September

With lessons from Australia and California about the unintended consequences of preventing controlled winter fires to reduce fuel load, we may need to be far more proactive in preventative burning than we have been in the past, as the likelihood of summer wildfires is increasing.

Hen harriers in England have just had another record-breaking year: 60 chicks from 19 nests says Natural England, and the RSPB is reporting a further five nests. The significance of this remarkable achievement is illustrated by the fact that English hen harrier Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) is 61 pairs.