If you like it then you ought to put a ring on it
This baby barn owl is being ringed by the South Downs National Park Barn Owl Watch near its home at a barn near Midhurst. It is one of three owls being who starred on a baby owl webcam and which is to be tracked by ornithologists to get insights into their lives.
'Barn owls are just amazing. Obviously they are lovely to look at, but I think they’re also a really iconic species of our countryside,' says South Downs National Park ranger Angela Ward.
'They’re a good indicator of the health of landscape. As a general rule the more barn owls we have, the healthier the eco-system is.'
What does DEFRA's new secretary mean for the British countryside?
Boris Johnson's Cabinet reshuffle after taking office as Britain's new prime minister saw the job as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs go from one of the highest-profile members of the government — Michael Gove — to a less familiar face: Theresa Villiers.
Mrs Villiers has been the MP for Chipping Barnet since 2005 and is a former Northern Ireland Secretary. 'Last year she led a call to end live animal exports, with a petition attracting 1.3 million signatures,' reports the Farmers Guardian, adding that the National Sheep Association 'has continually warned against outlawing the practice, which helps lift prices across the industry.'
The BBC's report on the new cabinet notes that MRs Villiers 'has previously said she supports the ban on hunting with dogs but thinks the Hunting Act could be improved.'
Here is her voting record in parliament on environmental issues, according to the website theyworkforyou.com, which shows that she has voted in favour of selling state-owned forests, culling badgers and against extra regulation for fracking:
Full stories — Farmers' Guardian, BBC, theyworkforyou.com
On this Day... The King of Scotland becomes the King of England
On 25 July, 1603, King James VI of Scotland was crowned King James I of England, the momentous moment at which our two nations were united after centuries of conflict.
How can you tell if the Union Jack is upside down? (Country Life)
Stat of the Day
98%
The percentage of the planet that is currently witnessing its warmest spell of the last 2,000 years.
The number comes from the University of Bern, who have 'reconstructed the climate conditions that existed over the past 2,000 years using 700 proxy records of temperature changes, including tree rings, corals and lake sediments.
And finally...
Just so long as we don't lose the ability to have a laugh, surely nothing too bad can happen... right?
Right?
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
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Game, set, match: 12 of the world’s most beautiful tennis courtsFrom Italy to Indonesia, when it comes to hotel amenities, a picturesque tennis court will always trump a 24-hour gym. So, before you book your next holiday, take a look at our pick of the 12 best.
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Five frankly enormous mansions, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country LifeSometimes bigger really is better.
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The brilliant tractor tribute to the NHS from a group of Warwickshire farmersPeople around Britain have been paying tribute to the efforts of our NHS workers at the time of the coronavirus pandemic — but few have been as creative and clever as this one.
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London's iconic red bus at risk and 6,000 year old chewing gum gives clues into our DNA historyCuts to industry subsidies and an increase in fares has left bus use at its lowest point ever, while DNA extracted from ancient 'chewing gum' allows scientists to decipher the genetic code of a Stone Age woman.
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90-million-year-old 'swimming dinosaur' skeleton found by dogs out walking in Somerset, and the nonchalant moths who don't bother fleeing enemiesA superbly intact dinosaur skeleton — described as being 'museum quality' — has been discovered on a beach in Somerset.
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Battle to ban 4x4s from the idyllic Lake District spot bequeathed by Beatrix Potter, eagle fights octopus and the 'snail's pace' climate talksThis morning we look at Little Langdale's fight for peace, reflect on the climate change talks in Madrid and discover the soundtrack for Brexit.
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Country Life Today: How Greta Thunberg shifted the dial on climate change — and the backlash shows just how muchThis morning we ponder whether Greta Thunberg is the Joan of Arc for the environmental movement, look at a key election — one from 19 years ago — and ponder the marvel of 'dad tidying'.
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Country Life Today: Great news for those who love our great country pubs — the years of decline are overThere is a great sign of health in the pub industry, we look back at Edward VIII's abdication message and fret about Greenland's melting ice.
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Country Life Today: Spain accused of being 'a deplorable choice' for UN climate conferenceA no-holds-barred assault on the Spanish fishing industry, Banksy raising awareness of the homeless and the woes of the Christmas jumper are in today's news round-up.
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Country Life Today: 'This is perhaps the ultimate wake-up call from the uncontrolled experiment humanity is unleashing on the world’s oceans'In today's round up, we examine why oxygen loss is putting oceans at risk, discover that action to cut air pollution brings almost immediate benefits to human health and find out which bird's arrival marks the start of winter in Gloucestershire.
