www.theguardian.com/environment/... On the day when it is announced Paul McCartney is to be nominated for a Mercury prize, my piece about Dungeon Lane is in the Guardian. Purely coincidental!

Lovely to hear @lucylapwing.bsky.social being interviewed on BBC Radio 4 this morning. Thanks for speaking up for butterflies, Lucy.

An antidote to news of war perhaps. A short post/read on light and the arrival of spring: notesfromasmallcroftbythesea.wordpress.com/2026/03/01/f...

February flight, flood, light

An east wind pushed and pulled at the threads of early February. For days, it flattened waves and suppressed the sea. It was a firm hand denying the impulse of waves to break into mischief. It crea…

notesfromasmallcroftbythesea.wordpress.com

I went in search of dinosaurs, bit fungi beguiled me instead. Such colour, form and texture.

The postman has just delivered this delicious collection. I was honoured to be invited to submit writing for it, not least because it emphasises the need to protect our bogs. It's fabulous. Thank you to @littletollerbooks.bsky.social for having the wisdom to publish such important writing.

I love fallen autumn apples showing us creatures that are out there but we forget. It is thought that 59% of global biodiversity is in soil.

My latest Guardian Country Diary piece had me going off piste, swapping Merseyside for Scotland. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Country diary: Down in the valley we go, journeying back in time | Jennifer Jones

Roslin Glen, Edinburgh: Turner and Wordsworth are with us as we go down a precarious path into ancient woodland

theguardian.com

My first mayfly this year seen in North Wales on 24th May. I saw my second on Friday at Musselburgh, Scotland. #DailyNature.

My few days in Scotland were full of wonders. Here Bass Rock stands bright with gannet guano, while on the beach I perused rocks, sands, plants and insects. Fabulous #DailyNature.

Happy publication day to @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social! 'Is A River Alive' is astonishing, necessary and beautiful, and a wonderful, fascinating read. I'm sure it will win accolades for years to come and in doing so, prompt more people into action to help protect the natural world.

It's International Dawn Chorus Day, but I'm not sure our birds got the message. Perhaps the cloud cover stole their desire to sing.

@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social I love being a May Day baby, but it's even nicer when your brother gives you this book. Stunning ... and that's the book, not the fact that my brother bought it for me!

Often the places I visit to write my Guardian Country Diary pieces impact on me, but none more so than this urban orchard. There was a special spirit to the place & I cannot find the words to convey that fully. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Country diary: A thriving new orchard in an unlikely place | Jennifer Jones

Knowsley, Merseyside: The Meadow Park community orchard started with just five trees, now there are 200 species of cherry, plum, apple, pear, quince and spindle

theguardian.com

A blackbird has been singing in one of our garden trees all day. It is the most glorious song to accompany you through the day. Not yet seen a swift this year, but this blackbird is uplifting @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social

With an intense day of writing ahead, what better way to start than with dawn birdwatching. Chough seen and heard as soon as I got out of the car.

I know that I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing exhibition about soil, but am delighted to discover that someone else did. @chiffchat.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @jopearlceramics.bsky.social www.thenational.scot/news/nationa...

King’s ‘incredible sense of curiosity’ praised during visit to soil exhibition

Charles also unveiled a plaque in the newly refurbished Salt Stair to mark the visit and the 25th anniversary of Somerset House.

thenational.scot

A wonderful clear, crisp morning. On our early morning cemetery walk we stood transfixed and entranced watching a song thrush sending its glorious tones to the world. It was so close we could see its bill open and close. Then we witnessed one of those special sunrises. Fab way to start the day.

I have been passionate about peat bogs for decades, have written a chapter on peat for my book, but articles like this show why we must care: www.theguardian.com/environment/....

World’s largely unprotected peatlands are ticking ‘carbon bomb’, warns study

Bogs and swamps are a colossal carbon store but their continued destruction would blow climate change targets

theguardian.com

Yesterday was World Wetlands Day, one I love to celebrate. So it was more sobering to read this article today. Based on research, it sounds alarm bells for the long term future of our peatlands: news.exeter.ac.uk/research/fut...

Future of UK peatlands under threat due to climate change

The UK’s peatlands face an uncertain future amid the escalating impacts of climate change. Peatlands are critical ecosystems for carbon storage and biodiversity, containing more carbon than all the wo...

news.exeter.ac.uk

My first bird of the day was a jackdaw; well, actually, there were about 20 of them as they left their roost in the cemetery. A lovely birding start to the year. Happy New Year, everyone.

At 06:30 today we stood beside a main road, enchanted by two Song thrushes, in trees on opposite sides of the road. That even-paced repetition, different from each bird was glorious. Then on our return through the cemetery we enjoyed a chorus of Robins. Happy New Year's Eve.

Fiery embers of the day.

If you are looking for a holiday read comprising stunning, evocative writing about a beautiful part of Scotland I can recommend 'Windswept' by Annie Worsley.

www.theguardian.com/environment/... More lovely writing from @nicwilson.bsky.social. I would love to have witnessed this.

Country diary: A handful of summer on a frosty day | Nic Wilson

Southill, Bedfordshire: On a ringing session of seed-eating farmland birds, I see up close the subtle beauty of the yellowhammer

theguardian.com

Have had fab few days at this conference. Spoke to bookseller earlier, mentioned my book (of course!), they thought it sounded great & looked forward to stocking it. I told them they'd have a couple of years to wait, but they didn't mind. @chiffchat.bsky.social #soil

It's World Soils Day today. This year's theme is 'Caring for soil'. Let's never forget the part that soil plays in our lives. Soil provides 94% of our food. And 25% of global.biodiversity is in soil. Let's celebrate soil today. @thegsbi.bsky.social @chiffchat.bsky.social

Shades of vermillion in a navy blue Merseyside sky. I hope everyone has a good Friday.

I am writing a book about soil. I have a chapter on Soil as inspiration and I know this event will inspire me. I shall head southwards. Perhaps you too can be inspired by soil. @chiffchat.bsky.social @britishecolsoc.bsky.social www.somersethouse.org.uk/press/soil-t...

SOIL: The World at Our Feet

Somerset House presents SOIL: The World at Our Feet, a landmark exhibition unearthing the wonder of soil, its unbreakable bond to all life, and the vital role it plays in our planet’s future.

somersethouse.org.uk

My day on the bird feeding rota at Pickering's Pasture featured a beautiful River Mersey. Even better though was a brief encounter with a grey seal. The creature entranced me. I wished it well as it headed out to Liverpool Bay.

Autumn dark and light, Pickering's Pasture, Hale marsh.