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Q8: What Would It Take for Us to Truly ‘Value’ Nature?
What Would It Take for Us to Truly ‘Value’ Nature? Not ‘admire’ or ‘like’ – but truly value. This tree, this hill, the sky, the sea. Can we see their value the way a CEO sees value on a balance sheet? When’s the last time you heard someone say, “You know what… nature is valuable”?…
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Military Land – A Conservation Success. By Graham Wellstead.
Introduction: When we think of military land, conservation isn’t often the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, as Graham Wellstead highlights in this fascinating guest post, the UK’s military-owned land has become an unexpected sanctuary for wildlife. Spanning 600,000 acres, much of this land has remained untouched for over a century, offering a haven…
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Did You Know Britain’s Birds Are Disappearing?
Featuring recent findings* on wild bird populations and actionable steps towards reversing their decline. Birdsong, once the soundscape of the British countryside, is (as Rachel Carson predicted in her book Silent Spring) fading. Recent data on wild bird populations in the UK paints a picture of a species under strain. Birds are affected from farmland…
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Shrinking Biodiversity: The Impact of Human Actions on Wildlife.
Recent reports paint a stark picture of the challenges our planet’s wildlife faces today. The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2024 sounds a chilling alarm: there has been a catastrophic 73% decline in monitored wildlife populations over the past 50 years. Freshwater species have been hit even harder, facing a staggering 85% decline. This…
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Wolves in the UK. Do we want them or need them?
By Graham Wellstead. In his thought-provoking piece, Graham Wellstead gets his teeth into the question of whether wolves should be reintroduced to the UK. Reflecting on historical accounts and personal experiences, Graham navigates the complexities surrounding this debate. He highlights the ecological and societal considerations, urging readers to ponder the implications of coexisting with these…
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BADGER TROUBLES
By Graham Wellstead. Understanding Badgers: Conservation Efforts and Controversies Introduction: In this blog post, FFON contributor Graham Wellstead shares his personal experiences and insights into the complex relationship between badgers, one of our native wildlife’s most iconic creatures, and human society. Drawing from years of observation and a deep-seated respect for nature, Graham discusses the…
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The Girl, the Owl, the Deer and the River
In a world whispered by winds and sung by rivers, a young girl with curious eyes wandered through a forest of ancient trees. Each step was a question, each breath a wonder. One golden morning, she came across an owl, perched solemnly in an old oak tree. “Owl, why do you watch so quietly?” she…
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Maxwell Knight: A Visionary in Environmental Protection
Today, we delve into the fascinating world of Maxwell Knight – an unsung hero in the history of environmental conservation. Known predominantly for his enigmatic role in MI5 and as the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s “M”, Knight’s true passion lay in the quiet, observant world of natural history. Born in the early 20th century, a…
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Echoes of the Past: Learning Conservation from Maxwell Knight
What can a spy teach us about nature? In the echoes of history, we often find timeless wisdom. This is particularly true when we revisit the legacy of Maxwell Knight OBE, the legendary ‘Nature Detective’ and MI5 spymaster. Knight, a figure who intriguingly straddled the worlds of espionage and natural history, left behind a legacy…
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Growing close to nature during the lockdown
Written by Sean Wensley. Northern Ireland is in an extended period of lockdown as I write, 3 weeks beyond the rest of the UK. For a further three weeks, I toggle between my work desk, garden and 8-month-old baby, buying shopping to last as long as possible and clapping for NHS staff and other key…
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Here in Germany, we do watch a lot from our windows
Written by John F. Burton in Germany, who knew and worked with Maxwell Knight: Thank you very much for your kind email and your inspiring internet (FFON) piece, which we enjoyed reading. Here in Germany, we do watch a lot from our windows (passing White Storks, Grey Herons, Cormorants, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Goshawks, Jays, etc.) and…
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What’s on the bird table?
A male Blackbird (Turdus merula) taking sunflower hearts:
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What happens when humans ‘turn off’ for a moment.
Written by Chris Middleton FLS. What a great idea Armchair Naturalism is. A perfect time to make some observations, and to encourage others to do the same. I like to think people might also use the time constructively to perhaps learn a new study discipline or new language, or just further their general knowledge. On…
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Fledgling Chaffinch calls for parents
Continuing my wildlife adventures with my iPhone, I caught this charming Chaffinch calling for its parents yesterday. My gut feeling was that a parent would soon show up, which is exactly what happened; however, I’m frustrated to report that I didn’t manage to film the parent (a male Chaffinch) appearing on the very same garden…
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Maxwell Knight Symposium coverage in the IAT Bulletin
Thanks for the generous coverage of the MaxwellKnight Symposium in the IAT Bulletin.
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“The mysterious Mr Knight: spymaster to be celebrated.” – Cage & Aviary Birds magazine July 18.
Thanks, Cage & Aviary Birds for the article “The Mysterious Mr Knight: spymaster to be celebrated” in this week’s publication. Registration for the Maxwell Knight Symposium is via The British Herpetological Society website Organised by the British Herpetological Society (BHS), with support from the British Chelonia Group (BCG), the Amateur Entomologists Society (AES), the Institute…
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LATEST NEWS: Venue/date confirmed for Maxwell Knight Symposium
Latest news 28/6/2018: Birkbeck College (“School of Arts’ annex”) is now confirmed as the venue for the Maxwell Knight Symposium. Further details about the Maxwell Knight Symposium can be found here. John and Margaret Cooper.
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Our wildlife is in ‘crisis’ – ‘56% of UK species are in decline’ and ‘165 species are considered Critically Endangered in Great Britain’
Our wildlife is in ‘crisis’ according to a new report launched this month entitled the State of Nature, which brings together data and expertise from over 50 organisations (including BTO, RSPB, WWF, ZSL, National Trust, Woodland Trust, Butterfly Conservation et al). Britain’s wildlife is in ‘crisis’ as ‘56% of UK species are in decline’ and…
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Chapter IV – goodbye to wildlife?
In this heartfelt chapter of The Frightened Face of Nature, Maxwell Knight drops his guard and invites the reader to consider the unthinkable – “the virtual disappearance of nature”. “Does such a question as that heading this chapter stem from the neurotic imaginings of a fanatic,” he asks, “or is it one that can reasonably be…
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How did ‘bird gardening’ become established in British life?
Simon King and Margaret Cooper reveal its origins in the ideas and writing of the famous WW2 spy catcher – none other than Maxwell Knight. Available in this week’s Cage & Aviary Birds Magazine
