Amidst fears of a backlash, political dithering puts Hamlet in the shade

On the 400th anniversary of his death, William Shakespeare is rightly celebrated worldwide as possibly the greatest dramatist of all time.

But, in addition to being a keen observer and scrutiniser of human nature, he also alluded in his plays and sonnets to the animal kingdom, and especially wild creatures.

As a campaigner for wildlife protection and conservation, I find those references intriguing.