I like nothing better than visiting areas with the rewilding thinkers and discussing the theory and practice of ecosystem recovery. I recently teamed up with four of Europe’s finest Deli Saavedra, Ignacio Jiménez Jordi Palau and Pedro Prata on a road trip to Eastern Portugal, Central Spain and the Pyrenees.  I went with three questions in mind: 1) is there an Iberian version of rewilding emerging? 2) how can we address the policy constraints associated with mega-herbivore repopulation (Something I’ve been researching for a while), and 3) should leaders in the ..read more

During the lockdown summer of 2020 an immature bearded vulture took up residence in a rugged Valley of England’s Peak District National Park. On a September Sunday, my birding buddy Steve and I set out at the crack of dawn and programmed WAZE to navigate us North. Three hours later we descended a windy road across a bleak rain swept moor to a carpark where birders shouldering scopes and tripods confirmed we were in the right place. “Do you know if it’s been seen today? What are the directions?”, we asked. “Yeah, up the track, turn left through the gate and head up the Valley. You’ll see the as ..read more

The print edition of my new book on rewilding arrived last week and, looking for a place for it in my bookcase, I realised that I placed my last book next to three classic volumes edited by Andrew Warren and Frank Goldsmith. These volumes, printed in 1974, 1983 and 1993 contain collections of essays from scientists and policy makers who contributed to UCL’s MSc in Conservation, which was initiated by Max Nicholson first director of the Nature Conservancy (now Natural England.) They were intended as a textbook-style resource for students on the UCL course but also a resourc ..read more