10th July 2026 05.04

Start today with a hiss and a buzz in the @theguardian.com country diary by Claire Stares. #naturewriting #countrydiary

A wonderfully evocative @theguardian.com country diary today from @ebenmyrddin.bsky.social. #naturewriting #countrydiary

A stunningly gorgeous diary from @ebenmyrddin.bsky.social .. & a deeply involved, storied island. And field names always have my heart! “A name can be a fleeting thing, vanishing along with old farmers and agricultural methods. But their worth is clear to me – “ www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Curlew populations are declining across much of the UK; but why? 🤔 Join Ian Newton from @curlewaction.bsky.social for a free webinar exploring the evidence behind curlew breeding success, predation, and the role of grouse moors. 📅 Mon 14 Sept 2026 🎟️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1987186150...

The Serin's just pitched in a tree-top at the Obs

A wonderfully evocative @theguardian.com country diary today from @ebenmyrddin.bsky.social. #naturewriting #countrydiary

Despite all the noise today I'd really like you to read this, as I think it's crucial. The government's in the process of p*ssing up to £264 billion into the ground, at the behest of the fossil fuel industry. Yes, £264 *billion*. It's utterly mad, and has to stop. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I was shortlisted for the Working Class Nature Prize back in 2024, but I haven't share the piece with anyone yet 😅 Yesterday they announced this years winning names, so in celebration, and for anyone curious for next year - here is my piece #Poetry #NatureWriting substack.com/home/post/p-...

New blog of our latest monthly short break, this time three nights in Stafford, at the Swan Hotel. A revelation to us! Maybe not as much wildlife as usual, but some wonderful architecture. www.chrisgibsonwildlife.co.uk/into-our-unk... #NatureWriting

Are there lots of butterflies around where you are this week? In today's @theguardian.com country diary, @katebradbury.bsky.social is enjoying the Meadow Browns. #naturewriting #countrydiary

STRIPEY DUDES! We've grown ragwort for years, but this is our first visitation from the stripey brigade. I'm doing a celebratory Cinnabar dance. 💃🐛

Crackweed Morning Glory shot this morning in Marconi East. #Bloomscrolling #Flowers #MorningGlory

So proud of this man (my husband) & his colleagues. Collected his King’s & Long Service Awards for 20yrs (22 now) of good conduct for South Central Ambulance Service. Fitting it was at Newbury Racecourse; he gave up working with racehorses to retrain as a paramedic 1/2 #InternationalParamedicsDay.

Yesterday evening's celebration of The Common Ground Prize for Working Class Nature Writing was an inspiring event in a beautiful setting - Hachette's sumptuous roof garden. It was a privilege to talk to the shortlisted writers, judges and other literary folk.

A fantastic, fancy literary evening celebrating The Common Ground Prize for Working Class Nature Writing at Hachette’s famous rooftop garden. An honour to read & judge entries & fantastic to meet shortlistees, friends, writers & literary peeps, & scramble through an impromptu, impassioned speech 1/3

Are there lots of butterflies around where you are this week? In today's @theguardian.com country diary, @katebradbury.bsky.social is enjoying the Meadow Browns. #naturewriting #countrydiary

Lovely tribute to the enigmatic beauty of the Wood Warbler, a special bird for many. Very pleased to say that @martamaziarz.bsky.social and I have signed with @chiffchat.bsky.social to co-write a new Poyser monograph on the Wood Warbler. Watch this space. #NatureWriting #UKBirding #ornithology

...known site at Sheat Quarry, Southwell. As usual, plenty of other bonus local specials incl sev Beech-green Carpets (think that Portland's still its only site in Dorset) & lots of Portland Ribbon Waves

Spotted #Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) growing out of the sidewalk of Columbus Boulevard, shot yesterday. #Bloomscrolling #Wildflowers #Flowers #SpottedKnapweed

Breaking 7,000 years of tradition or something, we'll be laying Midsummer Cushions this afternoon.

Today's @theguardian.com country diary by Mark Cocker savours the music of the endangered wood warbler. #countrydiary #naturewriting

Ooo, Crested Cow-wheat! Celebrating a wonderful plant in @theguardian.com country diary today by @sarahlambert7.bsky.social. #countrydiary #naturewriting

Why can’t Britain turn its green revolution into cheap energy? A visual analysis www.theguardian.com/business/ng-...

Fill it and they will come! A celebration of my new pond in today's @theguardian.com country diary. #countrydiary #naturewriting

Fill it and they will come! A celebration of my new pond in today's @theguardian.com country diary. #countrydiary #naturewriting

OMG! Tonight we saw two swifts going into our swift box and they've chucked out a sparrow egg (but the sparrows have already raised three broods). I think the swifts might be breeding! 😃

A difficult period on the farm in today's @theguardian.com country diary by Andrea Meanwell. #countrydiary #naturewriting

Birdsong & the richness we’ve laid (are laying) waste to. An astonishing, heartbreaking demonstration of shifting baseline syndrome, & what I remember. Wrote about this @environment.theguardian.com + a real recording made in my village by a fierce & wonderful woman conservationist in 1975. 1/3

A bit like last year, we're struggling to get amongst the Storm Petrels at the moment: another luring attempt at the Bill tip last night saw a few attracted - up to 3 at a time after midnight - but only a single trapped. It got better later in the summer last year so still hopeful for better rewards

Catch up on the latest British Wildlife news and articles in the June Issue - out now: www.britishwildlife.com #naturewriting #conservation #britishwildlife

A difficult period on the farm in today's @theguardian.com country diary by Andrea Meanwell. #countrydiary #naturewriting

Start the day with a flutter on the tennis court in today's @theguardian.com country diary by @levparikian.bsky.social. #naturewriting #countrydiary

I'm giving my favourite talk in the #Hitchin Festival: How to create a bird-friendly garden, beautifully illustrated with my dad's bird photography. Tickets £5, proceeds go to Triangle Community Garden, Hitchin. Please share, like & do come along: www.ticketsource.com/hitchinfesti... #gardenbirds

Start the day with a flutter on the tennis court in today's @theguardian.com country diary by @levparikian.bsky.social. #naturewriting #countrydiary

I loved doing this, but I really wish one day of teaching didn't leave me totally washed out in bed for the next few days. 😔

A fascinating @theguardian.com country diary on nitrogen-loving seaweed by Sara Hudston. #countrydiary #naturewriting

A fascinating @theguardian.com country diary on nitrogen-loving seaweed by Sara Hudston. #countrydiary #naturewriting

I led a nature writing workshop at #JohnClare Cottage yesterday and we took inspiration from Clare's poetry and the cottage garden. It was wonderful to share writing ideas with others in a place that has such a rich cultural and personal history.

When I saw this photo, I thought for a moment it was an elephant. I have no idea why. #shouldhavegonetospecsavers?

Follow Nigel Brown to St Kilda for today's @theguardian.com country diary. Brought to you by Soay sheep, spotted orchids, carnivorous butterworts and bonxies. #countrydiary #naturewriting

Hello my little book. Spotted in Wild Fungarium bookshop in #Edinburgh: www.wildfungarium.com 🙏💚 #naturewriting #chronicillness #indiebookshops

Follow Nigel Brown to St Kilda for today's @theguardian.com country diary. Brought to you by Soay sheep, spotted orchids, carnivorous butterworts and bonxies. #countrydiary #naturewriting

My PJ top, still just about in one piece from 1995, which is more than you can say for its wearer, who no longer takes part in "fun runs" in the US or anywhere else. Mind, Maine sure knows how to make long-lasting t-shirts.

Grass-leaved orache Atriplex littoralis. It used the to be a plant of salt-rich coastal habitats (littoralis = of the shore). Now, just like Danish scurvy-grass, it’s just as much a plant of roadsides where tarmac was salted in winter.

Taking A River Running Through You to Edinburgh this morning to read and explore with youngsters at the fantastically named Wild Fungarium— a specialist nature bookshop. From 10 am! 🍄😊💚📚

I sure am eclectic, as this review by @lauraparker.bsky.social adroitly observes.

I'm giving my favourite talk in the #Hitchin Festival: How to create a bird-friendly garden, beautifully illustrated with my dad's bird photography. Tickets £5, proceeds go to Triangle Community Garden, Hitchin. Please share, like & do come along: www.ticketsource.com/hitchinfesti... #gardenbirds

Share Josie George's delight in the blackbirds song in today's lovely @theguardian.com country diary. #countrydiary #naturewriting