism in the process.
Noah Strycker from America has announced that he has already broken the above record with fifteen weeks still in hand to the year end. His target is 5000 birds seen in a single year, that figure equating to just under half of the world's known species dependent on which taxonomic tome you consult!! Given he's still to visit SE Asia and Australia there's clearly a good chance he'll link up with the 659 species he needs if not more.
Some feat, but I still think we should congratulate our own trailblazers who not only set up the initial record, but then wrote about it and gave us a tremendous bit of escapism in the process.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Grey lag Geese galore! Tuesday, 22nd September, 2015
Following our earlier census a fortnight ago not really working out too successfully given the vast majority of barley fields had not been cut, but a lot of silage had, leading to birds being mobile and distributed widely, I proposed we moved our efforts on a little. Bingo ! The main fields in the most favoured areas had been cut at the very end of last week and concentrations of Grey lag Geese emerged immediately.
As each year goes by the habits of the Grey lag Geese accumulating at this time of year appear to change. Some time ago a regular annual concentration could be found at the head of Loch Indaal, feeding elsewhere but loafing out on the merse itself for long periods. Similarly birds concentrated at Loch Gruinart moved off at intervals to feed nearby, then rest and bathe on Loch Gorm, only to return to roost at Gruinart. This year birds "flooded in " to Gruinart immediately after the silage was cut and then promptly moved off and took up residence around Loch Gorm giving a nearby uncut barley field a battering. A large concentration also hung around in a couple of the bays at the head of Loch Indaal, but regularly spilled over into a nearby barley field with similar negative results. Loch Gorm and Loch Indaal now seem to be the favoured roosts of choice, but I've no doubt this will change.
Last year, because the birds had been affected by shooting under licence carried out before the 31st August, the efficacy of monitoring and counting was questionable in my opinion when we counted birds immediately afterwards. Shooting had stopped , by agreement, but the birds were dispersed, difficult and immensely mobile. This year, with little shooting being in evidence, the birds were more relaxed, much easier to locate and to count although , at times, birds could be seen moving off northwards to areas that I never identified. Work still to be done!!
Whilst I've yet to receive all the results, it does seem likely that the total recorded this year has increased set against the 2014 total of 2200.. Not an immense increase, but noticeable. Such has been endorsed to some extent by counts of juveniles carried out by Malcolm Ogilvie and the confirmation that the birds appear to have had a good breeding season in 2015. I'll write more on all this later when more details are available and certain aspects have been checked out. At this point I reflect on the fact that, in 1999 when I moved to Islay, very few breeding pairs were in evidence, no autumn accumulation was in evidence either, but then rapidly emerged as an annual event and the wintering population was often only a little in excess of one hundred!!! How things can change.
As I drove past Gruinart in gathering darkness I was reminded of what we will witness as a major change very shortly!! In fact very shortly indeed!! Three Barnacle Geese stood in the centre of the Flats looking somewhat forlorn, having arrived within the last couple of days. As I write this many thousands of their cohorts will be poised to wing their way southwards and be with us in a couple of weeks time when the situation will transform from one of a few birds in isolation to utter confusion and cacophany with the possibility of 35,000 or so arriving for the winter. How things can change!
As each year goes by the habits of the Grey lag Geese accumulating at this time of year appear to change. Some time ago a regular annual concentration could be found at the head of Loch Indaal, feeding elsewhere but loafing out on the merse itself for long periods. Similarly birds concentrated at Loch Gruinart moved off at intervals to feed nearby, then rest and bathe on Loch Gorm, only to return to roost at Gruinart. This year birds "flooded in " to Gruinart immediately after the silage was cut and then promptly moved off and took up residence around Loch Gorm giving a nearby uncut barley field a battering. A large concentration also hung around in a couple of the bays at the head of Loch Indaal, but regularly spilled over into a nearby barley field with similar negative results. Loch Gorm and Loch Indaal now seem to be the favoured roosts of choice, but I've no doubt this will change.
Last year, because the birds had been affected by shooting under licence carried out before the 31st August, the efficacy of monitoring and counting was questionable in my opinion when we counted birds immediately afterwards. Shooting had stopped , by agreement, but the birds were dispersed, difficult and immensely mobile. This year, with little shooting being in evidence, the birds were more relaxed, much easier to locate and to count although , at times, birds could be seen moving off northwards to areas that I never identified. Work still to be done!!
Whilst I've yet to receive all the results, it does seem likely that the total recorded this year has increased set against the 2014 total of 2200.. Not an immense increase, but noticeable. Such has been endorsed to some extent by counts of juveniles carried out by Malcolm Ogilvie and the confirmation that the birds appear to have had a good breeding season in 2015. I'll write more on all this later when more details are available and certain aspects have been checked out. At this point I reflect on the fact that, in 1999 when I moved to Islay, very few breeding pairs were in evidence, no autumn accumulation was in evidence either, but then rapidly emerged as an annual event and the wintering population was often only a little in excess of one hundred!!! How things can change.
As I drove past Gruinart in gathering darkness I was reminded of what we will witness as a major change very shortly!! In fact very shortly indeed!! Three Barnacle Geese stood in the centre of the Flats looking somewhat forlorn, having arrived within the last couple of days. As I write this many thousands of their cohorts will be poised to wing their way southwards and be with us in a couple of weeks time when the situation will transform from one of a few birds in isolation to utter confusion and cacophany with the possibility of 35,000 or so arriving for the winter. How things can change!
Monday, September 21, 2015
Spurn......management and responsibilities. A Guest Blog by Dr. Rob Stoneman , Chief Executive, YWT.
Last week , on the 16th September in fact , I put out a Blog entitled "Spurn....management and responsibilities". As was requested by Jan Crowther, who submitted some Comments on the details, I did "open up a dialogue" with the YWT and invited them, in turn, to submit their own Comments or submit a Guest Blog for publication.
I'm pleased to make available the Blog below, which has resulted from that request and which I hope will be read carefully alongside the details I published. May I thank Rob Stoneman for his contribution, Jan Crowther for her initial comments and anyone who, as a result of these entries, adds their own comments to the debate.
GUEST BLOG - DR. ROB STONEMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, YWT.
I'm pleased to make available the Blog below, which has resulted from that request and which I hope will be read carefully alongside the details I published. May I thank Rob Stoneman for his contribution, Jan Crowther for her initial comments and anyone who, as a result of these entries, adds their own comments to the debate.
GUEST BLOG - DR. ROB STONEMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, YWT.
From the Chief Executive of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, can I
thank John for his interesting blog. We do understand some of the opposition to
a new visitor centre at Spurn. We share
a gut instinct that Spurn should be a wild place, subject to the forces of
nature and better for it. Yet Spurn,
like most other parts of Britain, has a landscape that has been framed and
created by an interplay of those natural forces and by humans. In 1959, when YWT bought the site from the
MOD, Spurn was a military complex. Over
the years, YWT has attempted to ‘re-wild’ the site (to use modern parlance) by
removing buildings to leave only those that are required by our tenants –
currently the Bird Observatory, Associated British Ports and RNLI. We resisted taking the lighthouse from
Trinity House in 1985 knowing that eventually we would have to restore it given
its listed building status, even going to court over it, but were forced to
take on the lighthouse when it ceased operation.
The spit itself was locked into position by the wartime
defences since at the least the First World War, and probably even earlier, so
was always likely to dramatically readjust; the storm surge breach was probably
inevitable.
So, from 1959, it was YWT that took on the role of as the
human shaper of Spurn and our tenure has been much less dramatic and more
gentle, generally working with the grain rather than against the grain of
nature. Nevertheless, Spurn is a popular
tourist destination receiving over 70,000 years at its visitor peak in the
1980s with people attracted by that wild landscape, by its birds and other
wildlife, for fishing, for walking, for military history or simply as a day out
to the beach. Even today, with the spit
no longer accessible by car, Spurn receives over 20,000 visitors, which if
unmanaged will have an unintentional consequence on what is a fragile and
delicate site – whether that be by trampling dune habitat, bird disturbance,
fires, litter and so on.
For decades our approach to visitor management has been
rather blunt – we put a man at the entrance to the site who essentially policed
access and in so doing more or less policed the use of the site. A blunt instrument for sure but it has more
or less worked. However, for most of
those decades, YWT was a very small institution that never had the money to pay
the salary let alone invest in effective visitor infrastructure. Instead, we charged an entrance fee. The income never quite covered the costs of
running Spurn but it was enough to keep the site open. Was this a popular approach? Well, of course not. Charging people to access a piece of open
countryside by a man who often had to say ‘No’ (to dogs, to overnight camping,
to off-roaders, to bait diggers etc.) is not a popular strategy but what else
could YWT do?
Actually, YWT should have invested in better visitor
infrastructure and recognised that with a report by Ian Carstairs as far back
as 1996. It was only in 2010, that YWT
started to properly consider what it might need at Spurn and how it should run
the site into the future with the first ‘business plans’ (wish-lists might be a
better word) that were put together by myself.
We applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund to put some of that plan in
place but were rejected twice. But
eventually, in 2012, we finally received news that our lottery application was
making headway. We could finally start
with plans to restore the lighthouse, put in a viewing platform at the Point
and appoint a Heritage Officer to run an events and education programme.
But this only addressed part of the issue – we still didn’t
have the right visitor facilities in place - and then the storm surge struck.
Of course, losing vehicle access was always a risk in such a
vulnerable location and we had a contingency plan in place (essentially
switching to walk-on and bike-on access) but operating the site with 4WD
vehicles across the breach. Natural
England provided funding for those 4WD vehicles not only allowing us, as
managers, vehicle and therefore effective management access to the site, but
also providing a further visitor access option – our Spurn Safaris that use the
Unimog. This was hugely appreciated but
other problems have arisen. In
particular, visitors now concentrate at the Warren area. We have some car-parking at the Blue Bell but
most people drive as far as they can, parking at the Warren Cottage or down
along the road back to Kilnsea. At busy
times, its chaotic with cars parked all over and all the visitors now
congregating around the Warren Cottage area – it is a mess and no way to manage
a National Nature Reserve.
Parking congestion at Spurn. Jonathon Leadley, YWT.
The breach itself gives us H&S concerns. Despite, clear signage that is updated on a
weekly basis, we still get people stranded or, and much worse, attempt to cross
the breach even with water streaming across it at high tide. Add in our usual mix of H&S concerns –
browntail moths, dangerous structures and the dangers of walking on what is now
a pretty isolated site in inclement weather………..as Chief H&S officer at
YWT, it keeps me awake at night.
Moreover, we say little to people about the site – where to
go, what to do, what to see, how it formed, what its history, what are those
big concrete blocks for, why is there a railway heading off into the sea……there
is such a great story at Spurn, it is incumbent upon us – YWT – to tell people
about this brilliant site. More than
that, nature reserves should be the cathedrals of nature conservation – the
places to inspire, educate and involve people in our efforts for a better more
wildlife-rich Yorkshire and a better planet that sustains us long into the
future. Spurn is incredible and we want
lots of people to come to Spurn to join our campaign for wildlife. Spurn should be for the many and not the
privileged few.
For this, we need the right visitor infrastructure – a place
to get a hot drink and food; a place to go the toilet; a place to learn about
this fabulous site – its stories, its history, its wildlife; a place for
signposting, telling you where you can go and where you can go safely and
without damaging the special nature of the site – we needed a visitor centre
and a car-park to replace the current mess. We had long known that, even before
the storm surge, so had long been in discussions with EON about possible
funding after they received planning permission for a new wind farm off
Spurn. They didn’t have to give us any
money; they already had planning permission but recognised that they too had a
story to tell – a story of climate change, of its effects on the planet, not
least on the coast, of renewable energy and a brighter more sustainable
future. And so they offered YWT £900,000
to build a new visitor centre at Spurn.
We were delighted.
The investment that Spurn so badly needs finally fell into place. By working with partners, Kilnsea Wetlands
becomes the first port of call – with a hide and car-park providing just the
right birding facilities. From there, we
pass the Blue Bell – our plans include trainee accommodation. At the least sensitive location on Spurn in
terms of its wildlife, we will have the visitor centre and car-park; the
starting point for an informed, safe and enjoyable visit to Spurn. Crucially,
for us, the starting point for a managed visit to Spurn, following self-guided
or guided trails, by Unimog, by bike and on foot, that ensure visitors do not
damage the special interest of Spurn.
Moving down the Point, the Warren area will be re-naturalised leaving
just the cottage. From there to the lighthouse, it’s a wild journey over the
breach and along the spit. At the
lighthouse, the story of Spurn can be delved into deeper and the fabulous view
of Spurn stretches out from the top. At
the Point, vacated ABP buildings will have toilets and a tea-point to get out
of the weather with more information for visitors. A brilliant day out.
It’s a big prize and one that we are hugely excited by. The alternative is a managed decline and possibly
even site closure. That’s not a good
future for Spurn and one we are determined not to take.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
E-petition to ban driven grouse shooting.
HAVE YOU SIGNED THE PETITION YET? If not, then please follow this link
Ban driven grouse shooting.
There is a compelling reason for my issuing this Blog !! I thought, quite genuinely, that I had signed the above petition, but I became unsure that I had done so. I went ahead and signed ( again? ) but received no dire warnings, flashing lights etc so I'm assuming that the Government's computer has done a swift check on me and established that I wasn't attempting to cheat by attempting to sign twice !!
Clearly I hadn't signed and, therefore, I apologise publicly to Mark Avery, past colleague and friend, the person who has laid the petition. In many ways I'm an unlikely abstainer from the process given my track record, but that's not an apt excuse. I hadn't signed, but why! The thought occurred to me that, with the current petition following on so quickly after the previous one with the same theme, I'd managed a grand old mix up ( the solution may be within that description ! ). The previous petition was closed prematurely due to the General Election popping up and it further occurred to me that I might not be the only one to have overlooked the matter.
HAVE YOU SIGNED THE PETITION YET? If not then please follow this link.
Ban driven grouse shooting.
So, you all know what comes next ! If you're unsure, can't remember precisely, or have actually forgotten and believe otherwise , take action, NOW ! I'm sure you'll be told politely if you have signed and things won't result in a visit from the Mind Police ( well, I do live next to Jura ........George Orwell, "1984 " ).
This petition strikes at far more than wealthy people playing at a game of choice in the uplands, a "Game of Clones" one might suggest. The Government, Establishment and many others are riding rough shod over a plethora of relevant issues applicable to the uplands. Theirs is not to selectively opt out of their responsibilities linked to the protection of raptors, or the "control" of various mammal species, or of air pollution issues contributing to climate change or, indeed, on negative effects on water drainage. Shrugging off reality is not an option! Most of us have to abide by the laws of the land and the selective rejection of this principle underlies the wider call for action contained within the petition.
HAVE YOU SIGNED THE PETITION YET? IF NOT THEN PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK.
Ban driven grouse shooting.
Ban driven grouse shooting.
There is a compelling reason for my issuing this Blog !! I thought, quite genuinely, that I had signed the above petition, but I became unsure that I had done so. I went ahead and signed ( again? ) but received no dire warnings, flashing lights etc so I'm assuming that the Government's computer has done a swift check on me and established that I wasn't attempting to cheat by attempting to sign twice !!
Clearly I hadn't signed and, therefore, I apologise publicly to Mark Avery, past colleague and friend, the person who has laid the petition. In many ways I'm an unlikely abstainer from the process given my track record, but that's not an apt excuse. I hadn't signed, but why! The thought occurred to me that, with the current petition following on so quickly after the previous one with the same theme, I'd managed a grand old mix up ( the solution may be within that description ! ). The previous petition was closed prematurely due to the General Election popping up and it further occurred to me that I might not be the only one to have overlooked the matter.
HAVE YOU SIGNED THE PETITION YET? If not then please follow this link.
Ban driven grouse shooting.
So, you all know what comes next ! If you're unsure, can't remember precisely, or have actually forgotten and believe otherwise , take action, NOW ! I'm sure you'll be told politely if you have signed and things won't result in a visit from the Mind Police ( well, I do live next to Jura ........George Orwell, "1984 " ).
This petition strikes at far more than wealthy people playing at a game of choice in the uplands, a "Game of Clones" one might suggest. The Government, Establishment and many others are riding rough shod over a plethora of relevant issues applicable to the uplands. Theirs is not to selectively opt out of their responsibilities linked to the protection of raptors, or the "control" of various mammal species, or of air pollution issues contributing to climate change or, indeed, on negative effects on water drainage. Shrugging off reality is not an option! Most of us have to abide by the laws of the land and the selective rejection of this principle underlies the wider call for action contained within the petition.
HAVE YOU SIGNED THE PETITION YET? IF NOT THEN PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK.
Ban driven grouse shooting.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
The reality that is this Tory Government.
Readers will be aware of the E-petition to ban driven grouse shooting which is currently active ( 19164 signatures this evening! ). This has been laid by past colleague and friend , Mark Avery, and has several months yet to run, although the Government recently revised the rules under which these operate and the period they are available is now only six months compared to the twelve months within which signatures could be garnered previously!
The petition passed the required 10,000 signature mark quite soon, against which it would receive formal comment and the much anticipated response from the Government has appeared this week. What an unmitigated disaster! It's an elongated version of the drivel I received in response to the E-petition relating to the proposed licensing of grouse moors, but it contains a far more insidious expression of the Government's position relating to the shooting industry. It's clear that Uncle Hubert is alive and well and promises of Party support are being repaid by a growing significance being attached to the grouse shooting community. Clearly there is little true sentiment or empathy with our natural heritage from either Government or practitioners as, along with most other enterprises, it is now being judged on its contribution to the economy and little else. I'd gently remind the Minister and Department concerned that considerable subsidies are paid from the public purse towards the "management" of such sites ( upland grouse moors ), many of which are designated based on the presence of key species afforded the highest protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ( as amended ). But can such contributions be considered to be Value for Money? What a joke, indeed I'd even expect the Chancellor to agree with the following, except he appears to view all things environmental as an open opportunity to generate economic benefit and extends no interest in our natural heritage whatsoever.
One of the key species often associated with the highest level of designation ( SPA's ) is the Hen Harrier and sites qualify based on the presence and numbers of this and other birds of prey such as Peregrine and Merlin.. It is upon the presumption that a site's management will continue to support its constituent "residents" that subsidies can be paid for habitat management. Except the current level of deliberate illegal persecution is such that few birds are present in suitable upland areas used for shooting and essentially we end up supporting shooting activities and the economic gain so proudly exhorted within the above response. Value for money? I don't think so, in fact one would be hard pressed to identify much benefit that arises towards our natural heritage at all.
So , it's clear where Tory sentiments lie. As long as the shooting industry can demonstrate its economic contribution to be buoyant and positive then the consequences of its operation in the form of illegal persecution will be conveniently ignored and certainly no concerted actions taken to eliminate the problem. OK , references will be made to Working Groups and such like , but let's face it, none of them ever actually deliver solutions. Reports maybe , but not solutions that can be recognized as improvements on the ground. There'll be a measure of indignation that efforts are being made, and not appreciated, but with little firm intent being the basis of the effort in the first place what can be expected!!! The whole issue revolves around intent of which, I believe, there is none and absolutely no intention either to alter the situation. The shooting industry, in the form of the Establishment where the majority of landholdings reside, has determined that it shall operate to its own desires, that raptors are an ever present nuisance and should be eliminated where possible and that criticism should simply be shrugged off. Let's not fool ourselves, the rapid reduction of our Hen Harrier wintering population two or three years ago was a collective effort arising out of an agreed strategy constructed within some distant drawing room and communicated widely at a personal level. No reports with recommendations here!! The reported use of rifles fitted with infra red devices allowing roosting birds to be shot at night are now in vogue and are an apt illustration of the level of intent.
Additionally, the tribalism which has emerged in recent times and the public vilification of the RSPB is simply a product of this new found confidence by those who feel they should be allowed to pursue self interest in our countryside or develop its resources without regulation or scrutiny. Government policies echo such clamour, be it by allowing fracking associated with designated sites, badger culling to be extended despite evidence suggesting other more effective means or the use of neocotinids despite their use being banned in Europe. Environment and natural heritage are not popular, mainstream parts of this Government's operation and only the most necessary aspects will be grudgingly delivered by our incumbent Secretary of State, doubtless with accompanying portions of "home grown" cheese and chutney bought in the local farmers' market which, nowadays, appears to be the abiding preoccupation of the whole department. Incidentally, where might we ask is Natural England nowadays? Mention of this Government organization , which is a part of DEFRA and the Government's advisor on our natural heritage, reduces as each month goes by and one seriously wonders what its intended future might be.
So, what might we expect in the future from our Greenest Government Ever? Precious little I suspect and the growing imperative is to ensure that no additional period of office arises which will provide a repeat canvas of opportunity for the repressive policies becoming so evident in so many different spheres by this current Government.
The petition passed the required 10,000 signature mark quite soon, against which it would receive formal comment and the much anticipated response from the Government has appeared this week. What an unmitigated disaster! It's an elongated version of the drivel I received in response to the E-petition relating to the proposed licensing of grouse moors, but it contains a far more insidious expression of the Government's position relating to the shooting industry. It's clear that Uncle Hubert is alive and well and promises of Party support are being repaid by a growing significance being attached to the grouse shooting community. Clearly there is little true sentiment or empathy with our natural heritage from either Government or practitioners as, along with most other enterprises, it is now being judged on its contribution to the economy and little else. I'd gently remind the Minister and Department concerned that considerable subsidies are paid from the public purse towards the "management" of such sites ( upland grouse moors ), many of which are designated based on the presence of key species afforded the highest protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ( as amended ). But can such contributions be considered to be Value for Money? What a joke, indeed I'd even expect the Chancellor to agree with the following, except he appears to view all things environmental as an open opportunity to generate economic benefit and extends no interest in our natural heritage whatsoever.
One of the key species often associated with the highest level of designation ( SPA's ) is the Hen Harrier and sites qualify based on the presence and numbers of this and other birds of prey such as Peregrine and Merlin.. It is upon the presumption that a site's management will continue to support its constituent "residents" that subsidies can be paid for habitat management. Except the current level of deliberate illegal persecution is such that few birds are present in suitable upland areas used for shooting and essentially we end up supporting shooting activities and the economic gain so proudly exhorted within the above response. Value for money? I don't think so, in fact one would be hard pressed to identify much benefit that arises towards our natural heritage at all.
So , it's clear where Tory sentiments lie. As long as the shooting industry can demonstrate its economic contribution to be buoyant and positive then the consequences of its operation in the form of illegal persecution will be conveniently ignored and certainly no concerted actions taken to eliminate the problem. OK , references will be made to Working Groups and such like , but let's face it, none of them ever actually deliver solutions. Reports maybe , but not solutions that can be recognized as improvements on the ground. There'll be a measure of indignation that efforts are being made, and not appreciated, but with little firm intent being the basis of the effort in the first place what can be expected!!! The whole issue revolves around intent of which, I believe, there is none and absolutely no intention either to alter the situation. The shooting industry, in the form of the Establishment where the majority of landholdings reside, has determined that it shall operate to its own desires, that raptors are an ever present nuisance and should be eliminated where possible and that criticism should simply be shrugged off. Let's not fool ourselves, the rapid reduction of our Hen Harrier wintering population two or three years ago was a collective effort arising out of an agreed strategy constructed within some distant drawing room and communicated widely at a personal level. No reports with recommendations here!! The reported use of rifles fitted with infra red devices allowing roosting birds to be shot at night are now in vogue and are an apt illustration of the level of intent.
Additionally, the tribalism which has emerged in recent times and the public vilification of the RSPB is simply a product of this new found confidence by those who feel they should be allowed to pursue self interest in our countryside or develop its resources without regulation or scrutiny. Government policies echo such clamour, be it by allowing fracking associated with designated sites, badger culling to be extended despite evidence suggesting other more effective means or the use of neocotinids despite their use being banned in Europe. Environment and natural heritage are not popular, mainstream parts of this Government's operation and only the most necessary aspects will be grudgingly delivered by our incumbent Secretary of State, doubtless with accompanying portions of "home grown" cheese and chutney bought in the local farmers' market which, nowadays, appears to be the abiding preoccupation of the whole department. Incidentally, where might we ask is Natural England nowadays? Mention of this Government organization , which is a part of DEFRA and the Government's advisor on our natural heritage, reduces as each month goes by and one seriously wonders what its intended future might be.
So, what might we expect in the future from our Greenest Government Ever? Precious little I suspect and the growing imperative is to ensure that no additional period of office arises which will provide a repeat canvas of opportunity for the repressive policies becoming so evident in so many different spheres by this current Government.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Spurn............management and obligation !
Since last writing a blog about the Visitor Centre proposal at Spurn I've taken the opportunity to look at a lot of background material ( not necessarily to do with Spurn ), to cull opinion and to check on a few legal aspects too. Perhaps this is something I should have done earlier, although I confess it's not made the situation any easier. It could be said that, since the breach, the whole situation revolving around Spurn and visitors, is a mess! Why? Because, if one takes an honest appraisal of all that is involved, a whole raft of necessary obligations now have to be considered in my opinion, set against very limited opportunities to resolve them. So, for the moment, forget about visitor numbers, Visitor Centre design, opening hours and many of the points which have absorbed discussion already and contemplate the following.
In two or three months the actual planning application will be submitted for the proposed new Visitor Centre at Spurn and the process will "go formal". The details will be judged against a whole series of regulations and requirements. The process, therefore, doesn't rest on emotional reactions to design, location or similar aspects based on knee jerk opinions bereft of any necessary factual details to justify the opposition. Doubtless many questions and concerns, which had been raised previously, have now been answered and resolved and are now no longer valid. Others will still remain and will form the basis of the opposition within submissions. In this respect, and taking account of the points made below, may I advise that it's always a good idea to try and provide an alternative suggestion to the aspect being opposed. It's easy to dismiss or condemn something, much harder to suggest a viable alternative ! It's a course of action I've advocated or insisted upon over the years and it still holds firm!! However, it doesn't make the situation less complicated and sometimes demands a willingness to set best preferences aside and confront the realities of the situation.
It seems to me that the opposition to the proposal can be split into individual sections as follows :
The second and fourth of these can be set aside for the purposes of the Blog as the first is unlikely to change and the other should be dealt with separately anyway.
Since the breach of the peninsula a whole set of "new" circumstances has arisen. As the owner, the YWT has not only to recognize them but to robustly embrace them. The penninsula is a National Nature Reserve with anticipated management regimes in place aimed at retaining , if not improving, the natural history interest. The penninsula is also a very fragile environment with habitat management , and also visitor management, being in place commensurate with its needs. Obligations that are not simply expectations but requirements. The inevitable "honey pot" situation which has now developed immediately north of the breach is a recent problem given cars can no longer progress any further southwards. Simply parking up at random is not an option, and clearly there needs to be a managed solution to avoid the inevitable destruction of habitat over time. Similarly "foot traffic" needs management too to avoid indiscriminate pressure developing in various areas. I suspect all these aspects have been "drivers" ( forgive the pun) which have persuaded the YWT that a Centre needs to be in close proximity to the problem and caused them to adopt the Triangle Field as the preferred site. Coupled with all this is the question of safety associated with the breach. This is not a situation I would want to manage as the hazard potential is as necessary to oversee whether six or sixty people have gone southwards. Having helped to fight a scrub fire south of Chalk Bank sometime in the 60's I shudder to think what the proposed management regime might be currently in response to a fire, particularly given the access difficulties !!
So this whole question of obligation, responsibility and management begins to assume a very high level of significance and doubtless will have dominated YWT's thinking as well as being examined shortly, one would imagine, at the planning stage. With the very precise levels of responsibility called for nowadays, and concomitant culpability if things go wrong or are not provided for, these are aspects which cannot be ignored and doubtless will be scrutinized. All of these aspects require to be thought through as they can't simply be ignored or dismissed.
I considered at some length the economic aspects of the Centre's operation which had troubled me and still do. Whilst the construction of a Centre may have promised funding, the running costs will demand an act of faith and, I suspect, will also demand cross funding from other YWT sources to subsidise the operation. In this respect, whilst the YWT might be hoping for a best result situation to emerge, I suspect the "Spurn operation" will need financial support for some considerable time. So does that suggest that Spurn could simply be left to its own devices ? Well, not really given public access can be achieved via the beach, and the necessary management presence such demands needs to be in place. Plus many of the above responsibilities still apply whether the access had been encouraged or not.
Much has been said (including by me ) about the use of the Blue Bell as an alternative to the Visitor Centre given it's already in YWT ownership. Setting aside the predictions about coastal erosion affecting this area I suspect the question will be asked whether this location could achieve the same control over visitor management compared to that being proposed. All these elements will be assessed and I don't for one minute envy the Planning Officer who will preside over the case. Stripping apart all, not some, more personal preferences which can be associated with this proposal, the overall situation can only be judged to be a bloody mess ! Given all the complicated elements at play, facing the reality of what has to be complied with adds layers of difficulty beyond the simple choice of being in favour, or otherwise, of the location being proposed for the Visitor Centre. I almost wish the situation could go away, but the realities have to be faced following the penninsula being breached and I suspect the above comments only address a few of the circumstances involved.
Whatever our respective personal preferences for what should be the outcome of the proposal, there are clearly a lot of aspects that ,which for the benefit of Spurn as a nature reserve, need to be considered. Not easy, but land management never is !!
In two or three months the actual planning application will be submitted for the proposed new Visitor Centre at Spurn and the process will "go formal". The details will be judged against a whole series of regulations and requirements. The process, therefore, doesn't rest on emotional reactions to design, location or similar aspects based on knee jerk opinions bereft of any necessary factual details to justify the opposition. Doubtless many questions and concerns, which had been raised previously, have now been answered and resolved and are now no longer valid. Others will still remain and will form the basis of the opposition within submissions. In this respect, and taking account of the points made below, may I advise that it's always a good idea to try and provide an alternative suggestion to the aspect being opposed. It's easy to dismiss or condemn something, much harder to suggest a viable alternative ! It's a course of action I've advocated or insisted upon over the years and it still holds firm!! However, it doesn't make the situation less complicated and sometimes demands a willingness to set best preferences aside and confront the realities of the situation.
It seems to me that the opposition to the proposal can be split into individual sections as follows :
- opposition by residents to the (very) presence of a Visitor Centre
- entrenched opposition to the YWT itself based on mistrust and failed local relationships with staff
- opposition to actual precise elements of the proposal
- opposition to the way Eon has supported the proposal and organized consultation.
The second and fourth of these can be set aside for the purposes of the Blog as the first is unlikely to change and the other should be dealt with separately anyway.
Since the breach of the peninsula a whole set of "new" circumstances has arisen. As the owner, the YWT has not only to recognize them but to robustly embrace them. The penninsula is a National Nature Reserve with anticipated management regimes in place aimed at retaining , if not improving, the natural history interest. The penninsula is also a very fragile environment with habitat management , and also visitor management, being in place commensurate with its needs. Obligations that are not simply expectations but requirements. The inevitable "honey pot" situation which has now developed immediately north of the breach is a recent problem given cars can no longer progress any further southwards. Simply parking up at random is not an option, and clearly there needs to be a managed solution to avoid the inevitable destruction of habitat over time. Similarly "foot traffic" needs management too to avoid indiscriminate pressure developing in various areas. I suspect all these aspects have been "drivers" ( forgive the pun) which have persuaded the YWT that a Centre needs to be in close proximity to the problem and caused them to adopt the Triangle Field as the preferred site. Coupled with all this is the question of safety associated with the breach. This is not a situation I would want to manage as the hazard potential is as necessary to oversee whether six or sixty people have gone southwards. Having helped to fight a scrub fire south of Chalk Bank sometime in the 60's I shudder to think what the proposed management regime might be currently in response to a fire, particularly given the access difficulties !!
So this whole question of obligation, responsibility and management begins to assume a very high level of significance and doubtless will have dominated YWT's thinking as well as being examined shortly, one would imagine, at the planning stage. With the very precise levels of responsibility called for nowadays, and concomitant culpability if things go wrong or are not provided for, these are aspects which cannot be ignored and doubtless will be scrutinized. All of these aspects require to be thought through as they can't simply be ignored or dismissed.
I considered at some length the economic aspects of the Centre's operation which had troubled me and still do. Whilst the construction of a Centre may have promised funding, the running costs will demand an act of faith and, I suspect, will also demand cross funding from other YWT sources to subsidise the operation. In this respect, whilst the YWT might be hoping for a best result situation to emerge, I suspect the "Spurn operation" will need financial support for some considerable time. So does that suggest that Spurn could simply be left to its own devices ? Well, not really given public access can be achieved via the beach, and the necessary management presence such demands needs to be in place. Plus many of the above responsibilities still apply whether the access had been encouraged or not.
Much has been said (including by me ) about the use of the Blue Bell as an alternative to the Visitor Centre given it's already in YWT ownership. Setting aside the predictions about coastal erosion affecting this area I suspect the question will be asked whether this location could achieve the same control over visitor management compared to that being proposed. All these elements will be assessed and I don't for one minute envy the Planning Officer who will preside over the case. Stripping apart all, not some, more personal preferences which can be associated with this proposal, the overall situation can only be judged to be a bloody mess ! Given all the complicated elements at play, facing the reality of what has to be complied with adds layers of difficulty beyond the simple choice of being in favour, or otherwise, of the location being proposed for the Visitor Centre. I almost wish the situation could go away, but the realities have to be faced following the penninsula being breached and I suspect the above comments only address a few of the circumstances involved.
Whatever our respective personal preferences for what should be the outcome of the proposal, there are clearly a lot of aspects that ,which for the benefit of Spurn as a nature reserve, need to be considered. Not easy, but land management never is !!
Monday, September 14, 2015
Birding Frontiers Challenge Series........ Winter.
This is the second in what is going to prove to be an absolutely ground breaking series. I was impressed by the first in the Series ( Autumn ) but am even more impressed by this edition.....it's superb! I had the pleasure, and privilege , of listening to Martin Garner launch the latest edition at the BirdFair. Whilst he is the author and editor he also generously pays tribute to the many "team members" associated with individual species. At another level the illustrations by Ray Scally also transport us into what I personally feel to be another medium. So, yes, I'm a bit of a fan!
Living where I do ( the Isle of Islay, Scottish Hebrides ) I'm enthused already by the section on Redpolls and shall be certainly looking out for particular "types" this autumn. But I'll also be exploring a bit of a personal hobby horse I've suspected for a long time, but not pursued very actively. I believe we can receive migration "streams" of both Scandinavian and Icelandic Redwings on Islay within the same period in autumn. The first are moving directly south-east and appear where I live on the western coast of Islay, the others are migrants that I believe move south west down the Great Glen and can be encountered in the south east of Islay before they tend to move on into the Argyll mainland and beyond. The approaches advocated by Martin Garner have enthused me already.....what about you?
As I've already said, the illustrations are tremendous and I can't stop returning to examine some which I deem to be without precedence. Just look at the sections on Snow Buntings, Redpolls, Buff-bellied Pipit and Water Pipits ( in fact , all of them ! ) and be prepared to be enthused. The technical information is similarly without precedence and there are persons better equipped than I who can comment on the information provided. My only "editorial comment" arises within the Siberian Pipit section.... is there a slight confusion between the quoted dates of November, 2013 and that for 2014?
For me the main underlying message throughout the whole book , but set out by Martin Garner in his presentation at the BirdFair, and also in the "How to use this book " section, is a series of messages that both enthuse and call for action. We are now in a different era, have improved equipment, sources, guidance and need to be prepared to accept new challenges and move the situation on still further compared to that , say, ten years ago. Martin Garner sets out a list of comments ( a "recipe" ) we can all adopt to make our birding and our own expertise much better and more satisfying. When presented by him personally at the BirdFair this came across as a very motivating array of advice that I believe can benefit all of us. Read the list, try the approach, take on board the points as I'm sure much can arise from such a new, fresh approach to our birding.
And if you can't remember the specific advice, simply embrace a more curious, inquiring approach and take on board "Martin's ( M and M ) Message" which the following image will help you remember ( I hope Martin doesn't take offence!! ).
MARTIN'S MESSAGE.
LET'S GET OUT AND FIND THEM
Living where I do ( the Isle of Islay, Scottish Hebrides ) I'm enthused already by the section on Redpolls and shall be certainly looking out for particular "types" this autumn. But I'll also be exploring a bit of a personal hobby horse I've suspected for a long time, but not pursued very actively. I believe we can receive migration "streams" of both Scandinavian and Icelandic Redwings on Islay within the same period in autumn. The first are moving directly south-east and appear where I live on the western coast of Islay, the others are migrants that I believe move south west down the Great Glen and can be encountered in the south east of Islay before they tend to move on into the Argyll mainland and beyond. The approaches advocated by Martin Garner have enthused me already.....what about you?
As I've already said, the illustrations are tremendous and I can't stop returning to examine some which I deem to be without precedence. Just look at the sections on Snow Buntings, Redpolls, Buff-bellied Pipit and Water Pipits ( in fact , all of them ! ) and be prepared to be enthused. The technical information is similarly without precedence and there are persons better equipped than I who can comment on the information provided. My only "editorial comment" arises within the Siberian Pipit section.... is there a slight confusion between the quoted dates of November, 2013 and that for 2014?
For me the main underlying message throughout the whole book , but set out by Martin Garner in his presentation at the BirdFair, and also in the "How to use this book " section, is a series of messages that both enthuse and call for action. We are now in a different era, have improved equipment, sources, guidance and need to be prepared to accept new challenges and move the situation on still further compared to that , say, ten years ago. Martin Garner sets out a list of comments ( a "recipe" ) we can all adopt to make our birding and our own expertise much better and more satisfying. When presented by him personally at the BirdFair this came across as a very motivating array of advice that I believe can benefit all of us. Read the list, try the approach, take on board the points as I'm sure much can arise from such a new, fresh approach to our birding.
And if you can't remember the specific advice, simply embrace a more curious, inquiring approach and take on board "Martin's ( M and M ) Message" which the following image will help you remember ( I hope Martin doesn't take offence!! ).
MARTIN'S MESSAGE.
LET'S GET OUT AND FIND THEM
A phenomenal insight into bird migration.
On the 21st June this year I wrote a piece on the Blog entitled, "Bird migrants and large cities". It followed a visit to New York, a "baptism in birds" using Central Park and an awe inspiring visit to the upper gallery of the Rockefeller Building at dusk watching darkness descend, but dominated still by the lights of the city. As you might imagine migrating birds are attracted to such conditions and moves are now afoot to minimize any adverse effects or confusion the plethora of lights emanating from New York's famous skyline causes.
We also visited the Twin Towers Memorial site. In all the usual ways I found this upsetting. Simply looking up at the surrounding majestic buildings and considering such magnificence and engineering excellence could be destroyed by prejudice and hatred is not a very comforting emotion. Coupled with this is the realization that so many who lost their lives were members of fire crews and police precincts who were attempting to save people, all of whose names are inscribed on the monument.
Couple all this with some details my son has directed me to and the theme of migration, remembrance, light and big cities intertwines even further. Many of you will know of the Tribute in Light Memorial event held in New York each 11th September. See the link here for some awesome photographs of the occasion and background details Tribute in Light Memorial. The ultra impressive twin blue beams are shone skywards from dusk until dawn on the night of September 11th each year and have done so following the first remembrance event on the 11th March,2002, six months after the appalling tragedy.
Now enter the supporting cast, at least this year!! You first of all need to know that The Cornell Lab of Ornithology run a web site, BirdCast, that provides details of what is happening in terms of the volume of bird migration over given periods of time.
Impressive eh? Now take a look at the website itself and access some of the information, which I suspect you'll find fascinating. Just click on this link, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Incidentally the organizers of the Tribute event turn off the lights if it appears they will be causing a problem with migrating birds, which I find quite humbling in a way. But to really appreciate the significance of what migration in action can comprise and the effects the bright lights of our cities have on birds on the move, take a look at this as it's absolutely mind boggling! And don't forget to read the accompanying factual material too .... Click on this link
Migration in action
We also visited the Twin Towers Memorial site. In all the usual ways I found this upsetting. Simply looking up at the surrounding majestic buildings and considering such magnificence and engineering excellence could be destroyed by prejudice and hatred is not a very comforting emotion. Coupled with this is the realization that so many who lost their lives were members of fire crews and police precincts who were attempting to save people, all of whose names are inscribed on the monument.
Couple all this with some details my son has directed me to and the theme of migration, remembrance, light and big cities intertwines even further. Many of you will know of the Tribute in Light Memorial event held in New York each 11th September. See the link here for some awesome photographs of the occasion and background details Tribute in Light Memorial. The ultra impressive twin blue beams are shone skywards from dusk until dawn on the night of September 11th each year and have done so following the first remembrance event on the 11th March,2002, six months after the appalling tragedy.
Now enter the supporting cast, at least this year!! You first of all need to know that The Cornell Lab of Ornithology run a web site, BirdCast, that provides details of what is happening in terms of the volume of bird migration over given periods of time.
Impressive eh? Now take a look at the website itself and access some of the information, which I suspect you'll find fascinating. Just click on this link, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Incidentally the organizers of the Tribute event turn off the lights if it appears they will be causing a problem with migrating birds, which I find quite humbling in a way. But to really appreciate the significance of what migration in action can comprise and the effects the bright lights of our cities have on birds on the move, take a look at this as it's absolutely mind boggling! And don't forget to read the accompanying factual material too .... Click on this link
Migration in action
" The Birds of Spurn" by Andy Roadhouse.
The pre-publication offer for this fantastic new book is now operational and you can order your copy in a variety of ways as the details on the poster below indicates. This is an exciting publication, which brings Spurn's remarkable story and achievements bang up to date. Moreover, the story doesn't end there! It's intended that "Updates" will be issued annually which will keep the information up to date and fresh!
The offer is open until the 30th November and ensures you'll receive a copy, saves you £3.00 but can save you £8.00 if you elect to join the Friends of Spurn, which in turn brings a raft of additional benefits. So, give the following number a ring ( 01964 650479 ) or take a look at the observatory web site
www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk
or simply send your order on to Spurn Bird Observatory, Kew Villa, Kilnsea, HU12 0UB.
But , along the way, don't forget to check out the benefits of being a Friends of Spurn supporter.
The offer is open until the 30th November and ensures you'll receive a copy, saves you £3.00 but can save you £8.00 if you elect to join the Friends of Spurn, which in turn brings a raft of additional benefits. So, give the following number a ring ( 01964 650479 ) or take a look at the observatory web site
www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk
or simply send your order on to Spurn Bird Observatory, Kew Villa, Kilnsea, HU12 0UB.
But , along the way, don't forget to check out the benefits of being a Friends of Spurn supporter.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Corbyn's countryside?
Recent days has seen an array of meetings, debates, editorials and media coverage relating to the Labour Party leadership contest. In many senses I guess there'll be a collective sigh of relief that it's all over, or is it? The somewhat surprising extent of Jeremy Corbyn's victory will ensure that the whole issue is kept alive and that the performance of him, and his yet to be appointed key players at Westminster, is followed closely.
But another dimension occurs and interests me. On several occasions Jeremy Corbyn has expressed concerns on a variety of environmental issues both at national and worldwide levels.I'm encouraged by this as it's such a welcome departure contrasted against other leaders. Why? Because recent Party Leaders have shown little or no interest or commitment to the brief and, increasingly, our own natural heritage has being downgraded. It seems it's always the first sector to have funds and other resources withdrawn both at national and local level. Additionally, if the position of our current Secretary of State for the Environment ( Liz Truss ) is concerned, one might almost conclude the issues surrounding our natural heritage are a dirty words. It seems that unless issues arising are connected with farming or food then they will receive no consideration, indeed, serious steps associated with neocotinids and the culling of badgers appear to be progressed despite a different mood in the country and in support of commercial practices despite advice to the contrary.
The Prime Minister appears to have little understanding or empathy with the countryside or environmental issues. Indeed, his Best Green Government Ever is little more than a joke and will provide a suitable epitaph on the Government's role in this respect, with an accomapanying big question mark of course.. Surprisingly, the past Labour Party Leader ( Ed Milliband ) has pledged that he will take up an active role in climate change matters which is welcome.
So might we see countryside matters rise up the agenda a little, which is more than welcome. Given Corbyn's intention to try and create an "inclusive democracy" the possibility that such concerns will also filter down into local politics is tempting to consider. Finally, the environment might receive its true desserts! Undoubtedly it will take time , but anything is better than the current atmosphere where "the environment" is seen to be little more than a commercial resource to exploited and abused. Let's be patient.
But another dimension occurs and interests me. On several occasions Jeremy Corbyn has expressed concerns on a variety of environmental issues both at national and worldwide levels.I'm encouraged by this as it's such a welcome departure contrasted against other leaders. Why? Because recent Party Leaders have shown little or no interest or commitment to the brief and, increasingly, our own natural heritage has being downgraded. It seems it's always the first sector to have funds and other resources withdrawn both at national and local level. Additionally, if the position of our current Secretary of State for the Environment ( Liz Truss ) is concerned, one might almost conclude the issues surrounding our natural heritage are a dirty words. It seems that unless issues arising are connected with farming or food then they will receive no consideration, indeed, serious steps associated with neocotinids and the culling of badgers appear to be progressed despite a different mood in the country and in support of commercial practices despite advice to the contrary.
The Prime Minister appears to have little understanding or empathy with the countryside or environmental issues. Indeed, his Best Green Government Ever is little more than a joke and will provide a suitable epitaph on the Government's role in this respect, with an accomapanying big question mark of course.. Surprisingly, the past Labour Party Leader ( Ed Milliband ) has pledged that he will take up an active role in climate change matters which is welcome.
So might we see countryside matters rise up the agenda a little, which is more than welcome. Given Corbyn's intention to try and create an "inclusive democracy" the possibility that such concerns will also filter down into local politics is tempting to consider. Finally, the environment might receive its true desserts! Undoubtedly it will take time , but anything is better than the current atmosphere where "the environment" is seen to be little more than a commercial resource to exploited and abused. Let's be patient.
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