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22nd Aug, 2006
Publications dealing specifically with the relationship between people and wildlife are few and far between. Over the years what there have been have shared a couple of characteristics - high quality contributors and content, and a short life! The latest casualty is English Nature's Urbio magazine, sacrificed to the creation of Natural England after only 12 issues. David Knight and Ruth Hayhurst have led a small but excellent team for the majority of those issues.
Urbio will be missed for its lively presentation of stories, sensible advice and campaigning zeal. The final issue typifies this, with items ranging from a review of current social and economic trends, gardening for wildlife, environmental justice, planned new projects and incorporating biodiversity into housing developments.
There is a piece by Andy Brown, English Nature's Chief Executive, in which he says that the Government and others must 'do better' in relation to biodiversity provision. He also says that Natural England has said that 'the people agenda and public benefit will be a central part of its work'. Well, taking away a successful and widely respected publication hardly seems to fit the bill of 'doing better' or making its subject matter 'a central part of its work'.
One wonders where in the two new planned publications (Natural England Magazine and Natural England Land Management) the people and wildlife stories will be, and what proportion of the content they will comprise.
In the meantime, so long Urbio, and thanks for all the insights.
