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So, just as I was about to report that Natural England had stopped communicating (again), I get a rushed email last night from their Head of Wildlife Licensing, acknowledging the questions I'd asked earlier this month.
However this was only after I'd submitted three freedom of information requests to get the answers I was looking for. Co-incidence? Still, it's very good to know the communication channels are still open. Good news: The annual licence data will be published, in full, later this month or early next month - with the caveat "this is subject to everything going smoothly with the reports". I'll keep tabs on that. The wildlife control licensing statistics, as you'll know, are now published every year, only after pressure from our campaign forced Natural England to release the (previously hidden) figures - making them freely available for public scrutiny. More good news: Black-headed gull eggs will be off the menu again this year! Black-headed gulls are amber listed in the UK, that means they are a threatened species. Yet, for years, thousands of their eggs have been harvested for human consumption, under licences approved by Natural England - consumed in fancy restaurants and sold through high end grocers - hard to believe but true. Licences have traditionally been issued to applicants in two areas of England - Hampshire and North Yorkshire, but pressure from our campaign secured the suspension of most of the licences in 2022, a great result, although a handful of licences were still approved in Yorkshire. I've now asked for the complete and total withdrawal of all the licences this year, and an end to this abhorrent and outdated trade. And I am happy to confirm that most of the licences have already been withdrawn... Natural England tell me that they have not received any further requests for licences from Hampshire so far this year and that "in the unlikely event we do receive applications, these would most certainly be rejected". Excellent. This will secure the survival of thousands of the amber-listed gulls. But they have not yet confirmed that they will suspend the Yorkshire licences, and say a further assessment is to be carried out first. So I have now written to them and respectfully suggested that the logical and correct thing to do would be to discontinue the Yorkshire licences, especially given the absence of any backlash following the suspension of last year's licences in Hampshire. I am hopeful that the government sponsored harvesting of gull eggs for human consumption will soon be a thing of the past, consigned to history, where it belongs. I'll update you on this when I have further info. The campaign continues! Best, Jase 
Image by Norbert Rick from Pixabay
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Quite suddenly, I find myself in my late fifties.
I used to climb mountains. Occasionally, and slowly, but with determination, expending a great deal of breath in the process and reeling when I finally reached the top, exhilarated and energised, ahead of my descent and journey home. These days I can't do it; I can sometimes manage a modest hill, the summit of which might still provide an expansive view, but the feeling of achievement is not quite the same and the horizon is a little closer. Now I come to think of it, it's a metaphor for my life I suppose, the hard slog with a sense of purpose that I had in my twenties and thirties, the lust for adventure and excitement, and the need to succeed. That thirst mellowed somewhat in my forties as I settled down; taking enjoyment, in what I had by now achieved, from memories and perhaps intermittent excursions into the same territory I'd previously explored. Now in my late fifties, I have regrettably become a little cynical about the world - no, let me correct that - cynical about many of the people in the world. For I love the world, with a passion. The miracle that this strange planet is; don't try to tell me it's all evolved somehow, that zillions of years ago, by chance, a protein soup formed and birthed everything from a butterfly to a bird, to a platypus, to a panda, to a whale. To an ape? Not to mention the flowers, the trees. Perfection, truly. Beautiful designs; not the random by-products of a chemical broth. Still, I can't understand where a human fits into all this. Man seems completely incongruous on earth, as though he found himself here, dropped from the clutches of some giant space-travelling bird of prey, as it glided across the universe, over planets and moons, on its way to some dark place at the edge of everything - which may well be mankind's natural environment. But somehow he landed in paradise and began to destroy it. Adam in the garden of Eden. It is tragic that humans, alone, have blighted paradise. My hope is that somewhere a parallel world exists, free from humankind. The dilemma is that I want to be there to enjoy it, and yet I must not be there, if it is as beautiful as Earth. Then again, here's a thought, if souls exist (as they surely do), then perhaps it's like the Egyptians told us - our souls can, if we have lived a virtuous life here, go on to dwell forever in a utopia that is a mirror image of our earthly existence. A world as beautiful as Earth but safe from our calamitous meddling; in spirit form surely we could not inflict harm on that which is physical? I'll go with that, it feels logical and right, not that logic plays much part in this earthly realm - and not that I can assume I have lived a virtuous life, for that matter; I doubt it somehow. I'll have to wait and see how I am judged in that regard. Meanwhile, there are wonders to behold; so ever onwards... 
Photo by Louis Maniquet on Unsplash
* Natural England's notorious lethal control licences are open to abuse
* 'Pitiful' punishment is no deterrent to illegal hunting of wildlife * "It is not possible to bear witness to all licensable activities" says Natural England Natural England's lethal control licences are open to abuse and they can't be effectively monitored. That's why today I'm encouraging everyone to report suspected abuse of licences - and I'm highlighting an easy way to do this. Illegal hunting enabled by Natural England's licences? Natural England recently rejected our plan that would have seen independent monitoring of their lethal control licences, amid suggestions that the current system might be facilitating illegal hunting. So I asked them to explain what measures they have in place themselves to combat licence abuse. It seems that the answer is very little. What's more, it appears that there isn't much punishment in store for those abusing the licences. Whole licensing system open to abuse It turns out that, in the absence of their own comprehensive monitoring, Natural England do rely on members of the public to 'monitor' their licences after all, albeit unofficially. All of this follows my discussions with Natural England over reports that uncontrolled killing of Cormorants might be taking place by a number of unscrupulous hunters, exploiting Natural England's notorious lethal control licences. I fear that other species too might be suffering the same fate. The whole licensing system is open to potential abuse simply because so many licences are issued and there is no way for Natural England to effectively and comprehensively oversee the actions they permit. So what punishment is in store for those who are found to have used the licences illegally? Not much it appears. 'Punishment' for illegal hunting of Cormorants: a warning letter and a telephone call... Even when a licence holder blatantly disregards the terms of their licence, there seems to be precious little punishment. Natural England told me "Where licence holders have shot too many birds or done so outside of the licensing period, this often results in an official warning letter. Any warning letters that have been issued are followed up with a compliance visit or telephone call the following year." The threat of a warning letter followed by a telephone call (the following year)? For a wildlife crime. Hardly a deterrent is it? Perhaps, if it emerges that licence abuse is more widespread, Natural England might take it more seriously. And that's where we come in, please read on.... "Not possible to bear witness to all licensable activities...we do rely on the public" Confirming their reliance on help from the public, Natural England said, "It is not possible to bear witness to all licensable activities, so outside of internal compliance activities we do rely on members of the public....to report suspicious activity so that we can take targeted action where required." This seems like a fairly weak strategy for a government agency tasked with protecting wildlife. If they can't effectively monitor their own licences, then perhaps they should drastically reduce the number of licences they issue in the first place. Of course this brings into question their culling licences for other species, and not just those they issue for bird control. Reporting suspicious activity by email In respect of Cormorants, Natural England told me that they have received only a 'small number' of suspected incidents of licence abuse, "we are not privy to any robust evidence which suggests widespread abuse of the licensing system," they say. But you could argue that this merely reflects the fact that there has been no clear way for the public to alert them to a problem. Today that changes. In a small but significant step forward - with Natural England's permission - I'm publishing a direct email address so that members of the public can alert Natural England to any apparently illegal activity associated with their licences. We should all keep a close eye on our own local wildlife populations and report suspicious activity directly to Natural England (in addition to the nearest wildlife crime officer). This includes accounts of alleged wildlife crimes found on social media. Natural England should then log and investigate those reports. If anyone suspects abuse of wildlife control licences, such as illegal shooting, they should contact Natural England directly at: Wildlife@Naturalengland.org.uk I'd suggest asking for a reference number and also to be kept informed of any subsequent investigations. Disorganised and not fit for purpose Yes, the licensing system seems to be disorganised and not fit for purpose. And yes, the punishments for those found abusing the licences seem pitifully inadequate. But for now we have to work with what we have. So please do keep a close eye on your local populations of Cormorants and all other protected wildlife. If you see or suspect illegal killing taking place then please do report it. I'm publishing Natural England's full response to my enquiries (below). In it they refer specifically to Cormorants but their explanation doubtless applies to much of their other licensing activities too. They use a lot of words, but I think we can perhaps conclude from it that Natural England has no practical ability to manage the lethal control activity that their licences permit - licences that might actually be facilitating hunting rather than protecting our wildlife. Please see my note following their response. From Head of Natural England Wildlife Licensing Service (NEWLS), National Delivery Dear Jason, Thank you for your patience with this matter. I have now spoken with colleagues in my team and can give you some background information on how and when compliance activities take place, in regard to licensing the lethal control of cormorants. Having read your blog, it appears a number of your followers have come across posts on social media accounts which indicate illegal activity is taking place or that licences are being abused. To be clear, in the first instance, for anyone who suspects that illegal shooting is taking place, they should make contact with a wildlife crime officer to report the incident. In addition, any social media reports which suggest that individuals or groups are abusing licences should be forwarded to Natural England for investigation. The wildlife licensing team can also undertake checks to see if licences are in place, where reported lethal control is occurring. I have made contact with my team who manage concerns from members of the public, who tell me no such recent reports have been made. I have undertaken a thorough look into our compliance and enforcement activity relating to cormorants over the last two years and can give an overview of the sorts of situations we have handled. Since the 2020/21 licensing season, we have dealt with: 3 incidents of shooting more birds than the licence permits 6 incidents of birds being shot outside of the licensable period 2 licences were revoked on the outcome of an enforcement investigation 5 referrals to the police for further investigation. Of the police referrals made, the cases concluded closed without further investigation or resulted in a community resolution. Where licence holders have shot too many birds or done so outside of the licensing period, this often results in an official warning letter. Any warning letters that have been issued are followed up with a compliance visit or telephone call the following year. This is to ensure they continue to understand and comply with the terms and conditions of the licence. If licence breaches were to persist, we would treat repeat incidents as ‘significant’ which means revoking licences or instigating an investigation leading which could lead to prosecution. As we grant approximately 600 cormorant licences over a 2-year period, the above incidents only account for a small number of the total licensed figures. Across our licensing work, we are committed to undertaking compliance activities for some of the licences we grant and this figure is increased where there is justification for doing so. For example, the species being impacted is of conservation concern and the proposed activities are considered high risk for the species. As cormorants are a green listed species which have increased by 50% based on a 25-year trend, they are not currently flagging as a compliance concern for wildlife licensing, and we are not privy to any robust evidence which suggests widespread abuse of the licensing system. The regulators code is clear in stating that: “Regulators should take an evidence-based approach to determining the priority risks in their area of responsibility and should allocate resources where they would be most effective in addressing those priority risks.” If a consecutive decline in cormorants indices continues beyond this current trend, and they become a species of conservation concern, we will review our approach to licensing and compliance to ensure favourable conservation status is not negatively impacted by lethal control. Having said the above, as a team we are concerned about the impacts of our licensing work on the spread of Avian Influenza which is having a devastating effect on birds across the UK. Consequently, we have placed additional restrictions on cormorant control activities this year and therefore will be undertaking increased compliance checks this season and once the returns information has been submitted. As you correctly point out in your email, the licensing system does rely on the honesty and integrity of the user, however this is not an issue restricted to wildlife licensing. It is not possible to bear witness to all licensable activities, so outside of internal compliance activities we do rely on members of the public and others to report suspicious activity so that we can take targeted action where required. I hope I have sufficiently outlined our compliance approach to cormorant licensing above, but if you have any further questions, I am happy to respond. Kind regards, Note: In their response Natural England maintain that Cormorant populations have increased over a 25 year period. This may be true in general, but other data in fact shows a decline in the birds core breeding areas across Europe, and a drop in UK populations in the shorter term. And why do we have to wait until a population decreases to the point of being threatened before we take action? As I've said before, with thousands of the birds being killed in England alone to 'protect inland fisheries', we might not have to look too far for an explanation of the population decline. Let's not forget that the government generated £24,583,342 in income from fishing licences between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. We shouldn't be conjuring with figures to suit financial agendas when it comes to wildlife conservation. And we shouldn't forget that the appalling state of our rivers through total mismanagement, is a much bigger threat to fish stocks than Cormorants could ever be. Humans are at the core of all ecological imbalance, it's a fact. That email address again, for reporting suspected wildlife licence abuse: Wildlife@Naturalengland.org.uk 
photo: KIMDAEJEUNG on Pixabay
* Natural England acknowledges Cormorant numbers are in decline but rejects plans for independent monitoring of culls
* In spite of warnings that licences might be facilitating illegal hunting.... Natural England has acknowledged a decline in the Cormorant population but has rejected our plan to monitor the culling of the birds. This in spite of our warning that illegal hunting may be contributing to the downturn in the birds population. The story so far.... Earlier in the summer I alerted Natural England to accounts of illegal shooting of Cormorants, being facilitated through misuse of their own lethal control licences. I'd discovered that members of an online forum had been openly discussing anecdotal illegal use of the licences at inland fisheries and angling clubs across the country, where the birds are culled to protect fish stocks. At that time Natural England seemed concerned by this, their Head of Wildlife Licensing going so far as asking my advice on how they could address the problem. "I would be very keen to hear your views on how NE might access data intelligence to monitor cormorant licensing better," he told me, adding that, "Intelligence and information from members of the public etc is critical in helping NE with its compliance/enforcement activity. We often visit sites as a result of information we receive". So, back in June I proposed a plan to overhaul the Cormorant licences, and I had an assurance from Natural England that it had their attention: "We are considering how we might evaluate changes to cormorant licensing.... some early views which we will try and develop. Reform/change might take some time to do alongside our other licensing priorities.... but I want to reassure you this has our attention." Plan rejected I remained optimistic over the summer, even through significant staff changes at Natural England, which saw two new faces heading the licensing department, but then last week I had a very disappointing update from them and an outright rejection of our proposals. It was a disappointing and lacklustre response. While acknowledging that Cormorant numbers are in decline, Natural England have now dismissed our call for better, independent monitoring of culls - in spite of the suggestions that their own licences are being used illegally. "We do not know the reason for the decline" Natural England recognise the dwindling numbers of Cormorants but said they 'don't know' the reason for the species decline in recent years. They told me, "it is important to note that we do not know the reason for the recent decline", adding that "we will continue to monitor the situation and adjust licensing levels accordingly". I believe the reasons for the Cormorant's decline might actually be very clear indeed. Unmonitored shooting 'out of control' The shooting of Cormorants in England is largely underregulated, unmonitored and apparently out of control. Some of those hunters tasked with killing Cormorants under licences issued by Natural England might be doing so with scant regard for their legal obligations, perhaps killing many more of the birds than is legally permitted. The plan I put forward to tackle this problem was based on suggestions from readers of my blog and supported by members of our campaign which now has nearly 400,000 signatures. Our plan would have enabled the public to report potentially criminal misuse of licences and required police checks on those carrying out the culls. This has been dismissed by Natural England. They explained: "While we understand the public interest in licensed control of wildlife, advertising of specific dates and locations of shooting is unlikely to result in positive debate or understanding and is unlikely to be supported by the Police." They didn't elaborate further except to say, "on the suggestion that Natural England licences should be checked by the Police for suitability of those licensed to shoot, this is not a responsibility that the Police will be able to take on in addition to their issue of Firearms Certificates, determining the use permitted in each case". "Trend shows an increase in birds" In an attempt to justify their continuing policy of culling Cormorants, Natural England says "the 25-year trend shows an increase of 50%, and the 10-year trend shows a smaller increase of 23%" But, however they try to dress it up, Cormorant numbers are now in decline. With apparently little or no monitoring of the Cormorant culls and Natural England dismissing hopes for public and/or police involvement, the government agency gives the unfortunate impression that it puts the interests of anglers and fisheries above the wildlife it claims to protect. An 'emotive' issue In conclusion, Natural England told me, "We understand that the control of wild birds is an emotive issue, however as a regulator we must ensure we carry out our duties in accordance with the legislation and Defra policy which will result in licences being issued where the tests have been met." Public have lost confidence in Natural England But it's clear to me that Natural England has lost the confidence of the public and should not underestimate the power of public opinion. I've now asked Natural England what, if any, monitoring they have (or intend to) put in place to combat this potentially illegal shooting of the birds. They said they would get back to me and I'm awaiting their response. Meanwhile our campaign to protect all wild birds continues, please sign and share the petition HERE. 
Photo by Amee Fairbank-Brown on Unsplash
Illegal hunting of Cormorants is openly discussed online - who knows how many of the birds are being shot under the cover of Natural England's licences?
* England and Northern Ireland entirely fail to engage over nature education plan for schools
* Wales and Scotland provide enthusiastic and thorough responses * The devolved nations lead the way in environmental education - while England and NI remain apathetic and disinterested Recently I wrote to the education ministers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland asking them to put nature at the core of primary school education, starting with the re-introduction of nature tables to the classroom, something that was common until the early 1970s. There was huge support for the idea from my readers. Many of you agreed that educating children, from the youngest ages, to respect and appreciate nature is perhaps our best hope if we are to encourage biodiversity regeneration in the UK. Alas, as you'll see, in England and Northern Ireland at least, it seems unlikely. Those two governments failed to respond at all. We have to look to the devolved nations of Scotland and Wales for direction and forward thinking. Both countries provided full and enthusiastic feedback to my suggestions. Prompt and thorough response from two devolved nations The Scottish and Welsh governments responded quickly and comprehensively, and pointed out a range of policies that they have established in order to provide their country's children with a positive view of nature and an involved interest with the environment throughout their schooling. The response from Scotland The Scottish Government Directorate for Education Reform told me:- "While climate change, biodiversity and nature are currently covered under sciences, technologies and social studies within Curriculum for Excellence, we also encourage sustainability education to be investigated across the curriculum." Eco-Schools in Scotland The Scottish government also continues to fund the 'Eco-Schools' initiative, giving schools the chance to earn a Green Flag award which shows the schools commitment to 'Learning for Sustainability'. This is an international scheme, recognised in 74 countries around the world. "But, we are not complacent", they told me, "we will continue to engage widely with children and young people and with education partners from early years through to higher education and lifelong learning, to ensure our young people gain the knowledge, skills and competencies required to help conserve nature in Scotland and internationally." The response from Wales The Welsh government is already very proactive too in educating the country's children about nature. The STEM policy branch of the Education Directorate explained to me in great detail about the plan already in place for significant change, under the new Curriculum for Wales which commenced last September. Within the framework of the curriculum, the government allows great flexibility for teachers to meet the specific needs of children depending on their individual circumstances. I feel this is a really excellent approach to education generally. 'Spiritual development and well-being' in Welsh schools I particularly liked what they told me with regard to nature education; using carefully chosen and thoughtful words they said:- "Experiencing the wonder of the natural world can contribute to learners’ spiritual development and well-being, and can help to cultivate in them a sense of place and sense of belonging, as embodied in the Welsh word 'cynefin'*" Among the elements that focus on nature education, the Welsh government says:- "The world around us is full of living things which depend on each other for survival. By recognising the diversity of living things and how they interact with their environment, learners can develop an understanding of how these have evolved over significant periods of time." I think it is a particularly encouraging strategy from the Welsh government, it gives specific direction to educators who are then free to tailor the programme with great flexibility, allowing teachers with empathy and understanding to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with their pupils. Empowering children in Wales to take action But the Welsh government goes even further than this. They told me that:- "through two programmes, 'eco schools' and 'size of Wales', the Welsh Government are able to go further than the classroom and actively engage with children and young people with policy development and taking action, listening to their views and creating opportunities for them to have their voices heard. These programmes empower children to learn about climate change and the importance of forests and nature and to drive change, improve their environmental awareness and take action." Seems like Wales already has a brilliant system in place, one that other countries would do well to emulate. I do still maintain that the simple inclusion of a nature table in the primary school classroom would bring huge and long term benefits for both the pupils and the natural world. Though Scotland has not committed to this directly, the Welsh government has implemented a framework within which this and much more can take place. England and Northern Ireland - No Response I did not receive so much as an acknowledgement from the education ministers of either England or Northern Ireland. We know that the governments in Westminster and Stormont are in disarray - and it shows. Nevertheless, their silence speaks volumes, it shows a shocking ignorance and suggests a lack of interest in expanding the horizons of young people. The shambolic chaos and apathy at government level surely ripples through the schools system in both countries, to the detriment of children's' education. Scotland and Wales lead the way forward So, for those who live in Scotland and Wales, I think it is a time of hope for nature education. While neither country can boast a particularly impressive track record across the board for environmental protection, learning lessons and recognising the need to teach children about the natural world is key in the longer term, and both Scotland and Wales have each implemented a national curriculum that reflects this need. They understand the impact and influence a good education can have on the natural world and are actively encouraging teachers and children to share knowledge and enthusiasm for nature. England and Northern Ireland? Well who knows, it's anybody's guess. I'd love to hear from them but for now it seems they have nothing to say - and quite possibly nothing to offer. Which is a scandal. No wonder the UK as a whole has a deplorable environmental record, one that is worsening rapidly. * Cynefin is a complex Welsh word that describes the relationship between one's natural environment and relationship to that environment. 
Being of a certain age, I have found it terribly sad to see the destruction of nature in this country in my lifetime.
I've written often about growing up with nature all around me, and the delight and wonder I found in being a part of it all. Many of the species I remember from my childhood are, alas, all but gone now, in the wake of human desecration of natural habitats. There is a disconnection between people and nature that simply did not exist to the same extent fifty years ago. I have written before about my early schooling and the way in which nature formed a core component of my primary school education, encouraged by a wonderful teacher whose lessons enriched and informed my whole life. I know it was a similar story for many of my generation. Now as I see first hand, almost daily, the wanton destruction of nature, I feel anguish and pain. It is truly heartbreaking. These days, most people are aware of the importance of looking after nature and encouraging biodiversity, but few actually care enough to act. That is a truth we must acknowledge. No amount of messaging will influence those who are unmoved by the plight of the natural world. So I have concluded that, if we are to really make a difference, we must look to the youngest generation and break the cycle of ignorance by instilling in them the same love and respect for the natural world that we were privileged to have all those years ago and which has clearly been lost along the way. I have today written to the education ministers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, asking them to share my vision of establishing nature as a core subject to be taught in primary schools, including a plan to bring back the widespread use of nature tables to classrooms, along with teachers who will enthusiastically share their knowledge. This is what I wrote to them:- As a writer and campaigner on environmental matters, I am writing to you with an idea that I hope will inspire your interest and engagement. I'm sure you will agree that the state of our natural environment is at a critical point and that action to address the decline of nature is imperative if we are to repair the damage that has been done in recent years. It is with great sadness that I have witnessed in my lifetime a terrible decline in biodiversity in this country and a tragic disconnection between people and nature. While current efforts to encourage biodiversity are valuable, I believe that the single most important contribution to conserving nature would be to instill in the very youngest minds a love and respect for nature and the countryside. After all, it will be the next generation and those that follow who will have the task of securing the future survival of our natural world. And so it is so vital that today's children are taught to respect and appreciate nature from a very early age. Growing up in the late 60s and early 70s, I was taught in school (from the age of three) about the importance of the natural world around me. Knowledge was shared with enthusiasm by educators who had genuine empathy and passion for nature. And because of this we grew up with a real respect for the natural world. These early lessons inspired wonder and delight in our young minds that turned into a lifelong fascination and appreciation of the flora and fauna with which we share this world. And this joy in discovering nature, if once again taught in schools, could be the single most valuable contribution to the future survival of our countryside and all the diverse species that still manage to survive in an increasingly hostile environment. The Vision So, I would like to see the subject of nature at the core of teaching in every primary school across the UK. It is a vision that I feel could be realised quite easily and it would be a powerful contribution to a better future, with wide ranging long term benefits. Nature Tables Initially I would like to see the reintroduction of nature tables in every primary school classroom. This idea has been mooted in recent years but I believe now is the time to act on it and bring back the nature table across the whole country. Some schools, Montessori establishments for example, have always recognised that nature is central to children's education. I believe it is imperative for mainstream education to follow this lead. I am contacting you along with other important decision makers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to make this happen. I have already had early discussions with the MS for North Wales, Carolyn Thomas, who has agreed that nature study should be at the core of early learning education across Wales. This needs to come to fruition and also be introduced across the rest of the UK. I sincerely hope I can count on your active support in influencing policy for this initiative, and I look forward to hearing from you. I'll keep you posted about the responses I receive..... 
* Update expected soon on Cormorant licence reform plan
* New head of licensing at Natural England ready to engage with our campaign Hi folks, Hope you have all enjoyed a good summer! As I write, the swallows are gathering ahead of their epic journey to Africa. migratory geese are arriving from distant lands, there's a chill in the air and we find ourselves suddenly in Autumn... "Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love—that makes life and nature harmonize." George Eliot I know I've been silent for a little while but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy! From trying to stop councils and landowners decimating hedgerows, to calling for nature education to be at the core of primary school teaching, I've been pushing for increased awareness of our environment on various fronts. But, as many of you will know from your own experience, it often seems like a hopeless task - the vast majority of those who might have influence simply do not understand the importance of nature, or perhaps they do not want to understand because they are too heavily invested (often literally) in destroying it. Incredibly frustrating! Anyway, on to birds and licensing. And it's looking good. New faces at Natural England My helpful contact at Natural England (the then Head of Wildlife Licensing) left the post at the end of July and two people were subsequently appointed in his place. I've made contact with these two people who are now responsible for wildlife licensing across England - and so far so good. I've been told to expect an update on the plan I put forward to stop the reckless Cormorant culls, potentially saving thousands of these majestic birds from being shot. As you may recall, Natural England told me in July that they were considering our suggestions to reform the Cormorant control licences and hinted that they might be introducing some of the ideas we discussed. I'll bring you the latest on that as soon as I have it. There may also be a meeting set up to explore reforms to the licensing system more generally. Teaching nature as a core subject in schools That's the extent of the update as far as licences go, but in other matters, I had some interesting correspondence with the member of the Welsh Senedd for North Wales, in which we discussed a range of matters relating to the state of the natural environment in the region. I shared with her my belief that education from an early age was key to a life-long appreciation of nature and probably the only long term hope we have to secure what precious little of the natural environment we have left. She agreed and has vowed to press the Welsh government to introduce nature lessons as a core subject in primary schools across the country. If this did happen it would be a huge step forward. I believe it is essential to instill a love of nature in the next generation. I remember being taught from a very early age, (as many of us were), to delight in the discovery of the natural world. It's still a constant and wonder-filled journey for me even fifty years on! And that's why I see it as vitally important to educate our young people as they are the ones who will ultimately be responsible for preserving the remnant of the natural world that survives. This step would be for Wales only, but of course it would be of huge benefit if England, Scotland and Northern Ireland were to consider a similar scheme of putting nature at the core of children's education, and when I get time I will contact the relevant authorities in each region with the same proposal. In the meantime, to sum up, there are hopeful signs of further co-operation with Natural England and their continuing engagement with our campaign. We've made huge progress that has already saved the lives of countless wild birds, and there's lots to build on. Let's keep going strong. For the birds. Best, Jase 
Plan to end uncontrollable Cormorant culls "has our attention", promises Natural England This week I had an email from Natural England's Head of Wildlife Licensing - with some really promising news. You'll recall that last month I pooled all of our ideas aimed at ending the uncontrolled Cormorant culls, and I put forward a 5 point plan to Natural England suggesting reforms to the current broken system. I'll quote from the message. "Hi Jason, Just a quick update for you. We’ve started some internal discussion on this and we are considering how we might evaluate changes to cormorant licensing. I’ve had some early views which we will try and develop. Reform/change might take some time to do alongside our other licensing priorities.... But I want to reassure you this has our attention." Now, I know we all want change to happen quickly, I'm a 'get it done now' kind of chap, and it's frustrating to hear the words 'this might take some time', but nevertheless I am encouraged that Natural England is now actively seeking to change the current system. Believe me, it's real progress. Significant change doesn't happen overnight, not in today's world of politics combined with environmental detachment. Governments - and much of the public - have lost a vital connection to the natural world. Often it seems morality and ethics are perceived as inconvenient. And so, because of this, it's difficult to quickly alter perceptions and attitudes that don't have respect for nature at their core. The bigger picture Growing up, I was instilled with a love for the natural world, and nature was everywhere, from a biodiverse countryside to suburban gardens full of life. I know that those of a certain vintage like myself will remember those days. I was privileged to have a wonderful primary school teacher, Mrs Slater, who taught me very early on in my life to discover magic in nature and to find an infinitely bigger view of the world around me. It's been the most valuable and wonderful advice. Now I'm in my 50's, and I see our countryside ravaged by industrial farming and clumsy development, and suburbia turned into a plastic nightmare. But rather than giving up any last shred of hope (which would be so very easy to do), I try to see the bigger picture. Although it is desperately frustrating, indeed heartbreaking, to see ongoing destruction of nature, including birds being lethally controlled as in the case of Cormorants, I cling on to the hope that our efforts today will secure the survival of wildlife in the years ahead. It's that thing about 'people who plant trees under whose shade they will never sit'. It's still the right thing to do, and the policy changes we are influencing now will benefit birds and other wildlife for future generations. Empathy with nature Empathy is what is required, and especially an empathy with nature. I think that's where we come in. You and I instinctively know that killing cormorants to protect fisheries is wrong. That shooting gulls because they 'steal chips' is wrong. That culling badgers is wrong. You and I know that chopping down trees to build roads is wrong. And that replacing grass with plastic is wrong (and absurd). It's so obvious to us, but not, it seems, to the majority. Education There's no cure for the selfish behaviour which is at the core of much environmental destruction, but respect for nature can be taught - as it was when I was growing up. Education is key, and the best educators have empathy and understanding. It's an uphill struggle trying to defend and protect the wildlife and environment that I knew in my youth; it is, to quote the playwright Tony Kushner, "a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we've left behind, and dreaming ahead". But do let's dream ahead. Today's hope will make tomorrow a better day. And we are making progress. Yesterday's email from Natural England is good. In fact it's really good. It's a bit of light. And it's so far removed from the long silences and dismissive responses I used to get from them when I started the campaign. It's working Please be assured that our campaign is working. Together we have stopped local Starling culls, we have largely ended the supply of Black-headed Gull eggs to restaurants (at least for this year), and we have saved many urban gulls from being lethally 'controlled'. Now I am hopeful we will see an end to Cormorant culling too. But that's just the start, because I believe that we have also fundamentally changed the way Natural England approaches each and every licence application. This means that our wild birds are safer now than they were before. We have gained the respect of Natural England, who now listen to our suggestions and actively engage with us. Perhaps most of all, we have increased public awareness of the plight of our wild birds. Because ultimately the future of our natural environment will depend not on governments but on wider public perception and enlightenment. Education and empathy. All of that is why our campaign continues. On behalf of the birds, thank you. Best, Jase 
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