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Bringing you the latest news in conservation, driven by science-led initiatives, but fuelled by my passion.
Review One Day a Thousand Songs
Big thankyou to Charles Moseley for such a heartfelt review – thankyou
A review from author and Cambridge Professor of English, Dr. Charles Moseley. Charles is author of To Everything a Season and To the Eel Island, exploring the people, history and wildlife of Ely, The Fens and East Anglia, where he lives.
One Day a Thousand Songs by John Miller
‘This book is a delight. I shall return to it time and time again, for it is one of those books that grows new subtleties the more you yourself learn to pay attention to that to which your author – your mentor – is pointing. Anyone who loves observing, sympathising (however anthropomorphically!) with the daily drama – sometimes tragedy, sometimes comedy, and both are set to the wild music of birdsong – of the garden, the countryside, and its birds will be grateful for so meticulous and sensitive a chronicler and narrator.
John Miller’s writing more than once made me think of Gilbert White in its observation of the minute, easily missed, detail. His natural, easy style engages you from the first page, and there is much wisdom as well as love in these pages. I wished it longer. I would be proud to have written such a book, and it will have an honoured place on my shelves.
Launch of One Day a Thousand Songs
Review of One Day a Thousand Songs in Country Life May 06
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Am honoured to become an Ambassador for Conservation Communications –
New book – One Day a Thousand Songs – released 6 May
The House of Lords talks curlews – see full story in Articles
Project White Hart – Saving the Chalk Stream Salmon
All wars eventually end through negotiation.
In Project White Hart, the single biggest concern among the keepers is how the triumvirate—Water Company, Environment Agency, and Natural England—will work together. The FRAP (Flood Risk Activity Permit) is just the beginning. Simple solutions become mired in bureaucracy while costs escalate for work that could take five minutes with a digger. We are not dealing with a fine wine; we do not have the luxury of time. As the Field Sports Journal strapline reminds us: we need time well spent.
The keepers worry the triumvirate will bog you down until you’re desperate to claim some victory—any victory—the fear being this could restrict fishing. And then who would worry about the fish? Who would remain the eyes and ears on the river? Who would pay the keepers to maintain the life-giving streams of ranunculus, so precious for the invertebrates and young salmon parr, and finally, who would be there to challenge the triumvirate?
Someone has to bring the stakeholders together—communities, businesses, funders, regulators, policymakers—a coalition of the willing, grounded in pragmatic learning. We need people prepared to be the selfless grown-ups, to stick their necks out: polite, but firm.
We are here now, so blaming Brexit, Covid, or Ukraine is a waste of time. Blaming the EA, NE, or the water companies may be fair, but the hard truth remains we must find a way, with evidence in hand, to work with them while still holding them to account. Make a strong, reasoned argument and keep persevering, leaving the rant at the door with the muddy wellies. Find a blueprint for partnership, and perhaps other regions can follow.
Ultimately, we all want the same thing, and neither the Water Companies, Natural England, nor the Environment Agency wants to end up the sickest chicken in the coop.
How to preserve your memories of a big fish
We put our fish back; we don’t eat them or stuff them in a glass case anymore, but I wanted something special to remember this splendid male Atlantic salmon- all dressed up in his Autumn spawning colours, complete with fighting kype.
For the technical, fishers he took a collie dog on a single-handed eight-weight Orvis Helios, and took 30 mins to land, before I slipped him safely back into the Laxa Hrutafordur
For the technical artists I painted his outline with undercoat on apiece of walnut and then applied a mix of acryllics, gouache and watercolour pencils
There be crocodiles in the water
The Field book review
What’s in a Year, as featured in the current The Field by Ettie Neil-Gallacher – thank you, Ettie
Interview John Miller and Wild Food People
Podcast about What’s in a Year
Country Life June 04
One day in the garden May 6th
Last Tuesday I spent a complete day, from 04:15 am to 20:00, photographing (David White) and sound recording ( Alex Bing) the birds in my garden in Wiltshire. We reached 40 species.
Highlight was a cuckoo that streaked through the garden at 07:00 am and this coal tit nesting in a disused water pump.
Support your local bookshop – The Whitehorse bookshop in Marlborough now selling ‘What’s in a Year’ – A countryman’s tale through the seasons
Save the date June 19 an evening reading of my debut book – What’s in a Year – Moderated by countryman Sid Vincent followed by Q&A
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