Ben Eagle

The historic decline of the Grey Partridge

A super, fully referenced, post here from a favourite blogger of mine, James Common, exploring the decline of the Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) in the UK. I was fortunate to see a couple running across a stubble field the other day when I was out for a walk here in Essex but it is certainlyContinueContinue reading “The historic decline of the Grey Partridge”

An exploration of two contrasting landscapes: Exmoor and the Essex Marsh

Last Wednesday I visited the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate on the northern edge of Exmoor. From moorland to woodland and fertile farmland to shingle beaches, Holnicote provides a canvas of immense diversity of both landscape and character. As I sat having my lunch overlooking the Bristol Channel I thought about the links this place has had with otherContinueContinue reading “An exploration of two contrasting landscapes: Exmoor and the Essex Marsh”

From the ‘Charter of the Forest’ to the ‘Charter for Trees, Woods and People’

In a previous post I explored the proposed ‘Charter for Trees, Woods and People’ which is being put forward by several dozen conservation organisations, including the Woodland Trust. It is suggested that the new charter should be signed in 2017, to act in conjunction with the 800th anniversary of the signing of the first ‘Charter of theContinueContinue reading “From the ‘Charter of the Forest’ to the ‘Charter for Trees, Woods and People’”

Coastal Farming and Uncertain Futures

As I have often mentioned in previous blog posts my family farms low lying land on the Essex coast. It is a beautiful (if rapidly urbanising) part of the world but it certainly has it’s challenges, one of which is ensuring the future viability of our 3 miles of sea walls. In 2010 the EnvironmentContinueContinue reading “Coastal Farming and Uncertain Futures”

The Many Voices of Our Food Producers

Here is a link to a super article written by Harry Greenfield, joint coordinator of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Agroecology, for the Sustainable Food Trust blog. Greenfield addresses the issue that farmers make up an incredibly diverse community with multiple voices and anybody who writes about agriculture must remain aware of this diversity. TheContinueContinue reading “The Many Voices of Our Food Producers”