WELCOME TO THE CFZ BLOG NETWORK: COME AND JOIN THE FUN

Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

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Wednesday, May 05, 2010

LETTER FROM ME TO TORRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION DEPARTMENT

Dear Sir/Madam,

For the last five years I have noticed a small colony of what I believe are early purple orchids (Orchis mascula) on the left hand verge of the A39 just west of Fairy Cross. Each year the verges are cut before the flowers have a chance to seed. This is a great shame, because they are beautiful and relatively rare in Devon although as far as I can tell they are not covered by the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Would it be possible to just leave this tiny area of verge unmowed for once, or to have it mowed by hand.

I would be quite prepared to provide someone to cut it manually and to keep it trimmed throughout the year. The area is only about 25 square feet in size.

I look forward to hearing from you,
Best wishes

 Jonathan Downes

To their credit, I heard back this morning:



Dear Mr Downes

I have forwarded your request onto Devon County Council’s Highways team as they are responsible for maintaining the verges.

Yours sincerely
Sally Ferguson

Support Assistant

Environmental Protection Team,

Torridge District Council,

Bridge Buildings,

BIDEFORD, Devon EX39 2HT



I will let you know what happens. However, I would like to crave another boon from my dear readers. I was under the impression that all British orchids were protected. However, maculata does not seem to appear on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.


I am crappy at interpreting the law. I fought the law and the law not only won, but tap-danced all over my cranium many years ago, and several hours perusal of the afore-mentioned act have left me no wiser. Can someone whose arteries are NOT beginning to harden explain to me?



















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