Hi folks,
Just thought I'd check in with an update and see how everyone is bearing up in these strange and challenging times. In spite of the current situation, Natural England have today told me that the 2019 licensing stats are still scheduled for publication towards the end of this month, though (as with everything at the moment), constantly shifting events mean that nothing is entirely certain. I will of course keep you up to date with this as and when I have more information, and I'd like to thank Natural England for keeping channels of communication open and for offering to discuss the data with me when it is released. If current events have taught us anything, then it is to work together and to communicate, even when we have different perspectives and opinions. The news that is assailing us from all parts of the world is shocking and often worrying, yet on this, the first day of Spring, there is still much to celebrate. While the human race is tested, the rest of nature carries on, following the seasons as it has since time began. Tides still ebb and flow, the buds on the trees are bursting open - and the birds are singing loudly. Indeed, while we all try to make some sense of what we are experiencing, many people have been noticing that wildlife is undergoing something of a resurgence. With the sharp drop in numbers of people travelling, industry shutting down, and a general reduction in human activity, birds seem to be much more visible and vocal everywhere, including parts of China where, in some areas, people have heard bird song for the first time. Dolphins have appeared in the canals of Venice, and here in the UK I've heard reports of wild mountain goats wandering through the streets of Llandudno and peacocks strutting along Bangor high street! It all goes to prove what many of us already suspected, that when humankind becomes less demanding, wildlife can flourish and the planet can begin to recover from the damage we, as a species, have caused. As someone put it recently on social media, with this coronavirus, nature seems to have pressed the 'reset' button on us. Nature will heal us too - if we show some respect. When we come through it all - and we will - lessons will need to be learned from this unique episode in human history. Will we learn? Who knows. Meanwhile, though times are going to be extremely challenging and hugely difficult for many of us, life will go on. I wish you all good health. Stay safe and be kind to yourselves, to each other - and to nature. Best, Jase
21 Comments
Christine Thompson
20/3/2020 02:07:58 pm
Well said, nature will have a revival while we leave it alone. Just wish our council wouldn’t hack at the hedges when birds are nesting, when will some councils get the message about what they’re destroying.
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Joanna Roseff
20/3/2020 02:49:59 pm
Maybe your council isn't aware it is happening …
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Wildlife Angels
20/3/2020 02:15:34 pm
Dear Jason
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Robert Boyd
20/3/2020 02:41:10 pm
If we don't learn to respect nature we will continue to regret it. We only have reflect on the suspected source of the coronavirus.
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Joanna Downey
21/3/2020 09:44:49 pm
My thoughts exactly. The bush fires in Australia, locusts destroying so much in East Africa, more floods in the UK & now this virus. We have messed with nature & she's fighting back.
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Edward Barratt
22/3/2020 09:09:08 am
I entirely agree. I hope that the current situation helps to bring forward the day that Martin Luther King anticipated long ago: ' One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable. We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them."
I loved this (and have linked to it). And the photo is great!
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Pamela Allen
20/3/2020 03:19:36 pm
Thank you Jase ...put beautifully. Nature's a real healer my sanity comes from watching our amazing wildlife and all the spring blooms it gives hope and longevity ....bliss.
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Ann Beirne
20/3/2020 03:52:15 pm
Yes Pamela we have had a crow and raven conference, the starlings have been gathering in the evenings for a murmeration, not a large one but the sounds of them all gathered together fills my heart with joy as does the robins blackbirds well nature in general.
Joanna Downey
21/3/2020 09:41:29 pm
How wonderful. We have the remains of a small copse at the end of our road, the crows arrive there every evening & do an air show before flying to a much larger area of woodland. They fascinate my husband, he calls it the gathering of the crows & watches until the last one leaves. I never imagined that my 'too cool for school' boyfriend would have been so delighted by watching birds.
Jill Mordaunt
20/3/2020 04:15:54 pm
Thank you. I have decided every day to post on my Facebook page a photo of a bird I’ve seen or heard until this is over. I just hope I don’t run out of birds!
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Wendy
20/3/2020 04:36:36 pm
Very inspiring
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Betty Renz
20/3/2020 04:52:25 pm
At this time, please, everybody, act within the limits the government is asking. This will be the only way to beat this - sooner rather than later. Don't deprive others of food and essentials by stockpiling, and do not frequent pubs, clubs etc.
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Gaby
20/3/2020 05:05:35 pm
This post was beautifully written. I was very inspired by it.
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Peter Cowper
20/3/2020 05:37:42 pm
Thank you very much, just what we needed. Keep safe and well yourselves.
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pav
20/3/2020 10:07:27 pm
Thankyou Jason,
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Paul Fletcher
21/3/2020 09:12:13 am
Thank you Jason, at last some good is coming out of all the lunacy in the world at the moment and it is nature that is doing it and showing the human race that nature to has a place on this earth.
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Elisabeth Kidd
21/3/2020 10:31:06 am
We all live (or try to any ways) on this Earth, so how about together.
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Susan Eggleton
22/3/2020 07:47:18 pm
This beautiful passage has put into words everything I've been feeling at this time. I'm sure this is a wake up call for us all to sit back (literally) and think about what is going on, consider the earth and life within it.
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Sasha
24/3/2020 12:41:44 pm
A very inspiring read. Thank you for all the great work you are doing. I too believe that Mother Nature is slowly reclaiming the planet. So although this pandemic is terrible, there has been an upside to it. Seeing and hearing the birds and animals out and about is beautiful.
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