Knowing

I suggested to SWT some years ago that they should have an on-site worker. I meant someone senior, not a skivvy, who spent the major part of their working hours actually present on the site they claimed as their nature reserve rather than miles away sitting at a desk. I'm not sure I still think that. It would be unlikely to have the effect I intended. But it seemed a good idea at the time. Decisions taken remotely in an office environment won't be based in as much respect for what's worthwhile about a place as those that come from a deep association with it. In the office you're likely to say - oh there's bracken in that part so we'll spray it next August, unaware that wild animals bring up their young there or wild flowers wind their way through the bracken fronds in just that spot; or - the number of trees on that hillside does not conform to the landscape assessment that we're working to so we'll cut down half of them (and we get grants to pay for it) with no concern for the landscape value.

Now I know that even being on the spot would not work. Respect for the integrity of the natural world has no place in the ethos of the conservation industry: it is run on a business model and such concerns do not bring in funds. Yet more children of the 'dear departed'!

Each time of day.

Each season.