tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43433734292229403522024-02-07T07:54:12.319+00:00Reflections of a CurlewI'm am fascinated by the relationship between people and the natural world. Everything informs everything else - there are no boxes, just life.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-54691247352989783432018-04-13T07:30:00.001+01:002018-04-13T07:36:12.976+01:00Creative Irish Curlews<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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There is an extraordinary passage in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What the Curlew Said – Nostos Continued</i> by the Irish writer and
philosopher John Moriarty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He describes
listening to a curlew calling on a beach in County Kerry. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“What an unearthly aria that call was.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes I would think, it isn’t a call at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But if it isn’t, what is it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Is it a spontaneity of eternity that has somehow come
through into time?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hearing his voice, a god who had made the curlew would
almost instantly want to remake himself as the thing he had made.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqqiDBOEGDE/WtBNeVbWVhI/AAAAAAAAExE/ht15Lwdv3h87FQQUEKBXim8AjSyIoVcAACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqqiDBOEGDE/WtBNeVbWVhI/AAAAAAAAExE/ht15Lwdv3h87FQQUEKBXim8AjSyIoVcAACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Peter Rutt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Universes he couldn’t call into being with a human voice he
could call into being with the voice of a curlew.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Few other birds evoke such strong images - other worlds,
other universes, other ways of being. But when you hear a curlew call, it is
not so difficult to understand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
listen to the clear, sharp “curlee, curlee,” firing like arrows across the
horizon, or to the urgent crescendo of bubbling notes rippling out over the bog,
is to hear mystical music that touches something deep in our psyche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Moriarty is not the first to be
enchanted by curlews, and he will not be the last. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Irish have woven this stilty-legged,
crescent-billed wading bird into their lives for as long as there has been
myth, music, parable and poetry. They appear in the earliest folktales where
they are storm birds, warning fishermen to turn their boats for home, or
farmers of oncoming rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are said
to have saved St Patrick from drowning when they called him to shore when he
was lost at sea in heavy mist. A medieval monk, disturbed from his nightly
prayers, wrote, “The Curlew cannot sleep at all/His voice is shrill across the
deep/Reverberations of the storm;/Between the streams he will not sleep.” It is
a bird of the wild, wet fields and bogs, of windswept estuary and rocky shore.
For many it is the quintessential voice of the wilderness. It is also the sound
of internal desolation - a broken heart. W B Yeats refers to curlews many times
in his writings, most famously in his poem, “He Reproves the Curlew”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">O curlew cry no more to the air, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Or only to the water in the West; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Because your crying brings to my mind <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Passion-dimmed eyes and long heavy hair <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">That was shaken out over my breast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is enough evil in the crying of the wind.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn8cURSu4UnXjOmtz7VTe0nSgbnq0MmTdpxNji4NjC53Go_hyphenhyphenqQsP4P2nEP84Tba3yFHo9bqfPQydRLtjDk4RHPq0Hw7n8yYh4l8ClnSxeC5eDzlJW2p0qOLTfFzRgY3MkeTRT04DJXCO/s1600/DSC_8840-001-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1600" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn8cURSu4UnXjOmtz7VTe0nSgbnq0MmTdpxNji4NjC53Go_hyphenhyphenqQsP4P2nEP84Tba3yFHo9bqfPQydRLtjDk4RHPq0Hw7n8yYh4l8ClnSxeC5eDzlJW2p0qOLTfFzRgY3MkeTRT04DJXCO/s320/DSC_8840-001-Edit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The cry of the curlew has been
used throughout time to expresses fear, mysticism, lost love, joy and wild
places. It is a malleable, shape-shifting call that has ignited many creative
sparks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one of the great gifts of
the natural world that in its variety of colour, shape and sound it helps us to
express the intangible and to give voice to inner feelings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creatures and landscapes of the earth are
part of our creativity and fundamental to a vibrant culture<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“</span></span><a href="http://www.azquotes.com/quote/12318"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">It seems to me,” said David Attenbrough, “that the
natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of
visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest
source of so much in life that makes life worth living.</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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It would be a tragedy then, to allow the Curlew, a bird that
has provided so much inspiration, to slip away. If Ireland allows the curlew to
fall silent, it loses so much more than just another species, it loses part of
Irish heritage. In the late 1980s there were around 5,000 curlews breeding
throughout the country, they were a common sight and anyone over the age of 40
will remember them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first national
Curlew survey was completed by NPWS in 2017 and there are now less than 130
pairs left. That is an astonishing decline. It is not an exaggeration to say
that Curlew are facing extinction in Southern Ireland in less than 10 years.
That sentence is almost too hard to write, it sounds like extreme
fear-mongering - too exaggerated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet
the figures are stark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The graph of Curlew
population plotted against time plummets downwards and will hit zero very soon
indeed. And this has happened on our watch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcTBeWaX9Gc/WtBNdUAMooI/AAAAAAAAExA/pk5PLBRS2BIgKAr5y4LuXnEqTkVeaDj5QCLcBGAs/s1600/Curlew%2B01-09-2017Malahide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1576" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcTBeWaX9Gc/WtBNdUAMooI/AAAAAAAAExA/pk5PLBRS2BIgKAr5y4LuXnEqTkVeaDj5QCLcBGAs/s320/Curlew%2B01-09-2017Malahide.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew on Malahide beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ignorance is no excuse in law, but it seems to be in
conservation. When I walked across Ireland, Wales and Scotland in 2016 to raise
awareness about the decline of the Curlew, I was astonished how few people knew
what was happening to this once common bird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that included nature lovers and bird watchers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our interconnected, info-rich world is
somehow failing when it comes to connecting us with the life that lives all
around. How do we bridge that gap?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
will energise us to take an interest and to act? Because if we don’t, then one day
very soon we will look out over bog and field and realise the curlew sings no
more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The disappearance of curlews is due to a perfect storm of inappropriate
forestry, draining of wet land, intensification of fields, increase in
predators such as foxes and crows and the mass stripping of bogs. There are no
easy solutions, but there are ways forward that are being explored by the
Curlew Task Force, set up in January 2017. The Curlew Task Force is a unique
working group of farmers, conservationists, foresters, turf cutters, academics
and the NPWS, who are determined to find ways to work together to help Curlew
across Ireland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As there are so few
nests left in the Republic, time is of the essence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Curlew Conservation Programme is the
primary vehicle for enacting conservation measures on the ground, where they
matter most. Some nests will have electric fences erected around them to
protect the eggs from foxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Increased
fox and crow control in the nesting season will also give the chicks a greater
chance of survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cooperation with
turf cutters and farmers to leave areas where birds are nesting until the
chicks are fledged will give the birds added safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vegetation can also be managed to give the
curlews the varied heights of sward they need for nesting and feeding. Eggs are
often laid in long grass for protection but growing chicks need to feed in
shorter grass with lots of insects. In some bogs, drainage ditches will be
blocked to re-wet the ground, which curlews prefer for nesting, and softer ground
is easier to probe by their long, sensitive bills. Agreements with foresters
will be sought to protect nesting and foraging sites from plantations. <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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And while the land managers and professional
conservationists do their work, the rest of us must learn to listen out for and
to love the Curlew again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understanding
what is happening to them is vital to halt the decline. Raising awareness about
where they breed and what they need has to be increased. We need to teach our
children to recognise their beautiful calls, and to tell them the stories and
poems that celebrate this birds’ long association with culture. We need to go
out on a warm summer evening and revel in that fluty trill - that sound of the
Irish summer – that has inspired poets and mystics through time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ireland has a long and rich connection to nature, the roots
are there, they only need be nurtured once again for Ireland to be truly green
and full of life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bringing back the
Curlew from the brink of extinction as a breeding bird will be a huge positive
step towards a brighter future for all of life on the Emerald Isle.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
World Curlew Day is on April 21, my book Curlew Moon is out on April 19, published by William Collins.<br />
<br />
Oh - and the fabulous World Curlew Day logo was designed by my cousin Nicola Duffy from Letterkenny!</div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-2767837963645985732017-06-19T17:31:00.001+01:002017-06-19T17:31:13.827+01:00Curlew Country Visit<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a bitter-sweet visit to the Curlew Country project in
Shropshire on June 12th. It was a baking hot day, and for a couple of hours
before lunch Amanda Perkins and Tony Cross from the project, Phil Sheldrake
(RSPB), Mike Smart (ace birdwatcher) and myself tried to find three or four
chicks that were somewhere in a large hay meadow. They had hatched from a nest
that had been surrounded by an electric fence to protect it from predators like
foxes and badgers. This is the first year the project has trialled fences and it
has undoubtedly increased the survival of eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whether that success translates into more fledged chicks is yet to be
seen. Curlew chicks have wanderlust in their blood and once they find their
very large feet are fit for walking, they are off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are not protected by electricity,
they have to rely wholly on their parents to warn them of danger.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8OT8UHaAVkc/WUf79OwNNRI/AAAAAAAAEvw/2SglNQEC4DYMwZUCslbfATZv-Hr0AkM3ACLcBGAs/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="184" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8OT8UHaAVkc/WUf79OwNNRI/AAAAAAAAEvw/2SglNQEC4DYMwZUCslbfATZv-Hr0AkM3ACLcBGAs/s320/Picture1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Mike Smart, Amanda Perkins and Phil Sheldrake</span></td></tr>
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It’s a pretty good system though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vigilant, feisty and sneaky, curlews take
parenting very seriously. Vigilant in that they can see danger approaching from
a long way off, hundreds of metres, and begin yapping and barking in alarm. Feisty
because it can be a full-on bombardment of sound, like being attacked with an
audial machine gun. And sneaky as the alarming bird may well be quite a
distance away from the chicks, leading the dangerous creature down a blind
alley. Meanwhile the chicks have either sunk low into a ditch or depression, or
they have legged it into impenetrable rushes – which is what they did on the
day we visited.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaohW-UamnpPkflHMyLzduEGSnBEi1oPaaqKwsIot4MxpU6P1khX0Y3I0aFyOgnVCiEIlq9eIox0jJ0ZzL2goBR2Hb1K-D642CJMaJs2yl4NkmjRs0puE625U4WHKZCJdYDx1kSK7SP_QF/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaohW-UamnpPkflHMyLzduEGSnBEi1oPaaqKwsIot4MxpU6P1khX0Y3I0aFyOgnVCiEIlq9eIox0jJ0ZzL2goBR2Hb1K-D642CJMaJs2yl4NkmjRs0puE625U4WHKZCJdYDx1kSK7SP_QF/s1600/Picture2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Tony Cross</span></td></tr>
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Trying to find small fluff balls in a vast meadow is not for
the weak of spirit. Tony used a radio tracker to narrow down the options, which
was a patch of wet rush near to the field boundary. Try as we might we couldn’t
find them, and as standing on them is a real possibility, we gave up. I was
disappointed in one way, but glad in another. I am relieved they are so hard to
locate, because if we couldn’t find them, even armed with technology, then a fox
will find it hard too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing they were
there was sweet enough for me. The bleeps on the receiver were heart-lifting –
I didn’t have to actually see them to feel delighted and relieved they are
still in the wild. Every chick is precious, and three packages of preciousness
are still in this hay meadow – or they were on Monday June 12<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The bitter side of the visit is the knowledge that the
chances of these chicks surviving is very slim. For the past two years all the
chicks that managed to hatch in the project area were predated before a month
was up. Curlew are adapted to high levels of mortality – each pair only needs
to raise one chick every other year for a population to remain stable – but
even this isn’t being met. Throughout the country, chicks and eggs are either
being eaten by predators or killed by their other nemesis - agricultural machines.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20UeZSTU6Lc/WUf79BeYGwI/AAAAAAAAEv0/6Moae7A24xsDaT0W4z0u3ITahYrRyUAsQCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="319" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20UeZSTU6Lc/WUf79BeYGwI/AAAAAAAAEv0/6Moae7A24xsDaT0W4z0u3ITahYrRyUAsQCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Screen grab from Curlew Country curlew camera</span></td></tr>
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In another field, this time a large grass field used for
silage, Amanda showed us where at least three chicks were sliced up as silage
was cut in early June. As each year a pair of curlews chose to nest was in a
field used to provide food for cattle – they dice with death – literally. The
eggs were protected by an electric fence, and so survived to hatching, but once
the chicks wandered outside they became collateral damage to our farming
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this wasn’t the only brood
to meet this fate. Out of 22 nests located in the Shropshire project area, 9
chicks were alive on the day we visited.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Looking at the silage field and knowing the fate of the
chicks was a sad way to end the day, but it was also a heartening visit too.
Curlews continue to come every year to this most beautiful part of Shropshire.
Every Spring they try to nest in the same places - their ancestral homes. As
long as they come back there is hope we can help them. There is no shortage of
goodwill amongst farmers or volunteers, everyone loves curlews. But there is a
mismatch between caring about a bird and doing what it takes to save it. Sometimes
that mismatch is in a lack of understanding about what is actually needed, and
it is surprising how little we know about a bird that was once so common. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or it can be that money simply takes priority,
and losing a silage crop is too expensive when life on a farm is stressed
enough. Or maybe it is the dilemma posed by predator control. Some people,
understandably, find it hard to accept that foxes and crows may have to die so
that curlews can live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the
reason, curlews continue to decline across the UK at an alarming rate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
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The Curlew Country project is inspirational and is doing a
vital job in bringing into focus the enormous problems facing our largest wader.
Nothing less than the might of UK farming, half a million badgers and foxes and
a million crows bear down on them at the most fragile and vulnerable time of
their lives. Curlew Country is working with everyone on the ground to find
solutions, and until the last curlew calls, there is hope they will succeed in
reversing the fortunes of this most wonderful and enigmatic of birds.<o:p></o:p></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-40626737469925696112017-04-14T13:48:00.000+01:002017-04-14T14:01:21.479+01:00Tight Clothes, Nature and Angst<br />
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When I worked with the wise and delightful Monty Don on Radio 4’s Shared Planet, I
remember him saying someone had asked him the secret to being happy and
content. His answer struck me as worth spreading around – wear loose clothes
and spend time outside. Now that is sensible. Wearing tight clothes can have
the effect of making our brains feel constrained too, I certainly can’t relax or
breathe so well when I am aware of edges, buttons, belts – things that inhibit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I think it is harder to give out to the world when your body feels drawn in.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv6BK-AbwmU/WPDBieBOBJI/AAAAAAAAEvQ/EdUhBedon_oCxzTppHEFevJN1n-boK2ogCLcB/s1600/360b9c43d3bad844bbd52dc001a00e33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv6BK-AbwmU/WPDBieBOBJI/AAAAAAAAEvQ/EdUhBedon_oCxzTppHEFevJN1n-boK2ogCLcB/s320/360b9c43d3bad844bbd52dc001a00e33.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monty Don</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And going outside – well how
much more evidence do we need to show that breathing outside air, feeling soil, smelling the scent
from trees, grass and flowers, feeling rain and sun, seeing green and grey and
blue – all calm our emotions and help healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I only wish major international meetings on war, weapons, refugees, the
environment and so on happened outside in a meadow or wild garden, instead of
inside constraining rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we
would come to different decisions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some trees are particularly good at helping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In days gone by German village elders would
hold judicial meetings under lime (linden) trees, and that is not a
surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lime trees were said to evoke wise thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scent of lime,
particularly in the summer, is intoxicating and was said to help cure epilepsy,
headaches, insomnia and bad nerves. This poem is by Wilhelm Müller<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpqzOHoV818/WPDBlLS7x-I/AAAAAAAAEvY/Mgl6xMf5VUsvrByi-nqd47KavVRMBLUpACLcB/s1600/woodland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpqzOHoV818/WPDBlLS7x-I/AAAAAAAAEvY/Mgl6xMf5VUsvrByi-nqd47KavVRMBLUpACLcB/s320/woodland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></em></span></em>
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></em></span></em>
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></em>
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Der Lindenbaum<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">By the fountain, near the gate,</span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There stands a linden tree;</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have dreamt in its shadows</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so many sweet dreams.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I carved on its bark</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so many loving words;</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was always drawn to it,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">whether in joy or in sorrow.</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Today
again I had to pass it</span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in the dead of night.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And even in the darkness</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had to close my eyes.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Its branches rustled</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">as if calling to me:</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Come here, to me, friend,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here you will find your peace!”</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The frigid wind blew</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">straight in my face,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">my hat flew from my head,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I did not turn back.</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">Now
I am many hours</span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">away from that spot</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and still I hear the rustling:</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“There you would have found peace!”</span></em></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;">The Japanese
have a word for the sense of peace you get from a woodland walk - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“wood air bathing” </span></em><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">shinrin-yoku</span></em><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;">, breathing in the healing, enriching oils emitted from trees that lowers
blood pressure, boosts the immune system and calms thoughts. Throughout Japan
there are shinrin-yoku walks where families have picnics and be together to de-stress.</span></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;"><a href="https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/education/primary-school-children-suffering-panic-attacks-depression-say-teachers/" target="_blank">Last week Iseemed</a> to come across <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10342447/Children-as-young-as-five-suffering-from-depression.html" target="_blank">yet more horrible stories of young children increasingly suffering panicattacks, depression, stress and low self-esteem</a> and many other words for a mind
in turmoil. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teenagers too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know of a few young people now who have dropped
out of university recently because of depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much of this is related to the
increasingly indoor, removed-from-nature life so many of us lead today is
unsure, but it is hard not to draw some connections between the two. </span></em><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;">Children live virtual indoor lives, not real out door ones.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></em>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iRRsSydF274/WPDBjFqDWUI/AAAAAAAAEvU/1iG1mHTgXswpqMxF48uapsRs2FtsF1jFACLcB/s1600/Studying%2Bnature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iRRsSydF274/WPDBjFqDWUI/AAAAAAAAEvU/1iG1mHTgXswpqMxF48uapsRs2FtsF1jFACLcB/s320/Studying%2Bnature.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;">I watch
the school kids from the local secondary school walk home each day along our
very city-centre street right in the centre of Bristol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are bursting with that feeling of
wanting to run, shout, mess around, kick balls or whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the middle of the city there is
nowhere to do that – just cans to kick, and swear and shout and lots of pushing
each other around, which annoys middle-aged people who shout at them and
complain to the school. I wish they had a big field to go to, somewhere to let off steam, and maybe even find something interesting
to look at that for a short while takes the mind to other realms. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this doesn’t happen, instead all of this youthful
energy gets bottled up and who knows where it goes.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></em>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUgrkr652n4/WPDC7nsBRMI/AAAAAAAAEvc/iq2y5FVkEAwOGx-tqsJS_1-sfT5AstaYACLcB/s1600/0017201007010017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUgrkr652n4/WPDC7nsBRMI/AAAAAAAAEvc/iq2y5FVkEAwOGx-tqsJS_1-sfT5AstaYACLcB/s320/0017201007010017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;">So – would a
GCSE in Natural History help encourage kids to go outside? Get them to really
look, smell, touch, sense the world they live in – even a local park? Would it help give their minds a break to think where swallows come from or how snakes shed their skin and why an egg is the shape and colour it is? And if it
taught the connection between well-being and nature – would that help?<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>And if, through having access to
nature-literature, they learned ways of expressing feelings that only natural
things evoke <span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>– would that go some way to
stemming this awful spread of youthful angst? Concentrating on awe, wonder,
joy, beauty, mystery, fear, trepidation, etc.<span style="font-style: normal;">
</span>Those are the feelings that come from knowing the natural world.<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>Re-engagement with who and what we are on a
living, breathing, vibrant planet can only ever be good. We are a long way from that at the moment - let’s do something to try to change it. Please
sign the petition.</span></div>
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Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
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<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;"><a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/176749"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/176749</span></a></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-88703403123867086372017-04-07T09:52:00.003+01:002017-04-07T10:38:21.954+01:00GCSE in Natural History - reply to Chris BakerChris Baker is a teacher and wildlife lover. He recently wrote a blog <a href="https://educationandwildlife.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/should-the-uk-government-develop-a-gcse-in-natural-history/" target="_blank">criticising the idea of a GCSE in Natural History.</a> This is the point of the petition, to get a debate going, so here is my reply.<br />
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The first point: <span style="background-color: #364175; color: #bcbcbc; font-family: "gentium book basic" , serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">It’s an interesting idea and one that has good intentions. But I do not think it is good idea. For selfish reasons I would love to teach natural history as a subject on its own. The joy!</span><span style="background-color: #364175; color: #bcbcbc; font-family: "gentium book basic" , serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: #364175; color: #bcbcbc; font-family: "gentium book basic" , serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">But to how many students? Would it benefit them? And would it positively affect the effort to conserve the curlew – The campaign (and a worthy cause I might add) that seems to have led to the creation of this petition?</span><br />
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I personally think the uptake would be good, but that must be part of the development process. There is a great hunger for nature that is more buried, but is certainly still there. More young people watched Planet Earth 2 than the X-Factor which was screened on the other side. Tapping into this interest in life on earth is a no-brainer. I'm not sure where the curlew link came from. I came up with the idea for this GCSE in 2011, but didn't start the curlew work until 2016 - although I think it would help, not least by introducing more children to the fact curlews exist -but the campaigns are not related.<br />
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Second point: <span style="background-color: #364175; color: #bcbcbc; font-family: "gentium book basic" , serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">The second sentence of the petition reads ‘Young people need the skills to name, observe, monitor and record wildlife’. I take issue with the word need here. I believe that young people can benefit greatly from learning these skills but they do not need them. They need to perform arithmetic so they can check energy bills, read competently and problem solve. Speaking as a science specialist, I would also argue that young people, in a time when internet memes and click-bait links are regarded by some as a valid sources of information on issues as serious as health and disease, need the ability to distinguish good science from pseudoscience. But they don’t need to know how wildlife is recorded. To some children, learning how to do so would be irrelevant and a waste of time. We can’t let our own passions and interests dictate what children must know.</span><br />
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This is where I fundamentally part company with Chris Baker. I think it is vital we know the world around us, that we can name what is in our lives everyday, know the seasons and the movements of life on earth. Young people increasingly live in an indoor world of ideas, not an outdoor world of senses. The visceral, earthy world is more remote than ever. We are mammals with senses attuned to taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing - all of those are brought into play when studying nature, but used for screens? Surely we must have an education system that fits who we are? If you can record wildlife, plot the data, work out trends - then I bet you can cope with an energy bill. A GCSE in natural history brings together maths, english, geography, biology, history - merging them into a subject of fascination and relevance to life. It is not some quirky subject that only a few geeks will like - that simply isn't true. Nature has inspired some of the greatest thinkers, writers, artists, musicians, poets and scientists - why sideline it and treat it as an irrelevance? Let's celebrate our unique heritage, teach it and encourage the next cohort of inspirational naturalists.<br />
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The rest of the blog argues that the content of a GCSE in Natural History is present in other subjects anyway - so it is already being taught. If that is true, then they are failing. My son is doing triple science at the moment, including biology. I can't see any natural history in his work - he doesn't have to have any of the skills I outline in the proposal. He does some academic work on extinctions etc, but that is not what I am talking about. Of course biology is a fundamental subject - but to say natural history is simply a part of it is like saying geology is just part of geography. Neither is natural history the same as environmental science - it is a subject in its own right.<br />
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Studying nature is rich and rewarding - and the skills gained are increasingly being lost. We cannot be complacent about nature today and assume all is fine because we teach biology . The system as it is is not working for wildlife. Britain was highlighted as one of the most nature depleted countries on earth in the 2016 State of Nature report, we are losing our natural heritage and there is no time to waste. Young people think this quiet, threadbare tapestry of nature is normal - it isn't normal, it is slipping away under our noses - we cannot and must not be complacent. Britain has a truly wonderful history of nature recording, writing, art and music and so on - now is the time to regain that and produce future naturalists who will fight for the natural world, not just through conservation work but through inspirational creativity. Nothing that Chris Baker highlights in his blog has changed my opinion.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-63196643488259568522017-03-20T11:59:00.001+00:002017-03-20T11:59:38.555+00:00The Hills are AliveIts all kicking off in curlew land, they are streaming back to breeding grounds now and is great to get the reports from all over the country. People are posting on Twitter about hearing them and seeing them, and on Facebook, they are working their magic again this year. The harbingers of spring are back and ready for action. <br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFstIgRvjao/WM-_cya23XI/AAAAAAAAEuM/V__py-hdbU46iYMnM19Be10wcJaniQs-QCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B11.38.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFstIgRvjao/WM-_cya23XI/AAAAAAAAEuM/V__py-hdbU46iYMnM19Be10wcJaniQs-QCLcB/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B11.38.28.png" width="182" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--bkX14jncY4/WM-_dCxfQdI/AAAAAAAAEuU/4YsQ5_A25_gYNVhb3v4Xo3BwY3T0SEPOQCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B11.37.40.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--bkX14jncY4/WM-_dCxfQdI/AAAAAAAAEuU/4YsQ5_A25_gYNVhb3v4Xo3BwY3T0SEPOQCLcB/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B11.37.40.png" width="190" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvdCcfz_DZw/WM-_c_L1rnI/AAAAAAAAEuQ/zO3btupZTdwuNXdjh88Zk6qz6FZS0nDVQCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B11.37.16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvdCcfz_DZw/WM-_c_L1rnI/AAAAAAAAEuQ/zO3btupZTdwuNXdjh88Zk6qz6FZS0nDVQCLcB/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-20%2Bat%2B11.37.16.png" width="199" /></a></div>
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The first curlews arrived back in lowland areas in February, the more upland birds are just getting there. In Northern Ireland the curlews in Antrim are said to come back to the hills on St Patrick's Day - which was the 17th March. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLhD1jX2cww/WM_B6iwDAnI/AAAAAAAAEug/_wX1YJjx7w4a2EQEZisLkOzAoybK8GufACLcB/s1600/picmtn_ct-00667-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLhD1jX2cww/WM_B6iwDAnI/AAAAAAAAEug/_wX1YJjx7w4a2EQEZisLkOzAoybK8GufACLcB/s320/picmtn_ct-00667-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slemish Mountain, Antrim, where St Patrick was held captive.<br />From http://mountainviews.ie/summit/667/</td></tr>
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Mike Smart, a curlew watcher and recorder in Gloucestershire, and all round good egg, wrote a great description a couple of weeks ago of two birds that had just got to a meadow in his area:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">"They seem to me to adopt very characteristic behaviour; they are generally in twos, stalking round in a rather proprietorial sort of way, a little way apart, feeding quietly, and not getting very close together. Sometimes however, they move quite close together and start courtship display, in a moderate way: running around quite quickly together, sometimes in parallel, sometimes one ahead of the other, often picking up bits of grass or vegetation as they go, and throwing it down again; this can last for ten minutes. On one occasion, the male opened his wings slightly and did a couple of flaps, and seemed to hold his tail up, rather like a Snipe; but I haven’t seen the slow ballet with outstretched quivering wings yet."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Others are reporting the same kind of behaviour, and Noel Kiernan who watches curlews on the wild and beautiful islands on Lough </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Ree in S Ireland also noticed 5 pairs behaving as though they were gearing up to breeding. That lovely bubbling call will soon be trailing over the meadows and moors of Britain and Ireland - well I hope so. Actually, not so much in Ireland as there are only 130 pairs left, but where they still hang on these wild songsters will be adding joy to people's lives in a way that cannot by valued by money.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GnDylpXn4vY/WM_CigTkLXI/AAAAAAAAEuo/efymZZbNJNg5UYChYzkQB5nPZK4f7jy_ACLcB/s1600/lough-lee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GnDylpXn4vY/WM_CigTkLXI/AAAAAAAAEuo/efymZZbNJNg5UYChYzkQB5nPZK4f7jy_ACLcB/s320/lough-lee.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lough Ree from http://www.viewmounthouse.com/things-to-do/places/lough-ree</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">All of us curlew lovers will be watching and waiting to see how this season progresses and if curlews can hang in in our very human world. To keep this wild sprite though is a challenge, we may not be prepared to do what it takes to make room for uneconomic species, no matter how lovely and joyous they are. But I don't actually believe that - I think we will make it happen, because we are not just consumers, we are so much more. No one just thinks about money. We have so much in our lives that we don't put a pound sign next to. We don't charge for the time it takes to read a book, or walk outside, make a birthday cake, spend time with someone who needs us. We don't think about money when it comes to love, affection, respect, - those soul moments.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlBKn2MbtKWEucvZuC5minkGic9gs2WuyopxJv8GKkxU5-X8BVC3N92W1dpZV-hlvYp8IS2KIZHmou27DuecU3dOh3UXfr87Vy60X8SPDMOqy3jr5ityRIOG93_y-I9_bIgAvNEBb-zHP/s1600/Curlew+chick+8+days+old+BrookshillMarsh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlBKn2MbtKWEucvZuC5minkGic9gs2WuyopxJv8GKkxU5-X8BVC3N92W1dpZV-hlvYp8IS2KIZHmou27DuecU3dOh3UXfr87Vy60X8SPDMOqy3jr5ityRIOG93_y-I9_bIgAvNEBb-zHP/s320/Curlew+chick+8+days+old+BrookshillMarsh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXaBjh9oDrZemcb1kFP8OM-p2qoCnWey47k4HSAmyCDmejr_WcFLjcW6CceXLv7GLAWZRLZFJj888Eaevn9clyhQGc4w10F6KPkAGImL5Z1G1m9ywEBqidrL6Hn4s16ties7ECamsrDrG/s1600/IMG_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXaBjh9oDrZemcb1kFP8OM-p2qoCnWey47k4HSAmyCDmejr_WcFLjcW6CceXLv7GLAWZRLZFJj888Eaevn9clyhQGc4w10F6KPkAGImL5Z1G1m9ywEBqidrL6Hn4s16ties7ECamsrDrG/s320/IMG_0076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5sFsiG7MWb0/WM_DVSzkPII/AAAAAAAAEu4/EeyuOKfy_RUBlGTJ7mlCoGpxn7WhaQBwACLcB/s1600/Marton%2BWest%2BCurlew%2Bnest%2Bwith%2B4%2Beggs%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5sFsiG7MWb0/WM_DVSzkPII/AAAAAAAAEu4/EeyuOKfy_RUBlGTJ7mlCoGpxn7WhaQBwACLcB/s320/Marton%2BWest%2BCurlew%2Bnest%2Bwith%2B4%2Beggs%2B2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by permission of Tony Cross</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Post the Ireland and Slimbridge conferences more people are now involved in monitoring the birds and working out the best way to protect them - in ways that are suitable for their bit of the world. perhaps that is putting signs up to tell dog walkers to keep dogs on leads around a known nest site until mid July. Or maybe nests in some places may need electric fences to stop the eggs being eaten (but they won't stop the chicks being got unfortunately). Or even some lethal predator control is required in certain problem areas for the time of breeding? Stocking density might have to be reduced. It is all about what is needed where, and we need to have open and positive discussions about the way forwards.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">But so far, the 2 conferences have shown just how much we British and Irish love these birds (and so much else too). We don't want them to disappear, we don't just want to make money out of the land. It is clear to me we want a singing planet, not just a money-making one. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">If you are on Twitter search for curlew or curlews and you will get some great pictures and heartening tweets about the birds. I am so grateful for those who write to me to tell me what is happening - and for being involved in the curlew groups as they gear up for the next few months.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Curlews are in a better place than they were a year ago - thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and for those rolling up their sleeves now and getting down to the serious business of looking after our birds.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Author <a href="http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-fish-ladder-9781408859230/" target="_blank">Kathryn Norbury (The Fish Ladder)</a> suggested making a Year of the Curlew. Bit late for this year - but next? Seems a great idea!</span></span><br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-49495533661761962992017-01-19T13:51:00.002+00:002017-01-20T08:51:09.697+00:00A GCSE in Natural History - now.<div class="MsoNormal">
A GCSE in Natural History – why it is needed.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/176749" target="_blank">I would like you to sign a petition for a GCSE in Natural History</a> - and here is why.</div>
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The idea for a GCSE in Natural History came to me while
chatting with <a href="http://www.tonyjuniper.com/" target="_blank">Tony Juniper</a> back in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tony then wrote a piece for the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2011/jun/09/natural-history-gcse-greener-future" target="_blank">Guardian</a>,
and I produced a flyer to sell the idea, and <a href="http://marycolwell.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/natural-history-gcse.html" target="_blank">wrote a blog</a>, for my own site <a href="http://markavery.info/2012/11/23/guest-blog-natural-history-gcse-mary-colwell/" target="_blank">and for Mark Avery</a>. Despite a flurry of interest nothing
much happened, and I became distracted by life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Then, in 2013, the <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/stateofnature_tcm9-345839.pdf" target="_blank">first State of Nature Report</a> was
published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span>t sent shockwaves around the media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>60% of wildlife has declined over the last 50 years, and out of those species assessed, one in ten faces extinction. Much loved creatures were slipping away –
hedgehogs, skylarks, lapwings, cornflowers, curlew, common lizards, many
butterflies, all of them edging closer to the edge of the abyss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There is often a spurt of activity following announcements
like this, but it fades after a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We absorb the bad news, get a little more hardened, and carry on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, what can an individual do when the
pressures facing wildlife are as huge as methods of agriculture, increasing
human population and climate change? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Scroll on another three years to 2016, to <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/State%20of%20Nature%20UK%20report_%2020%20Sept_tcm9-424984.pdf" target="_blank">the second State of Nature Report</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The decline
continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It showed that the UK is one
of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than half of our farmland birds are in
danger of extinction for example. This report highlighted some good news
stories too, showing where targeted conservation has worked, but on the whole
the picture was just as dispiriting, and getting worse. <o:p></o:p></div>
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These reports came at a time when it was also increasingly
clear that we are disengaging from the natural world as never before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in a new territory, British society
has never been so hands off and ignorant when it comes to nature. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can no
longer name common species or know the basics of their life cycles and what they
need to survive. It is therefore not surprising that as nature thins out we
hardly notice. It is a perfect storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
we lose species we lose interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It hasn’t always been the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For generations, the British Isles were the
best studied islands in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the 2013 report it says:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For over 200 years,
amateur naturalists have been investigating the birds, plants, bugs and every
other form of life that shares the country with us. For most of these
enthusiasts, their primary motivation has been simple </i><i style="font-size: 12pt;">curiosity and
fascination with the natural world. This world is indeed fascinating, and
incredibly diverse. Most people have no idea that they share the UK with 4,000
species of beetle, 7,000 species of fly or 17,361 species of fungus. A detailed
study of most British gardens would reveal hundreds of different types of
moths. And our countryside is surrounded </i><i style="font-size: 12pt;">by seas full of
enormous numbers of species even less well known than those on land.</i></div>
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Yes, the natural world is indeed utterly fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the source of wonder, joy,
astonishment, mystery, sometimes fear. It is both beautiful and raw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It challenges us to the heart. It makes us
human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is irreplaceable. So why are
we losing interest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The same report then goes on to say: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Worryingly, there are
signs that people are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature. But
scratch beneath the surface and there is a huge interest in nature – almost
every child is interested in animals, at least when young. How can we bring
this interest even further into the mainstream? What can we do through our
schools, for example, to help city kids learn the pleasures of getting muddy
while hunting for bugs? This is one of the big challenges we need to tackle if
we wish to continue our tradition of volunteer wildlife recording. If we can
inspire the next generation, we will create a huge force for nature.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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OK – so here’s one solution. Let’s launch a GCSE in Natural
History.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s teach young people to
name the world around them, to follow it through the year, to monitor numbers
and to record it so that we can see changes over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s teach them how to listen to and
identify birdsong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To know what flowers
you can expect to find where and at what time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s teach them what feeds on what - to understand
the web of interdependence that is all around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s teach them the common trees and what
they provide, not just for our benefit, but also for the wildlife that lives
on, under and in them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so it goes
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s teach about spiders and
earthworms, beetles and butterflies and why they are so vital to the
functioning of our planet. Why you won’t find a Heath Fritillary in woodland or
a guillemot on a river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s show them
that a city park is full of wonder, as is an estuary or beach or oak woodland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is not all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s introduce them the wealth of wonderful
literature that has been inspired by nature, from ancient times to today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s celebrate Silent Spring, A Natural
History of Selbourne, The Goshawk, Last Child in the Woods, the poetry of John Clare; as well as the
works of Robert MacFarlane, Richard Maybe and the many other superb writers
today. And what about the influence of nature films and radio documentaries? More youngpeople watched Planet Earth 2 than X Factor. This is what GCSE in Natural History could look like, and it should be
compulsory for anyone who wants to go into politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t a silver bullet, but it is a
concrete idea for putting nature back onto the agenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Many people are enthusiastic about the idea, but I have also
had objections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of which I feel are
sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them are:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is too middle class, too esoteric, too
late (better in Primary school).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will
not be accessible to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should
be spread through the curriculum rather than singled out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some responses: It is not too middle
class, no more so than history or geography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nature is for everyone and we need to instil that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes of course nature should be part of
education from day one – but it is sorely missing from secondary schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It is a t secondary school where it seems youngsters lose interest in the natural world. </span>A GCSE allows rigour. too and structure, rather than being soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it may not be as easy to study it in a
city as in the countryside, but that is not a reason for dismissing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing is the same everywhere – there is no
level playing field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And some cities
have excellent green spaces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely it
is better to teach it where it is possible, rather than nothing at all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, it should be spread through all
subjects, but for those who want to take it further and go deeper, it could be
an inspirational course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the moment
that is not an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did an O Level
in Geology, not available everywhere, fell in love with the subject and did a
degree.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If we can teach GCSEs in Politics, Economics, Business
Studies, why not Natural History? It is just as important – some would argue
even more so.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This course will also require the assistance of the wildlife
organisations throughout the country, get them into the classroom and out in
the fresh air, helping with teaching and inspiring and thus building community
relations. Museums too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nature deserves better than resignation and negativity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The natural world needs us to be positive and
forward looking like never before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have to do something that is long term and solid, and we have to do it now.
This will help.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
It will take time to reverse declines and to build a society
that is nature literate, so we have to start – this is for the long run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in the Great Age of Forgetting, forgetting
what it is like to live surrounded by an abundant and fascinating natural
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to get back to a richness and variety, and the joy and wellbeing it brings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/176749" target="_blank">Please sign the petition</a>. Thank you. </div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-10319452472448920612016-11-25T13:33:00.000+00:002017-01-19T18:19:06.119+00:00Green Ireland?<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />“Ireland's natural beauty is world-renowned. Glorious beaches, vast national parks, dramatic landscapes and interesting wildlife all make it the ideal destination for the nature enthusiast” </span></i><br />
<div>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hqrJQxccePo/WDg1cWUVu_I/AAAAAAAAEs0/ZMh-H9KpzF4nlTckWjWImgOataHh2Ez5wCEw/s1600/images.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hqrJQxccePo/WDg1cWUVu_I/AAAAAAAAEs0/ZMh-H9KpzF4nlTckWjWImgOataHh2Ez5wCEw/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://travelfeatured.com/beautiful-ireland-landscape/ </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So says <a href="http://disoverireland.ie/">DisoverIreland.ie</a>, the website of the National Tourism Development Agency for Ireland which sells hard the Emerald Isle’s image of a green, nature-filled land, removed from the worst of industrialised countries further east. But scratch just a little beneath the surface and the state of Ireland’s nature is far from healthy. From the mountains to the lowland bogs, from rivers to the coast, Ireland is losing wildlife and environmental quality at an alarming rate. This will come as a surprise to the many who still have an image of “old Ireland” a place of quiet certainty and wisdom born out of a life with the soil and nature. <br />
<br />
In November 2016 the <a href="http://www.epa.ie/irelandsenvironment/stateoftheenvironmentreport/" target="_blank">EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency for Ireland, published its latest assessment of the health of Ireland’s environment</a>. Much of it makes disturbing reading. <br />
<br />
<i>“The majority of Ireland’s most important habitats are reported to be of poor or bad conservation status, including raised and blanket bogs, dune systems, oligotrophic lakes, fens and mires, natural grasslands and woodlands. Only 9 per cent of habitats listed under the Habitats Directive are considered to have favourable status.”</i><br />
<br />
For example, the land of magnificent rivers and wetlands is polluted. The report states that the number of high quality rivers in Ireland has halved in the last 30 years. In the recent monitoring period between 2013 and 2015, only 21 sites were classified as the highest quality rivers compared with 575 between 1987 and 1990 and 82 between 2001 and 2003. Raised levels of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, mainly from agricultural run off and waste-water from human settlements, are the biggest cause of the pollution, and raw sewage was discharged into rivers at 43 separate locations. A European Commission report published in May 2015 stated that all of Ireland’s wetlands have an unfavourable conservation status and are continuing to deteriorate. <br />
<br />
The Irish Environmental Protection Agency described the situation as “a critical issue for Ireland in the next decade.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vq0HMbVGT_E/WDg1_ED5OZI/AAAAAAAAEs4/kdkqdszxxdQX1Hx5kl_gJUS2-FGjb7QQQCLcB/s1600/images-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vq0HMbVGT_E/WDg1_ED5OZI/AAAAAAAAEs4/kdkqdszxxdQX1Hx5kl_gJUS2-FGjb7QQQCLcB/s1600/images-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.briansart.com/Travel/Ireland/i-jNbNFSW</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ireland also has one of the highest green house gas emissions per head of population of any country in the world. 29% of the emissions come from agriculture, the single largest contributor, followed by energy generation and transport.<br />
<br />
Given that Ireland’s gas emissions are on the rise, and that peat bogs are highly efficient carbon sinks, it is odd that three peat-fired power stations continue to be supported and subsidised by €150 million per year. The continued use of peat as a main fuel means Ireland will not reach its greenhouse gas reduction targets set by the EU. Laura Burke, Director General of the EPA:<br />
<br />
“The EPA’s most recent greenhouse gas emission projections …projected that Ireland would not meet its 2020 target, with emission reductions likely to be in the range of 6-11% below 2005 levels. The greenhouse gas emission increases for 2015 in this report, suggest that achieving reductions, even at the lower end of that range, will be difficult.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rWTnV4B-3mE/WDg34q_zzGI/AAAAAAAAEtI/ZHNCE5s5aLItgR1MJ22zi7zlos4QbO_MACEw/s1600/image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rWTnV4B-3mE/WDg34q_zzGI/AAAAAAAAEtI/ZHNCE5s5aLItgR1MJ22zi7zlos4QbO_MACEw/s320/image.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.irishtimes.com/business/energy-and-resources/court-ruling-could-have-implications-for-other-bord-na-m%C3%B3na-plants-1.2407891</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Legal, commercial peat-cutting to power Ireland’s 3 peat-fired power stations will continue until 2030. Private use of peat (used domestically and to sell on the black market) is a hotly contested issue. Some of it is harvested illegally on protected sites and angry, sometimes violent, conflicts arise when any moves are made to restrict or abolish turf cutting. Even on bogs protected by European law, turf cutting is proving hard to stop. Wildlife rangers and even the police are reticent about direct conflict and the practice goes on unchallenged. In fact the Environment Minister, Heather Humphries, has just announced the drafting of legislation to delist 46 bogs which have Natural Heritage Area status. NHAs are so called because they are recognised as valuable for wildlife. As the National parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) states: “NHAs are areas considered important for the habitats present or which holds species of plants and animals whose habitat needs protection.” Delisting them will remove any protection.<br />
<br />
Ireland’s NPWS found that “no peatland type of priority importance in Ireland is in good conservation status.” Only 1% of the original extent of the great blanket bogs remains intact, the rest has been stripped for commercial and private peat extraction or drained and “improved” for agriculture.<br />
<br />
For the wildlife that depends on these areas it is disastrous. The curlew, the most endangered bird in Ireland, is badly affected. 70% of the remaining 130 pairs nest on bogs, and each breeding season they return to find their nesting sites cut, burned and drained. The Irish government looks set to extend the burning of upland areas into March, when birds like curlew are returning to breed. For a bird so on the edge of survival this could be devastating. Population analysis shows that Curlew will be functionally extinct (no longer enough birds for a viable breeding population) in just 7 years.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNWld5qvhPw/WDg4kfycIAI/AAAAAAAAEtQ/uGpKcUgMLAoWx1IKG5EZLjdrAvJEuAQrgCLcB/s1600/imgres-1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNWld5qvhPw/WDg4kfycIAI/AAAAAAAAEtQ/uGpKcUgMLAoWx1IKG5EZLjdrAvJEuAQrgCLcB/s200/imgres-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corn bunting - RSPB</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQioHD395Do/WDg4kLj7S_I/AAAAAAAAEtM/rEWicyztdbYBQZ96cgQSqE1SjNKbs5WPwCLcB/s1600/imgres.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQioHD395Do/WDg4kLj7S_I/AAAAAAAAEtM/rEWicyztdbYBQZ96cgQSqE1SjNKbs5WPwCLcB/s200/imgres.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corncrake - Telegraph</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Curlew is not the only species in Ireland that is struggling to hang on. The EPA report highlights that out of 199 species of birds in Ireland 25 are considered to be in urgent need of conservation action. The corn bunting has already gone extinct, the corncrake, once widespread across the whole of Ireland, has been reduced to 183 calling males. 2016 saw the highest number of birds of prey shot or poisoned, including the endangered hen harrier. There are only 108 pairs left. Ireland could soon become the land where no birds sing. The report also states that more than a third of Irish bees, and 15% of water beetles, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies are threatened.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKg6PPUN6NVwW9QDV4lAKZmQLXi7EaV__OVsftmV0jT3Fy3rSgyDM9Vucn9OC7y2_edL125dO9ZyXRblGCPicf0XcsXYb3oAvO1UjUsO2Ux8cdBGQluJIDy9XqsxlgdfmoVFB478jTNsv/s1600/Curlew_-_natures_pics.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKg6PPUN6NVwW9QDV4lAKZmQLXi7EaV__OVsftmV0jT3Fy3rSgyDM9Vucn9OC7y2_edL125dO9ZyXRblGCPicf0XcsXYb3oAvO1UjUsO2Ux8cdBGQluJIDy9XqsxlgdfmoVFB478jTNsv/s200/Curlew_-_natures_pics.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew - Wiki</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdfHlf9_nnxfh3BfsNuM4oNfsfbRM_0ERB6xfNGjZC-oGzrkj7lO9276pDuBCyK0JnBqUmmL9DRpmY_fhACXNRGMNpExfqxORXWVeqHykGJe2p_pm22LjHzLt33W_LmQSDpOWGlqrKnQH/s1600/1010126_tcm9-123805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdfHlf9_nnxfh3BfsNuM4oNfsfbRM_0ERB6xfNGjZC-oGzrkj7lO9276pDuBCyK0JnBqUmmL9DRpmY_fhACXNRGMNpExfqxORXWVeqHykGJe2p_pm22LjHzLt33W_LmQSDpOWGlqrKnQH/s200/1010126_tcm9-123805.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hen Harrier - RSPB</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ireland has gone through dramatic changes over the last 30 years, perhaps no more so than in the way farming is carried out. Agriculture, which was previously mixed and low intensity, has rapidly become highly intensive and specialised. Drainage of fields, increased use of fertiliser and the cutting of silage to feed the increasing number of cattle have resulted in widespread loss of habitat for wildlife, as well as increases in greenhouse gas emissions. The Celtic Tiger also took its toll, encouraging often unrestrained building on sensitive areas.<br />
<br />
In many ways all this is counter to the true heart of Ireland where wildlife and landscape are intimately bound with creativity, tradition and folklore. Some of the most beautiful poetry and prose in Europe have sprung from the rootedness of the Irish psyche to its natural heritage. To see this disappear now is to lose more than just physical matter and living species. Perhaps a re-engagement of young Irish people with their landscape-literature will re-invigorate a respect for the natural world and forge a new identity where Ireland leads the way in Europe to a more holistic and greener future.<br />
<br />
There is no doubt Ireland’s green image is tarnished, yet its natural beauty and unsullied image is used to attract millions of tourists each year. If the continued erosion of nature continues, the tourism industry will certainly suffer. The recent EPA report should raise serious concerns about how just how quickly this will happen.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-10944087615548958162016-10-18T06:37:00.000+01:002016-10-18T11:30:12.613+01:00Ethical Carnivore - Louise GrayI loved this book - <a href="http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-ethical-carnivore-9781472938398/" target="_blank">Ethical Carnivore</a> by <a href="http://www.louisebgray.com/" target="_blank">Louise Gray</a> - it got better the further in and I found myself thinking about it quite a lot. Louise comes across as a kind, determined, vulnerable woman who wants to be honest about what she does. She eats meat - so what is the honest thing? Kill it for yourself and don't hide behind plastic packaging and anonymous looking chunks of pink stuff.<br />
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Louise comes from a farming/shooting background and so the idea of picking up a gun isn't totally new, although it seems her brothers took to it as children more than she did. When she made this decision to spend a year only eating meat she killed herself, at least she had her dad to teach her how to handle a gun and take her out to shoot rabbits, I wouldn't have a clue who to ask.<br />
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The first chapter is less strong than the rest, it feels a bit - well- shaky. She finds it hard to manage the gun and can't dispatch a rabbit without tears. I probably wouldn't have started this way, but her vulnerability comes across straight away, and that is good. She isn't a campaigning, tattooed activist who lies in front of lorries, she is a normal, sensitive westerner who has been removed from the reality of food and now has decided to face up to what it means to eat meat. I liked that - I identified with her fears and squeamishness, I couldn't have done what she did.<br />
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She delves headlong into abattoirs and intensive chicken farms, eating road kill, going on fishing trawlers and breaking the necks of roosters. Eventually she tackles shooting a deer. She visits farms where animals are simply units to be processed and others where they are loved until they die humanely. She describes being in a large abattoir as being in hell and was deeply traumatised. Addressing the question of whether CCTV should be be installed in them she says no - no one should see what happens, it is like being in a vile dream. But how else do you despatch enough animals to supply the ever growing demand for meat in this country? Around 8 billion animals (livestock and fish) are killed each year in the UK for food. Can that really be true? This figure is taken from a vegan website which says:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The total number of animals killed in British slaughterhouses in 2013 was over a billion.</span><br />
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This included 9.8 million pigs, nearly 15 million sheep, 18 million turkeys, 14 million ducks, over 945 million chickens and 2.6 million cattle. Add to that 4.5 billion fish and 2.6 billion shellfish you have a total of over 8 billion animals killed in the UK each year.</div>
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This equates to around 22 million animals slaughtered every day; 919,000 an hour; 15,000 per minute and 255 every second.</div>
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I was particularly interested in reading this book after making "<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06s2w7b" target="_blank">Would You Eat An Alien?" for Radio 4</a> - a whacky look at the intelligence and sentience of farm animals. It was such an eye-opening set of programmes to be involved with and taught me a lot. We are strange creatures, we don't treat chickens as real birds, or cows as real mammals - somehow farmed animals are different to their wild relations. But of course they are not. Maternal and social bonds are just as strong, the ability to feel pain and fear is just as strong - but it is far easier if we don't acknowledge it. If we had to kill pigs or cows ourselves I am sure most would be vegetarian pretty quickly. But we don't and we absorb the Old MacDonald farm image and turn a blind eye to reality.<br />
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I went to see Louise give a talk at the <a href="http://www.birdfair.org.uk/" target="_blank">Birdfair</a> this year - she asked if the audience would rather be a chicken or a pheasant? Clever and brave for that venue - the majority of whom would be opposed to pheasant shooting. Most of the people there, and I am sure more generally, would choose to be a pheasant - given than it lives a wild life until shot (or run over or eaten by a fox). Surely better than living for only 6 weeks, bloated and full of chemicals, hardly able to stand and never seeing daylight. She was courageous, polite and definitely, in my opinion, held the moral argument. There is no doubt pheasants - agree with their existence in the UK or not, have a better life than your average broiler.<br />
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Therefore I applaud Louise - she didn't pretend everything was fine - she found out for herself, carried on eating meat but did the honest thing and killed it with her own hands. And the surprising thing is - she carries on trying to eat only the animals she kills, which has had a drastic effect on how much meat she eats. She now eats mainly vegetarian food with occasional meat thrown in. That seems to be a very healthy and sensible way to live. We all know the dangers of too much rich, animal fat. Many people in the West overdose on protein they don't need (my family for a start!) <br />
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Well done Louise - well written, direct from the heart, not one ounce of preachiness and its challenging. Its a great read. And if I was asked round to Louise's for a squirrel supper, I think I would look forward to it very much.<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-60297895287763738002016-08-07T12:05:00.001+01:002016-08-07T12:05:20.080+01:00The Four RelationshipsThe devastating news about the number of breeding curlews in Ireland has been difficult to take. 120 pairs left in the whole of the country. This year there is only one pair breeding in County Sligo, a rugged county of 2000 sq km of mountains, bogs and wet meadows. It should be curlew heaven. There maybe two pairs in the adjacent Country Roscommon. Ireland is a country that used to have many thousands of breeding birds. And it is not just curlews that are slipping over the edge into oblivion. Corncrakes have already gone apart from some remote outposts in the west. Lapwings are in freefall. There is a decline in birds throughout Europe, but Ireland seems to fare the worst. We are watching the extinction of a beautiful, elegant bird for no other reason than a western lifestyle that is all about consumption. Our desire for lots of cheap everything is satieated by economic and farming systems based on bigger, better, faster all the ime.<br />
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So here we go again - the system is screwed so what can we do? Well, we can try to do the right thing for ourselves.<br />
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It seems to me that there are <b><i>four relationships </i></b>we must have in balance to live full, healthy, flourishing lives, and to allow other life on earth to thrive alongside us. They are (1) our relationship with ourselves, (2) with God (whatever that term means to you), (3) with each other and (4) with the earth. As individuals, it seems to me that we are like the circle of a Celtic cross. The circle repersents the essence of who we are, and it is kept in shape by four arms pulling with equal tension - the four relationships<span id="goog_2069541614"></span><br />
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No one relationship should be allowed to distort the roundness - if one relationship becomes dominant then the circle will go out of shape and become contorted. Keeping these four relationships in balance is essential. If they are not balanced we see religious extremism as the relationship with God becomes all consuming. We wage war/fight/hurt when the relationship with each other is weak. We become greedy or self harming when we neglect ourselves. And the earth - what about that forgotten, neglected relationship with the earth? The one relationship that is so often taken for granted? Well, ecosystems are damaged, biodiversity thinned, animals treated with cruelty and other forms of life are viewed as merely a means to an end, namely food or products.<br />
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Four relationships - four essential bonds that keep the world and ourlseves in harmony. Easy to preach isn't it - hard to do when families need feeding, money if tight, we need to get around and we want a high standard of life with a rich diversity of food and abundant energy. Keeping the realtionship with the earth in balance is as hard, if not harder, as maintaining the balance of the others. <br />
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The problem is all of them require sacrifice - a word that is so neglected today when we are told we can have it all - as long as we can pay for it, or borrow the money. If the world's religions have one huge job to do it is to remind us that life involves self-sacrifice. All of them have times of abstinence built into their teachings, often on a yearly cycle. These are times when we are asked to be restrained and to contemplate. These times of less are then interspersed with festivals and times of abundance. Somehow that seems a balanced and healthy approach.<br />
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I don't want Christmas to start in September or Easter in January. I don't want organic mangoes all year round. I don't want cheap meat at the cost of suffering for millions of animals. <br />
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And what about curlews? They are disappearing as land is converted into intensive agriculture to provide cheap food, and 50% of it is thrown away.<br />
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So curlews are the collateral damage of a society that has become distorted. We don't leave them, and so many other creatures, room to live and just be. All of the land is for us and our "needs" though it is hard to believe that this is the only way for humanity to survive. <br />
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I leave with the wisest of farmers - Wendell Berry -<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" /><br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-4185014654689874332016-06-20T13:51:00.000+01:002016-06-20T13:55:23.201+01:00Changing the ApproachAbout 2 weeks after getting back from the Curlew Walk I was off again to the NW of Scotland to go on a trip to Priest Island, one of the Summer Isles, to help ring storm petrels. I did it last year for the first time and loved it, so as the offer was there again it is just too good to miss. I'm not a qualified ringer so I do the ferrying of the bags with birds in them from the mist nets to the processing tent where the birds are weighed, measured and have rings put on their legs. They are then released again unharmed and firmly recorded for the future. All good data to have to monitor the Priest Island population - and a great sailing expedition with good friends. A couple of things struck me from both the Curlew Walk and the ringing trip.<br />
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Firstly, both curlews and storm petrels are species that no one has a problem with. There are no reasons for anyone to shoot them, trap them or try to get rid of them in any way- they have no impact on our lives other than to enhance the world we live in. They don't eat our crops or fish stocks, they don't spread diseases or attack us - they are safe wildlife to be involved with. And so the conversations I had on Priest over the last couple of days were about birds and nature - general chat about the natural world with no stress or controversy. I couldn't help but think how different it would be if we had been ringing birds of prey, or I done a walk across the British Isles for badgers or hen harriers, because then the feel of the activities would have been very different. For many and varied reasons there are certain species that polarize opinion and then the temperature of the debate rises and the language becomes far more divisive.<br />
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If you are not aware of the hen harrier controversy, some grouse moors illegally kill birds of prey (and legally control other predators heavily too) to enhance grouse numbers so that a surplus can be shot for money. The illegal persecution of hen harriers in particular has been devastating and very few birds, if any, breed in England now. I am not going into the details of this, suffice to say that it is illegal in the UK to kill any birds of prey and those who do should be subject to the full force of the law. End of. However this illegal activity has muddied the waters for the grouse industry in general and there is now a faction of conservationists who want to get rid of grouse shooting completely, objecting to any of the other activities associates with it, such as heather burning and draining of the uplands. Again, this is not the place to go into the pros and cons, but the division that now exists between grouse moors and some conservationists is so vitriolic it can verge on threatening. <br />
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There is similar heightened tension between conservationists who want to protect badgers and farmers who want to control them to stop the spread of TB (and the jury is out on the efficacy of a cull). Badgers can also be a problem for ground nesting birds in some areas, but there is a feeling that any control is wrong for a faction of conservationists.<br />
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Just as I was leaving for Priest the Labour MP Jo Cox was brutally murdered. It was a shocking and vile attack by someone who seems to be deranged. I was away for a lot of the aftermath talk, but it seems that the tone of the in/out EU debate may have created an atmosphere within which those who are liable to flip can do so. I am NOT saying it was causal, what I am saying is that when divisions run so deep and discussions are so dogged by nastiness, then the atmosphere is one in which extreme views can find a purchase. I may be wrong, and I sincerely hope I am, but the tone of some of the controversies in conservation are unnessecarily nasty. Bully boy tactics on both sides increase feelings verging on hatred and I have been amazed at the mis-information that is out there, fueling the fires. <br />
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What I would like to see is calm, rational debate. We have to be measured and be able to see another's point of view, without vilifying. We don't all have to look alike, behave the same and create the world in our own image. There is room for difference and compromise. If the heat is not taken out then someone, somewhere may get hurt. And while people fight and blame, the only thing that loses out is the wildlife. it is time for a change of tone in politics and conservation.<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-84833804739410491922016-05-20T06:24:00.002+01:002016-05-20T06:34:41.642+01:00Day 30- Curlew WalkSorry it has been so long since the last post but time and internet connection together are rare and there always seems to be a lot of correspondence to catch up on too. In summary, I've walked through Wales and am now in the Peak District - home territory. The rain is falling and the sky grey, unusual for me as I've had amazing weather for most of the time. <br />
I have been trying to summarise how I felt about the last section of walking, and if you read my last blogs about Ireland you will have picked up a despair about the lack of public and political will to protect the nature of Ireland. That continues as I received an email this morning from a ranger saying the interim government will de-list another 46 peat bogs opening them to turf cutting. At least one has a pair of curlews on it.<br />
It struck me that Ireland views its bog as something from a shameful past. Ireland wants to move on and leave behind the "man of the bog" image of old, and step into a Europe without the old-country burden. To be called "bog man" is an insult, it was a place where life was hard and the land poor. The raised bog is a place to dump rubbish or chop up and throw in the fire. Better to strip it, build new houses with immaculate lawns where old cottages used to be, and leave the past behind. Along with that attitude go the folktales and legends of the past too. I found it hard to extract any old tales of the country, about curlews or anything else. But an old priest in a home did tell me it was a shame to lose the bogs because when he was a parish priest They were great places to go out in the middle of and scream.<br />
Another problem Ireland's wildlife faces is a lack of wildlife groups. In England we have organizations dedicated to butterflies, bees, mammals, trees, plants etc. They don't exist in S Ireland. So the people pressure is less and the ancient links to the past and the wisdom-filled tales about life disappearing.<br />
Contrast that with West Wales which holds onto its past with a fierce grip and you have 2 very different mindsets. West Wales is proud of being an outpost on the shores of a changing world. It wants to celebrate its mysticism as well as its language and Welsh is commonly heard. And wildlife is woven through Welsh tales. Of course I'm generalising to a huge degree, but the land is not just a resource but a place for souls to connect over time and through generations, passing on language, legends and a desire to never forget.<br />
So a very brief summary of the difference I felt between Ireland and Wales. So much more to say of course - but that will come later. Next blog - England.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-52377419288965062982016-05-08T12:35:00.000+01:002016-05-08T12:37:40.811+01:00Cultural curlewsLast night was very special, dinner in the home of good friends Tim and Pauline Higgins who moved to the Llyn peninsula a couple of years ago. One of the guests was a guy, Dafydd David-Hughes who runs a <a href="http://www.felinuchaf.org/1/index.html" target="_blank">round house</a>. Dafydd is a story teller, you can't help but be mesmerised by his voice and ability to draw you in, no matter what he is talking about. It is an art. I'll be presenting the curlew in myth, legend and folklore tonight - come along if you can.<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-79497539293029017022016-05-02T09:56:00.001+01:002016-05-02T10:53:50.331+01:00Curlews caught in the middle. Today is my last "work" day in Ireland before I get to Dublin, apart from a radio interview tomorrow for Mooney Goes Wild. As you can tell if you've been following me, bogs have been a big feature of this part of the Midlands. Last night someone challenged me by saying - <i>why is it different to what you did to get coal? The industrialization of England destroyed vast areas and opencast mines in S Wales are just as bad to look at.</i> An argument that needs addressing because it is true. There are the obvious answers - such as times have changed - really changed. We know much more about how our activities affect the planet - and we have not just local but international obligations to protect the environment.<i> </i>So the milieu in which we make decisions is totally different. What seemed a good use of resources in the past has shifted as the atmosphere fills with greenhouse gases and the diversity of life diminishes. Just because we did it then doesn't mean we have the right to carry on.<br />
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So how will Ireland get its fuel if peat burning stops? (Which I doubt very much!) Gas is a more energy efficient fossil fuel than peat, by a very long way, and alternative sources are emerging all the time. I really don't like the term "green energy" it is a green-washing phrase. There is no such thing as a totally environmentally friendly way to produce power - they all have damaging effects - no free lunch - but some are certainly better than others. Wind farms and solar farms, wave power and barrages come with their own baggage, but it is lighter than fossil fuels if dealt with well, but not cost free. Lots of people are working on this and I know it is difficult, but Ireland could be the leading light for Europe by laying aside peat and turning to the future, which will no doubt be a moisture of many forms of energy depending on location. Peat is a fuel of the past, and that is a large part of the problem - the past speaks loud in Ireland.<br />
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This goes to the heart of the problem. Tradition is a powerful force, it is linked in to a memory of days gone by when people cut their turf by hand and worked the land with a countryman's heart (and it was usually men). Many, many people will tell you their parents and grandparents knew the wildlife and understood the seasons in a way that is alien today. This understanding was laced with folktales and old stories about the way nature informs and warns humanity. In a talk I gave yesterday one middle aged woman said when her mother heard a curlew she would go around the house waving a goose feather (used as feather dusters) - as the call of the curlew was associated with the souls of drowned sailors. Others nodded - they remembered that too. Help waft the souls out of the house and on towards heaven. The curlew, the waterways and the bog were interlinked. And the image of the men hand cutting turf on their patch, labouring away, stacking the "black butter" that Seamus Heaney refers to - "melting and opening underfoot," is alive and thriving in the Irish imagination. Peat is part of Irelad's memory but the memory of curlews is slipping away so fast, and if they are remembered there is no political purchase attached to them.<br />
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I remember traditional peat cutting well. I have strong memories of visiting my uncle and aunt in Letterkenny in the 1960s and going with my dad and uncle to see turf cutting on the slopes of Muckinish Mountain. I remember the men bent over and the skill of slicing the turf with strange looking spades. I remember them chatting next to the neatly stacked sods and then going to the pub for a Guinness and my dad saying to me later - try to remember this, it won't last for ever.<br />
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My dear uncle has gone, and his plot on Muckinish. Modern Ireland is not like that anymore. Few cut by hand, it is done by a machine now. That link to working the land by hand is far less, but I can totally understand the family traditions stretching back through generations. Those are important memories, and if properly regulated the individual plots still have a place in Ireland. The problem is,<br />
this has been scaled up out of all proportion from a family heating their home to a nation feeding power stations. They are not the same thing. The family stack is not the same as the trucks of peat railroaded out to be burnt in furnaces.<br />
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Yesterday I went out early to see some bog that still had a pair of curlews on it. They were hanging on in a small section with peat diggers closing in fast from both sides. Their call was tinged, for me, with desperation. There is no way many of these birds that are settled in bogs that are continuing to be cut will survive the disturbance as the machines close in.<br />
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So Ireland has to decide what is important and what they want to remember and what they are happy to let go. Peat has a powerful place in Irish identity, it is political dynamite - people will loudly and vigorous defend this right to cut turf. But the curlew part of the tradition, the bird that serenaded the turf cutter, has faded away. Does Ireland have a place for curlews for future generations? If so, how can they be treasured as a part of Irish tradition as much as cutting turf? In this land where tradition and modernity sit side by side, curlews are squeezed out. They are the forgotten part of the past, can they find their way back into the lives and loves of Ireland again? If so, they do have a future.<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-55827094948272468232016-04-30T08:26:00.001+01:002016-04-30T08:36:45.745+01:00Climate Change CurlewsThe Shannon Callows are fresh and green - wide flat fields of grass and herbs border the river Shannon between Lough Ree and Lough Derg in central Ireland - an area of roughly 30 sq miles. Here the river seems to relax and spread over the saucer -shaped basin that is the Midlands - the soft lapping of the water seranaded by songbirds and the lowing of cattle. The traditional blessing - "May the rain fall softly upon your fields" - seems to fit the Callows well. In some ways the Shannon and its floodplain is the Irish equivalent of the Nile, the river is the source of life. The yearly winter floods spread nutrients over the fields and in the summer the grasslands are alive with insects feeding off wild flowers and herbs and cows feeding off the grass. This is rich dairy and beef country. Shocking then that in this land of soft sediment and water there are only between 10 and 15 pairs of curlews, no one knows for sure, but not more than that. Yet only 30 years ago they would have been so common they would have been jostling for space to nest.<br />
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The Callows should resound to the trilling of the curlew - the air filled with its lyrical vibrations, spreading out over the plain like ripples over water. Yet over the last couple of days I haven't heard a single call. I saw one bird flying low and cowed, but it was gone quickly - hopefully back to a nest on the island of Inishee in the middle of the river. It somehow didn't seem like a typical curlew, usually so ready to protest at any unwelcome presence - this one was covert, trying not to be noticed.<br />
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Curlews are nesting now and here they don't seem to make a fuss if they think danger is near, they skulk silently away, keeping a low profile. Someone suggested this might be learned behaviour over the last years as numbers fell. Keep quiet, keep out of sight. In the days when there were so many of them they would rise together from the nests dotted through the fields and mob any crow or fox - but now they are loners.<br />
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BirdWatch Ireland are making great efforts to help them - and the other waders plus the corncrakes -that should be so common. Inishee Island in the Shannon is now a fortress, fenced off by a powerful electric fence that keeps the foxes, badgers and pine martens, which swim over from the mainland, from feasting on the nests. It is on Inishee that the last corncrakes were making a comeback, benefiting from the peace, but last year was the first year when no corncrakes called in the Callows. It looks like they have gone, and it could be climate change beginning to bite.<br />
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Farmers here are used to dealing with flooding during the summer months in one year out of every five or six, but since 2000 the Shannon Callows have flooded badly in the summer every year. The water inundates the breeding grounds and the corncrake has been drowned out. It affects all the birds - and the farmers who may lose their hay. <br />
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2 pairs of curlews are nesting on Inishee - but at least they are still just about there - hanging on - and hopefully there will be no flooding this year between April and August. Only time will tell but it has been one hell of a wet year again. <br />
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I am coming towards the end of this first stage and have travelled down the centre of Ireland - following the loughs and waterways of this magical inland treasure. Most of it appears peaceful and calm, if you shield your eyes from the horrors of the stripped bogs and vast tracts of uniform forestry of a monoculture of Sitka spruce. But it is clear curlews are almost non existant, just a handful of pairs dotted around here and there - trying to breed but battling so many problems. They seem to me to be like stars shining in the dark sky. That might sound overly dramatic - but if you look at the Irish landscape through curlew eyes, it is hard to draw another conclusion.<br />
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I have met wonderful people - dedicated to helping the curlew survive this time of annihilation - they too are stars shining in the midst of the darkness of lack of awareness. I have picked up a kind of fatalistic approach quite a few times - "sad, but isn't that just the way of things these days - what can you do?" Curlews here need people to first of all be aware and then to care enough to act - that is what is needed - then they may recover.<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-1285567126690324152016-04-27T15:55:00.002+01:002016-04-27T15:59:53.375+01:00Curlew Walk a week inIt's hard to get both wifi and time in the same place to write, so little chance to blog, though I have been posting bits and pieces on Facebook and Twitter.<br />
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It's Thursday and off to Banagher soon to give a talk and meet people working on the Shannon Callows - where curlews were once common but no longer. And that is the story everywhere I have been. I have just given an interview to a local paper in Mullingar, West Meath. The reporter was an elderly man and I played him the sound of a curlew's bubbling call. His eyes filled with tears and he asked me to turn it off. It had been so long since he had heard one - and yes I was right, he hadn't yet noticed it slipping away. Same old story. Where's is this Irish Gra (said graw and means love) for the land that keeps being mentioned - this innate love of the landscape upon which generations of Irish have laboured? There is a love of farming - but not of the land that is farmed, and that is a crucial difference. There is almost a violent relationship with the earth here - thrashed hedges, stripped bogs, fast and furious cutting of grass for silage, intense stocking. The corncrake has gone - the curlew is hot on its heels. I doubt there are even 160 pairs left.<br />
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It wouldn't be true to say no one cares, the people I've talked to do care when they hear the figures and the curlew song, but they haven't noticed it going. And whether there is any will to do what it takes to bring wildlife back to the fields is another matter. If they are paid - then perhaps - money talks a lot and it is hard to make a living as a farmer I know. There are payments through what is called the Glas (pronounced Gloss, means green) scheme whereby farmers get payment for wildlife on the farm if they don't plough/cut/chop/thrash in the sensitive season. But is that enough without other management and control? <br />
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The question I am struggling with today is. - is it worth it? There is so much damage and lack of awareness that it will take a huge amount of effort to get people to act - and if they do then it will take another huge amount of predator control and hanbitiat management to bring the few pairs left back to healthy numbers. Is that right? Should public money be spent on carnage for crows, foxes and anything else that predates ground nesting birds? They are native species too that farming has allowed to increase. And where would the money come from? Curlews can't be sold and traded to make money - so all you get is a bubbling bird at the end of it all. The people here have to decide what they want.<br />
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I gave a talk to a class of 17 year olds studying agriculture and the environment for the equivalent of A level in a rural town called Ballinamore. Not one had even heard of a curlew, yet alone seen one or knew what it sounded like. The teacher had heard of it but wanted to see a picture. These young people are the first generation to not hear a corncrake and the last to be able to hear a curlew. But they will have to be quick.<br />
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A few more days left to talk to more people involved and get their take.<br />
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Ireland - the land that is fast becoming the land where no birds sing.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-25486881346961275392016-04-21T07:30:00.001+01:002016-04-21T07:34:33.117+01:00Curlew Walk Day 1Its 7.15 and I'm just doing the final packing. Its been a whirlwind few days but the day has finally arrived. Nothing more to do now other than walk and talk. Attached are some photos of recent media and and you can see a couple of short films I made with the great guys<a href="http://www.curlewmedia.com/rspb-bto-birdwatch/" target="_blank"> from RSPB N Ireland.</a><br />
The photos from the Fermanagh Herald and from filming below.<br />
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Conor Macauley, presenter, Brad Robson, RSPB</div>
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Irish curlews are in a terrible state, heartbreaking. An email from a bird wtcher who monitors them in the South sent me such a sad email: </div>
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<i>I did the curlew survey with 2 other people last year in co kildare,where once they would have bred on all the bogs and wet grassland we found only 8 pairs,all on bogs.4 of these were on private bogs and as soon as the machines came the birds disappeared.2 were on lodge bog,a protected bog managed by the ipcc,one of their members thinks he saw a chick but i personally think the nests were predated as there are a large number of hooded crows in the vicinity.The saddest part of it all was the 2 pairs on mouds bog.This bog is an sac protected under eu law but unforunately illegal turf cutting goes on there.I visited there 7 times last year and on the second last visit i could not get to within 300 metres of the bog as i had 2 birds constantly mobbing me,i hadnt the heart to look for the chicks and distress them anymore so i left them alone.To me it is an amazing feeling and sight to see this spectacle right above your head.Sadly when i went back 6 days later illegal turf cutting had taken place,a portion of the bog was burnt and the birds were gone.</i></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>I had a meeting with the district conservation officer of the wildlife service this morning and he told me that they have been ordered by hq to stay away from the bog this year,so the cutting will continue.The npws,the guards,kildare county council,the irish goverment dont care,nobody does.We lost red grouse and grey partridge in the late 1990s and the curlew is rapidly getting there.</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Someone asked me yesterday if I thought this walk would actually make any difference. I don't know, although I think already more people know about the plight of curlews than before - but I do know that doing nothing is not an option.</span><br />
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<span class="s1">21st April is the feast day of St Beuno and the birthday of John Muir - the synergy of the universe in action!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of people - the offers of accommodation, the donations and messages of support. Thank you to everyone.</span></div>
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-41509144567352522212016-04-04T14:19:00.001+01:002016-04-04T14:19:42.875+01:00Podcast on John Muir<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBlVpwTi2dmkdE_wFz7h2ls7H6DaDVm-Bw3FQJo_rPOk-Fs2HQXjeICxXNAG3rtVIB1-9eJG8vspbn3OPD0f3zJy1gjXLWEElE7R9cVXp3VPGdN94wt4lcDls7djZhhvfEwau3gIPd9So/s1600/nunst0006.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBlVpwTi2dmkdE_wFz7h2ls7H6DaDVm-Bw3FQJo_rPOk-Fs2HQXjeICxXNAG3rtVIB1-9eJG8vspbn3OPD0f3zJy1gjXLWEElE7R9cVXp3VPGdN94wt4lcDls7djZhhvfEwau3gIPd9So/s320/nunst0006.gif" width="320" /></a><br />
A podcast I did with an internet site called<a href="http://www.thesoulofcalifornia.libsyn.com/" target="_blank"> Soul of California has just gone live</a>. It was good to talk to Richard Dion, the producer, about the life of Muir and his legacy. Strange isn't it the symbol of California is a grizzly bear, but they were exterminated from the state in 1922 - when the last one was shot.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-59398061799947983402016-04-04T14:09:00.003+01:002016-04-04T14:09:55.870+01:00Reflections on curlews and saintsSome really <a href="http://www.curlewmedia.com/st-beuno-reflections/" target="_blank">special reflections are being added to my website on curlews and St Beuno</a> - well worth a read. I have contributions from a rabbi, a bishop, a naturalist author, a classicist and nature writer. As they come in I'll post them, but they are a lovely read.<br />
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-76340366200642682912016-03-30T16:38:00.001+01:002016-04-04T14:12:06.949+01:00Midlands Today film on the Roaches<div id="fb-root">
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/midlandstoday/videos/10153982861674761/">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/midlandstoday/videos/10153982861674761/">Curlew campaign</a><br />
The curlew bird which was once common across Staffordshire is now in steep decline and has recently been put on a list of endangered species. Now a naturalist from the Moorlands is embarking on a 500 mile walk to highlight its plight and raise funds for conservation.<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/midlandstoday/">BBC Midlands Today</a> on Tuesday, 15 March 2016</blockquote>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-60411067825553317832016-03-20T09:12:00.002+00:002016-03-20T09:12:40.938+00:00Three years on...<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Three years ago I sat with my dad in hospital in Stoke, convinced he would be home the next day. He was weak, frail and in pain from a broken hip, but all he wanted to do was be back in his chair near his garden and in his sanctuary. Although he seemed so frail I couldn't believe he wouldn't go back to Stockton Brook, it never occurred to me it was our last day together. As he began to hallucinate and his temperature climb, I still thought drugs would sort it. As plans were made</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> to take him to intensive care I assumed it was the best place to get him through and on his way home. As the consultant asked if we wanted him to be resuscitated I thought he was going through formalities. I had the meal planned and what I would do when he was back in his chair and how I would do anything to make him happy. But he didn't go home. He died strapped to a horrible machine that violently forced air into his congested lungs. The room was windowless, dark and sterile, my father loved light and life. But he still died with great dignity and surrounded by such love. There isn't a day when I don't wish with every fibre I could have this last day again. God bless you dad. You passed on your last piece of wisdom - how to die.</span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-78793972189728985822016-03-18T14:04:00.000+00:002016-03-18T16:05:26.760+00:00Curlew SongI gave a talk at <a href="http://www.newnetworksfornature.org.uk/" target="_blank">New Networks for Nature conference</a> last November, <a href="http://marycolwell.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/how-faith-can-help-nature.html" target="_blank">a précis of the talk is here</a>. Listening were a folk singing duo called <a href="http://barronbrady.com/" target="_blank">Barron Brady</a> who had provided the music for the event. Ros has a clear, intense voice and Simon plays the guitar beautifully. I talked about the role religions have in the conservation movement and used curlews, not as an example of creatures in decline, but as a bird that can be viewed in many different ways. <br />
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A curlew can be <a href="http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/factsheet/22693190" target="_blank">Numenius arquata</a> to the scientifically minded, it can be "a thought of God" as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton" target="_blank">Thomas Merton</a> would have said. They can be seen as specific creation of Allah, or as a spark of light from the flame of Lord Shiva. They could even just be a brown bird with a long nose and <a href="http://sounds.bl.uk/Environment/British-wildlife-recordings/022M-W1CDR0001375-0600V0" target="_blank">a beautiful bubbling call</a>. All are valid, all have a place at the table.<br />
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After the conference Ros contacted me to ask more about curlews and I told her the story of St Bueno's prayer book being rescued from the waves by a curlew. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beuno" target="_blank"> St Bueno</a> then supposedly blessed the bird and said it should be forever protected. That blessing worked well for a long time, but needs a refresh now. St Bueno's feast day is April 21st, the day I set off on my 500 mile walk.<br />
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Well, today Barron Brady sent me this haunting song. Thank you to them, its a fitting tribute to a fabulous bird.<br />
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-46564152695799856282016-03-15T14:36:00.000+00:002016-03-16T12:31:24.039+00:00Radio Stoke, Midlands Today and News<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/251992702&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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It was a Midlands media fest yesterday. Here is the interview I did for BBC Radio Stoke at 7.20 am on 14th March.<br />
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I then went to the Roaches on the<a href="http://marycolwell.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Staffordshire Moorlands to be filmed for Midlands Today</a>. But it goes offline at 7.00 pm on 16th March.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-35812681" target="_blank">And this news report too</a> appeared.<br />
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-90843664093779391492016-03-02T07:50:00.001+00:002016-03-02T07:50:09.894+00:00Recent articles on Curlews and the 500 mile walk.<div style="display: block; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;">
As well as <a href="http://markavery.info/2016/02/18/22804/" target="_blank">Mark Avery's blog</a>, here are a couple of others:<br />
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<a href="https://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5511" target="_blank"><u>Bird Guides Article</u> </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2016/february/walking-for-curlew-guest-blog-by-mary-colwell-hector/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2016/february/walking-for-curlew-guest-blog-by-mary-colwell-hector/" target="_blank">Article for The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/301662875/GWCT-Article" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View GWCT Article on Scribd">GWCT Article</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_26367" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/301662875/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-2957364468048647232016-02-18T10:21:00.001+00:002016-03-18T16:01:03.073+00:00BBC Wildlife Magazine - Faith and NatureI wrote an article for the March edition of BBC Wildlife Magazine on the role religions can/should/must play in conservation.<br />
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<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/305227468/Faith-in-Nature" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Faith in Nature on Scribd">Faith in Nature</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_63464" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/305227468/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343373429222940352.post-11958299218044168102016-02-18T10:12:00.001+00:002016-02-18T10:14:05.879+00:00Guest Blog for Mark Avery on Curlews<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAkuQ6FguY14zj7kh05b_GE2fMbVYY783HSiEaM0n0jhqwR4i9J2cN_gh8hLFUJ8qKHAqj4BqsfQgUbpqa7EjgTTdBGdu5qW0IA-zZ0kufG5Mb4_qy7caeMxNuJtTir_h3hRlJwzYgHec/s1600/Curlew+FlowPoint+5February2016+TeignEstuaryJohn+Walters.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAkuQ6FguY14zj7kh05b_GE2fMbVYY783HSiEaM0n0jhqwR4i9J2cN_gh8hLFUJ8qKHAqj4BqsfQgUbpqa7EjgTTdBGdu5qW0IA-zZ0kufG5Mb4_qy7caeMxNuJtTir_h3hRlJwzYgHec/s320/Curlew+FlowPoint+5February2016+TeignEstuaryJohn+Walters.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by <a href="http://johnwalters.co.uk/" target="_blank">John Walters</a></span><br />
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My <a href="http://markavery.info/2016/02/18/22804/" target="_blank">guest blog for Mark Avery</a> on why I love curlews and what I'm going to do to help them recover.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14833807043022627693noreply@blogger.com0