www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Hi all, I since largely leaving X (twitter) I have stopped posting political stuff, but I but Monbiot as ever is must reading IMV
I don't approve of these, but I but they are rather glam!
Great. I hope to catch up with some, in a fortnight today in Barcelona.
An old enclosure hedgerow ( c 1825) at Great Holland pits now surrounded by a sea of more recent thorn scrub.
Brainwashing, 2026 edition. This paper shows how X's algorithmic feed shifts people's views rightwards. It's a sophisticated, highly effective form of reorientation. And it is utterly chilling.
If you're still on that platform, unhook yourself now.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Flowering Saporro Elm, a latval food plant for White Letter Hairstreak. Eggs are laid by scar buds where flowers develop.
That would be brilliant!
Is it open to all?
A new farm / fishing reservoir has been built, not a km from my home.
The new and restored ponds with the sun shining today. Give them a year or two.
I meant to put these photos
I often wondered what would happen to our pseudo climax scrub community, (thorn trees with no bigger trees present such as Oak. They tend to ail and gradually fall.
Not obvious what will progress next. Elder is the only obvious tree species. Otherwise, nettle etc
As you can see our new pond is close to overflowing.
I visited the site of the only Roman Circus known in UK at Colchester for the second time today, and was even more delighted with the museum and brilliant volunteers than the first time.
Three photos of an amazing storm
12 years ago at Colne Point.
An amazing storm front, racing low over the sea as the sun was setting.
These fungi, like the miwings from the EWT forage harvester, mostly grass and herb stems, small Blackthorn and Bramble, heaped up in October.
Is it a Peziza species?
@europebutterfly.bsky.social I am visiting Barcelona for a week in mid march, and hope to see butterflies. I walk cycle and use public transport. Can anyone suggest good spots.
My first homemade kombucha.
Lower ground next to Holland Pits, has a much bigger catchment to gather water.
This is a pond restored autumn 2024:-
A brilliant success. This is near the top of the locsl landscape, but has responded very well to the month or so of above average rainfall here. At Holland Pits several perched ponds very low.
Our 2 new ponds are filling. Most etablished ponds though are still empty or have a long way to go.
I glimpse my first butterfly of the year
Peacock probably. Also a Cetti singing at Great Holland pits today.
I wish it were not so.
However in the last week we have restored one and made a new one. Both gathering water.
Very wet for our sunshine
coast. However most of our ponds at Great Holland pits are near empty.
A good job was made of the bridge repairs at Colne Point.
Grey Ploers were good ad quite a lot of Snipe.
My first Rye and Wheat Sourdough of 2026, though I fed the 'mother' on the 30th Dec.
I wish you a happy 2026 Lin.
Now that's what I call a bumper crop of Holly berries.
Are there no thrushes over at Elmstead Wood to eat them.
I saw very few birds except a Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret.
