environmental commentator
My innate curiosity to understand what people think and do (rather than talk about), resulted in my arrival at the foot of a hillside, home to Cumbria’s Helm wind. This is what I learnt from 14 face-to-face meetings over four days across northern England and southern Scotland. Edible windbreaks When the wind blows Dairy genetics … Continue reading Northern fields
Written evidence submitted by Rob Yorke FRICS (rural chartered surveyor) and Founder of Track II Enviro Dialogue – 11/Jan/21 (MH0016) to EFRA (links and pictures added to ‘raw’ version published) 1.1 I have worked in the rural sector since 1992 when I qualified as a chartered surveyor (Rob Yorke (Associates) Ltd) working with farmers, engineers, ecologists, foresters, … Continue reading green blind-spot
I could hardly believe what I was seeing. From a public highway, three young hen harriers were riding the breeze over the ridge of bracken bordering onto heather. The story behind them is perhaps even harder to believe. I’ll get to why but first, let’s wind back in time for some context. A Naturalist’s Sketch … Continue reading Raptors’ return
“The pastime he is enjoying may include simply resting in the open-air in the peace of the countryside” – so said the Master of the Rolls, in the Court of Appeal on the 31st July 2023 re wild camping on Dartmoor. I welcome this decision – though as ever, devil’s in the detail or the … Continue reading Open air recreation
(first published in The Times, 16th August 2014 as a Nature Notebook) Always look slowly over the edge of a bridge. I’ve done it all my life — perhaps all anglers do. As I peer at the water a big fat brown trout is still under the bridge. Neither sunlight nor I are his friends … Continue reading When nature feeds you must know when to look
I met with Professor Tim Benton in a tiny cafe at Victoria station, London. I was on my way to Kent from Wales to talk with farmers, whereas Tim was between high-level meetings. Neither of us knew quite what was about to unfold, nor how pertinent today, three years on, the overarching contents of this … Continue reading the Benton interview
Forty years ago, on a winter’s dawn, I went down to the foreshore with my father. Whispering wings of unseen ducks, two in the bag as light broke and a barn owl hovered for a minute feet above my upturned 16 year old mud-smeared face. Thirty six years earlier, the celebrated conservationist, Sir Peter Scott, … Continue reading Mobilising conservation
Being eyeballed by dragonflies patrolling tree-lined rivers and watching hen harriers hunting over heather moorland, brought small joys on my recent field intel trip north. North by north west My reason for heading north from the hills of Wales was an invitation to fish a river in Sutherland. But what a distance! But what an … Continue reading Walking with dragonflies
In south-west Scotland, there’s a patch of moorland surrounded by sheep grazed hills, conifer forestry and an old industrial milling town called Langholm. I first visiting it in 2014 when it was the site of a demonstration project comprising of a partnership between GWCT, RSPB, NE, SNH, Buccleuch Estates. They had commissioned me to write … Continue reading Landscape resilience context
Humans have a tendency not to do something unless it’s easy. From bread-makers, recycling rules, planting trees or engaging with environmental media; we want it fuss-free. Obtuse nature “Some of the stuff you write is impenetrable, Rob”. And perhaps surprisingly, I agree. While unsurprisingly, it’s easier to scroll a twitter feed and editorialised media headlines, … Continue reading Nature-based chainsaws