Yesterday afternoon we held a Parliamentary reception with the Minerals Products Association. This celebrated the good work that a growing number of mineral extraction companies are doing to create wildlife-rich sites after they have dug big holes in the ground.
The Minister, Richard Benyon, was present and was given a bit of a poke by industry about the loss of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (see earlier blog).
But I can't have a go at the Minister as he described this blog as 'very readable'. And he'd noticed that I said some nice things about him recently - but also noted that I don't always. This is the second time I've heard Mr Benyon mention reading this blog so I do believe he really does.
So, Sooty, redkite, BobPhilpott, nightjar, jockyshield and others you are in good company! Although wouldn't it be funny if one of you were Mr Benyon? Sooty - it isn't you is it?
A love of the natural world demonstrates that a person is a cultured inhabitant of planet Earth.
Hi Mark -Whilst you are thinking about a reply may I just say that I was re-reading a falconry book re Memories of the Old Hawking Club which had a quote from March 25th 1921
“….The eagle owl was used today for the first time, and with great success – the rooks coming in well to mob him in the open, thus affording Best (head falconer) some good slips ……..Six flights and five kills!
And there’s a photograph of the Eagle Own ‘perching’ calmly on a leather gloved wrist – fantastic – just imaging working a pointer with a falcon on the moors – wow!