I've seen a few posts recently recording some early female hazel flowers from.various spots around the UK. I've not seen any yet in the Highlands, but there are plenty out in Bristol where I'm visiting family for Christmas. #flowers

Jamiroquai when Jamiro vewwy sad

The language being used for people seeking refuge abroad is unacceptable. Asylum seekers must be allowed to work, not demonised. Starmer’s decision to move people in need to military sites in the new year is unacceptable.

Their demands are reasonable, their treatment is disgraceful. The government's intransigence is killing the #PalestineAction hunger strikers. Just as its complicity has assisted the genocide in Gaza. It needs to wake up right now to the moral consequences. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

If you're furious about some imaginary 'they' you believe won't let you say the word 'Christmas' but you also think 'Peace on Earth, goodwill to all mankind' is for snowflakes then, maybe it's actually you spoiling Christmas?

We'd love to see some of you there! protectthewild.substack.com/p/join-the-p...

Humans were present in the Americas by at least 23000 years ago. Civilisations rose & fell throughout the Americas multiple times before Europeans arrived. If one year equals the time since humans arrived in the Americas, The Mayflower arrived at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Christmas Day.

Truth. #writing #writingcommunity

Finally, some good news... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

We missed out on the most dramatic action from Ullapool's recent humpback whale visitors, but did still manage to catch a brief view of this individual yesterday. Amazing to see these animals from land in the UK #whales

Star plants #4, another unsung hero: Ivy (Hedera helix) Offers cover for birds and insects and food just when they need it. #wildlifegardening #naturewriting #biodiversity gardeningwell.ie/ivy

Fourth White-tailed Eagle ‘disappears’ & RSPB offers £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction – Raptor Persecution UK raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/19/f...

Bought this book for my two mates’ babies for Christmas and I’m dying.

The gorgeous fluffiness of a winter group of long-tailed tits; perfection in bird form, surely? #birds

A THREAD, which I am calling 'Some Of The Many Reasons Lichen And Moss Are Fucking Brilliant'. 1. They make public seating super comfy. bsky.app/profile/dj-a...

It's hard to find the words for how disgusting this is. It completely silences girls' experiences of male violence. It fails to recognise the importance of education for prevention. It ignores the drivers of men's violence. And it's racist. Oh and for good measure, which party cut police numbers?

This is an absolute disgrace, please take action now and contact your MP to stop this. protectthewild.substack.com/p/the-govern...

Let’s make this the most signed in history!

My friend Subhadra Das is very worried about her friend Dr Ayo Khalil who has been arrested outside HMP Bronzefield

It's always a huge treat to catch up with tree sparrows, the country cousin of the commoner house sparrow. Told apart by their all brown caps and black cheek spots, like many other farmland species, it has undergone huge declines since 1970. I bumped into this small flock in Aberdeenshire yesterday

While Amazon is investing billions of dollars to expand AI, independent bookstores are hosting community events, personally recommending books to readers, and providing a space that is safe and welcoming during a time when we need them most. Never underestimate the power of a local bookstore.

I decided to get festive with my latest blog post and explore the wonders of one of our most Christmassy of trees, holly. There is so much to this beautiful tree than wreaths, though, not least its value to wildlife throughout the year. #holly #christmas birdsbloomsandbumbles.com/happy-holly-...

It's ridiculous that the Government *still* haven't banned the sale of peat. Peat bogs are still getting dug up and used for compost and in horticulture. Ministers say they'll ban it 'when time allows'. Get on with it already! Sign the petition: actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...

The Collared Earthstars, Geastrum michaelianum, are doing well in the urban parks of Birmingham #FungiFriends

Here is a bit of my resignation speech from last night

How many times do we need to point this out? By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it. While weakening your own position. There's a vast amount of academic research showing this. But Labour will not listen. www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...

red kites in the wind in their element

We need a complete end to the "hunt" not a pause!

Petition to ban harmful peat compost well on its way to 2,000 signatures actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal... thanks everyone for signing and sharing

Starmer: “Going for a walk on your own and clearing your head, being out there with nature, is something I really enjoy. The peace, quiet, taking in a wider world – I've always loved it,” Also Starmer: "The new common-sense approach doesn’t allow newts or bats to be more important than the homes"

THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent goats I have met during walks in the British countryside. You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.

This duo of grey plovers was on the saltmarsh at Dornoch a week or so ago. Despite losing the striking 'judges wig' breeding plumage, they are still subtly beautiful in winter garb. Got to see, but not photograph the distinctive black armpits of the species in flight. #birds

Cold Moon; Thursday and Friday's editions #coldmoon #fullmoon #supermoon

🛍️ Today is #SmallBusinessSaturday. The Green Party backs small business. Local businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We want to see them thrive. Let’s green business, improve employee welfare and make it easier for people to shop local #ShopLocal

The cruetly of the Guga Hunt has been recognised for years. It's time to end it: :https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2202

#Winter, 1955 by Japanese artist and poet Keiko Minami #WomensArt

Heaven forbid they can lose any of their billions of profits to paying their lowest paid workers a living wage... www.theguardian.com/business/202...

December's #FullMoon is known as the #ColdMoon. Artwork by Catherine Hyde, contemporary UK artist #womensart #ArtAdvent

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I'm so glad @badgertrust.bsky.social have responded to the ridiculously statistically manipulative press release from the GWCT about badger predation of wader nests: you can read their respinse here 1/2 www.badgertrust.org.uk/post/badger-...

Countless things wrong with Labour's pandering to the right but one, as we can see, is that the right will hate them with a demented fury regardless of what they do so one would be wise not to invite the hatred of the left (very broadly defined) as well. I've never understood that strategy

I'm giving a talk for @bsbibotany.bsky.social on Wednesday evening next week (3rd December) all about our endemic plants. It's fun (and free) and you can book tickets here: share.google/xVbMPUkmaPCS...

A lovely patch of lichen. #FungiFriends.

Labour’s anti-migration policies are contributing to the UK’s sluggish economic growth, the world’s foremost economic forecaster has warned www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

This is essential reading to anyone wanting to understand the daily impacts of creeping privatisation of the NHS; it illustrates perfectly how competition just doesn't work when it comes to specialist services www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Bloody hell.

Hen Harrier found poisoned on a grouse moor in North Yorkshire. Once again, details have only come to light through scrutiny of a spreadsheet - where's the publicity from the Police? This is supposed to be a national wildlife crime priority! #RaptorResearch raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/01/h...

It's the first of the month, so there's a new bird of the Month post over on my blog. This month I look at the appropriately wintry snow bunting. A scarce UK breeder but between 10,000 and 15,000 birds spend the winter in the UK #birds birdsbloomsandbumbles.com/bird-of-the-...

25% OFF our whole shop this weekend only! protectthewild.shop/products/pro...