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Jen Ratcliffe

@jenratcliffe.bsky.social

2.6K followers 500 following 900 posts

Host of #DailyNature challenges, boating birder and travelling poet - enjoys potatoes in all forms 🥔🍠 🌿Nature 🚂Travel 🛶Canals 🌊Nomad WC Nature Writing Shortlist 24 Porthleven Finalist 23 IntrepidTimes WaterwaysWorld Telegraph #NatureWriting #UKCanals

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Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 11d

Another successful month of #DailyNature ends 🍁

Thanks to all participants! Love seeing community grow 🍄🍄

The next month challenge is December ❄️ to align with the solstice & the daily nature of winter

I've updated the starter pack to include new observers 💚

go.bsky.app/RUhJfc6

#NatureWriting

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · Aug 31

Up for an Autumnal Nature Challenge?!
🍁🍄🌰🌕🪶

How to join in:
- Sept 1st -30th
- Post a nature observation
- Include #DailyNature
- Make nature friends

Seasonal joys:
- Bird migrations
- Berries & shrooms
- 7/8th Blood moon eclipse
- 22nd Autumnal Equinox

#Nature #NatureWriting #Challenges #Autumn

Bursting from green grass are the dreadlocks of rosey and violet heather, at the centre a fern blazes rust, coral and buttercup - readying itself for a new season's fashion.

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Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 11h

Lovely

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Reposted by Jen Ratcliffe

Rachel H @rachelape.bsky.social · 1d

Delighted and excited to have work published in Bradt's latest anthology South America: an Anthology of Travel Writing. And alongside such incredible names! So grateful.

#writing #💙📚 #writingcommunity #booksky #books #travel

www.rachelhensonwriting.com/blog-posts/b...

Bradt’s New Travel Writing Anthology — Rachel Henson Writing

Rachel Henson in Bradt's new anthology of South American Travel Writing, edited by Celia Dillow

www.rachelhensonwriting.com

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Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 1d

Amazing Rachel! Well done how exciting 🎉

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 1d

An abundance of elf's wood - fly agaric mushrooms in threes, twenties. Deep vermilion and papaya, wonky white windows and long sturdy stems. My sister leads me onward, each specimen placed in her mind like a bookmark for my return. We are eight once more, looking for magic.

#NatureWriting

Three staggered burnt orange toadstools with square cream patterned dots poke through a brown leafy floor. Fly agaric.

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Reposted by Jen Ratcliffe

Tine Kerdraon《《inkArt》》 @tinekerdraon.bsky.social · 3d

Petit dessin rapide, petite participation pour #october 🥀

"Fleurs séchées / Undead flowers"
Encre de Chine & plume, A3.
8 octobre 2025

#drawing #dessin #art #inkArt #encre #artYear #bloomscrolling #flowers #fleurs #dailyNature #nature #MortVivant

Dessin à la plume et encre de Chine, ensemble de fleur et boutons. Grandes feuilles dentelées. Fond blanc.

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Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 2d

#DailyNature #NatureWriting

Amanda Tuke @amandatuke.bsky.social · 3d

New term special offer. #ThumbnailNature journals for just the price of P&P. Offering ideas to get your #naturewriting underway and inspiring #ThumbnailNature pieces contributed by a cornucopia of talented workshop participants. Visit my shop to grab your copy. freelancenaturewriter.com/shop/

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 2d

Cynicism is a choice, and hope is a better choice
- Barak Obama

#Quoteoftheday

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 3d

Perhaps a small contributing role, the increase in canal & river tourism? Whilst itinerant boaters are required or asked to remain still during drought risks & use other precautions, there is no plea on leisure boats. 'The boating season is now seemingly all seasons bar winter - ish.

#UKCanals

Rachel Salvidge @rachelsalvidge.bsky.social · Jun 22

Part two of my investigation into England's water resources.

In short, the system is outdated, under-monitored, economically skewed, and environmentally risky, with reforms needed to avoid long-term water shortages.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

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Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 4d

At what point does the tree discern the bend in its elbow and to rest permanently so, like a welcoming arm of a long lost friend?

#NatureWriting

Beneath a celeste blue sky and peridot wooded back drop, a dark tangerine bark of a Scots pine curves from centre to left slowly.

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Reposted by Jen Ratcliffe

Nic Wilson @nicwilson.bsky.social · 4d

Is there anything more evocative than the sea at night and a Hunter's Moon beckoning you walk into the light?

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Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 4d

But also very much 😂😂😂😂

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 4d

Omg! Well done - more like 🤎!

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 5d

Hello #fungifriends - could anyone help ID?

I thought it might be a young fly agaric but redlead Roundhead is also coming up. Merci!

#NatureWriting #Nature

An orange-red mushroom cap, wide and comical - lighter in the middle, pokes out from damp leafy woodland floor.

The same red capped mushroom from the side, showing a skinny white stem

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 5d

So great to see you - can't wait for your book! Xx

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 6d

Heartwarming weekend at MA Nature & Travel Writing @bathspauni.bsky.social reunion 💚 so glad I joined this course 🌿 A main goal for was to final a community and here we are, fulfilled.

Thanks again to @stephenmossauthor.bsky.social @gailsimmons.bsky.social , @amandatuke.bsky.social & Jon Lorie

At a podium infront of a silhouetted crowd Jon Lorie, the new course director of MA Nature & Travel Writing Bath Spa, introduces speeches of success, rallies and appreciation. At Bath Royal Literary & Science Institute (written on a power point behind).

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 6d

It was weirdly a common occurrence at one point. Swans make their nest spaces the rest of us simply must fall in line 😂

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 6d

I think 'I was a bit late because I was doing first aid with a hedgehog' is now my favourite reason I've ever been given for someone's lateness 😂 and I once worked as a manager and a guy came in via police protection escort - due to the advances of a rather passionate Swan

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Reposted by Jen Ratcliffe

The Unhurried Reader 📚🦊🇺🇦 @theunhurriedreader.bsky.social · 7d

#NatureWriting

Orion Magazine @orionmagazine.bsky.social · 7d

Can memoirs about native and common wildlife spark more action and awe than the stories of the “charismatic megafauna” that so often act as poster children for the conservation movement? Rebecca van Laer investigates the new trend in publishing.

Animal Memoirs Gone Wild

What we can learn from more domestic forms of intimacy with nature

orionmagazine.org

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Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 6d

Ladybirds litter walls, their inner clocks beat for diapause. I wonder if there's a discussion? Ladybirds defend as individuals, only really swarming in search for winter safety. I crave smallness, watch the winged red dots make assumptive doorway dives. It'd be nice to hibernate.

#NatureWriting

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 6d

Are you actively giving a demonstration on gaslighting now...

I asked if it was that incident you were referring to - I quoted Kamala and it's not the nicest light. I foolishly expected you to inform me of additional information, but now I see it wasn't knowledge but aggression in your response.

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 6d

I'm asking questions based on my own knowledge and for when something happened out of curiosity and care.

I don't want people to apathetically vote in reform in UK because they don't believe Labour will get to their stance later.

Questions are a part of peace making sure history isn't repeated.

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 6d

When did this happen, I can't find when that would be? There's reports that during one her rallies there was some anti genocide protest chants making her unable to speak and that she responded 'everyone's voice matters' 'im speaking now' 'If you want Donald Trump to win then say that'- then?

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Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 6d

In my other reply I've noted the quotes when she took a stance of ceasefire and pro monitoring of Israel at her rallies.

I don't quite follow how not voting for pro ceasefire candidate helps the war when the opposition was a sexist & racist policy maker who in his previous term was pro-Israel

Jen Ratcliffe @jenratcliffe.bsky.social · 7d

Yes, in Michigan she promised to 'end Gazan suffering' and 'ensure the Palestinian people can realise their right to dignity, freedom, security and self-determination' then in Philadelphia later she called for a ceasefire and a monitored prevention of Israel occupying the Palestinian enclave.