How much is that Tyger in the window?

Last week to Doddington for the launch of the Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership. Having had a part to play in the construction of this august body, it was a pleasure to see it slip into the water at last. The great and the good in conservation, land custody and administration were there to cheer it on its way – and it made me think again about a strange topic that I came across during my work on the Partnership.

The topic I’m thinking of is how to put a price on nature. It’s one that probably only a few are aware of, and even fewer understand. I’m in the first group, but not in the second – here’s why.

Click to read more ...

Coaches

Like millions of others I endured last night's England match against Algeria. I actually only lasted until a quarter of an hour into the second half, before turning the sound down and watching a Michael Portillo documentary on the BBC iPlayer, which was just as boring but without the sense of expectation that an England World Cup campaign inevitably drags along with it.

At the end of the game, I pondered on why such a talented group of players should fail to perform...

Click to read more ...

Food Labelling - who won, who lost

So the big bad food manufacturers have won again - according to the media reports. The EU parliament has turned down the proposal to mandate simple traffic lights on all food products, and the food manufacturers are being blamed.

Well, yes, if you believe that this would save lives and stop people eating bad diets, then this is correct. Many medics have come to the fray bemoaning a lost opportunity, blaming capitalism for taking lives.

But the truth is simpler and starker.

Click to read more ...

Here's my guess...

Days to go, so here's my guess - Tories get it by clear majority of 30 to 60 seats. Yes, yes, I know I'm the only person saying this, but I just don't think our 'electoral system' (I flatter it) tends to yield the fabled hung parliament. The Labour vote will collapse completely, the Liberals still don't seem a credible governing power, and nationalists are by definition of Celtic interest only, so that leaves Mr Cameron and his chaps.

Click to read more ...

STOP PRESS: No life on other planets!

To be more specific, I mean 'no human life on other planets', but I wanted to get your attention. Given the stats, I'm sure there is something somewhere, in a galaxy far far away, tapping away at their version of a keyboard.

But I'm equally sure that we're never going to be able to get in touch, talk to each other or exchange views about the films of Ingmar Bergman. So we're not talking about other types of life on other planets - we're asking whether we humans can ever live our lives on other planets.

This question rattles around like a guest who won’t leave. Not a week goes by but some scientist comes up with a press release about how finding a few kilos of water in moon dust makes life off Earth possible. Are they joking?

Click to read more ...