Imagine a million acres of new nature reserves, scattered like countless pieces of a green mosaic all over Britain, and costing next to nothing to create. We are not talking special skills or complicated management. Anyone can build one of these wildlife havens. All you need is a garden. Entry level qualification is the ability… Continue reading
Regions go it alone as Govt dithers on green growth
With the government rowing back on green growth – Chancellor George Osborne’s speech to the 2011 Conservative party conference, when he voiced his scepticism abaout green industries‘ ability to boost economic recovery – does it make more sense to look for sustainability progress in our cities and regions? This, after all, is what is… Continue reading →
Time to bin the plastic bag – Wales shows a lead
Is Britain turning into the land of the ban? And shouldn’t we applaud? Admittedly only quite modest things being stopped so far. We’re not moving towards (heaven forbid) banning the bomb, or outlawing Co2, or even the burka. However these small prohibitions do represent interesting initiatives for an essentially liberal and tolerant society. The next… Continue reading →
Twitter tourism – can social media beat the guidebooks?
Twitter is already a serious alternative to the conventional news media. You can’t say much in 140 characters, and you can impart important information very quickly, and also guide people to further reading. This is a simple example of the former. Say I arrive at Euston station and find a big throng of people… Continue reading →
Your car awaits – pick-me up for hard times
What’s the single place tourists most want to escape from the course of a holiday abroad? Why of course, it’s the airport terminal after the return flight. And which journey do they dislike the most, in the course of their trip? You guessed, the one that gets them home from the airport, when they aren’t… Continue reading →
Take the train to Yorkshire’s streamlined city
Wherever you are coming from, York’s central location makes it one of the most easily reached cities in Britain. And with trains running in from all parts of the compass, it’s an ideal destination for a day trip or a weekend away at any time of year. The writer revisits one of his favourite haunts… Continue reading →