Populists attack London because it is ‘progressive and successful’, says Sadiq Khan www.ft.com/content/2e88...

28 Dec: #Childermas, or the Feast of the Holy Innocents, is a day when we remember vulnerable children and those in need of protection. On this day, these white flowers shine like beacons of comfort, peace and kindness — for every child and for all who suffer. #FolkloreSunday

A couple sit on the train station floor surrounded by suitcases. Man: Yes, but would you eat grasshoppers? Woman (tiredly): No Darren.

Buttermere reflections

Wester Ross cloudscape. At present I'm mainly organising #StileCup2026 on the other place if you still have an account.

Did anyone else do the GCHQ Christmas quiz? Not easy - only got answer 5 with the help of my son.

Jumper finished- now going to teach myself to knit socks.

Extremely funny to call the pope “holier-than-thou”

Sunny but very cold out.

"It never occurred to me that, even if Trump did the roundup like he did, that innocent people were going to get caught up in this," she said" It definitely occurred to the rest of us. We may underestimated the extent though www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and all best wishes for the New Year.

📌Wainwath Falls, Swaledale This waterfall is an ideal spot for a peaceful escape, with stunning views in every season. There is no hike required to visit this beauty spot, as it is straight off a quiet road. 📸Wendy McDonnell #YorkshireDales #ChristmasCalendar

Very very good move!

Our 2025 version of "Carol of the Bells" - originally a Ukrainian New Year celebration song "Shchedryk" - music 1st written by Mykola Leontovych in Pokrovsk (now under Russian occupation). The composer would be murdered by a Soviet agent in 1921. #SlavaUkraïni #dontabandonthem youtu.be/vvMLtJ-Wyfs

Great news! Shooting hares in England to be banned for most of the year. Huge thank you to all of you who signed the petition for this! It only addresses the specific animal welfare issue of shooting during the breeding season, but it's a welcome start. More animal welfare announcements tomorrow.

Grasmere this afternoon. #Grasmere #LakeDistrict

If you have a friend who lives alone and clearly enjoys her own company, can you not keep asking her who she’s spending Christmas with? There’s this weird thing where some people can’t conceive of Christmas alone and I have to do a lot of emotional lifting to explain that IT’S WHAT I WANT.

New: Ofsted’s apparent failings on Mossbourne inspection appear part of a pattern educationuncovered.co.uk/news/ofsteds...

This is the second story in three days The Times has carried arguing against misogyny lessons in schools, which it describes as "some weird feminist attack on male children".

To me, artist Allen Seaby is best known as the illustrator of the first Ladybird bird books. But I also love his Japanese influenced woodcuts. ‘Snow and Hare’ (c.1923)

Christmas, for me, is all about family. From traditions to my seasonal favourites, I share what Christmas is like in our house in my latest edition of Ask Me Anything 👇🏽

21 Dec: #WinterSolstice, “when the earth begins to waken under the kiss of light, when new hopes rise in frozen hearts”. #FolkloreSunday

This photograph of a frozen Hadraw force was taken in January earlier this year🥶 📌Hardraw Force - the longest unbroken drop in England and featured in the hit movie ‘Robin Hood Prince of Thieves’ alongside Aysgarth Falls🎬 📸Wendy McDonnell #YorkshireDales #ChristmasCalendar

Advent #21 Raised footprints in snow, Swirl How.

It’s the efforts at concealing that’s going to sink him.

Shortest day of the year, it gets better from here.

Morning! Happy Sunday :-) Hope you enjoyed my week of photos from Cheddar Gorge? If so, please vote for your favourite in this week's #Sundayvote (1,2,3,4 clockwise from top left). I think mine was definitely number 2 (the top down shot of Horseshoe Bend). How about you?

I really hate the idea of everything becoming an 'Academy' in the UK though. Its a money making scheme.

Of course private schools main purpose is to acquire social capital Views like some replies here insisting that a private education is necessarily educationally better are really insulting to all the brilliant teachers in state schools

Just *stop* giving private business taxpayers money to run education, health, care & utilities (&yes, I know they’re ironically called ‘trusts’). It’s an unmitigated disaster of fat cat CEOs &pared back services. Someone should make a catch all documentary with ‘Shit in the water’ as the theme tune

16 Dec: The circle of the #Christmas wreath mirrors nature’s endless cycle. Made from evergreens, it speaks of life in winter, green with promise and hope. Hung outdoors, wreaths welcome loved ones and passers-by, a sign of warmth, shelter, and celebration in the darkest season.

On our final week of our digital #ChristmasCalendar, we are celebrating waterfalls 💧 There are dozens of spectacular waterfalls in the #YorkshireDales including the magical Goredale waterfall and Janets Foss in Malhamdale. 📌Goredale waterfall 📸 Kev Lockwood Photography

So good to be back at Avebury Manor, reopened on 29 November, nearly two years after being badly damaged by significant flooding @nationaltrust.org.uk #Wiltshire #Christmas 🎄

London is home to a huge range of Christmas markets 🎄 Plan your festive outing and support local businesses and makers at markets across the capital. Remember: double-check opening times on the day before you travel.

Earlier this year we had lots of sightings of the northern lights across the #YorkshireDales✨🤩 @aurorawatchuk can predict when it might be possible to see the northern lights – or aurora borealis. 📌Ribblesdale 📸Alex Helin #ChristmasCalendar

#SundaySquirrel seems to have a bit of a knowing look in this shot 🤔 I hope he is safely tucked up in a well built drey today as we enter a 36 hour amber rain warning - time for me to go and move my hide further away from the river in case of flooding Cumbrian red squirrel #UKwildlife #mammals

A happy Heron on the top of a tall tree for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #QuietObservers 📷 🪶 💙 Sorry I've been quiet for a little while... hope everyone is keeping well 🕊️👋

Jane Austen loved a ramble! 250 years since her birth, we’re celebrating the paths and landscapes that inspired her life and writing. Explore the new Jane Austen trails ➡️ www.ramblers.org.uk/features/footsteps-jane-austen

Applications are open for Race Across the World. I’d kind of love to do this (not right now, obviously). But I would have meltdowns all the time, especially when I was hangry or overwhelmed. Actually what I really mean is, I’d like to do some more travelling. www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtour...

Last night someone complimented me on the glitter in my hair and on my face. I was asked what I used to create this shimmery effect. I came straight from work. I teach primary 1. It’s the last week of term before the Christmas break. What can I say!

This is amusing. The BBC doing dead pan reporting at its best. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wordle 1,644 3/6 Pleased with that one. ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

In the face of hatred and violence, love must always be stronger. This Christmas, we’re reminded of Jesus’ call to love our neighbours, cherish our differences and stand together. Not by fear and hate, but by faith, hope and a brighter future for all.

Loch mood

The plug holes were amazing this morning 😱☺️ #LadyBower

You can only brush off Farage’s racist behaviour and say it doesn’t matter, if you yourself are racist.

If 26 people remember your appalling racist behaviour as a schoolboy and are willing to call you out for it 50 years later you cannot simply brush it off and say it doesn't matter. "The child is the father of the man," as William Wordsworth once put it. And this father was a nasty bullying bigot.