2025

The commentary we often see and hear from Wild Justice and others who are not fans of game shooting could lead many people to the conclusion that gamebird management is harmful to the environment.

The Scottish Government’s Natural Environment Bill was introduced to Holyrood in February 2025 and is aimed at protecting Scotland’s natural environment.

We have translocated a further twenty black grouse to the North York Moors to bolster the twenty birds released last October.

Upon joining the GWCT, we’d hoped for lots of opportunities to develop fieldwork skills, and we certainly haven’t been disappointed.

In response to increased findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (commonly known as bird flu) in wild birds and new cases in poultry and kept birds, coupled with heightened risk levels, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone with housing measures is being introduced for north, central and parts of east of England to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease.

As the UK Government announces a common-sense approach to environmental permitting in England, why is a common sense approach not being applied around the management of wildfires on moorland and to reversing biodiversity decline?

Red and black spotted, round and shiny ladybirds are arguably one of the few beetles everyone can recognise. 

“The United Kingdom does not have indigenous peoples, or indigenous and local communities as understood under the Convention on Biological Diversity”.  Not sure what the Welsh or Scots will think of that?

As a contribution to Flood Action Week, Defra and Floods Minister Emma Hardy are urging us to cultivate flood-resilient plants in our gardens, and on 17th October The Independent brings us the story; “Homeowners urged to use five key plants to make gardens flood ready”.

How often do you read that policy must be science and evidence-led, and think that must be good, leading to the right conclusion? Sadly that is not always the case.