Nick Mayhew-Smith
@nickbpp.bsky.social
Passionate about landscape spirituality, written books celebrating our built and natural heritage, including the guide Britain's Pilgrim Places. Faith inspired but disillusioned with institutions. Been a naturist since 18 and gently promote our values here
Just bedding down on the shores of Arran, wild camping at the back of its lovely official nude beach Cleat's Shore. I don't reckon anyone else has visited since I last came in 2010 :-) And this Ailsa Craig thing in the distance... it is genuinely an extinct volcano... as in won't be erupting, yes?
How surprising that this multimillionaire, multi-home owning, MAGA-Putin-crypto-and-fossil-fuel-loving, employment-and-human-rights-hating, rule-dodging, grifting, hypocritical, racist, lying, brexity, corrupt, far-right, moaning, misogynistic “man-of-the-people” has turned out to be so unpopular.
Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · last mo.Nigel Farage will soon be the least popular political party leader in the UK by some margin. The confidence trick isn't working any more www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-nigel-...
Every creature leaves a mark on the Earth. And humans? We leave behind plastic bottles, packaging, containers, and trash. The saddest part is that we are the only species that understands the damage—yet we keep doing it. Our footprint should be one of responsibility, not pollution.
"Recapping. In these months, the President of the United States Donald Trump has praised Putin, Kim Jong-un, Orbán, Netanyahu, Lukashenko, Xi Jinping. And he has attacked: Pope Leo XIV, Meloni, Macron, Starmer, Merz, Sanchez, Carney, the European Union and NATO."
Ah well, I never post any images of naturism that couldn't appear uncensored on the BBC website they are so carefully done (and the BBC website has in fact used several). But my content gets labelled as 'adult sexually explicit' by BlueSky... 🙄 Gives utterly the wrong impression of me.
Ah well, the BlueSky censorship unable to recognise an attempt at art! We took this gentle pic today at my naturist club to remember the lovely David Hockney and his swimming pool pictures.
Nick Mayhew-Smith@nickbpp.bsky.social · 2mo agoA smaller splash than he made... but the best tribute I could think of this evening at my lovely naturist club!
A smaller splash than he made... but the best tribute I could think of this evening at my lovely naturist club!
I think I have a new favourite book about landscape spirituality, and I haven't even received it yet. What a fabulously interesting idea, and a great article. The books is called No Fair Maidens. www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/...
‘I’m hoping to meet a river goddess’: a wild journey through Britain’s mythic waterways
Follow the folklore and you will discover a landscape full of wonder and powerful women – from a fearsome Scottish warrioress to the first queen of a united England
theguardian.com
Did you know... jackdaws sometimes just eat grit! They do this to aid digestion and supply dietary calcium. You can see Crom's resident jackdaw nests up close on Springwatch tonight, tune in from 8am on BBC Two: buff.ly/P0iFnnC
If you’ve seen the weather forecast for the start of summer tomorrow, just a little extra reminder :-) So much for the old saying about keeping your clouts on until the end of May 🤣
Absolutely shocking. No clue. No idea. No respect for workers rights - doesn't affect him so he doesn't seem to care...
Block Statue of Hor, Son of Ankhkhonsu Late Period, 26th Dynasty, c. 664-525 B.C. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 37150
Just heard that the venerable naturist magazine Health & Efficiency (now H&E Naturist) is to cease print publication from today. It was the first place I worked, as an editorial assistant in 1990, and loved the naturist vibe. Hated the dodgy classified ads, but apparently they are now being axed.
Cover reveal! Thrilled that Invisible Worlds: Legendary and Digital Enchantments at Alderley Edge will be coming out with Liverpool University Press (print and online open access) this autumn! Co-written by Victoria Flood, me, and Andrew Elliott. books.google.co.uk/books/about/...
Surely the debate about whether AI is a significant breakthrough in technology and creativity comes to an end when you watch the stuff the US president is creating and posting? I'm not a Luddite, and AI is good for some scientific research, but for anything cultural can't we ban it?
No evidence of church revival anywhere - despite all the breathless media hype. www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
Claims of Christian revival ‘laid to rest’ as churchgoing falls
Churches are emptier than before the pandemic, and a landmark survery found no evidence for suggestions of a groundswell of religious observance among Gen Z
thetimes.com
"Old friends cannot be created out of hand. Nothing can match the treasure of common memories, of trials endured together, of quarrels and reconciliations and generous emotions." Little Prince author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on friendship www.themarginalian.org/2026/05/18/a...
“Little Prince” Author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on Friendship
“Old friends cannot be created out of hand. Nothing can match the treasure of common memories, of trials endured together, of quarrels and reconciliations and generous emotions.”
themarginalian.org
One of the best parts of spring? The baby birds 🐣 Please enjoy these goslings and cygnets in all their fluffy glory.
Stupid to blame Labour's infighting for drowning out coverage of Farage's hideous £5m gift for delivering Brexit. As if the media, esp the BBC, would cover it properly anyway! And anyway the forthcoming by-election is a chance to go for the jugular on Farage's elitist, anti-British grifting.
Oxford University says its staff are “entitled to participate in civic and political life in a personal capacity” after the head of its Staff Immigration Team, James Baker, stood as Reform UK’s candidate in Littlemore. Around 40% of Oxford’s research and teaching staff originate from outside the UK.
This weekend! I'll be speaking about A History of England in 25 Poems on Saturday at 3pm - plus chairing these other brilliant events. www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk
Catherine Clarke@cathamclarke.bsky.social · 4mo agoHonestly so excited for the Stratford Upon Avon Literary Festival next month, in one of my absolute favourite places in England. I'll be speaking about A History of England in 25 Poems, and will be interviewing Tom Service, Stephen Rutt & Rose George about their brilliant new books. Come & join us!
On Wednesday 6 May, cathedral curator Fran will lead a special tour round the cathedral exploring depictions of the natural world (plants, animals, birds, weather). It starts at 2pm inside the main door. The tour takes 1 hour and costs £15.60 - no need to book.
