The decline of Autumn salmon: A tale of change
The only thing we can all agree on is that Autumn run salmon have almost entirely disappeared in the last decade. The cause, and the solution, are much less certain.
Sam Carlisle
I run a diversified estate in Suffolk that straddles the Brecks and High Suffolk Clay. Alongside a conservation-focussed farm, we have a vineyard, restaurant and 200 acres of SSSI ancient woodland.
Rewilding vs Conservation: A Debate that Almost Emptied the Piggy Bank
No one seems to know what re-wilding is, or isn’t. At first Natural England were delighted with our approach to woodland management, but then they came for our bacon.
God Speed the Plough: The Catch-22 of Sustainable Farming
Easy decisions, such as taking subsidies to build soil health, often have costly and unforeseen consequences.
From first fish to global conflict: what’s really changed in 30 years?
Finding a copy of Trout & Salmon from 1994 shows that we’re still talking about the same environmental, and geopolitical, issues three decades on.
Kill a Salmon, Close a River: Norway's Pain Must be a Lesson
The Norwegian Government has shut down salmon fishing on some of the country’s most storied rivers. Should it serve as a warning to us all?
Cattle as Ecosystem Engineers - Debunking Monbiot's Anti-Cow Polemic
George Monbiot might blame them for all the world’s ills, but in a tiny patch of Suffolk clay, cows are playing their part in restoring wildlife.
Fool’s Gold: The Promise and Peril of English Wine
It may be all the rage, but for those at the coal face, the reality of making wine in England often comes with a sting.
Britain's Resident Woodcock - Can We Reverse the Decline?
Is there anything that can reverse the decline of our resident woodcock? And how can we justify shooting woodcock to ourselves, our family and the general public?
Rural Resolutions: 5 New Year goals you might actually achieve.
Tend to ditch your New Year’s resolutions by January 2nd each year? Me too. Here are 5 rural resolutions that are easy to keep, will grow your love of the countryside, and do a bit of good too.
Folk Songs and the Luftwaffe War Cry
Why we should adopt some of the Germanic hunting traditions at home.
Ploughing, Puddles & Private Jets: The Future of Farming
The floods of Storm Babet made me question why conservation and food production are so often considered competing aims within the farming community
The Irrepressible Rise of Raptors
Booming numbers of raptors are undoing the work of conservationists, squandering tax payer’s money, and we’re not even allowed to properly discuss it…