It's crunch time for jury trials. On Tuesday, MPs will debate what could be the biggest shakeup of the justice system since the 1970s. Ahead of the debate, I spoke to Courts Minister Sarah Sackman about the controversial reforms and what they mean for justice www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCOE...

CO2 is now affecting the body chemistry of humans If the current levels of emissions are maintained, we could be facing potentially toxic atmospheric compositions within 50 years THIS IS STAGGERING AND DEVASTATING NEWS link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Palomena prasina #Shieldbug in #Plymouth yesterday #Spring #Entomology

Before you cut everything back to make the garden look “neat” — pause. Right now in Ireland and the UK, many insects are still overwintering inside last year’s hollow stems. Most don’t emerge until temps are regularly above ~10–12°C (often late March–April). “Tidy” can mean destroying shelter. 🌱🦋

You can't trust the Telegraph's accuracy

Reflections from Stephen Evans in the wake of Hamit Coskun's court victory, where the prosecution tried to reinstate a de facto blasphemy charge against him. 'It was an absurd submission that shames the CPS.' @natsecsoc.bsky.social @stephenmevans.bsky.social freethinker.co.uk/2026/03/hami...

We are thinking of the people of Iran right now. The Islamic Republic has been a brutal theocratic dictatorship, but Iran is a society of extraordinary depth, culture & resilience. Although we feel powerless right now, we can hold onto hope for a better future this remarkable society and its people.

"I want a change of regime in Iran. But what’s happening isn’t about freeing the Iranian people. It’s an imperialist, capitalist war started by bullies who take whatever they want & murder whomever gets in their way, including humanitarian and health workers" via Maggie Chapman

@lukepollard.bsky.social please try to get rid of this dreadful Home Secretary. Agree totally with the brief comment below.

Saw various Wall #Lizards in #Germany by the #Mosel. There were migrating #Cranes flying above. #Spring #Fruehjahr

#Xylocopa violacea #Entomology #CarpenterBee #Bee Back from visiting family in Germany where spring was springing.

@lukepollard.bsky.social supporting an illegal war and damaging UK science capability is not good for the country.

This is so good, we wish WE had made it! The history & lunacy of the disinformation campaign around 15-Minute Cities, by 2 “non experts” @iandunt.bsky.social & @dorianlynskey.bsky.social who show how experts SHOULD be communicating. Thanks to the @originstorypodcast.bsky.social podcast. #UrbanTruth

What is Pan-Species Listing (PSL)? A challenge to record every UK species you’ve seen in your lifetime – across ALL wildlife groups. It’s holistic, flexible & grows with your skills. Join our FREE entoLIVE with Graeme Lyons on 13 May to learn more. Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1977266072...

“The Bafta episode reveals the limits of many people’s imagining of diversity.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column, already online, and today in print: observer.co.uk/news/columni...

Corruption in England's water industry and its regulation 2,778 serious pollution incidents reported in 2024. Officials downgraded 2,735 (98%) to minor incidents. Only 496 attended before downgrading; the rest were deemed minor. Regulators collude with industry, inflicting harms to people.

@uklabour.bsky.social being a cheap copy of the worst of right wing politics won't get you voters

Five corporations control 90% of the US media market. Airlines merged from 12 major carriers in 1980 to 4 today. Four giants control 80% of meat processing. The evidence of corporate consolidation is everywhere. It means more power for them and less freedom for you.

380,000 people. 150 organizations. Standing in solidarity with 1 woman.
 On March 8, #IWD, we are calling on King Mohammed VI to #FreeBetty with a royal pardon. Join rallies at Moroccan embassies around the world to demand Betty’s immediate release. FreeBetty.org

Worth noting that even if Labour and the Greens had split the vote exactly evenly – the absolute worst case scenario for the stop Reform majority in the seat – Matt Goodwin still didn’t have enough votes to sneak a victory.

@robertshrimsley.bsky.social gets it! giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Even if it's cynical as the article claims, it's some good news. Not enough to give confidence in this government and #wildlife / the #environment. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

German government messing up key climate law: taz.de/Abschaffung-...

European firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus.

@lukepollard.bsky.social this seems very true, sadly

Apparently tickets are slow for next week’s poetry show in READING - so time to plug www.fourbearsbooks.co.uk/event-detail... #bookshops #poetry #festival #books

Very much enjoyed the film #LittleAmelie at @plymartscinema.bsky.social today. Wiki reveals autobiographical threads en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am%C3%A...

Learn more about wonderful #Leafhoppers #Entomology 👇

"Nature – and regulations to protect it – are not barriers to the kind of growth we need." @sarahfinch.bsky.social, climate campaigner, in our latest guest blog:

Exclusive: Josh Simons claimed to be “surprised” and “furious” at a PR agency’s work to investigate journalists on his behalf. He had been personally involved in naming them to British intelligence officials and falsely linking them to pro-Russian propaganda. w/ @dansabbagh.bsky.social

What’s one way we can rein in ICE? We can start by boycotting ICE’s corporate collaborators that are profiting from the agency’s cruelty. Watch.

🧵 If warming continues to 3°C above pre-industrial we will have crossed a number of tipping points. Droughts in some regions and extreme rainfall in others will result in widespread crop failures and global food shortages. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

KPMG Australia partner fined for using artificial intelligence to cheat in AI training test. Cheating is in the DNA - Fined $25m by the US regulator for cheating and lying. Fined £14.4m by UK regulator for providing false info about Carillion audits. Fines passed to customers. Firm still trades.

"We have a government that seems to have given up on its values, on its liberties, on rights, happy to turn on its own people, and even to lie, and it hasn’t worked for them... their credibility, I think, is completely shot.” www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

One in five children infected in the recent London measles outbreak were reportedly hospitalised. Don’t believe the anti-vaxxers when they say “it’s a mild disease” or “it’s better to get immunity naturally”. It isn’t.

A friend who came to visit me in the UK was told by her colleagues that this is a third world country in terms of housing/infrastructure. Evidence here www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Peter Mandelson's official role in Gordon Brown's government was actually not that far away from his unauthorised dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. This week's column digs up some inconvenient truths and suggests the problem is much deeper than we're told. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.

#Dicyrtomina saundersi a #globular #Springtail. Two seen in small Plymouth garden today.

Petition to reform the Upper House action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/186062/...

Believe to be female Dilophus febrilis, the Fever fly, on @plymuni.bsky.social campus, 4/2/25. (Rear left leg moving too fast for my stacking.) #Diptera

#Springtail #Orchesella cincta on gatepost, #Plymouth, #Collembola

Nigel Farage tells GB News that Keir Starmer's decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador shows his judgement is "seriously wrong" and he should stand down as Prime Minister. Here's what Farage said when Mandelson was appointed

Following yesterday's news that animal testing sites are now classified as "key national infrastructure", the charity Lawyers for Animals is looking at taking the Govt to court. Donate to their costs here: www.crowdjustice.com/case/protect...

youtu.be/FvLuyccedsA?... Clive @labourlewis.bsky.social speaks for me. He speaks for every single person I know regardless of their political allegiance. Does he also speak for you? Could you please RT if he does? 🙏🏼

The government has taken another significant step towards criminalising dissent and shielding controversial private industries from public scrutiny. protectthewild.substack.com/p/a-dark-day...

Remember that David Lammy wanted to do away with most jury trials? This is why. Jurors have an absolute right to acquit, which a judge (in practice) does not. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...