Author: Richard
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In defence of badgers: Far from being aggressive, they welcome lodgers to share their homes Government is under pressure to end its extensive culling programme Richard Nairn Sat Aug 23 2025 When my children were young, one of their and my favourite books was Roald Dahl’s novel Fantastic Mr Fox. The hero of the story, Mr…
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In defence of badgers: Far from being aggressive, they welcome lodgers to share their homes Government is under pressure to end its extensive culling programme Badger emerging from a sett (Photo: Karl Partridge) Richard Nairn Sat Aug 23 2025 When my children were young, one of their and my favourite books was Roald Dahl’s novel…
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IRISH TIMES: Birdwatching in Ireland has changed remarkably in the past century and a quarter – for good and bad
Authors of seminal 1900 book The Birds of Ireland would be surprised by species’ decline, extinction and recovery. One hundred and twenty-five years ago this year, a seminal book was published with the simple title The Birds of Ireland. Its authors, Richard J Ussher and Robert Warren, had produced the first systematic account of all…
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IRISH TIMES: I saw ‘selfies’ with puffins being taken on the Saltee islands. People should keep their distance
For nature to flourish humans need to engage with wild creatures. But if that engagement involves disturbance, damage may be done On a recent visit to the Saltee Islands off the coast of Co Wexford, I was amazed to find that up to 200 people are landing on the larger island every day in the summer.…
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IRISH TIMES: Ash dieback. It’s hard to ignore the lines of dead and dying trees around Ireland
I am optimistic that nature will find a way around this as it has done with many other plant pathogens. Read the full article on THE IRISH TIMES website
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IRISH TIMES: Following The River Has Led Me Into A Rich Treasure Trove Of Hidden Histories
Richard Nairn tracked the full length of the Avonmore river, from its source to the sea, and writes in his new book about how visionary individuals can change the narrative from exploitation to restoration. When I stand beside the clear bubbling water of the river that flows through our farm in Co Wicklow, I look…
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IRISH TIMES: The Tide Is My Constant Friend After 60 Years Of Experiencing The Sea
After a close shave in Wexford Harbour, it seemed like the tide had granted me a reprieve. Once, many years ago, I was rowing across Wexford Harbour when I was caught in a tide rip that almost pulled my boat out into the Irish Sea and away from any rescue. Fortunately, I had learnt to…