Speaking in Menteith at 14:30 if for all the BES goers just waking up after last night’s festivities! Come along to hear about what ants do for pollinators and how they may help us with grassland restoration 🐜 🐝

Currently observing a stakeholder debate at the 2nd session of the EU Young Citizens Assembly for Pollinators. One of the first question from delegates is - where are the industry representatives? (e.g. pesticide companies, commercial forestry companies etc.).

Climate breakdown is driven by a storm of lies. This lying is systemic, funded and coordinated, and operates across almost all media, old and new. This week's column argues that we cannot fight the climate crisis without also fighting the epistemic crisis. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This is absolutely appalling. "The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit." Absolutely pathetic. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

It's been 18 months since we moved a bunch of ant hills to examine what effects they have on grassland restoration...how are they getting on? A new blog, fresh off the press! www.gabrielleflinn.com/post/ecologi...

🐝 More than a fifth of European wild bee species, including bumblebees and cellophane bees, risk becoming extinct — as nearly 100 new species join the growing list of those under threat.

People power works. Vujadin Kovacevic talks about the importance of the Save the Bees and Farmers petition and campaign and how it helped lead to real tangible action for pollinators. #EUpollinators

Headed to Brussels for the Young Citizens Pollinator Assembly at the European Commission! Very much looking forward to observing and assisting with discussions on the threats facing pollinators and what this means for humans and nature 🇪🇺 🐝

Meet @thecuriousant.bsky.social who is based at the University of York with UKCEH & National Trust. Gabrielle's PhD is on how ecosystem engineering of Lasius flavus 🐜 benefits pollinators and grassland restoration 🌱 with Elva Robinson, Claire Carvell, Tim Goodall and Carl Hawke as supervisors!

This evening’s read for the commute back to Edinburgh…essential for anyone doing a PhD on pollinators! Such a wonderfully put together collection of the essentials 🐝 🪰 🦋

Mini marsupial bounces back from the brink! Once listed as Endangered, the crest-tailed mulgara expanded its range by more than 48,000 km² between 2015 and 2021, lifting its status to Least Concern. Biocontrol contributed to the heartwarming bounce-back. https://f.mtr.cool/afllseseeb

Disturbing to see three of these traps at Saline Shaw Farm Shop. Wasps are pollinators too and they are very important for pest control. They are a farm’s biggest ally really! Absolute madness that these kind of traps are commercially available given the current biodiversity crisis…

Land clearance is raising the temperature in the rainforests around the world www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The best thing on the internet is @fixthenews.com.web.brid.gy. Every week it gives me the boost, the hope and the energy to believe in a better world and see the incredible things that are happening, in amongst all the bad. Can't recommend it enough 🙏 fixthenews.com/p/welcome-fi...

Another beautiful cycle along the beloved Roseburn Path in Edinburgh, on one of the best parts of our city - the hidden green cycle/walking routes. They give communities peace, exercise and safe transport and should be protected at all costs. #savergeroseburnpath @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social

Today we celebrated @elvarobinson.bsky.social receiving best PhD supervisor of the year award at the University of York. Very well deserved - we’re lucky to have you!

Do any ento folk on Bluesky happen to know what these eggs might be? Found on a grass species in Lincolnshire.

Wonderful to be accompanied by so many meadow browns during this month’s fieldwork.

All eyes on Madleen, they are not far now. freedomflotilla.org/ffc-tracker/

These (anti) scientists doing this should be widely chastised and should surely lose access to funding. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

In 2022, we published the European Red List of Hoverflies, revealing a third of European hoverfly species are at risk of extinction. Intensive agriculture (including commercial forestry) is the biggest threat but gardens could be islands of safety for these pollinators. www.bbc.com/news/article...

SAVE THE DATE 📢 On 9th July 2025, we’re heading to Westminster to show MPs that climate & nature must be a priority. This is your chance to speak directly to your MP & call for urgent action. Stay tuned for details! RT & spread the word for people, climate & nature.

We can’t just sow seeds to restore - we need to consider how to attract and make space for keystone species and ecosystem engineers and facilitate the restoration of mutualisms that give our ecosystems resilience. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Thank you to @rspbscotland.bsky.social for sharing my blog about our ongoing research invertigating the role of ants in grassland restoration 🐜🌱 community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/sc...

Gas has driven up UK power bills: ".. it is not true that renewables are the chief reasons British bills have soared." www.ft.com/content/2f25...

Just a wee reminder of this - if anyone has any networks they might like to share it to, that would be greatly appreciated!

Important warning for all campers and bbqers in Scotland this weekend… www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We have an exciting and unique opportunity in the Ant Lab! This conservation masters offers an exciting research opportunity and the chance to become a qualified IUCN red list assessor - excellent for careers in both academia and conservation. Deadline May 16th. www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Appeal Court *very slightly* reduces sentences on some of the 16 peaceful climate protesters, jailed for total of 41 years. This isn’t justice. People desperate for climate action to save lives treated like organised criminals, while big oil & gas get away with ecocide @defendourjuries.bsky.social

Are we watching US capitalism cannibalise itself? So much self harm in such a short amount of time. 🙉

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Hopefully one day, the UK will be brave enough to re-embrace balance in our ecosystems too! www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Whilst Storm Éowyn shuts down everything in central belt Scotland and beyond, I’m hearing from family that GPs got into their surgeries in the early hours of this morning and will ride out the storm at work. Wee heroes ❤️. #StormEowyn

Jimmy Carter, a visionary on ending fossil fuels, put solar panels on the White House. Big Oil-backed Ronald Reagan ousted Carter in 1980 and ripped them out Tonight, as Carter lies in in state in the Capitol, a climate-fueled wildfire is destroying Reagan's former hometown of Pacific Palisades

Can meadow ants help provide habitat for pollinators? PhD student Gabrielle Flinn (@thecuriousant.bsky.social) is aiming to find out - read her blog post here: fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/blog/in-ant-... #conservation #ants #pollinators #restoration

Clocktower views from my favourite new study spot in Edinburgh 🕰️

Pity Farage wasn’t asked about this - he should be forced to own it @bbclaurak.bsky.social @theneweuropean.bsky.social

Here here, if we are going to (mentally) survive the next 4 years, we cannot dignify with a headline, every bit of incoherent waffle that leaks out of him. 🙏

The @rspb.bsky.social Christmas crackers are the absolute hit of our family dinner!! Full on frenzied pin trading going on 🦅

Wee article about the ant translocations for restoration we did earlier this year 👀 fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/blog/in-ant-...

A seven-point strategy for wrecking environmental or progressive policies by @kat-jones.bsky.social. This is a great summary of the tactics we are so often pitched against. aprs.scot/news/environ...

Important New Year’s resolution suggestion from the EU Safeguard pollinator project! 🌼🐝 #LetFlowersGrow

Lucy Waruingi answers this question by emphasising the importance of creating institutions and capacity in the communities themselves. Owners of land and resources need a voice in setting the agenda. #BES2024

Another incredible plenary at #BES2024 this time from Lucy Waruingi showcasing how conservation can only succeed and have longevity and resilience when people and their needs are also centralised alongside the needs of wildlife.

Feasibility of rewilding Britain is unsurprisingly verrrry popular amongst attendees…excellent talk from Mia Arundel. #BES2024

This afternoon I am presenting my research poster at #BES2024 You can find me at A5.7, here is a teaser till then…

Unbelievably cool talk from Dominic McAfee on using sound to recruit oysters for restoring oyster reefs 🦪 🎶 #BES2024

“Our current economic system is investing in its own demise.” Professor Nathalie Seddon discusses the future of nature-based solutions and points honestly to the root of many of our problems. #BES2024

It’s been ten whole years since my last @britishecolsoc.bsky.social conference! Excited to be Liverpool-bound for the 2024 extravaganza🚂 👀