How wolves could prove to be the farmer's friend
The debate on reintroducing wolves to Scotland brings in a new piece of evidence this morning - this time from Spain, where research suggests that wolves help control animal diseases, and in particular TB. Researchers at Heriot Watt University have been studying wolves in northern Spain and concluded that by preying on carrier species such as badgers and wild boar, the spread of TB in cattle would be checked. 'Paradoxically, our research has found that wolves may not be a hindrance to farmers but, in fact, a benefit,' says Christian Gortazar, a co-author of the study, in an interview with The Times. With bovine TB arguably the greatest threat to cattle farming in Britain, this idea bears scrutiny at the very least.
Yet in the same paper, an opinion piece warns about the dangers of tampering with the natural balance. Magnus Linklater discusses the ups and downs of the 'grouse battle of Langholm Moor'. The Duke of Buccleuch, the RSPB and the local authorities have spent three decades using Langholm as a testing ground to try and help the threatened hen harrier. For every up there has been a down, for every bright idea an unintended consequence, for every ray of sunshine a stormcloud gathering. It's a fascinating - though rather depressing - cautionary tale.
Read the news article about wolves and Magnus Linklater's piece about Langholm (Both in The Times - subscription required)
Now Mr Whippy has been sorted out, we can get on with the rest of the climate crisis
Given that milk floats have been electric for generations, you'd have thought that ice cream vans would have been quicker off the mark at going electric. But better late than never: it seems that the ice cream maker itself - always diesel powered until now - is about to go electric, allowing the rest of the van to follow.
'Whitby Morrison, which makes about 80% of all ice-cream vans in the UK, will begin testing a battery-powered ice-cream maker,' reports the Guardian. 'If all goes to plan the first all-electric ice-cream vans will be in use by the end of the summer.
The strange case of Scotland's missing tea entrepreneur
A couple of years ago, Country Life reported on the work being done by Tam O'Braan to produce tea in Scotland - and his plans to turn huge swathes of the countryside into tea-producing land. If it all sounded a bit unlikely, perhaps we should have listened to our hunch a little more closely as according to a report in The Times, Mr O'Braan has disappeared with all sorts of questions being asked. Did he really earn his awards? How did he make so much tea with the facilities he had? And was all the tea he sold even made in Scotland in the first place?
Read full story (The Times - subscription required)
Stat of the Day
Zero
The difference that sending your child to private school makes to their exam grades. The Daily Telegraph's joyfully inflammatory opening to their piece states that: 'Sending children to private schools like Eton is a waste of time,' but such flippancy aside there is an interesting point here, made by Robert Plomin, Professor of Behavioural Genetics at King’s College London, while speaking at the Hay Festival.
Prof Plomin's team have spent ten years studying the differences in grades and have found that genetics have a huge impact on grades, while schooling has none once you take into account private schools' selection policies. 'It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy,' he continues. 'If you select the very best kids academically, yes they go on and do well. But have you added value? The answer is no.'
Read full story (Daily Telegraph)
And finally... one for those who enjoyed the weekend a bit too much
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The real name of a 'ghost' rainbow, the first ever omnishambles, and golf on the moon: Country Life Quiz of the Day 20 February 2025Some real brainteasers for you in our Quiz of the Day. Good luck!
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Tom Parker Bowles's favourite recipe: French onion soupThis dish is no mere Gallic broth, rather pure bonhomie in a bowl — a boozy, beefy, allium-scented masterpiece that cries out for the chill depths of winter
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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.
