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Peter Cairns

@petecairns.bsky.social
569 followers 139 following 66 posts

Director of At The Edge CIC, an independent communications platform exploring ways for people and wildlife to thrive together. www.attheedge.org.uk #attheedge #livingwellwithwildlife #wildlifecoexistence

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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Who says we’re nature-depleted? And in these words, do hard-pressed land managers hear: “and it’s your fault?” In Language Barriers, a new series of short essays, Tom Bowser unpacks and questions a selection of statements routinely heard in nature debates. attheedge.org.uk/words/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I recently spent some time at @w-u-r.bsky.social exploring the complex and evolving relationship between people and wolves in the Netherlands. The video from the opening of their academic year is well worth a watch: www.wur.nl/en/news-insi...
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
www.currentaffairs.org/news/we-love...
currentaffairs.org
We Love David Attenborough, So Why Don’t We Listen to Him?
The esteemed TV naturalist has been widely celebrated as he reaches his 100th year, but his warnings about climate and biodiversity loss are being ignored.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
In Pettorano Sul Gizio in the Abruzzo region of Italy, people are getting used to living alongside bears. So, what does it take to see unfamiliar wild animals not as a threat, but as a neighbour? Find out in Episode 10 of At the Edge – Time to Get Smart? #livingwellwithwildlife
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
We all have strong opinions about nature. And so we should. But if we’re to tackle the complex threats facing the natural world, we need to be having better conversations about our relationship with nature. Here are 10 simple tools to help us do just that. attheedge.org.uk/wp-content/u...
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Bear Smart Communities aim to boost Italy’s population of Marsican brown bears by creating ‘coexistence corridors.’ Achieving this means asking local communities to live alongside an animal that has been absent from their lives for generations. Episode 10: Time to get smart? lnkd.in/e66CEvUZ
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I really enjoyed making this – the final episode in the first series of At the Edge podcasts. Time to get smart? took me to a spectacular region of Italy, where a pioneering initiative is supporting local communities to live alongside the critically-endangered Marsican brown bear. #attheedge
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
We can speculate endlessly about what it would be like to live alongside lynx. We can debate the risks, the benefits, and the uncertainties, but we’ll never know for sure until we’re willing to try. attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
If I was a lynx…” I hear this a lot. It implies that lynx make their decisions according to the same rationale as humans, and that’s not the case. None of us are lynx, so we need to be careful about making assumptions around how they behave. Listen now: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Will lynx ever return to Britain? In episode 9 of the At the Edge #podcast, I explore the factors that will determine the answer. attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗗𝗘 - 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗪! While scientists and conservationists continue to build an ever-stronger ecological case for bringing lynx back, the biggest barrier is no longer habitat or prey. It's politics. LYNX? Over my dead body - listen now. #attheedge #livingwellwithwildlife
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
There are now 8 episodes in the #attheedge podcast series. At the Edge takes a deep dive into our often complex relationship with wild nature, and explores ways in which people and wildlife can thrive together. Listen on your usual podcast platform. And, please do spread the word.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Dee Ward is the owner of the 8,000-acre Rottal Estate in Angus. My question to Dee in Episode 8 of the At the Edge podcast: If driven grouse shooting had never existed and it was proposed today as a sustainable land use, would it be sanctioned? attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Highly recommended. www.ianmacgillivray.co.uk/category/all...
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Why Are There No Wild Cows? A fresh approach to #rewilding storytelling. m.youtube.com/watch?v=boMM...
m.youtube.com
Why Are There No Wild Cows?
YouTube video by SciShow
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
What price tradition? Grouse shooting, sheep farming and predator control are all ‘traditional’ practices embedded in the British countryside. But what does ‘tradition’ really mean? In the latest podcast from #AttheEdge, we explore why tradition carries such weight. attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
I’d highly recommend the latest Big Picture in Focus story from @scotlandtbp.bsky.social. Writer Hugh Webster explores issues around contested truths and the simplified narratives that abound on social media. They Kill Lambs, Don’t They? www.scotlandbigpicture.com/rewilding-st...
scotlandbigpicture.com
They kill lambs, don’t they?
<p>The truth is out there. But in a complex world, where facts are endlessly contested and simplified narratives abound, we all face a battle to see beyond our familiar echo chambers – to discern what...
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
“Mistrust” is a word that comes up again and again in wildlife conflict. Mistrust of the system. Of government. Of each other. Sam Tedcastle brings together people with opposing views on deer management. Because before you can solve a conflict, you have to build trust. attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
DEER: In the crosshairs. Listen now.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
At the Edge podcasts are for everyone who cares about wild nature, and its place in our future. In Series 1, I take a deep dive into how we see, talk about and live alongside the animals that share our landscapes. #attheedge
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
“Scotland’s ‘deer problem’ is really a people problem.” Episode 7 of the At the Edge podcast out now.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
What happens when you let cows do what cows evolved to do? Ardtornish Estate’s Landscape Manager Henry Dobson wants to see what happens when cattle are given the freedom to act as natural ecosystem engineers. Download Episode 6 now. #atttheedge
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
At the Edge is a series of #podcasts for anyone who cares about our relationship with wild nature. Out now, episode 6 explores the potential for wild grazing with Tauros cattle. Listen here: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/ or your usual podcast host.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
How does Britain feel about wild boar? Listen to Puddles of Bluebells from #attheedge. attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
In this #podcast episode I take a deep dive into our somewhat skewed relationship with wild boar.
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Tommy's Outdoors @tommysoutdoors.com · 05/05/2026
What has shifted in rewilding over the past five years? Why do recovery of species like lynx, beavers and wolves trigger reactions that go far beyond the animals themselves? Join me for the conversation with the one and only @petecairns.bsky.social 🌍🦤 ➡️ pod.fo/e/40debc
Cover art for the 'Tommy's Outdoors Conservation and Science Podcast' episode titled 'At the Edge with Peter Cairns'. A man with grey hair wearing black over-ear headphones and a teal t-shirt smiles warmly at the camera. He appears to be recording from a home office, with shelving units and ring binders visible in the background.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Are ‘the rewilders’ really the enemy? Listen to my conversation with two farmers in Episode 4 of At the Edge. attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Colin Murdoch is a deer stalker on Scotland’s west coast. The notion of ‘people from the outside’ imposing their vision and values on what Colin refers to as ‘the native people’ is a recurring theme at the human-wildlife faultline. Listen to episode 4 - People Like You: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
“𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲.” In the latest podcast from 𝗔𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲, I step beyond lazy assumptions and tribal labels, and ask: Who are People Like You? Listen: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Many thousands of people cherish the presence of white-tailed eagles on Scotland’s west coast, their true value extending far beyond the 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 of pounds of visitor revenue they bring to places like Mull. Listen to the podcast here: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Listen to Episode 3 of At The Edge.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
In 2025, a farmer from the Outer Hebrides claimed that sea eagles had taken five of his Shetland pony foals. In Episode #3 of 𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲, I explore the complex factors shaping perceptions around the resurgence of these charismatic birds. Listen here: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
“You can blame everything on the wolf.” In Episode 2 of At The Edge, journalist Annick Hus describes how wolves are being used by politicians as scapegoats for broader concerns across rural Europe. Listen to Let’s Talk About Wolves: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
No words. None.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Why are your teeth so sharp Grandma? We all know this story, but it isn’t great PR if you’re a wolf. Listen to the ‘Let’s talk about wolves’ podcast. attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Episode 2 of At The Edge - Let’s talk about wolves - now available. Listen here: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Do join me, if you can.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Almost wherever they roam, wolves attract controversy. Today, Europe is home to more wolves than at any point in modern history, providing a valuable window into the UK’s willingness to live with the wild. Episode 2 from At the Edge - Let’s talk about wolves – drops March 5th. attheedge.org.uk
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
At the Edge explores our relationship with the landscapes around us — and the wildlife that shares our space. Listen to Episode 1 of the new podcast series - How much wild is enough? www.attheedge.org.uk
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Get the full story in episode 1 of the At the Edge podcast. Listen here: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Across the UK, nature is clawing its way back – or at least its trying to. But as wildlife rebounds, it's confronted by a society that has long forgotten how to live alongside wild nature. So how much wild is enough? Check out the first podcast from At the Edge: attheedge.org.uk/podcast/
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
A recently-published Government assessment reveals that: "𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲." This is not a 'green' issue for ****'s sake, this is a life issue. My biggest worry is when, or whether, that penny will finally drop. www.gov.uk/government/p...
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SCOTLAND: The Big Picture @scotlandtbp.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Our #NorthwoodsRewildingNetwork is now 100 partners strong! What began with two farmers wanting to rewild their land has grown into a Scotland-wide network of landowners, bound by a shared ambition to #RestoreNature. 🎬 See what that looks like in our new film: youtu.pulse.ly/9xvbfykch2
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
Conversations about nature’s place in our future are pretty toxic, especially on social media. What puzzles me is that nobody has ever changed their mind about anything after being shouted at. So,for those people who think they’re going to change the world by doing so, please get smart, not angry.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Not sure how, but while enjoying my coffee this morning, I ended up watching The Return - @rspb.bsky.social’s story about the resurgence of sea eagles. Highly recommended! www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
LIVING WELL WITH WILDLIFE. Doing this better than in the past is crucial for nature restoration. Rewilding Europe has produced a practical guide to support community leaders and local authorities with approaches to wildlife coexistence. Join the launch: rewildingeurope.com/coexistence-...
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Have your say on the potential return of lynx to northern Scotland. lynxtoscotland.org/information-...
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Rutger Bregman @rutgerbregman.com · 19/12/2025
This video will probably get fewer likes than my posts on taxing billionaires. That difference says it all. Factory farming only survives if we don’t look. It’s time to hold these companies accountable. Every donation is matched, so $1 becomes $2 through Dec 31, 2025. Donate: MoralAmbition.org/food
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
“We’re all trying to get where we’re going safely.” Enter wildlife crossings. y2y.net/blog/how-wil...
y2y.net
How wildlife crossings revolutionized conservation - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Wildlife overpasses and underpasses have reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions by 96% — here's how they work.
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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
This is a really thought-provoking podcast for anyone interested in how modern conservation may need to evolve to be much more flexible and pragmatic. tommysoutdoors.com/2025/12/09/2...
tommysoutdoors.com
216: EU Wolves and the Conservation Success Conundrum with Hanna Pettersson
Can we find a middle ground between those who see the EU’s wolf downlisting as a catastrophe and those who celebrate it as good news? The debate around wolf conservation in the EU has become …
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