Quite an ornate one for #FingerpostFriday this week. Outside @brunelmuseum.bsky.social in Rotherhithe, London.

Good PM at @asbpuk.bsky.social Reuse Summit. One highlight was the phrase “possibilism is your friend” from Will Arnold of @istructe.bsky.social as it brought to my mind ideas for celebrating @thebaytrust.bsky.social #PinesCalyx (itself made of reused materials) 21st anniversary in 2027!

Really nice exchange with @jonwoolcott.bsky.social last eve. I only knew of his upcoming #HillFigures book thanks to a @grindrod.bsky.social repost… his Monstrosities Mon Amour series features @danthompson33.bsky.social who was working with me at @thebaytrust.bsky.social today. Happy linkages :-)

Whilst I was in London yesterday, at a public spaces expo no less, it didn’t include a visit to the Cleary Garden - these shots were taken by a @thebaytrust.bsky.social #volunteer recently, and are great to see! #FloweringFred #CityOfLondon #ClearyGarden #ThePinesGarden.

Attended #Futurescape2025 for @thebaytrust.bsky.social at ExCel (London) today. A genuine highlight was the seminar from Marcellus Baz & @landscapepolymath.bsky.social on widening the pool of people who might work in landscape roles (and so much more besides.)

#FingerpostFriday. Quite a new looking sign at the junction of two lanes - seen a couple of weeks ago, just north of Grasmere. Features a Wainwright insignia too.

Into October at @thebaytrust.bsky.social now. This month includes some schools’ workshops, a wedding, announcement of the opening of some new accommodation and launch of a modest community initiative… I’ll be out and about, on the Trust’s behalf, in a few places too. #GenerationRestoration

A further musical diversion. Throughout October I will be taking part in the @tansleyjames.bsky.social enabled #80sTop30. My choices will appear in the thread below and listed in alphabetical order by artiste. Feel free to comment…

It’s been great to rediscover #fingerpostfriday here on #BlueSky. I used to post to it, on another platform, and will start again next Friday here. In the meantime here’s a post from today, by @lougulltull.bsky.social, featuring some bridges I’ve a few happy memories of.

Away (2): Great to see colleagues work at @thebaytrust.bsky.social depicted here - some of this is around the holiday cottage (yes, you can stay at #ThePinesGarden.) The grape 🍇 harvest looks lovely. We’re recruiting for a new cook too - see the Trust’s socials for more info :-)

Away (1): En route to @samreadbookseller.bsky.social this week(I did buy a book there!) I came across this, on a table at #TheYan. Had the joy of working with Geoff some years ago, albeit not on an #Herdwick agenda. A nice reminder. RIP.

There was a yoga class on the #Calyx terrace this AM, a wedding here last Saturday, chats on our next #biodiversity surveys & #permaculture training, customers aplenty in the tea room (including some from France today) etc. across this week. @thebaytrust.bsky.social #PinesGarden open as per below…

A few happy things from @thebaytrust.bsky.social as September starts.

Something uplifting from us at @thebaytrust.bsky.social #ThePinesGarden this week - our first kiwi fruit :-) 🥝

In case anyone “unbooked” was coming along, this event has been CANCELLED due to illness. Any news on rescheduling will be announced through the @thebaytrust.bsky.social feed here on BlueSky. #ThePinesGarden.

Looking forward to hosting this at #ThePinesGarden @thebaytrust.bsky.social tomorrow - particularly the section on the sounds of soil - it may be the first time it has run outside of #Devon (though I will check!) Anyway, meet-up is at 10.50am outside The Pines Tea Room…

Looking forward to welcoming everyone who is attending ‘The Wishing Tree’ with @bernadetterussell.bsky.social at #ThePinesGarden @thebaytrust.bsky.social today.

A new musical diversion; the @tansleyjames.bsky.social curated #00sTop30 starts tomorrow (1st August) and my suggestions will appear in the thread below. The ordering will be relatively random and I’ll be posting on a “one track per artiste” basis…

This event we’re hosting at @thebaytrust.bsky.social includes a section on the sound of soil - like a live “underground” version of a @radiolento.bsky.social podcast or field recording albums I enjoy (e.g. @david-soulscorch.bsky.social or @modernaviation.bsky.social ‘Look to Imber’ come to mind.)

I have to say the #PortOfDover staff #volunteering for us at @thebaytrust.bsky.social #ThePinesGarden did some fantastic work. New log seating installed, overgrowth clearances and creation of a log pile for our #GenerationRestoration gardens among it all! @unbiodiversity.bsky.social

Earlier this year @bernadetterussell.bsky.social published #ConversationsOnKindness (both @theguardian.com & #BBC covered it); next month she is running a storytelling event - ‘The Wishing Treee’ - for us at #ThePinesGarden @thebaytrust.bsky.social! Ticket info etc. is linked to in the post below.

It was great to host this at @thebaytrust.bsky.social yesterday. More than 300 folk came to the #PinesCalyx to see it. Pupils’ work had been part inspired by #Cezanne #ChrisOfili and ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, plus more besides. We’ll have some photos soon.

Fantastic to see the #CoatOfHopes visited @thebaytrust.bsky.social #PinesGarden last weekend. Made originally for a pilgrimage from Newhaven (Sussex) to #COP26 it’s not had too much #BlueSky coverage, though I noticed both @bradfordcathedral.org.uk & @myzerocarbon.org have posted on it recently :-)

I was really looking forward to attending this, but something landed on my desk today which means I’ll be elsewhere (actually in an eco-building - #PinesCalyx.) Hope it goes well for everyone at the @asbpuk.bsky.social @passivhaustrust.bsky.social Exemplar Sustainable Building Awards tomorrow.

Yurt shadows at the @thebaytrust.bsky.social #PinesGarden today. On Saturday morning this (and much else) was covered with chalk-infused mud from a flash-flood. I only aided with some shovel & wheelbarrow work that day; colleagues then & since have done a grand clean-up, so we can reopen tomorrow.

I know that #volunteersweek was a couple of weeks ago but it’s worth pointing out that the Chair of @thebaytrust.bsky.social is one of the people involved in the film below :-) Really appreciate the help of everyone in the post-flash flood clear-up.

It's #VolunteersWeek, and we want to give a massive shout out and THANK YOU to our volunteers. From our incredible Trustees, to the garden volunteer team, who just last week planted these french beans and salad leaves - thank you all! If you'd like to volunteer with us, get in touch 🌱☀

If you’re feeling inspired by #volunteersweek stories and have a happy passion for subjects like #outdoorlearning #environmentaleducation #regenerativegardening #permaculture #chalklandscape or #ecobuildings then perhaps applying to be one of two new @thebaytrust.bsky.social #trustees might appeal…

We @thebaytrust.bsky.social are seeking at least two new #Trustees! If you have a passion for environmental education & sustainability, might it be you? Further info here: baytrust.org.uk/wp-content/u... #GenerationRestoration #LowCarbonBuildings #OutdoorEducation #Wildflowers #PinesCalyx

🌿 Mindful Monday 🌿 Whether your weekend was a whirlwind, or your week ahead looks non-stop, or you simply need a moment of calm - this is your reminder to pause. Today, we’re sharing a short video and soundscape from The Pines Garden - a gentle pause for anyone who needs it today. #MindfulMonday

A good bit of CPD for me this AM thanks to the @asbpuk.bsky.social #LimeGroup webinar. Peter Rollinson, #MikeWye, gave an insightful & engaging intro to lime building products; one of his slides included a happenstance chalk landscape view including the @thebaytrust.bsky.social #PinesGarden too! :-)

We @thebaytrust.bsky.social are seeking at least two new #Trustees! If you have a passion for environmental education & sustainability, might it be you? Further info here: baytrust.org.uk/wp-content/u... #GenerationRestoration #LowCarbonBuildings #OutdoorEducation #Wildflowers #PinesCalyx

Useful day at @museumsandheritage.com #MandHShow. Sessions by National Lottery Heritage Fund (@alistairbrown.bsky.social / Beth Bryan) and #Hopetown (Darlington) particularly thought-provoking in terms of planning future @thebaytrust.bsky.social #PinesGarden work :-)

The #hugelkultur bed, treated with “no kit” #biochar by colleagues at @thebaytrust.bsky.social last month, today. The structure that looks like a squat #pylon (without any wires!) is actually an old wooden rose obelisk being put to new use :-)

Some images of a “no kit” approach to creating #biochar, by colleagues at @thebaytrust.bsky.social last month. The accompanying story will be in the Trust’s next e-news. I shall post an image of those #hugelkultur beds, as they are now, tomorrow :-)

It is now #NoMowMay and so here is a #ThrowbackThursday of a photo I took at #ThePinesGarden of @thebaytrust.bsky.social during last year’s. There’s also a bit of a #hugelkultur bed in view! I will endeavour to post a 2025 image or two in the coming weeks :-) @plantlifeuk.bsky.social

Something positive for #EarthDay from my colleagues at @thebaytrust.bsky.social :-)

Some avian tones to this week’s blog by @danthompson33.bsky.social - he covers #chickens & #turtledoves (only a few days after my first encounter with a #GreatBustard); also a plug for #biochar work by us at @thebaytrust.bsky.social and that he’s in the new @bernadetterussell.bsky.social book…

Back at @thebaytrust.bsky.social after a week away and one highlight was chatting with @bernadetterussell.bsky.social (thanks to @danthompson33.bsky.social for the introduction), 24 hours after an article about her appeared in yesterday’s #Observer :-) #kindness www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Under the yurt timbers, at @thebaytrust.bsky.social #PinesGarden yesterday afternoon. It’s been a week including some focus on setting up courses & workshops that the Trust will be announcing in April…

In between completing some grant claims and planning for our next #generationrestoration project at @thebaytrust.bsky.social, I took a photo of some old bottles embedded in one of the #PinesGarden walls this afternoon. A little space :-)

A word in favour of a detour: Recently, a detour due to roadworks on the way to the Pines Garden has resulted in a slightly longer journey to work for us. But without the detour, our head gardener would never have captured this stunning moment of the cliffs at #StMargaretsBay in the morning light!

The ‘Ragged Optimist’ from @danthompson33.bsky.social is designed as a way to start the week positively. He always does this, but today adds the enticing idea of him wanting to make some Ian Nairn-esque films… #IanNairn open.substack.com/pub/danthomp...

Inspiring @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social online session on ‘Enhancing #Biodiversity in Museums’ this afternoon - with a case study by @ashwhiffin.bsky.social ranging from #mothtrapping to #NoMowMay. Some things we do at @thebaytrust.bsky.social but ideas for a few new initiatives too :-)

A new week and work with partners on the next three years of #environmentaleducation at @thebaytrust.bsky.social starts in earnest… here’s a re-post of our 2025-28 statement from last week! #ecosystemrestoration #volunteering #sustainableconstruction #outdoorlearning #crosschannelgeopark

Really good to see @gem-heritage.bsky.social on #BlueSky now. One of the most useful organisations in my work at @thebaytrust.bsky.social as we evolve our learning spaces.

The Bay Trust is evolving! 🌿 From new courses to sustainable projects at The Pines, we're expanding environmental education and making changes to reinvest for the future. Learn more in our statement: bit.ly/The_Bay_Trus...

Something nice and upbeat for the New Year, from my employers :-)

That’s a wrap for the year! 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone who visited the garden and tea rooms, joined our events, or worked with us—and a special shoutout to our amazing staff and volunteers. We’re signing off for the holidays but will be back on 8th Jan 2025. Wishing you a joyful festive season! 🌟

A good day, earlier this month at @thebaytrust.bsky.social, welcoming John D.Liu to the #PinesGarden. Ecosystem Restoration Camps and #biochar (see photos with some of my colleagues in the quoted post!) among the focus. Made an intro to the Cross-Channel #Geopark project too. #GenerationRestoration.