December 2017.
"An ecologist's perspective. We need a radical rethink of our 'love of nature' and what we call urban wildlife conservation."
How human-centred we really are when we claim we love nature...
November 2017.
"An octopus invasion of Welsh beaches: now some facts."
An elusive and clever creature often watches us from the seaside surf, but we barely ever see it. Here I explore the real facts behind a strange story that went around the world...
"We cannot be trusted with plastic. For the sake of our seas can we take away choice?"
Campaigners want Blue Belt protection for huge marine areas controlled by Britain.
But what about plastic? Look what else we could be doing too...
October 2018.
"People's Walk For Wildlife: Bring on the medicine."
Views from the wildlife rally in Hyde Park and beyond, with Chris Packham, Billy Bragg et al...
June 2018.
"Victoria Park Bioblitz 2015"
A natural history event with 900 people, 409 species and one famous Victorian naturalist.
(Published in Nature in Avon: The proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society. 74. p51-58). Available online here:
Biodiversity Heritage Library link.
September 2018.
"Why do we have so few of Britain's insects here in south Bristol?"
A look at what's here, what's missing and how Buglife is working with volunteers to bring them back across 100 new sites...
(Published in: South Bristol Voice).
January 2018.
"Badger cull fears for Bristol."
Avon Wildlife Trust takes a stand against the expanded cull & urges others to follow...
"Packaging fury goes coconuts."
Tweeters agreed with my frustration about unnecessary plastic food packaging - now the story has gone on TV, online news sites and the national papers...
January 2018.
Independent Ecologist, Freelance Journalist, Educator, Author
"Yes, we should we put a price on nature."
Intrinsic value is a useless, romantic notion that saves nothing. In this piece I explore how we value nature, the controversial idea of Natural Capital and the problems with pricelessness.
January 2018.
October 2017.
"Sweet little bats: Tonight, I celebrate my gloves for you..."
This piece explains about a rabies-related virus carried by a few British bats. It follows another media wildlife panic story, so here are the facts.
November 11 2018.
"The bittersweet poppy: 100 years on."
Whatever your political views on the symbolism attached to the blood red poppy, it has carried a shadow since ancient times. Botanical thoughts written for #ArmisticeDay #RemembranceDay
"False widows? False fears!"
Four London schools were shut amid silly spider nonsense... where are the natural history teachers to explain to schools how irrational their fear of nature is?
They blew the budget on pesticides instead of education...
"The Queen's Hitch-hikers."
The early spring bumblebees are out at last, but check out their fascinating passengers...
(Published in: Nature in Avon: The proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society. 2018).
Bringing wildlife closer
August 2018.
"Pay up, or Mr Prickles gets it, along with other park wildlife..."
My comment piece on urban wildlife at risk due to severe funding cuts to Britain's parks and green spaces. This article was also published in South Bristol Voice and on its website.
October 2018.
May 2018.
December 2017.
Image:
Bernard Landgraf