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Chasing the Northern Lights with AuroraWatch UK
Hi, I’m Simon’s daughter Lucy, and I’ve been exploring the magic of the night sky with AuroraWatch UK. This amazing tool sends alerts when the aurora might be visible, making it easy to catch nature’s light show – even from here in the UK. I’ve taken a few photos during recent aurora alerts and wanted…
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Q6: What Comforts You About Nature’s Resilience?
Year after year, the seasons turn. Forests regrow after fires – if industry doesn’t claim the space first. Rivers carve new paths when blocked by development. That doesn’t end well for homeowners, but nature finds its way. Life adapts and evolves, often in ways that surprise and inspire us. There’s comfort in nature’s resilience. Just…
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Q5: What Scares You Most About the Changes You See in the World?
The world is always changing – that much we know. But lately, the pace of change feels relentless. Faster. Less predictable. More unforgiving. So, what scares you most about what’s happening in the world? Can you put your finger on it? Is it the rise of AI and its unknown impact? The loss of wildlife…
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Podcast: From Ice Warrior to Global Warrior: A Conversation with Jim McNeill
Latest Naturespace podcast session. What does it take to survive in the world’s harshest environments? And what lessons can we learn from someone who has dedicated his life to understanding and protecting our planet? In the latest Naturespace with Haith’s podcast, I (Simon King) sit down with polar explorer Jim McNeill. He is a man…
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Q4: Why Do We Wait for Disasters Before We Care?
Some people dedicate their lives to protecting the planet. The rest of us? We’re busy ignoring it. Out of sight, out of mind – until disaster barges in, uninvited. And when it does – we are shocked, surprised. ‘How could this happen? Why didn’t anyone do anything?’ we ask. Deep down, we know the warning…
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Military Land – A Conservation Success. By Graham Wellstead.
Introduction: When we think of military land, conservation isn’t often the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, as Graham Wellstead highlights in this fascinating guest post, the UK’s military-owned land has become an unexpected sanctuary for wildlife. Spanning 600,000 acres, much of this land has remained untouched for over a century, offering a haven…
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Exciting Podcast News!
I interviewed Jim McNeill yesterday. He is one of the world’s most experienced explorers. Jim is the visionary behind the Ice Warrior and Global Warrior initiatives. The interview is for the Naturespace with Haith’s #podcast. We discussed his latest project, Ocean Warrior. It is a 10-year mission to protect our oceans through cutting-edge research. The…
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Q3. What Happens When We Treat the Planet as Disposable?
Our world is one of convenience. Use it, bin it, move on. Fast fashion. Single-use plastics. Endless consumption. Just spend five minutes at a rubbish tip and watch what gets thrown away. This can’t end well, can it? Here’s the thing: the planet isn’t disposable, and its resources aren’t infinite. We contribute to the problem…
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Q2. What Does It Mean to ‘Belong’ to the Earth?
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Q1. What Does the Earth Give You That You Cannot Live Without?
It’s a long list. When was the last time you stopped to think about the miracle of life? We breathe. We drink. We eat. We’re on autopilot. After those early science lessons fade from memory, we rarely question where it all comes from. The Earth is the provider of everything we depend on. There’s no…
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Introducing: 24 Questions to Save the World.
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We’re All Canaries in the Coal Mine: The Truth About Nature’s Decline.
The most profound truth about climate change and nature’s decline is this: our survival and the planet’s are inseparable. Yet, humanity often acts as though we are separate from nature. We behave as if we are above it, beyond it, or even exempt from its rules. This illusion is the root of the crisis. For…
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Did You Know Britain’s Birds Are Disappearing?
Featuring recent findings* on wild bird populations and actionable steps towards reversing their decline. Birdsong, once the soundscape of the British countryside, is (as Rachel Carson predicted in her book Silent Spring) fading. Recent data on wild bird populations in the UK paints a picture of a species under strain. Birds are affected from farmland…
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Podcast: Simon King interviews world-renowned wildlife photographer, Tom Svensson who reveals his undercover past…
From Photographer to Undercover Agent. In a shocking revelation, Tom Svensson shares that his career as a wildlife photographer was originally a cover. He used it for his covert work tracking the blood money behind illegal wildlife crime. Working undercover, Tom faced life-threatening situations, including being kidnapped by those seeking to exploit endangered species for…
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Learning to Let the Leaves Lie
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Trump and Musk: A ‘Duel Fuel’ Tug-of-War for the Planet?
Where do I start… Well… with Trump set for another term as US president, we may be entering a new phase in environmental policy – one focused on fossil fuels and traditional industry. Meanwhile, Elon Musk (Trump’s new ‘star man’) continues to champion renewable energy and sustainable innovation, presenting a compelling counterforce. This dual influence…
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Shrinking Biodiversity: The Impact of Human Actions on Wildlife.
Recent reports paint a stark picture of the challenges our planet’s wildlife faces today. The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2024 sounds a chilling alarm: there has been a catastrophic 73% decline in monitored wildlife populations over the past 50 years. Freshwater species have been hit even harder, facing a staggering 85% decline. This…
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Invite: On-line webinar – 10th October…
Dear FFON readers and colleagues We hope you are all well. We are delivering an on-line webinar on 10th October (at 18.00 hours (6.00 pm) British Summer Time) about our work in East Africa for the organisation Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) and we invite you to join us. It’s very much a personal, historical, account of our relationship with…
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Tortoises, Terrapins, Turtles and Temperature Changes.
The British Chelonia Group Spring Symposium in Cambridge, 9th-10th March 2024. Report by Margaret and John Cooper. The British Chelonia Group Spring Symposium, held in Cambridge on 9th-10th March 2024, was a landmark event that united experts and enthusiasts in a comprehensive discussion on the impacts of temperature changes on tortoises, terrapins, and turtles. This report encapsulates a…
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Wolves in the UK. Do we want them or need them?
By Graham Wellstead. In his thought-provoking piece, Graham Wellstead gets his teeth into the question of whether wolves should be reintroduced to the UK. Reflecting on historical accounts and personal experiences, Graham navigates the complexities surrounding this debate. He highlights the ecological and societal considerations, urging readers to ponder the implications of coexisting with these…
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BADGER TROUBLES
By Graham Wellstead. Understanding Badgers: Conservation Efforts and Controversies Introduction: In this blog post, FFON contributor Graham Wellstead shares his personal experiences and insights into the complex relationship between badgers, one of our native wildlife’s most iconic creatures, and human society. Drawing from years of observation and a deep-seated respect for nature, Graham discusses the…
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Beyond Bees: The Unsung Heroes of Pollination.
A letter from Dafydd Lewis published in the Amateur Entomologists’ Society. Introduction for FFON by Simon H King FLS: While bees often capture the limelight in discussions about pollination, their stage is shared with unsung heroes that operate under the cloak of night. This guest post by Dafydd Lewis shines a spotlight on moths, the…
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Bridging the Gap: From Government Pledges to Global Biodiversity Recovery
We live in a world grappling with environmental challenges, where every action (even the well intended ones) have an equal and opposite reaction. No wonder nature’s on the back foot. Credit where it’s due, though, the UK government’s latest conservation measures (see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nature-recovery-to-be-accelerated-as-the-government-delivers-on-measures-to-protect-land-and-sea ) present a slither of hope. These initiatives, aimed at accelerating nature…
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To Bee Or Not To Bee
The importance of bees in our Countryside. By Graham Wellstead. It is often quite difficult to quantify the number and range of insect species which currently live, but may not necessarily thrive, in the UK. With the loss of habitat, and urbanisation, we should not be surprised to learn many small things have gone extinct…
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Renewables on the Menu: A Promising Future for UK-Kosovo Energy Collaboration
By Simon King FLS In a world increasingly conscious of environmental sustainability, the focus on renewable energy has never been more pertinent. As an #ExportChampion, I recently had the privilege of attending a dinner hosted by Martin Vickers MP, the UK’s Western Balkans trade envoy. This event, graced by the presence of the Kosovan Ambassador,…
