News 2009:

December 2009:

-Poor DEFRA does not know that wild boar are a native species to Britain, now they have included wild boar in the list of "banned non native species".

Naturepark UK is bemused but also saddened by this since that sort of ignorance and lack of knowledge stands in the way of real conservation and rewilding.

-Sometimes war is better for nature than peace: The casualties of peace

17.12.2009: Hello, I’ve finally managed to have a look at your website which I find fascinating. I’ve emailed our ... manager to see if we could sponsor this in some way.

I have not yet managed to get my husband ... to have a look but I know he also would be interested.

As you know we farm & have small conservation projects (mainly involving tree planting).

Do you ever do talks about Nature Park?

NPUK Reply: Hello and thank you for taking the time to look at our website.

Currently Naturepark UK just stands as an idea and the project consists mainly of the website. We hope that, based on constructive feed back, we can round up the presentation of the vision sufficiently in order to advertise more widely.

The site went live in late August and so far has changed considerably, mainly feedback driven. The header picture and many other images looked too American; some people just didn’t know that wisent and elk were native species. We also included the feedback site in order to have a continuing update which may entice people to revisit the site.

We do believe that farmers could play a central part to the overall vision because they have traditionally proven to do very well in working the land, based on appropriate incentives. Unfortunately we have not much faith in the government, so Naturepark UK would need to “prove the point” before political support would materialise. Reforestation should also stand at the centre of any project since all current national and international environmental issues ultimately are linked to deforestation. 

The plans for 2010 are as follows: Ongoing upgrade of the website. Once the site seems presentable and logically sound to approach people of public standing, celebrities and corporate businesses e.g. Sting, Ray Mears, Berghaus, etc.. If funds allow the creation of the first pilot project then  we would like to incorporate this in the website in order to keep people’s interest going. 

The initial idea for a pilot project is something we have already unofficially discussed with Newton Rigg : A study to see if a commercial growth of Paulownina Tomentosa under local climate conditions is economically viable. We envisage to outline the project plan, cost it and then utilise about five acres of land in order to start the project. Newton Rigg showed some interest since this could be utilised as a doctorate or even PhD project. 

Talks or lectures maybe as planned fundraising events would certainly be of value, something else to develop for 2010.  

Again many thanks

15.12.2009: Just had a look around your web site -you are obviously gaining momentum I like your concept

01.12.2009: The website look's great and also very passionately focussed on sustainability and conservation, which is a message which comes across very clearly. However it did take me a little while of reading to completely get my head around what NaturePark UK is all about, so perhaps you need to have some content which describes the concept in a nutshell, which is the largest and most obvious text on your home page.

NPUK Reply: We have just incorporated your feedback into the Naturepark UK website, at least the homepage is slimmed down now.

26.11.2009: I have had a look at the website and here are some thoughts.  It is worth saying that my professional background is in building and implementing projects with rigorously defined outcomes, timelines and business cases and this may colour my view! In no particular order:

1. I like the look and feel of the overall website.  It looks professional and welcoming.  One challenge - is it "too busy"?  There is a lot of text (and links) and perhaps this can mask the core messages that you are trying to get across.

2. Audience - I assume that this is aimed at primarily first time visitors with the aim of encouraging them to sponsor. As you grow (and people donate) I imagine that the site will equally need to cater for those who have donated and revisit to monitor progress?  My thoughts below are driven in part by those two audiences.

3. Your core rationale (effective conservation linked to economic benefit) seems slightly lost in places and I wonder whether it needs even more emphasis on the Home page?

4. (this is the project manager speaking!) - Can you clarify what success would look like and how you intend to get there? I think that you need to try to show how the pilot projects would link into the larger one and at what point you would have achieved scale?  Equally, some form of timescale seems appropriate - what progress by when?

5. Nothing succeeds like success - should the site show (a) funds raised today (perhaps as a graphic) and (b) progress made (e.g. pilots, PR, new supporters....). All of this to encourage new visitors that the project has legs and to reassure contributors that progress is being made?

6. Can you/should you "localise" the concept and draw in some of the regional bodies with an interest in sustainable development - e.g Cumbria Tourism, Cumbria County Council, North West Development Agency.  There are still a number of grants available for projects that tick the right boxes - e.g conservation, rural regeneration and employment....

7. Can you attract a high visibility brand onto the site (e.g. Greenpeace?)

Hopefully of value?!  I applaud your idea and commitment and will bring you a cheque next time I am in. Good luck

NPUK Reply: Many thanks for investing the time to study our site and send the feedback. This is exactly the kind of return we need in order to make matters more professional.

It is still early days for Naturepark UK but larger scale organisations or sponsors will only be interested if we can present something; hence the site must be good. We will have some NPUK work to do over the weekend. This site "NPUK News Page" is one of the main results of valuable feedback.

23.11.20009: Had a look at the web site, one thing that stands out to me, is that your front page is to busy, I found it took a little bit of time to see what it was all about.Don't know if it was to many images or the writing was to small. I think most people have no patience to have a good look.

Sorry that's my opinion for what its worth. Other than that it looks good to me,Top idea.   

NPUK Reply: Many thanks for that. This is exactly the kind of feedback we need since one gets bogged down without external stimulation. Update is in progress, stay in touch.

Reply: Just had another look at your website. Looks good, big improvement, well worth the work.

23.11.2009: I think it is a good website for a good purpose.Well done! Keep the good work going.Best wishes.

NPUK Reply: Many thanks for that. Stay in touch since we change and update the site almost daily.

22.11.2009: I have looked at your website and find it easy to navigate and learnt a lot from reading the pages. I felt it was easy to follow the information, and had never heard of a wisent.

My first impression was that the pictures under the title NaturePark UK were all North American widlife - I appreciate after reading the information that this is not so, with the wisent, wolves and elk/moose in mainland Europe. I note the wild boar picture also.

My only comment is that although these animals are in mainland Europe how prevalent are they in the UK? Perhaps things that are much more obviously UK would be appropriate e.g. beavers which I understand are in short supply in UK.

The photography displayed / picture choice are fabulous and make me wish I had more time (and should make more) to go out to our natural habitats in the UK.It certainly will make me go through your website for any future Amazon purchases.

NPUK Reply: Many thanks for taking the time to check the Naturepark UK website and providing feedback.

Your thoughts and ideas are exactly the kind of support most needed at present. We were aware that the site header looks too American-like Rocky Mountains and not like Britain, but we fully appreciate and agree with your comments regarding even these animals. We will set to work soon to rectify this, watch this space.

16.11.2009: I have looked at the website and will make my Amazon orders with the link from now on.The concept looks interesting, but I wonder where you would buy the land, in an ideal situation. There are a few 'wilding projects' I know about in Cumbria such as in Ennerdale, but even then they are still very much man controlled, and I don't think reintroducing some species like the wolf are feasible, though perhaps in Scotland. I think to get large companies involved you would have to secure the backing of local and regional authorities.

NPUK Reply: Many thanks for your reply. We are fully aware that the end goal of the Naturepark UK project is really for the far distant future. But even in England and Wales the land would be available, Kielder comes to mind, if the will and/or the finances are available.

For projects to be man controlled is actually, realistically speaking, the only way forward. Only if nature can pay its keep is there any chance for sustainable or better expanding conservation. If human involvement is the key to generate profits then these profits will drive the conservation efforts and guarantee sustainability.

Our hope is that "small pilot projects" will prove the point on a small scale, gradually growing and merging into something bigger.

15.11.2009: I applaud your efforts and wish you the very best of luck in achieving your goals. I think your website is very professional and an excellent shop-window for your organisation.

If you ever need information/advise/help with anything to do with wild boar, please do not hesitate to make contact. For example, it is vitally important to ensure only pure-bred wild boar are considered for rewilding. This issue of purity is often over-looked, as a 'pure-bred' wild boar is difficult to define. The working definition of 'if it looks like a wild boar, acts like a wild boar, and fulfils the ecological niche of a wild boar - then it is a wild boar' is the best yardstick to use. Unfortunately for example, from photos I have seen, Paul Lister's wild boar are not as pure as they should be. This leaves his ecological arguments open to question as he is using hybrid animals and not 'pure' wild boar.

Please feel free to use the logo to link to your site. At www.britishwildboar.org.uk, we feel that openness and honesty are the best ways to educate people about a new species. Hence, we are are always very careful to present both sides of an argument, both the good and bad. This is a result of my former employment with a UK government organisation (Defra), whereby secrecy was the main watchword.

Also, I believe the less involvement of government organisations (English Nature/Defra/Deer Initiative, etc.) the better - except for the necessary licenses. These organisations are not independent and work only to political aims and goals. Good luck!

NPUK Reply: Thank you very much for your positive feedback and your permission to use your “wild boar logo” on our site (http://www.naturepark-uk.org/). We fully agree with your statement regarding “pure bread” wild boar. In Germany hybrids are less of a problem since the genuine wild bore population is huge.

We think Mr.Lister is sitting between two chairs since he wants to drive his project forward fast but is also painfully aware regarding limitations by public opinion etc..

Never the less the NaturePark UK concept looks at conservation from a different angle and we are convinced that in future sustainable conservation will entirely depend on profitability (we are not saying that we are happy about this…).

In Austria they estimate that the re-establishment of wolves in Tirol necessitates the employment of about 150 shepherds-who pays? The NaturePark UK answer would be that the wolves need to generate enough money to pay for the extra shepherds, damage to life stock, administration cost and in addition make a profit.

15.11.2009: I've used your Amazon link to start my XMAS shopping, so you will benefit from my spendings!

NPUK Reply: Thanks for that, we just updated the Naturepark UK website, have a look and as usual-feedback welcome.

13.11.2009: It is an interesting concept, but one that, sadly, I don’t believe will work. The expense and time involved is unimaginable. In South Africa, there is a great deal of cheap land available, and the wildlife already exists there. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is currently spending some £2 million on reintroducing a few beavers into Scotland, and they haven’t had to buy any land. I wish you well with your idea, and I hope it does work, but I believe that the practicalities will be too hard to overcome.

NPUK Reply: Does this not just prove the point that the land must be owned by an organisation with conservation in mind?

03.11.2009: I have had a look at the NaturePark UK website, and the concept looks very interesting.  I have had dealings with Paul Lister and am aware of the problems he is facing with a similar project, so I wish you luck.

As you may be aware, the Wolves and Humans Foundations does not actively campaign for reintroduction of large carnivores to the UK. Our priority, with limited resources available for nature conservation in Europe, is to achieve a model of coexistence with large carnivores in areas where they already exist. We can then use this experience to increase the likelihood of successful return of these species to countries without populations. We are not therefore be in a position to help financially, but would be happy to help by sharing our experiences with conflict mitigation, public attitudes and carnivore management.

My initial thoughts on the concept of the project privately-owned land, apart from the cost and issues of future ownership, are that this may create resentment and suspicion among residents in the area where the land is located, much as happened at Alladale.  Have you thought about firstly creating a coalition of eco-friendly local business in a suitable area, and working with local authorities, Natural England or Scottish Natural Heritage and other conservation organisations, such as the Wildland Network (http://www.wildland-network.org.uk/) to create a 'green business zone', (perhaps even persuading local authorities to provide economic incentives as a precursor to rewilding and introducing native species?

In my view, a major obstacle to nature conservation in the UK is an over-reliance on micro-management of small sites for specific habitats and species by special interest groups.  In order to move forward to a more 'joined-up' conservation policy, it may be necessary for organisations to co-operate to a greater extent and to surrender 'ownership' of projects and combine their efforts, which will inevitably mean some compromise and recognition of other views.  What makes your project different?

NPUK Reply: Many thanks for your informative reply. We fully appreciate that the “Wolves and Humans” Society is in no position to offer financial support. Indeed that is not expected. What Naturepark UK needs is stimulation in order to wrap up and properly advertise the concept.

The real difference between NaturePark UK and other conservation projects, including the efforts of Mr. Lister, is that at the centre of the proposals stands the realisation that profitability is the only way forward to ensure conservation project sustainability.

Whilst the reintroduction of formally native to Britain species would be the ultimate end result we certainly accept that this is more to be seen as the final goal, many decades into the future, and not the immediate concern. We looked at different business models, including Charitable Trust, PLC and COOP, indeed when all was totally in its infancy we even tried to raise funds to purchase the land now owned by the Knoydart Foundation but at the time and even now were in no position to do so.

The advantage of private land ownership rests with the ability to exercise control whilst the disadvantage is the need for rather enormous funds and the struggle with public opposition. Any cooperation with other organisation or official bodies impairs the immediate decision making flexibility but might make project matters more palatable in the public eye.

We are currently discussing our principles with a representative of the Forestry Commission for Cumbria since the Forestry Commission is trying to reorganise itself with a view to profitability (would be a first) but is also a major land owner.

Whilst we wholeheartedly agree with the ideals of the “wildland-network” we feel that in times to come the pressures on untouched nature might become so great that unless under the principle of maintenance and furtherance of species diversity whilst generating profits, untouched nature just will not stand a chance.

02.11.2009: I came across your page by accident today.  What a splendid idea.  The company for whom I work sponsors  in return for advertising.  We are a major outdoor clothing supplier with contacts worldwide.
 
My position in the company is area sales and marketing for the north of England and Scotland.
 
I would be interested in meeting up with you to discuss any business plans that you have and talk about how we could arrange any sponsorship in order to fulfil your dreams.
 
The company is keen to help small to large ventures, but at this moment in time I would prefer not to disclose our logo due to competition from other clothes suppliers.  We have had our fingers burned before and were forced to bid higher than we would have anticipated only to find out it was a scam and lost our money at a later date.  I prefer one to one meetings to prevent these type of events occurring again.
 
Please feel free to email me and perhaps arrange a date.  I will be in the northern area (lake district) at the end of November to meet up with an outdoor centre manager.
 
Regards and hoping to hear from you.

NPUK Reply: Thank you very much for your email. We fully appreciate your need to be cautious. The Naturepark UK UK website went live in late August 09 and since then we have implemented almost daily upgrades and alterations. Most of these changes were based on feedback, mainly from friends and other contacts. So far all sponsors are gave their support via people we know personally. We are currently still at the stage of harvesting feedback and ideas.

As mentioned on the NaturePark UK website we am most aware that it would be unrealistic to think the end result of the concept, an integrated ecological and economical undertaking comprising the utilisation of an area between 50,000 and 100,000 acres, will materialise in the near future, but the realisation of “Small Pilot Projects” should indeed be most realistic.

Reply: As you may well be aware the dreadful weather in the lakes took its toll on Cockermouth.
My other client lives in this area and will not be able to make the meeting for obvious reasons. It is with regret that i have decided to channel my financial input into the Cockermouth Relief Fund.

NPUK Reply: Many thanks for keeping us informed. We fully appreciate your decision and hope your contribution will provide help to ease the burden of the flood victims.

27.10.2009: I have looked at your website with great interest and, since you invited feedback, while I do not feel qualified to comment on the viability of your ambitious project, I would like to assist in some way and so may I suggest some minor amendments to the wording which you may wish to consider. Please do not take this as a criticism - your English is so much better than my German, and Ich kann ein wenig Deutsch sprechen und schreiben!

I therefore attach a Word document and where the suggested amendment is perhaps a matter of opinion, I have indicated this by a comment in brackets, otherwise I am fairly confident my suggested amendment is a 'correction' of the use of English.

I do hope I am being of help (and not an interfering busy body!) and genuinely wish you every success with your laudable project.

NPUK Reply: Hello and many thanks for the detailed feedback regarding the website. Ambitious indeed but I think if you don’t aim high you will not get anywhere.

Your feedback is most appreciated since I am so railroaded into my “German” mistakes that I just don’t notice them anymore. My wife (and English tutor) is also so tuned in to my gibberish that mistakes just don’t hit her anymore.

I have already incorporated most of your suggestions! Again many thanks.

19.10.2009: Sure it is no problem to use the links please help yourself "Biomass - Using Anaerobic Digestion". Good luck with the Nature Park venture. We wish you every success.

16.10.2009: Keep in touch re. your project and well done with all the effort behind it!

NPUK Reply: Just a little update regarding the project. The site has already changed quite a bit, due to feedback, and I am pleased that the sponsor list is growing.

09.10.2009: Please send me regular details as this is a brilliant idea!

08.10.2009: Your website looks very good, we wish you all the best with your venture.

03.10.2009: I had a quick read through your website; Naturepark UK is an interesting organisation. Good luck with it.

27.09.2009: Online discussion "The Stalking Directory": Whilst I have my doubts about how practicable your project is, I broadly support it's aims.

A couple of points I'd like your opinion on:

What's your view about introducing 'foreign' strains of these species? There will inevitably be a slight genetic/evolutionary difference in the reintroduced species in comparison with what would originally have existed here...is this acceptable? Are we talking zoo or reintroduction?

Do you not think Scotland has become too much a 'wet desert'? I was out this morning looking at some very wet miserable deer and it crossed my mind that the climate, especially here in the west, is just too wet for some species. (Jeez but it's miserable here today!!)

NPUK Reply: Cumbria was beautiful today, overcast but dry and a perfect day for the clays!
I know my project sounds rather ambitious but “God loves the tryer” and since I expect to roam planet earth for at least another 40 years I am still optimistic.
Describing Scotland as a wet desert is certainly accurate but after all the golf stream contributes to a temperate wet climate especially on the west coast. If locally certain species thrive then they obviously can accommodate for the climate. With regards to introducing formerly native species I think matters depend on three factors: reforestation, which species used to be around and current local climate after a degree of reforestation.
Paul Lister from Alladale describes his estate as a waste land since deforestation and overgrazing let to a total depletion of natural species diversity. Working on the basis that most of the Highlands were covered in Scottish pine, likewise most of Cumbria was covered in mixed broad leave forests, than the micro climate might be a bit different now and for species to be reintroduced one needs to assess matters after a degree of reforestation has created a new local environment.
Which species to look at mainly falls into two categories: formerly native and all together alien. The problem with formerly native species is that the local genetic strains are de facto extinct, hence we have to accept that all reintroductions are per se not the original thing. I am certainly not talking zoo since a key element of Naturepark UK is for all species to live naturally and fend for themselves, not being kept in small enclosures awaiting feeding time.
Alien species could be looked at as those which fit in without problems, those which fit in but, to avoid problems, another species needs to be brought in to keep them in check and those which jut don’t fit in.
Going back to Germany, near a place called Siegen in Westphalia where I grew up, they now have racoons and racoon dogs in large numbers in the wild and so far these have not had any noteworthy environmental impact on native species.
Keeping an alien species in check might be more difficult since matters can go seriously wrong; as seen in Australia where the poisonous Cane Toads from Hawaii, which were introduced to control Cane Beetles, are creating havoc amongst local wildlife. For Britain researchers are currently looking at exotic fungi and beetles in order to control the invasive Japanese knot weed.
The simple grey squirrel is most likely the best known example of an alien not fitting in and indeed destroying the native red squirrel with the virus they carry.
I hope my rambles clarify matters.

25.09.2009: Online discussion "The Stalking Directory": Wonder if this guy has been yakking with the MFI feller up in Scotland,?I reckon if this scheme were to get off the ground in my lifetime, there would be increased opportunities while lamping!

Novel idea, have you seen the "NPUK Sponsors" page? Not really your usual sponsors....

I'm sceptical as to whether any of those organisations across the bottom support this venture. I'd not be surprised if the bloke hasn't just ripped their logo's off the web!

The pics at the top of his page look like North American Moose and Bison not the correct European types (or am I just being picky?)

What these people don't seem to realise is that there just aren't enough trees here to support these species, you only have to look at Canadian Moose habitat...holy cow you've never seen so many trees. You need to start from the ground up on a 400+ year plan to restore woodland and only then think about the larger species. Yes it would be great but frankly it's just not realistic given the current diversity of ownership in the Highlands.

It seems a bit half baked really. He makes a big deal about the "Not for Profit" bit but hasn't adopted a sensible legal structure to maximise income/funding opportunities.

LBH it simply ain't gonna happen unless he gets a serious wedge of money in and even then the Alladale saga shows it will take decades before wild beasties are 'roaming free'.

NPUK Reply: Hello and thank you for discussing Naturepark UK on this forum. Whilst I just don’t have the time at present to engage in detailed online discussions let me please reply of some of the points raised:
There was no discussion with Paul Lister from Alladale. Alladale is envisioning an African Game Park style approach, which is great but will collapse should Mr Lister’s own money run out.
Naturepark UK has the central idea to try a different approach to conservation where the yardstick changes from “the right thing to do” to “increased species diversity” whilst, on a broad base, utilising recourses profitably.
The necessary fencing would be no different, possibly even less sophisticated, than what is already in use in many African game parks. Precedence is set manifold and at least nobody would be trying to keep elephants or rhinos locked in.
Naturally the sponsor list is different, after all e.g. the "Vasectomy Clinic" is my own business hence allowing me to channel funds into the project as advertising costs without being taxed twice! The “usual sponsors” would hardly be interested at this point where the project is in its kinder shoes, barely one month up and running on the net. After all if one million people ring “phone to donate £1” there would be £720000 revenue for the project. Nobody is hurt by the £1 but the sum of things looks rather different. Similarly so with small scale sponsors; initially people and businesses who feel they want to spare £100 purely because they like the idea, not because they have a specific business activity that would automatically drive them into the project’s direction. Just think if there is a list of 100 £100 sponsors! At this point the “usual” supporters from industry will obviously be far keener to be associated with the project than now.
I fully accept the criticism regarding use of logos and hence have duly removed them until I can achieve formal approval for their use by the relevant organisations.
By no means do you need a 400 year plan if considering the reintroduction of wisent and elk. The wisent reintroduction project in Germany is scaled for a herd of about 25 animals for an area of around 10000 acres of mainly mixed woodland (http://www.wisente-rothaargebirge.de/). Having grown up in the area myself this definitely does not all consist of mature forest. Experience from Germany in the 1930ies (reintroduction of wisent to the Darß, all were culled by the Red Army at the end of World War2) as well as a comparison of growth rates of “native to Britain” soft and hard wood trees indicate that looking at a time span of 30 years if starting on barren land is still realistic. Obviously incorporating already existing forests would shorten the time span considerably. Alladale has already re-introduced elks!
Having looked at options like “charitable status” it quickly became apparent that a charity can not be the way forward for the presented project. The inherent legislative restrictions would be prohibitive. Indemnifying against the misappropriation of funds even in the event of project failure is all I can offer, and even so I have no riches of my own to pour into the idea I should still have enough personal life span to give the idea a go.
Please remember that constructive feedback is certainly most welcome.

21.09.2009: 1. Some of the images are quite large they have been scaled down on the page so it's not that apparent. Try right clicking an image and choosing show image or view image from the menu. Not a big problem but for someone on a dialup connection or without high speed broadband the page could take a while to load.

2. The meta tags on all pages need some work, (in firefox choose view - page source from the top menu) There is no description or keywords present in the meta tags, although the tags are there. Copyright and author are "Executive Security & Training Services Ltd" and a rating meta tag is ladled "mature" . Some pages are missing  meta tags.

3. Layout uses tables, not a big deal this one but most modern webpage designs use css  for layout.

OK some other information you may find useful: In my experience of running websites about 2% to 5% of visitors to your site do what you want them to do (buy something, click a link or in your case donate) so your going to need around 50 million visitors to hit your target. You could probably get there with 1 or 2 million per year and borrow on the strength of yearly income. My advice for a website that big would be to have it dynamically generated using a database. 

Couple of other things: Have you thought about having a donation graph showing how much you have raised so far or maybe moving away from a purely donation driven model to a more commercial one. Have you thought about having other sections to your site like a forum, shop, directory etc (they can bring in traffic). Anyway I hope you find this useful. All the best with your project.

NPUK Reply: Many thanks for the feed back. Optimised Design and Executive Security & Training Services Ltd are both owned by a friend of mine from Penrith who did the site for me for free! He is currently still working on the meta tags. I will hopefully meet up with him over the next two weeks and I am sure he will also appreciate your comments. I also want to change the “info” button to “info and feed back” since, as you say people, only respond to a low percentage to instructions but probably not at all if not explicitly told. For example the footnote on every page was an after thought after my sister told me “one should forward the site link to friends”. On asking her why she didn’t do it I drew a blank…

My own experience with web design is reduced to having implemented a few changes and add ons of wording and pictures, each time with a sweaty forehead when finally saving the change on the server.

You are absolutely right regarding a graph showing available funds and also a shop. In addition I think it would certainly help not to just highjack the logos of established organisations, as happened on the bottom of the pages, but to actually get their support endorsed. My hope is that once credible funds have been accumulated I will not make a fool of myself showing funds (£550 not good, £5500 much better) but also attract the support of bigger names and possibly also some financial support outside of “phone to donate a pound”, "PayPal" and “amazon”.

Have you got any thoughts regarding the content? The arguments must be logical and acceptable and suggestions for further profitable sub companies are always welcome.

Does bamboo grow well enough in the UK to make planting economically viable? Geo-Dome as a concept should also fit nicely within the Naturepark UK concept.

Reply: No problem to put links to my websites from Naturepark UK. If you would like me to link back let me know your preferred anchor text.

In answer to your questions: About your content, I get were you're coming from and would be interested in this type of project and I can see the overall aim, but I think it would be useful to explain how you aim to achieve this in a step by step way. For example: You want to raise 1 million what steps would you expect to have taken by the half million mark? I would also like to see more detail as to what species you would aim to reintroduce, were and when, some details of the benefits and how your financial model works. A list of all the species would be great and some history as to when they last inhabited UK shores. Hope this helps.

17.09.2009: Website & organisation looks excellent!

07.09.2009: Initial comment on your web site is that I like your ideas.