environmental commentator
Just how tricky it is to design new agricultural and environmental policies. Simultaneously. When the Soil Association goes nuts with Defra over a picture of a combine, the Commons Enviro Committee feature an elephant as twitter cover for a report on consumption, Clarkson’s a policy influencer and laconic popstars front up COP26 on food – … Continue reading Curate’s egg
Talking. Thinking. This is an experiment. An adaptive blog page linked to my 60 sec vlogs. Here’s an intro vlog. It’s a space to explain thinking, tease out nuance, refer to evidence, apologise for mistakes, link to articles, a place for pushback and feedback – brokering towards diverse dialogues not ideologues. Tribal pollinator Tribalism is … Continue reading Typing…
A steep hillside opposite my home office is sprouting with young trees. Bracken race Fighting to get away from native prehistoric bracken, avoid the odd deer, an experiment is unfolding. Public grant aided, carbon paid-up, charity funded, ‘feel-good‘ rights (listen from 40min) cashed in, volunteers on call all coming together in an innovative project. Money … Continue reading Silvo-agro-carbo-tree
My first tweet 11 years ago didn’t sell for millions this week little blue bird moment’s finger-on-the-pulse scan diversity of views, with tolerance like with care bookmark to read, learn retweet, critical thinking curate with time – take a beat – post beware rabbit holes, be curious DM to engage, speak on a phone walk, … Continue reading Media mania
“Conservation conflict has always been a part of the conversation surrounding wildlife, but Rob Yorke is determined to advocate peace, not war. With brave leadership and a willingness to leave partisan values behind, can a solution be reached?“ (first published in The Field magazine 2016, uploaded and updated with links, pics etc) This blog is … Continue reading Nuclear swans
Last year two individuals, both interested in ‘preserving wildlife’ and ‘birds, science & environment’ respectively, tweeted their own view of the same Scottish sky. Field intel Two people, who may not share the same values, may have common purpose over working for the environment. This was evident with those I met on my field intel … Continue reading Neutral sky, common ground
The Agriculture Act 2020 slipped quietly into law last year. All change ahead as it takes over the driving seat from the 1947 Agric Act. It’s time to get on board now. A little context. Where to start? Let’s try 1970. The birth of the Range Rover, open air combine harvesters, benchmark date for farmland … Continue reading Acting on land
My interview with George Monbiot was conducted in Sept 2013 and was first published in BBC Countryfile magazine. Rob Yorke (RY): Where did you spend your childhood? George Monbiot (GM): I was brought up in the Oxfordshire countryside next to an old golf course that had returned, I suppose rewilded, to an amazing habitat mix … Continue reading Monbiot, 2013
My face-to-face ‘field intel’ trips provide enlightenment as to what people really think. Conversations can be so different in the field than online or indoors. This road trip (aka ‘field intel’) between lockdowns showed me how land managers, academics, govt, activists might exchange insight from different views. A previous intel trip along the Marches garnered … Continue reading Join the dots
Ever since I took a call from the letters Editor at The Times in March 1999, I’ve fallen into writing about environmental stuff. Usually on topics many might seek to avoid or ignore. OK, let’s dive in. Hedgehogs, horsemeat, sea eagles, badgers, raptors, deer, fungi, little owl, wildfire, invasive species, conifers, ducks, urban foxes, stoats, … Continue reading Dear Sir,