Scottish Gamekeepers Association starts bird protection scheme

A new conservation project aims to help stop the decline of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable birds. The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) will ask its members to record the numbers of birds spotted. This data will then be used to help target conservation efforts towards specific areas.

The wading bird population has dropped dramatically in Scotland with the numbers of some species falling by more than 50%. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) said its research showed wading birds breed up to three times more successfully on moors that are looked after by gamekeepers.

Despite this, the population of wading birds has dropped dramatically in Scotland with 56% of curlew and lapwing disappearing in 17 years, with golden plover numbers dipping 18%.

Curlew

SGA Chairman Alex Hogg said: “What we are asking grouse keepers to do is to help us build a detailed map of breeding waders on their ground and create a baseline for future years. Whilst the principal aim here is to help wading birds, we also hope an off-shoot of this project is that it encourages gamekeepers to get into the habit of noting the wildlife on their ground so we can establish an accurate picture of biodiversity on managed moorland.”

The project was welcomed by Scottish environment minister Paul Wheelhouse. He said: “I hope this and other similar work being done to conserve wading birds can inform us of the conservation work required to halt the decline of these important species which can be affected by predation of eggs, for example by foxes or crows, or arising from impacts on habitats either through climate change or the influences of changes in land use.”

The Trip to Italy

I have just watched the second episode of 'The Trip to Italy' on Catchup TV; I forgot that it was airing last night on BBC2. I love this melancholy comedy featuring Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan; their gentle banter and delightful impressions (which are remarkably accurate) of such celebs as Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Roger Moore, et al are a constant joy to watch. But above all this series is about their visits to various Italian restaurants, as Brydon has been commissioned to write another series for The Guardian, acting as a restaurant critic. Coogan goes along for the ride as it were.

This series follows on from the first 'The Trip' where these two visited restaurants in the North of England. I watched that as it was broadcast and have the box set on DVD.

In this latest episode they enjoy lunch at La Cantina, a delightful beachside trattoria located in San Frutuosso, a quaint fishing village nestled in a cove of Portofino. Dishes made with fresh fish and shellfish looked superb and certainly reflected in the price: lunch for two with wine at Euros 170.

I was so captivated by this place that it has been added to my Bucket List. Read about it here: http://www.lacantinasanfruttuoso.it/

The case against gassing badgers – by Dr Chris Cheeseman

Like me, many people in the UK watch 'Countryfile' on BBC television. And, like me, many of the viewing public were incensed over the interview last Sunday with Princess Anne and her unedifying comments about killing badgers by gassing them. And moreover as has become so typical of Countryfile's biased reporting, no counter arguments were aired. Well, now Dr Chris Cheeseman has been given the opportunity to present the case against gassing on the Countryfile website. How ingratiating, how totally underwhelming, how typical of the BBC. Why not give Dr Cheeseman 10 minutes airtime on the next TV broadcast of 'Countryfile'? Let the viewing public decide who is right instead of promoting biased views from just one side of the argument. I for one feel disinclined to watch any further 'Countryfile' programmes as I know what to expect. Shame on you, BBC.

For the record, here is a link to the report by Dr Chris Cheeseman on the website: http://www.countryfile.com/news/case-against-gassing-badgers

Favourite Perfumes

Not the usual kind of post for my blog but I happen to be purchasing a few presents for my wife's birthday coming soon. This usually includes some perfume; I know what Rosalind likes, I know what I like to buy for her and indeed what I like to buy for myself! So, just for personal interest, here is a list of some of the greatest perfumes there has ever been (in no particular order). If you would like to add any favourites of your own please do so by way of 'comment' - I might find some new indulgence!

Chanel No. 5 Parfum (Chanel) delicious from top note to drydown. Simply gorgeous.
Après l'Ondée (Guerlain) one of the twenty greatest perfumes of all time.
Joy Parfum (Jean Patou) smells huge, luscious and utterly wonderful.
Shalimar (Guerlain) extraordinary fragrance, deftly commands attention. Love it.
Bois des Ȋles (Chanel) over 80 years old and ageless, simply marvellous.
Private Collection (Estée Lauder) a fabulous floral chypre.
Arpège (Lanvin) elegant, nutty, woody floral - I know, I borrow it!
Rive Gauche (Yves Saint Laurent) the first perfume I bought for Ros, still a favourite.
Aromatics Elixir (Clinique) a room filling masterpiece.

And some of my favourites:

Azzaro pour Homme (Azzaro) "Un parfum pour les hommes qui aiment les femmes qui aiment les hommes..."; says it all!
Pour Monsieur (Chanel) a fresh chypre, the reference masculine fragrance.
Monsieur Balmain (Balmain) one of the best citrus fragrances of all time with an excellent sandalwood drydown.
Pour un Homme (Caron) lovely lavender with a touch of vanilla (quite difficult to find nowadays).
Eau Savage (Dior) for me, a masterpiece. Have worn it on and off for 30 odd years.

That's it. Long gone are the days of Brut, Old Spice and Tabac. How about you?

First Irish-bred White-tailed Eagle found shot

Ongoing raptor persecution is a sadly familiar story in the UK, 60 years after it was made illegal, but it's rearing its ugly head in Ireland too. One of the first White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla to fledge in the Irish reintroduction scheme has been found dead with shotgun injuries. It was found by a member of the public near Ballinderry, North Tipperary, on the north-east shore of Lough Derg.

Subsequent post-mortem examination by pathologists at the Regional Veterinary Laboratory at Knockalisheen, in Co. Limerick showed that the young male eagle had been shot, the body holding some 45-50 shotgun pellets. The impact of the shooting broke one of its legs and wings but the bird survived for some weeks after the shooting before dying. The horrific nature of the bird's shooting and ultimate death has shocked all those involved in the reintroduction project.

For the full story see here: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/one-of-only-two-irish-bred-white-tailed-eagles-shot-and-killed-1.1713647 

Badger cull expansion is abandoned

The government has abandoned its planned expansion of badger culling to reduce TB in cattle, according to a BBC report.

“The environment department’s original plan was to announce up to 10 new cull areas in South West England each year,” the report states.

Defra’s own independent assessment shows that culls in two pilot areas were not effective, and raised questions about their humaneness.

But it wasn’t all good news: “These pilot culls will continue, though there will be no independent oversight to assess their future performance".

In a Commons statement, the Environment Secretary Owen Paterson proposed a programme of vaccination around the edges of the most badly affected parts of the country. “This”, he said, “would create a buffer zone of immunity that would stop the disease from spreading.”

Wasn’t that what the experts wanted in the first place?

Dorset's New Living Lanscape

I love Dorset and its rich variety of wildlife. I was therefore delighted to hear that a £2.7m grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund has helped to add a new Living Landscape to the 150 already in existence across the UK.

Dorset Wildlife Trust's hugely ambitious Great Heath encompasses the urban centres of Bournemouth and Poole and the internationally important Poole Harbour and Dorset Heaths. It also links The New Forest National Park to the east and the Wild Purbeck Nature Improvement Area to the west.

Partners include local authorities and conservation bodies. The grant enables them to buy 607ha (1500 acres) of land. Access, interpretation and management will improve for almost 100 wildlife sites and two long-distance trails.

"Buying the land from the Canford estate was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said DWT's Director of Operations, Brian Bleese. "We aim to develop an Urban Living Landscape with a strong geographical identity, rich in wildlife and valued by local people."

I am sure it will be valued by visitors to the area as well, including me.