Alongside, our recent Poppy exhibition explores how the flower became a symbol of remembrance over the past 100 years and tells the story of Anna Guérin whose poppy appeal helped remembrance take root.

2,000 crimes against wildlife were reported last year, with just 2% of these leading to convictions (exc fisheries)⚖️ We need wildlife crime to be notifiable to the Home Office, to aid police response and ensure justice for nature 👮‍♀️ Read more 👇 www.wcl.org.uk/wildlife-crime-press-release-2025.asp

2,000 crimes against wildlife were reported last year, with just 2% of these leading to convictions (exc fisheries) ⚖️ We need wildlife crime to be notifiable to the Home Office, to aid police response & ensure justice for nature 👮♀️ Read more 👇 www.wcl.org.uk/wildlife-cri...

Camouflage level: expert

The lichen on our apple trees is/are fantastic.

COME ON SUNDERLAND!

Isn't lichen brilliant?

This FT account of pure thuggishness of Trump representatives posing as diplomats has not appeared in US media anywhere, but is being widely circulated and reported in media in Europe, the UK and the Asia Pacific area. Be sure to read it all.

There’s still time to have your say in @bhamcitycouncil.bsky.social's Parks Survey - but be quick, the deadline is 10 Nov! It only takes a few mins to share how satisfied you are with your local parks. Take part here: www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/bcc/parks-su... Please share - every voice counts!

Delia has walked an incredible 100 miles to help protect these beautiful birds — and you can still show your support! 🎉 👉 Donate £5 (or whatever you can) to celebrate Delia’s achievement and help us continue our vital conservation work: 🔗 www.barnowltrust.org.uk/walking-100-...

*Calling all members* Get your votes in for our Annual General Meeting before it’s too late: buff.ly/reNDWPy Voting closes midnight on 31 Oct.

Seasonal reminder, Pumpkins make Hedgehogs sick, so don't leave any out where they can reach them.

Reminding National Trust members not to turn into a pumpkin - please *use your vote* before the end of the month to support genuine candidates and keep the disingenuous ‘Restore’ stooges away from the Trust’s assets. Easiest way is use ‘Quick Vote’ to endorse official NT AGM recommendations.

"The best time to protect wildlife was twenty years ago. The second-best time is this week, in the Lords Chamber." Philip Box @wclnews.bsky.social www.wcl.org.uk/planning-and...

New info shows that Nathan Gill (the Reform Leader in Wales convicted of taking Russian bribes) was joined by 2 of his fellow UKIP MEP colleagues on a paid trip to Russia. They then repeated his pro-Russia talking points in Parliament. New prosecutions? observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Farage: epic grifter

Has Sarah Pochin been arrested for inciting racial hatred yet? If not, why not? What more does she need to do? Hatred isn't violence, is that what the authorities are waiting for?

Bloomin' Buendia. You'd think he'd put it away.

If you ever miss me If I should cross your mind You know where to find me I'll be waiting at the end of the line

A folklore article lists a sighting in 1972, attributed to a Nigel Lea who said he “saw the biggest bloody dog I have ever seen” while driving through Cannock Chase. At first glance this appears to have very little connection to me, yet with some wild surmises it puts me at the centre of the story.

There were renewed alleged sightings of the large black dog on Cannock Chase in the 1970s. Coincidently, that is when I put in my appearance in the region.

The Slitting Mill Bastard, Hednesford Hellhound or whatever was said to lurk on the Chase has not been as well written about. Which means we can make it up!

The broader motif of spectral or ghostly “black dogs” in British folklore (for example, the Black Shuck of East Anglia) is well-attested. These figures often haunt lonely lanes, crossroads, churchyards or ancient site.

youtu.be/kPZ4FAgxbkE He really was a credit wasn't he?

youtu.be/PuNYyNqCSSg?... I loved a lot of this jangly guitar stuff back then.

subscriptions >>> shop.viz.co.uk/viz350bs

For years I've been saying I'd happily pay extra for milk if it's sure to go to the farmers. Yet I thought it was still£1 for 2 litres. I haven't been looking at the price and now I see it's £1.60 a litre. And yet - still pay more for farmers. (If they pay taxes like me).

Decades after the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters, can politicians please not second-guess expert safety assessments for football stadiums. Thank you. An Aston Villa fan.

There were 7 million people at No Kings rallies today. Coincidentally, that's the margin Joe Biden beat Trump by in 2020. I just thought I'd mention that to piss off Trump and remind him that he lost that election.

Organizers have reported 7 million attendees at the No Kings events and we’re happy to confirm 7 million and counting! More events are still happening across the country today, so we’ll need additional time to fully certify the final numbers.

I've stopped watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind as I'm afraid it will frighten me and I'll be expecting alien faces peering through the window. #collywobbles I'm 54 years old.

How on earth can that Norfolk - North Norfolk Digital Radio receptionist not know who Alan Partridge is? He was the main character in a motion picture featuring a siege at Norfolk - North Norfolk Digital (also Smile) Radio. Unbebloodylievable

It's all so disappointing isn't it?

👏 "We've lived here all our lives. And I have never felt so unwelcome in my own hometown as I do since your party came into Caerphilly." "With all the rhetoric that you bring in, I have to say to my sons, please don't go there. Please don't do this." "I blame you for that."

@neilgibbons.bsky.social Where might one purchase, inexpensively, a cardigan like Alan's in his current TV show on mad people? Thanks.

Last week, we ran a Barn Owl nestbox workshop for Sustainable Harbourne Valley, funded by the National Lottery. The group built 6 fantastic indoor Barn Owl boxes with our support, ready to go up around the community 🦉💚 Want to organise a nestbox workshop? www.barnowltrust.org.uk/nestbox-work...

The Atlantic’s journalists will not sign the Pentagon’s press policy. Statement here from editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg:

"Do you still get paid in Roubles Ted?" 🐢💨

Why doesn't Birmingham have a publishing sector? And what would it take to get one? The tiny Emma Press, which is run from the Jewellery Quarter might show us the way. "We say ‘small press, big dreams," says the director James Trevelyan.

🌱 Free Plants for Profit Workshop! Learn how to grow & sell plants/crops with Roots to Fruit Midlands Ltd. Fri 14 Nov | 1–3:30pm 51 Chester Rd, Streetly, B74 2HH Explore what to grow, avoid pitfalls & start small - grow big! Register now: www.eventbrite.co.uk...

Although Barn Owls are often thought of as pure white, the feathers on their upper body form a beautiful tapestry of soft oranges, silvery greys and warm browns 🦉 From above, they are well camouflaged against rough grassland 🍂 More about Barn Owl adaptations: www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-fac...

Amid a global misinformation crisis, where toxic messages can spread to millions within hours, Britain urgently needs a regulator that is willing and able to act robustly & with speed. Ofcom seems painfully ill-equipped to do the job it has been tasked with /9 www.heraldscotland.com/news/2478423...

Ofcom took *six months* to decide to take no action after thousands complained about this very blatant breach of broadcasting standards by GB News. But perhaps the real surprise is that they investigated it at all… /1 www.thepinknews.com/2025/10/06/g...