Wishing you a happy, healthy and restful Christmas 🎄

So pleased that Edgbaston Pool SSSI has recently reopened - a real ecological jewel in south Birmingham. On Wednesday there were three Little Grebes, about thirty Black-headed Gulls, a few Shoveler, and nine (nine!!) Herons!

Walked through the magnificent Moseley Bog yesterday. Saw Grey Wagtails hopping about the streams, and even heard a cronking Raven. It's said to have inspired the Old Forest in Lord of the Rings. Thankfully no otherworldly creatures, only a few friendly dogs! @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Winterbourne Gardens looking spectacular this afternoon. Absolutely love the golden and reddish hues of the sweetgum on the right. @unibirmingham.bsky.social

Old Joe rising up into a blue sky this morning. @unibirmingham.bsky.social

A note about the Nature Reserves of London map, which you can find on my website (in bio) 👇

A phenomenal @wildsummituk.bsky.social in Bristol yesterday, with colleagues from across the nature sector. A privilege to speak on the opening panel, on how Govt can best meet its 2030 nature targets. Also thought-provoking to hear debates on nature finance, farming, planning and beyond!

Long Meadow, Eastcote yesterday evening, a final glimpse of August sunlight peeking through the canopy. A fairly quiet visit, apart from a few Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits and a very noisy Nuthatch!

Join us at the Wild Summit on 11 Sept, to discuss how to restore nature. I'm be speaking alongside @stephspyro.bsky.social, @beccyrspb.bsky.social, Abi Bunker of @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social and Areeba Hamid of @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social. See @wildsummituk.bsky.social for more. See you there!

Spent the weekend at a young nature writers' retreat in the New Forest. It was a privilege to learn useful writing tips, meet like-minded young naturalists and speak about the practicalities of being a writer. Thank you to the Cameron Bespolka Trust for an inspiring weekend!

Yesterday it was wonderful to see my friend and fellow @nationalparkcity.bsky.social Ranger Luke Newcombe @grown22.com (and Milo the dachshund). For years, Luke has put the 'green' back in Wood Green. He's created a nature reserve and a parklet, and is now building a greenhouse for a local school!

Deeply sad news that Mathew Frith of @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social has passed away. Mathew was a lifelong champion of London's natural environment, playing a major role in the capital's nature recovery for decades. I'm proud to have called him a colleague, mentor and friend. Rest In Peace Mathew 💚

Delighted to be speaking at the @wildsummituk.bsky.social main stage on 11 September! I'll be speaking alongside @beccyrspb.bsky.social, @stephspyro.bsky.social, Areeba Hamid of @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social and Abi Bunker of the Woodland Trust. See you there! wildsummituk.eventbrite.co.uk

A real pleasure to attend the opening of the new Carbon Garden at @rbgkew.bsky.social. It highlights the role of carbon in our ecosystems, especially in a warming climate, and mitigation and adaptation measures to combat climate change. Visit to learn about carbon in our natural world!

Nature Towns and Cities sounds very promising. Localised interventions to bring back biodiversity in Bristol, Bournemouth, Birmingham and beyond. Also pleased there is funding for the Ealing regional park, of which @brentriverpark.bsky.social will form a part. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Green mission aims to raise £1bn to bring nature into UK towns and cities

Initial £15.5m will go to schemes such as launch of large regional park to improving green spaces along canals

theguardian.com

Always brilliant to hear about swan-upping, an annual Middlesex tradition. However, it's concerning to read how avian flu has impacted cygnets. Let's hope Middlesex's county bird fares better next year! @russellgrant.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

River Thames: Swan upping tradition returns for annual count - BBC News

Swan upping is a royal census of swans on the river and gives insight into the bird's population.

bbc.co.uk

@lucylapwing.bsky.social @curlewaction.bsky.social @greeneindy.bsky.social @katiemonk.bsky.social

Kabir Kaul@kaulofthewilduk.bsky.social · last yr.

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting @globalbirdfair.bsky.social yesterday. A chance to catch up with friends and fellow conservationists from across the country. The talks by @theurbanbirder.bsky.social and @rspb.bsky.social Youth Council were also a lot of fun!

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting @globalbirdfair.bsky.social yesterday. A chance to catch up with friends and fellow conservationists from across the country. The talks by @theurbanbirder.bsky.social and @rspb.bsky.social Youth Council were also a lot of fun!

It was inspiring to visit the team at @healrewilding.org.uk in Somerset last Friday. Very insightful to hear about their business model, vision and potential income from natural capital. Since 2020, this former dairy farm has become home to beavers, warblers and scores of butterflies!

Heal Rewilding@healrewilding.org.uk · last yr.

We were delighted to welcome the influential young urban conservationist Kabir Kaul to Heal Somerset last week 🌿 Kabir's visit was to explore some of Somerset's rewilding projects - building on his work with the London Rewilding Taskforce and his interest in shaping nature policy nationally.

Last Sunday marked 50 years of the Brent River Park, a green corridor beginning at the A40 in the north and ending near the Thames in the south. As the Park's special advisor, I was honoured to unveil a commemorative sign in Ealing with Mayor of Ealing, Cllr Anthony Kelly.

Thank you to Leslie from @ealingnews.bsky.social for covering our 50th Anniversary celebration. Great lead photo of Mayor Cllr Anthony Kelly and our Special Adviser @kaulofthewilduk.bsky.social unveiling the new commemorative sign, with the help of two giant bluebells. ealing.news/environment/...

Community comes out to celebrate Brent River Park’s 50th anniversary - EALING.NEWS - The Voice of Ealing's 7 towns - Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale, Southall.

Residents, campaigners, and local dignitaries gathered on Sunday (29 June 2025) at Churchfields Recreation Ground in Hanwell to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ealing’s Brent River Park - and to rem...

ealing.news

@ldn-environment.bsky.social

Kabir Kaul@kaulofthewilduk.bsky.social · last yr.

A fabulous morning at the London Climate Action Week youth summit, hosted by @metecoban92.bsky.social, @earthminutes.bsky.social and @zslofficial.bsky.social. Inspired by the innovative work of London's young environmentalists to empower our generation. Lovely to see many familiar faces too!

A fabulous morning at the London Climate Action Week youth summit, hosted by @metecoban92.bsky.social, @earthminutes.bsky.social and @zslofficial.bsky.social. Inspired by the innovative work of London's young environmentalists to empower our generation. Lovely to see many familiar faces too!

I've been in Lisbon during the past week. Whenever I visit the city centre's green spaces, the birdlife never fails to impress. Spotless Starlings, Treecreepers, Serins, Blue-crowned Parakeets, but above all, stunning Hoopoes!

A fabulous second day at London Open Gardens yesterday. I caught up with some of those who make the City of London havens for communities and biodiversity. Nic Guerra's secret garden by the Tower of London, and the meadows of the @barbicanwildlife.bsky.social, were looking spectacular as ever!

Stumbled across this enormous, majestic oak tree in Eastcote's Long Meadow yesterday.

Delighted to see biodiversity enhancements now underway at Grosvenor Square! I was privileged to advise on the biodiversity aspects of the Square's redesign consultation in 2020, with Ed Ikin (Kew), Nigel Dunnett (Sheffield Uni) and Emily Fox (London Wildlife Trust) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Grosvenor Square in Mayfair to become wildlife haven

The refurbishment project wants to set a new standard for biodiverse public spaces in London.

bbc.co.uk

Govt proposals to effectively dismantle ELMS and BNG are incredibly worrying. Sites of all sizes play a crucial role in recovering, restoring and connecting so much habitat across the country. These initiatives have so much potential. Nature cannot afford another regression.

Spent today 'beating the bounds' with @saveleamarshes.bsky.social, a centuries-old tradition marking the Middlesex-Essex boundary along the River Lea. It highlighted both conservation and development projects along its banks, reflecting our dynamic relationship with urban natural heritage.

The @nationalparkcity.bsky.social Walking Festival ends 31st May. A perfect opportunity to meet fellow nature lovers and explore our National Park City. I’m especially excited for Sunday's ‘beating the bounds’ walk with @saveleamarshes.bsky.social! Events: nationalparkcity.london/london-walki...

London Walking Festival London National Park City

Dates: 1st to 31st May London National Park City are working together with Go Jauntly and Footways to create a walking festival celebrating walking (and wheeling) in London.

nationalparkcity.london