Fake fir

Mobile phone mast disguised as tree
Andrew Orlowski writes:

Four major policy options are suggested in the Ministry of Fun’s rural mobile consultation paper .. [it] has set about tackling “partial not-spots”. And what’s a “partial not-spot”? It’s anywhere where you don’t get coverage from all four MNOs (mobile network operators).
..
Well-heeled rural communities vigorously fight the installation of equipment that improves their mobile communications — then complain that their mobile coverage is inadequate.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Prime Minister Cameron has a home in the Cotswolds — as Reg readers point out, Oxfordshire NIMBYs have been successful in ensuring coverage resembles a former Eastern European Soviet satellite. Do you want decent mobile coverage or do you want a village untainted by modern transmission equipment? Pick one of two.

Habitat Management for Invertebrates

Habitat management for invertebrates at Woods Mill
A Sussex Wildlife Trust course at Woods Mill taught by Graeme Lyons. This course looks at management issues for invertebrates and how these are applied to different habitats. Mainly a classroom based course with an excursion around Woods Mill to look at management of habitats and micro-habitats for invertebrates that are often over-looked. It is suitable for ecologists, professionals, biology and ecology students and for people who may have some responsibility for land management. Woods Mill, Friday 5th December, 10:00–16:00. Click here to book.

Travel like a local

Travel like a local -- use a 4x4
Readers have probably failed to notice that today is World Responsible Tourism Day. Never mind, the worthy staff at the SDNPA have your back. They have produced a two-minute muzak-laden collage of pretty views to mark the day. They are also promoting an internet travel agent called responsibletravel.com (see above) whose slogan is ‘travel like a local’. In the case of the South Downs National Park, that implies the use of two cars, at least one one of which must be a 4×4.