Herons. They look like dinosaur birds. Perched high up in the tree-tops on their badly built nests, their long pointy beaks swinging from side to side as though trying to follow some unheard melody . Actually, they're quite scary when viewed like that, but judge for yourself this weekend when we pitch our marquee in Battersea Park to enjoy the heronry.
There's another opportunity to enjoy herons when our team moves to Regent's Park for some long weekends closer to Easter. Within days the young herons are difficult to tell apart from the parents with a casual glance as far as size is concerned. I'm so glad my own children haven't grown at the same rate.
It's been another busy week but no word yet (as of Friday 5 at 3pm) on a ruling on Heathrow's third runway. We gave evidence to the Judicial Review against the Government's decision to allow the plans to go ahead. As someone opposed to the expansion of air flight just for the sake of air flight I now find myself in a strange coalition, shoulder to shoulder with BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh. This is because he's as opposed, as me, to the idea of building an airport in the Thames Estuary as suggested by Boris Johnson. However, we will never agree on the need for expanding Heathrow. London effectively has five airports already. Do we really need to expand them and build more? I think not.
Another good alternative to jetting off on your holidays is to stay at home. Whatever your favourite activity, you'll find out more about it at the British Leisure Show, now fast approaching. We'll have a stand there to help visitors explore Britain's natural world but we'll be asking for something in return. We need support to ensure Britain's natural assets aren't pinched! Signing our Letter to the Future will help demostrate the strength of public support for ensuring development doesn't literaly cost the Earth.