Patrick Barkham
@patrick_barkham
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Guardian writer. Books, butterflies, Norfolk Wildlife Trust President. THE SWIMMER, biography of Roger Deakin, out now. (The silver fox in the Speedos is Rog.)
Norfolk
Joined March 2009
Populism seeks simple scapegoats for big, complex problems. Labour thankfully won't scapegoat the EU or immigrants but, shamefully, is scapegoating nature instead. This is bullying. And it is stupid. We need a habitable planet stay alive, happy and well.
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As most of the media bangs on about Farage and Reform, the Green Party have won as many seats – all 4 of the seats they targeted. Two were big river seats – people on the River Waveney and River Wye want clean rivers!
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5 years in prison for a peaceful protest about the climate crisis after a trial in which the defendants couldn't talk about the crisis? This is a scandal of our age.
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Wow. Tesco netting off swallow nesting sites in trolley shelters at Norwich supermarket. Likelihood is returning swallows will get caught and die. Terrible publicity for @Tesco. Would be wise and kind to take the nets down. @ChrisGPackham.
Stop Tesco swallow netting! Not acceptable at all. Adds to the trend of netting trees and smashing hedgerows @ChrisGPackham @HighAshFarm @M_Z_Harrison @nicolawriting @patrick_barkham
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Lucky I haven't been cycling recently - a robin is nesting in my bike helmet. It's a Crystal Maze for a robin to get inside our garage but she's rearing four chicks.
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Wildcats released into Scotland – "the first time a predatory mammal has been deliberately reintroduced in the UK". Small steps but hopefully such careful, slinking reintroductions will be followed by more dramatic dashes to restore native wildlife.
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Congratulations @ChrisGPackham for the joyous vital positive bird-and-human-song-filled peaceful empathic wet #PeoplesWalkforWildlife. And thank you all you lovely people who walked.
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Weetabix from our old pack (top) and new pack (bottom). Huge price rises for shrinking product. About 3g lighter too but I can’t see any weights on @weetabix packs. We are being ripped off by profiteering inflation and shrinkflation
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Environmental activists can no longer explain their motives to a jury. This situation is not only laughable and farcical; it is deeply sinister. This judgment and these laws MUST be overturned.
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Swift bricks to be debated in the Lords. Come on Lords, get this simple, positive, cross-party amendment into law! @WriterHannahBT
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We found four slow-worms in the garden. Beautiful pale metallic pink-bronze and gorgeous to briefly hold.
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“The judge’s characterisation of climate breakdown as a matter of opinion and belief is completely nonsensical and demonstrates extraordinary ignorance.” Well said Bill McGuire
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I bet we can stop Darwin’s oak being ripped apart but what we need to rip up is are the countrywide plans for these dismal 20th century developments - link roads for new car-dependent suburbs, all driven by the enrichment of a few developers and landowners
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Hope @ChrisGPackham's interim injunction halts #HS2's destruction in 5 ancient woodlands. Even if you're pro-HS2, it shouldn't entail illegal birds nest destruction & farcical soil translocation at totally wrong time of year @WoodlandTrust @Natures_Voice.
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I've written about extraordinary ancient yew trees – it is incredible that there are 500,000+ protected listed buildings in Eng+Wales but no equivalent protection for ancient trees. Surely a law all political parties could agree upon.
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Ted Green, 89, (who probably knows more about ancient trees than anyone) told me today: "The Darwin oak is one of the 1,000 most important ancient trees in Europe." What will our children make of us destroying this tree for a "relief road"?.
SAVE DARWIN OAK Petition reaches 100,000. YAAAYYY, You did it! 100,000 people signed our petition to help us #savedarwinoak . #diolch #thankyou .@WoodlandTrust @shropshirecouncil @TreesforCities @CoedCadw @DefraGovUK @IoloWilliams2 @ChrisGPackham @BiancaJagger @RishiSunak
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Esme found a grass snake in our garden his morning. I had strolled right past it. Such a beautiful animal and so pleased they are back again (We first found them last year shortly after making a little pond.)
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“I’m devastated by the lack of foresight, intelligence, commitment, understanding and determination to do anything about the single biggest issue in our species’ history” Spot on @ChrisGPackham
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Because of an outcry about a beautiful old pear tree that was being cut down, human beings replanted the roots and stump. Amazingly, that ancient pear is still alive and regrowing. Sometimes we need to celebrate tiny victories. We can do the right thing.
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Dear @SheffCouncil @Ameyplc Please halt Monday's severe pruning of the Chelsea Road elm. You'll destroy the rare white-letter hairstreak butterfly & a much-loved local tree. You'll bring more negativity & bad publicity upon your great city. Just stop.
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Martin White, whose story is told in this long read, devoted his life to reviving lost nature. Many people disagree with his work. Others may recognise our world would be less beautiful without his efforts. Very sadly, he passed away yesterday.
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Here's what we need: 2 hours, daily, in nature. So let's start prescribing – and valuing and saving high-quality wild green space.
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An ex-police officer has his neck broken during peaceful hunt monitoring. Princess Diana's sister vouches for one attacker in court. 2 attackers avoid prison & 4 masked attackers never identified. Why do hunts behave as if above the law? Because they are.
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Our relationship with nature is deeply dysfunctional. Why not report a dog is off a lead near a school? 78 people died of domestic dog bites over 25 years to 2015 in England and Wales. Over 50 years, wolves linked to 8 fatalities across Europe and Russia
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Can a positive legacy of this crisis be a recognition that access to high-quality green space with 1km of home is a modern-day human right, crucial for health and wellbeing? Gov could set up new generation of parks as part of post-corona settlement.
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I've visited this big, desolate farm a couple of times and what's happening here is totally fascinating. I'm going to follow how the landscape changes, and how people's views change too (and if the economic model works).
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Just over four years ago, I walked the line of HS2 from London to Birmingham. Today I feel gutted for the people, wild species and beautiful places along its route. It was a vanity project then; and is irresistible now to a particularly vain PM.
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Our new @DefraGovUK environment secretary is married to a very senior executive on one of the water companies presiding over polluted rivers and streams. This sums up rotten Britain today. Dirty politics, dirty water. It is gross.
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Hundreds of thousands of us should be marching on Westminster about this scandal. Until then, (almost) every politician will continue to ignore it. In the meantime, thank goodness for the existence of Chris Packham to talk about it.
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How about @Amazon for the Amazon? 10 cents on every transaction, goes to save the rainforest. Amazing planet-saving legacy - how about it @JeffBezos? (Free idea, me and Rick Williams just thought it up in the pub.) @guardian.
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Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I've walked the line of HS2 from London to Birmingham and I don't think it destroys a single golf course and certainly no churches. The route beautifully illustrates our society's priorities.
The cost of #HS2: .5 internationally protected wildlife sites .693 local wildlife sites .108 ancient woodlands .33 SSSIs.Places supposedly protected. Not to mention wholly out of control financial expense. It's way too much. Think again. Stop it now. Thank you @WildlifeTrusts.
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I dug a small garden pond in March and 12 weeks later this beauty has turned up (Esme grabbed it before I could say anything; she knew it was a grass snake. Snake fine. Esme delighted.) Nature is amazing.
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One amazing, genuinely transformative thing happening in England in 2020: the march of the beavers!.
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I loved discovering this story of a hard-nosed commercial arable farmer reading @isabella_tree's Wilding, secretly visiting @KneppWilding to see if it's all it was cracked up to be, and then driving big change on his farm and in his county. Truly hopeful!
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Results of the 5-year Devon wild beaver "trial" are in. Congrats @DevonWildlife. Their report is fascinating and very accessible – recommended reading. Who doesn't love a "beaver deceiver"?!
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Report about @8outof10bats here. Personally, I think it is incredible how Chris Packham creates amazing, positive things like this, so fast, from scratch, by himself. Supporting wildlife and people. (And I'm really looking forward to this show!)
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Tory MP calling for police NOT to investigate crime. This is not just undemocratic – it's sinister. @chrisloder is not fit for public service.
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I've written this little true story to show us how unexpectedly lovely things can happen. And now is the perfect moment to gaze upon some gorgeous twinkly-black-eyed harvest mice.
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More good news (I've got plenty of depressing news up my sleeve but I'll share that another day). Let's celebrate the burgeoning triumph of the biggest and most successful insect species restoration project in the world.
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When farmers set up a charity with a set of radical aims that could be espoused by the Green Party, this is really significant and exciting. Congratulations @Wildeastuk. I pledge to do my bit, and pay more for nature-friendly food.
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This is hugely, massively significant. Ten years ago, farmers blocked the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles into East Anglia. Now they are leading it. Bravo @WildKenHill and others. I hope they are supported. Epochal change in the English countryside.
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This amazing sound was once common across England. So hooray for @Pensthorpe and their farmer partners bringing Corncrakes back to Norfolk.
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Blessed by the universe with a walk at Wells-next-the-Sea: sun setting, full moon rising, space and peace, pinkfooted and Brent geese; barn owl hunting, curlew calling, and met the gaze of a short-eared owl and a rough-legged buzzard. Now my heart is full!!!
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This could herald a massive change for the pheasant and partridge shooting industry that has come to dominate much of our lowlands. And another David v Goliath victory for @WildJustice_org
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Please please please let's make this happen. Could we at least have car-free days once a month?.
Like many, I'm loving running, cycling and walking on peaceful roads, almost free of traffic and pollution. When this is all over, do we have to go back to 'normal'? Surely we can find a way to live with much less driving?
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Hooray! After 5 years living here, we have our first mole in the garden. His or her heaps make great soil for my veg beds. Hope he or she enjoys our earth wriggling with worms.
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When moorland mountain hares are down to their last 1% it's probably just about time for the Scottish government to regulate their culling.
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I've had a rant (see below). I really hope these 4 schools get in touch with @BritishSpiders or @Buzz_dont_tweet and turn ignorance into a learning opportunity
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There may be much bigger global issues but this Sheffield tree court case – based on ludicrous injunctions to stop peaceful protesters trying to save a few TREES – is a massive scandal & reveals a deep rot in privatised single-party local gov
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Milly's how-to-flip-on-the-trampoline coaching for her 6-year-old twin, Esme, feels like good advice for us all.
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Spreading a little Friday happiness. at least, these lovely farmers and charities are, creating new wildflower meadows from seeds harvested from roadside verges.
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We need all the good news we can get at the moment and this is good news. We can make a difference and bring back declining species. It's always a struggle but it can be done and is worth striving for.
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It is unsurprising when the Johnson government u-turns but still amazing that this particular zombie policy staggers on, year after year, without scientific or public support.
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Hooray for white storks nesting in Britain again – hopefully more conservationists and farmers can be helped to follow @kneppcastle and @isabella_tree's example and do such bold and practical work
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Oh dear. No British papers have massive global #ClimateStrikes on today's front pages except @guardian & @FT. Guess young people don't read papers but the old folk who do need to know about the climate crisis. Dinosaur mainstream media/capitalism must engage or face extinction.
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We seem too preoccupied by human crises to notice that animal populations have fallen by an average of 68% since 1970. That's a crisis for our planet. We need more media and social media attention on this extinction crisis.
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Elect Conservatives again = continue the decade-long policy disaster that is the badger cull. I’ve read the consultation doc and I’m shocked by its dishonesty. Can’t quite believe govt scientists are putting their names to this. They should be ashamed.
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Not sure if there's a big "practical turn" in nature writing but I wrote this piece more because whenever I feel despair the antidote is to plug in to all the amazing stuff being done in my area by local people.
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“Nature is not just a nice thing to have: it is vital for our national health, wealth and security” - well said @TonyJuniper. Hope @UKLabour listening. (And this insectless summer is really sad. 2012 was bad but this could be worse.)
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Great news! Congratulations everyone who campaigned to save Lodge Hill and its nightingales.
MASSIVE WIN FOR WILDLIFE! Homes England announces it will not build houses on Lodge Hill SSSI. @GeorgeMonbiot @guyshrubsole @CarolineLucas @M_Z_Harrison @patrick_barkham @Natures_Voice @JulianHoffman @MarkAvery @ChrisGPackham
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This beautiful and wise book is will be the nature writing hit of 2020. The writing! It makes me feel like punching the air! A goshawk chick "looks like an autumn forest rolled in the first snows of winter". It was a pleasure to interview @NaturalistDara
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First night for our new moth trap and we caught this beauty - a lime hawkmoth. Hawkmoths really tempt me to quit Team Butterfly for Team Moth.
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I can listen to and read Chris Packham all day, he is always interesting. Also nice to hear Greta and Sir David Attenborough on Today this morning. How about a programme with all 3? The ultimate environmental supergroup.
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Turkmenportal have ripped off my story but that’s ok because their autocorrect not recognising “pademelons” has added to the sum total of mirth in the world
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I've interviewed @NaturalEngland's Stephen Murphy and Prof Steve Redpath several times, and they are very careful, cautious scientists. And their 10-year study's conclusion is unequivocal: most English hen harrier deaths are illegal kills on grouse moors.
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Hooray for the amazing Paul Powlesland and the @riverroding trust – another heartening example of hands-on local action to improve neighbourhood nature and tackle the big extinction and climate crises.
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When I was small, all books seemed to have penguins (or puffins) on them. Now (after eight tries) I’ve finally written a book that’s got one on it. Hooray! Paperback Roger coming next month…
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Strong from @Natures_Voice on HS2 (and today's failed legal challenge): "We can see no reason for large-scale clearance of trees, hedgerows, and woodlands in the bird breeding season, especially given the current national crisis. .
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Such a massive honour to be made prez of @NorfolkWT Thank you! I'll do my very best to help wildlife in Norfolk and encourage more people enjoy and protect it.
NWT is delighted to introduce its new President, Patrick Barkham! Patrick is a natural history writer for @guardian and an award-winning author of natural history books including 'The Butterfly Isles':. 👉 📸 Patrick Barkham by Emily Mildren
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"One of the benefits of lockdown is more people spending time in their garden and looking out of the window. And when you look out of the window and see a pine marten you've scored 10/10" Well said @ChrisGPackham!
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We probably all need to cling to real good things happening in local areas at the moment. Like this. Hooray!
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I'd never before imagined the mostly murky waterways of the Norfolk Broads as a forest with all the trees cut down but now it all makes sense. Bring on aquatic restoration. We need more and bigger versions of this exciting @SupportNWT-led project
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Everyone asks, "What's David Attenborough really like?" How about the world's finest human?
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Have you seen the young sea eagle currently living quietly in Oxfordshire? I love this story!
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Wow! We just glanced over a footbridge in Ashburton, Devon, and spotted an eel. I've never seen one alive before, and neither had any of my family, even my naturalist Dad! Lovely to watch it pottering about in the little River Ashburn. Would it be looking to lay eggs?
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Esme found another baby grass snake in our garden today. Magical to briefly hold this cool, grey creature.
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More than weeds! Awareness and appreciation of urban wildlife seems to be, erm, growing and growing. Great story @morss_alex
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"When I joined the Defra board, I was horrified to discover the degree to which the NFU and industrial fishing representatives were able to influence government policy." Interesting, emotional interview with @BenGoldsmith by the brilliant @horton_official
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This is a real problem this summer. I've never seen the Norfolk coast so busy, with loads of wild camping. Inspirational communion with nature is so important but we also need a massive Leave No Trace educational campaign.
Don't waste this landscape. 🚯. Please leave it exactly as you found it and take your litter home. Help us spread the word by retweeting. Thank you.
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If you're in London this evening, there will be some lovely singing in Berkeley Square.
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Goodbye Ronnie Blythe, 100 years of observing, listening and creating. A beautiful man.
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It is an honour to be writing a biography of Roger Deakin. I'm enjoying researching his life more than any previous book, probably because interviewing his amazing friends is a total joy.
.@HamishH1931 has signed a biography, "from roots to fruits" of writer and naturalist Roger Deakin, authored by @patrick_barkham, promising to bring Roger's "uniquely wayward spirit and insatiable curiosity" back to pages. More here:
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Whenever I watch Babe and hear the farmer say "that'll do pig" I well up. Didn't know farmer is anti-fracking legend
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Finally, official publication day for THE SWIMMER, my biography of Roger Deakin. Really excited that it is finally slipping into the hands and minds of readers.
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This is a brilliant column by @GeorgeMonbiot And less of everything actually means more time to love, sing, dance, read, talk, grow things, and spend time in calm places with other species.
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So busy with Guardian stories, I forgot today is The Swimmer paperback publication day. Hooray! Honestly, it’s the most creative and original thing I’ve ever done. Rog would probably say, “That’s cos it’s mostly my words chum” and I’d reply, “Roger, everyone needs a Horatio”.
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This is the kind of grim news that the government always slips out on a Friday afternoon. So much green stuff being talked. Rather less being walked.
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Sheffield council claim it will cost £500,000 to "save" 41 war memorial trees. They are either (a) imbeciles to accept such an extortionate quote or (b) liars. Which is it?
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30 years of red kites back in England is worth celebrating and @NaturalEngland and @TonyJuniper are clearly supportive of more reintroductions. Glowworms next?
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On another day of dysfunctional political turmoil, we can take heart from the return of these wonderful birds and the positive work of @kneppcastle (again), @DurrellWildlife @CotsWildTweets and partners. Bring on the stork babies!
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Extraordinary and scandalous. @Minette_Batters reveals @NFUtweets has a direct line to Environment Sec @ranil who, according to her, promptly orders a @DefraGovUK leak inquiry over @guardian's ELMs reports. So that's government obeying farmers' order to suppress a free press.
Here it is- NFU and government working together to interfere in the free press
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This is a longish essay about nature writing and nature cures. (If you can't face 3,000 words, the answer is yes, and in return the least we could do is heal some of the damage we have done to other life on Earth.)
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Great leaps in Scotland: a ban on the mass culling of mountain hares, and a ban on salmon farmers shooting seals. (And obviously still room for improvement, eg, better protection for beavers.)
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Striking results from a scientific study showing how greener play areas boost immunity. Exactly what I write about in Wild Child. We need politicians and planners to recognise that access to diverse green space is a modern-day human right.
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Important high court challenge coming which will help decide whether councils can sell off public parks and precious nature-rich green space.
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Please please please @BBCSpringwatch & @ChrisGPackham could we have some sensible coverage of false widow spiders and harlequin ladybirds on Autumnwatch? I'm trying & but there's so much misinformation out there.
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If Labour aren't siding with the common person on issues like this, what exactly is the party for?
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This is such a shame. The project to return white-tailed eagles to Norfolk was led by landowners, and had 91% popular support. But a handful of very influential pheasant and partridge shooting folk have sunk it.
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Ban disposable barbecues. Gov petition: Please sign and let's see if any MPs are foolish enough to oppose a tiny, sensible step to reduce wildfires that are catastrophic for people, climate and all nature. @jake_fiennes @ChrisGPackham @RobGMacfarlane.
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