Have been on a bit of a social media hiatus, but in my latest for the i, I ask who grammar schools are actually serving… inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...

Our Essex grammar school is full of rich kids – pushy parents are gaming the system

One of the best state schools in the country is under pressure – amid mounting concerns that tutored, privileged children are winning too many places

inews.co.uk

Just received my annual summary from Public Lending Right - Wild City was taken out of libraries 571 times last year! I use our local library more than ever now I have a little one and could not be more grateful for it. Reminder to other authors to sign up for PLR too! Register at plr.bl.uk/login

Thank you so much to all the teachers who spoke to me for this piece. I’m constantly bowled over by how impressive the teachers are in our state schools. They deserve a lot more recognition than they get much of the time.

The i Paper @theipaper.com · 2y ago

The 20% raised on fees will be funnelled into the state sector, but teachers say it’s not enough to repair the system 🖋️ @florencewilkinson.bsky.social

Great advice here for anyone who wants to help #bats 🦇 www.bats.org.uk/advice/garde... #wildlife #nature 🌿

Gardening for bats - Advice - Bat Conservation Trust

Many people enjoy spending long summer evenings sitting in their gardens, watching as daylight turns to dusk and bats begin to fill the night sky. These...

bats.org.uk

Writing a book takes so much of you, and then you release it into a world full of influencers and noise, and *whispers* you wonder whether anyone will read it, never mind whether it’ll have an impact. But just one email like this makes it all worthwhile.

Happy New Year, all you wonderful people in my phone! I’m starting the year with a good book - thank you @florencewilkinson.bsky.social it arrived yesterday - a lovely candle and a small joy in shape of a cherry wood carved fox that was a Midwinter gift from my parents. #TheSmallThings #SpreadingJoy

Or perhaps Britain’s deer have a people problem 🤔 - my latest for @inews.co.uk (photography also mine! 📷) inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...

Britain, we have a deer problem

Numbers are at their highest since records began - they're causing car crashes, and harm to wildlife and our ecosystems

inews.co.uk

Thanks so much to everyone for entering and congrats to the winner @kizzia.bsky.social - will DM you to get your address!

Florence@florencewilkinson.bsky.social · 2y ago

In the spirit of Christmas (and seeing as I’m new here) I thought I’d host a little #giveaway. For the chance to win* a signed copy of my book, Wild City, which came out in paperback this year: 1. Share this post 2. Comment with your favourite wild species that you’ve spotted in an urban setting!

Just a few hours left to enter! 🤶🐸🐌🦆🐝

Florence@florencewilkinson.bsky.social · 2y ago

In the spirit of Christmas (and seeing as I’m new here) I thought I’d host a little #giveaway. For the chance to win* a signed copy of my book, Wild City, which came out in paperback this year: 1. Share this post 2. Comment with your favourite wild species that you’ve spotted in an urban setting!

It can't get much more urban than this beautiful Red Underwing which I found inside a 2nd floor department of Lewisham Hospital last September! I managed to catch it, to the bemusement of medical staff, and released it that evening in a location with plenty of trees.

Last day to enter for the chance to win a signed copy of Wild City (or it’s available to buy in all good bookshops ;-) Online too, but do support your local bookshop if you can!)

Florence@florencewilkinson.bsky.social · 2y ago

In the spirit of Christmas (and seeing as I’m new here) I thought I’d host a little #giveaway. For the chance to win* a signed copy of my book, Wild City, which came out in paperback this year: 1. Share this post 2. Comment with your favourite wild species that you’ve spotted in an urban setting!

In the spirit of Christmas (and seeing as I’m new here) I thought I’d host a little #giveaway. For the chance to win* a signed copy of my book, Wild City, which came out in paperback this year: 1. Share this post 2. Comment with your favourite wild species that you’ve spotted in an urban setting!

In the spirit of Christmas (and seeing as I’m new here) I thought I’d host a little #giveaway. For the chance to win* a signed copy of my book, Wild City, which came out in paperback this year: 1. Share this post 2. Comment with your favourite wild species that you’ve spotted in an urban setting!

Months before Sara Sharif died, AFTER her teachers recorded concerns, she was withdrawn for “homeschooling”. The lack of oversight when it comes to home educated children urgently needs addressing. My latest for @inews.co.uk: inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...

When home-schooling is used to hide abuse

Sara Sharif was withdrawn from school and home-educated in the months before her death. Experts say we urgently need a register of children taught this way

inews.co.uk

Women are 65% more likely to read a nonfiction book by the opposite sex than men are. And I know so many women who have felt excluded from conversations around #nature. So here’s a starter pack for women nature writers. Please send recommendations - I want it to be much fuller! go.bsky.app/PVHJMXS

And while we’re on the subject of complicated coitus, here’s one of the things I’ve most enjoyed writing this year. Yup - slug sex. In my own back yard, too. www.naturalnavigator.com/news/2024/06...

The Weird World of Slug Sex

A guest blog by Florence Wilkinson The thing about wildlife is that it always has the capacity to surprise you; to hit you with something…

naturalnavigator.com

This all sounds like way too much effort.

Menno Schilthuizen@schilthuizen.bsky.social · 2y ago

Ludicrous end-point of sexually antagonistic coevolution: The male of Aleochara tristis has a penis-flagella with which he reaches deep into the equally long female sperm storage organ. It's so long that, post-coitus, he has to clamp it under his shoulder and carefully roll it up again.

👀 #birds

Not in any way procrastinating today making Christmas wreaths when I’ve got a mountain of work to do…

@hunterw.bsky.social thanks so much for verifying me from over the pond - what a mammoth undertaking! 🙏

Starter Pack for independent bookshops some of who also run lots of local events go.bsky.app/DopYboe

Caption contest…

Thanks. I lead wildlife walks in my local cemetery, showing people insects, arachnids and plant galls.

@johnclare.bsky.social Good evening, John. This is a relative of that noisy family sharing the cottage with you. The ones that are always first in the queue for the communal outhouse. But we do share our milk with you when you need it. Would you like to be added to the nature writing starter pack?

Crumbles! The first nature writing starter pack (go.bsky.app/NXoPc6D) is full! So I've created another, the imaginatively titled: nature writing 2 starter pack. Do keep sending me your suggestions & please share widely. Many thanks.😊

Today's #dailybat pic. This is a common noctules (Nyctalus noctula) from one of my UK study sites. This is one of the species I work with most, and I'm studying roosting ecology and chemical signalling. They are chonky bois, strong, and can be a bit grumpy. 🦇

Happy Friday from everyone except our cat Bee, who I think deserves her own introduction to this platform. Bee is perpetually furious. She has an ASBO at the vets, where they euphemistically describe her as “spicy”.

Still getting the hang of this place but I’ve endeavoured to start a starter pack for urban wildlife / nature. Please let me know if you have any suggestions of accounts to follow (including your own) and I’ll add to the pack! #urbanwildlife #conservation #biodiversity go.bsky.app/NJwyVPh

Happy Thursday from this ever so slightly windswept London #pigeon

Oh HELL no - this can get in the bin immediately. The whole idea that you can just speak your dreams into existence - and the implication that people who are poor or suffering simply haven’t manifested hard enough - is so MANIFESTLY grim. amp.theguardian.com/media/2024/n...