Wishing you a happy, healthy and restful Christmas 🎄

So pleased that Edgbaston Pool SSSI has recently reopened - a real ecological jewel in south Birmingham. On Wednesday there were three Little Grebes, about thirty Black-headed Gulls, a few Shoveler, and nine (nine!!) Herons!

Walked through the magnificent Moseley Bog yesterday. Saw Grey Wagtails hopping about the streams, and even heard a cronking Raven. It's said to have inspired the Old Forest in Lord of the Rings. Thankfully no otherworldly creatures, only a few friendly dogs! @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Winterbourne Gardens looking spectacular this afternoon. Absolutely love the golden and reddish hues of the sweetgum on the right. @unibirmingham.bsky.social

Old Joe rising up into a blue sky this morning. @unibirmingham.bsky.social

A note about the Nature Reserves of London map, which you can find on my website (in bio) 👇

A phenomenal @wildsummituk.bsky.social in Bristol yesterday, with colleagues from across the nature sector. A privilege to speak on the opening panel, on how Govt can best meet its 2030 nature targets. Also thought-provoking to hear debates on nature finance, farming, planning and beyond!

Long Meadow, Eastcote yesterday evening, a final glimpse of August sunlight peeking through the canopy. A fairly quiet visit, apart from a few Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits and a very noisy Nuthatch!

Join us at the Wild Summit on 11 Sept, to discuss how to restore nature. I'm be speaking alongside @stephspyro.bsky.social, @beccyrspb.bsky.social, Abi Bunker of @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social and Areeba Hamid of @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social. See @wildsummituk.bsky.social for more. See you there!

Spent the weekend at a young nature writers' retreat in the New Forest. It was a privilege to learn useful writing tips, meet like-minded young naturalists and speak about the practicalities of being a writer. Thank you to the Cameron Bespolka Trust for an inspiring weekend!

Yesterday it was wonderful to see my friend and fellow @nationalparkcity.bsky.social Ranger Luke Newcombe @grown22.com (and Milo the dachshund). For years, Luke has put the 'green' back in Wood Green. He's created a nature reserve and a parklet, and is now building a greenhouse for a local school!

Deeply sad news that Mathew Frith of @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social has passed away. Mathew was a lifelong champion of London's natural environment, playing a major role in the capital's nature recovery for decades. I'm proud to have called him a colleague, mentor and friend. Rest In Peace Mathew 💚

Delighted to be speaking at the @wildsummituk.bsky.social main stage on 11 September! I'll be speaking alongside @beccyrspb.bsky.social, @stephspyro.bsky.social, Areeba Hamid of @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social and Abi Bunker of the Woodland Trust. See you there! wildsummituk.eventbrite.co.uk

A real pleasure to attend the opening of the new Carbon Garden at @rbgkew.bsky.social. It highlights the role of carbon in our ecosystems, especially in a warming climate, and mitigation and adaptation measures to combat climate change. Visit to learn about carbon in our natural world!

Nature Towns and Cities sounds very promising. Localised interventions to bring back biodiversity in Bristol, Bournemouth, Birmingham and beyond. Also pleased there is funding for the Ealing regional park, of which @brentriverpark.bsky.social will form a part. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Always brilliant to hear about swan-upping, an annual Middlesex tradition. However, it's concerning to read how avian flu has impacted cygnets. Let's hope Middlesex's county bird fares better next year! @russellgrant.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

@lucylapwing.bsky.social @curlewaction.bsky.social @greeneindy.bsky.social @katiemonk.bsky.social

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting @globalbirdfair.bsky.social yesterday. A chance to catch up with friends and fellow conservationists from across the country. The talks by @theurbanbirder.bsky.social and @rspb.bsky.social Youth Council were also a lot of fun!

It was inspiring to visit the team at @healrewilding.org.uk in Somerset last Friday. Very insightful to hear about their business model, vision and potential income from natural capital. Since 2020, this former dairy farm has become home to beavers, warblers and scores of butterflies!

Last Sunday marked 50 years of the Brent River Park, a green corridor beginning at the A40 in the north and ending near the Thames in the south. As the Park's special advisor, I was honoured to unveil a commemorative sign in Ealing with Mayor of Ealing, Cllr Anthony Kelly.

Thank you to Leslie from @ealingnews.bsky.social for covering our 50th Anniversary celebration. Great lead photo of Mayor Cllr Anthony Kelly and our Special Adviser @kaulofthewilduk.bsky.social unveiling the new commemorative sign, with the help of two giant bluebells. ealing.news/environment/...

A fabulous morning at the London Climate Action Week youth summit, hosted by @metecoban92.bsky.social, @earthminutes.bsky.social and @zslofficial.bsky.social. Inspired by the innovative work of London's young environmentalists to empower our generation. Lovely to see many familiar faces too!

I've been in Lisbon during the past week. Whenever I visit the city centre's green spaces, the birdlife never fails to impress. Spotless Starlings, Treecreepers, Serins, Blue-crowned Parakeets, but above all, stunning Hoopoes!

A fabulous second day at London Open Gardens yesterday. I caught up with some of those who make the City of London havens for communities and biodiversity. Nic Guerra's secret garden by the Tower of London, and the meadows of the @barbicanwildlife.bsky.social, were looking spectacular as ever!

Stumbled across this enormous, majestic oak tree in Eastcote's Long Meadow yesterday.

Delighted to see biodiversity enhancements now underway at Grosvenor Square! I was privileged to advise on the biodiversity aspects of the Square's redesign consultation in 2020, with Ed Ikin (Kew), Nigel Dunnett (Sheffield Uni) and Emily Fox (London Wildlife Trust) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Govt proposals to effectively dismantle ELMS and BNG are incredibly worrying. Sites of all sizes play a crucial role in recovering, restoring and connecting so much habitat across the country. These initiatives have so much potential. Nature cannot afford another regression.

Spent today 'beating the bounds' with @saveleamarshes.bsky.social, a centuries-old tradition marking the Middlesex-Essex boundary along the River Lea. It highlighted both conservation and development projects along its banks, reflecting our dynamic relationship with urban natural heritage.

The @nationalparkcity.bsky.social Walking Festival ends 31st May. A perfect opportunity to meet fellow nature lovers and explore our National Park City. I’m especially excited for Sunday's ‘beating the bounds’ walk with @saveleamarshes.bsky.social! Events: nationalparkcity.london/london-walki...

Last week @chrisgpackham.bsky.social invited us to speak about #RewildTheChurch at the opening of Richard Ansett's 'Chris Packham - Endangered Species'. Thanks to Chris, Richard & our fellow speakers @citizenzoo.bsky.social, A Rocha UK, @kaulofthewilduk.bsky.social and Christian Climate Action!💚

I am 20 today. I cannot believe where the time has gone! It's lovely in the garden today. The Swifts are screeching overhead and our Great Tit chicks recently fledged. As always, I'm grateful for your encouragement, support and wisdom.

Your annual reminder that the County of Middlesex still exists! Middlesex may not exist in local government, but it endures as a recognised UK historic county. On 16 May, we celebrate our county's rich history, heritage and natural environment. A very happy Middlesex Day!

Yesterday I attended the unveiling of a new installation at Fitzrovia Chapel, by @chrisgpackham.bsky.social and Richard Ansett. I was privileged to speak about the impact of grassroots conservation in urban areas. Lovely to catch up with so many people passionate about the natural world!

A very happy 99th birthday to Sir David Attenborough! I'm very honoured to have contributed to this celebration of Sir David's work, alongside figures from the conservation world and beyond. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

This afternoon #MelissaHarrison launched her new #EncounterApp in the Garden. @nicwilson.bluesky.social and @katebradbury.bluesky.social were amongst the invited nature writers.

The felling of a 450-year-old oak in Enfield is heartbreaking. It's deeply concerning that this could happen so easily. Ancient trees are an integral part of our natural (and national) heritage. We must give them the protection they deserve, enshrined in law. enfielddispatch.co.uk/toby-carvery...

Couldn't resist, decided to join in on the trend.

I've just returned from a university field trip to Rotterdam. The prevalence of habitats around transport infrastructure is striking - pockets of grassland, parkland and wetland are numerous. They seem such tangible, accessible places that could help reconnect cities with nature.

Last week a friend and I hiked through Alvechurch, a stone's throw away from Birmingham. The walk took us through farmland, scrubland, meadows and a @worcswt.bsky.social woodland. We saw Sparrowhawks, plenty of Chiffchaffs, and even tasted some wild sorrell (very citrus-like)!

New growth in the meadow orchard.

Delighted that the Mayor has convened stakeholders to discuss cleaning up London's waterways. It makes me optimistic, seeing such a wealth and breadth of expertise being harnessed to restore our urban rivers for people and wildlife. Excited to watch how this progresses!

After six truly memorable years, I have left the @rspb.bsky.social Youth Council. It has been an honour to work with fellow Youth Councillors and RSPB staff on so many projects over the years. The experience has been transformative to say the least. I'll miss the RSPB very, very much!

The Peregrines (one in the top left hand corner!) have returned to nest on Old Joe, here at the University of Birmingham.

Some recent signs of spring here at the University of Birmingham - bright daffodils and crocuses are emerging and flowering everywhere. I also came across this pair of Mallards bathing, a fairly rare sight on campus!

An historic moment for Beavers in England. Very glad DEFRA has finally given the green light to wild Beaver reintroductions, as well as establishing a new National Beaver Forum. More than ever, we need our ecosystem engineers! naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2025/02/28/b...

An aged-looking tree (not sure of the species), the extent of whose branches are impossible to capture in one photo. It quietly gazes upon passers-by as they make their way between Edgbaston and Harborne, waving a hundred times as its branches sway in the wind.

The Govt's recent position on nature is deeply concerning. Nature cannot be seen as an afterthought or an obstacle to development; it is central to our economic growth. Pleased to see @rspb.bsky.social CEO Beccy Speight's strong message in The Times this week. www.thetimes.com/article/befb...

Pink flowers blossoming at the University of Birmingham's School of Education today. Adds a lovely splash of colour to this otherwise grey, concrete part of campus!

Watching the #CANBill debate online this afternoon. It's refreshing to see such constructive debate on climate and nature in the Commons. It is equally heartening to see considerable cross-party support for the Bill - let's hope it can get the Bill to the next stage! @zero-hour.bsky.social