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Andreas Heinemeyer

@andreasheinem.bsky.social

200 followers 180 following 140 posts

Ecosystem ecologist at University of York (SEI-Y). Specialized on peatlands (hydrology, carbon, methane, water quality, vegetation). Love the outdoors, trombones (!) & good music and a lively debate on important issues. Be kind to each other.

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Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · Nov 18

Interested in heather-dominated peatlands?
Our 10-year report peatland-es-uk.york.ac.uk/home is available in various forms:
10-year report (update to the previous Defra report)
Full summary (for practitioners & policy makers)
Short summary (for people with little time)
🧵 on background & findings 🔥🚜🌿

Peatland-ES-UK

Peatland (upland & heather-dominated Blanket Bog) - Management and Ecosystem Services in the UK Please also see our website at: Ecological Continuity Trust (with other long-term monit...

peatland-es-uk.york.ac.uk

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Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 1d

More carbon fluxes to be processed.
More good music required:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPXg...
Who would not want to play in this beautiful surrounding?
Fluxes, here we come!

Baroque Concert: Les Goûts Réunis | Jordi Savall & Le Concert des Nations

YouTube video by DW Classical Music

www.youtube.com

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 3d

Good old home town in Germany, overdue!

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 3d

Maybe send me an email...but I might have to point you to David who did the analyses. Btw, I will be away now for two weeks...

Reposted by Andreas Heinemeyer

Leon Simons @leonsimons.bsky.social · 6d

In a functioning society, this would have been front page news everywhere.

In our society, this didn't make the fine print.

As @georgemonbiot.bsky.social pointed out once, it's quite depressing to check the headlines when you know what the real headline should be...

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Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 6d

Wonderful! Coming over to Alfeld (my home town) next week. Shall wave 👋 hope you got my email (easy to find...)

Reposted by Andreas Heinemeyer

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 7d

There are a few people that are inspirations to almost all scientists that I know, and Jane Goodall was one of them. RIP. 😢

Jane Goodall, the celebrated primatologist and conservationist, has died

Jane Goodall, the conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy, has died. She was 91.

apnews.com

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Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 7d

I don't think I talked about burning and ticks but rather tall heather and brash layers as perfect habitat. But a good point to think about consequences of burning too.

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 7d

The key issue for many claims seems to be to consider the potential to rewet upland peatland areas (a lot of different types). Rewetting is (mostly) good, but many sites just cannot be rewetted to become like those wet Border Mires (e.g., valley bogs). Complex interactions also with grazing ...

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 7d

I did not talk about very wet blanket bog. The meeting was in the North York Moors. Large areas of upland bog (even blanket bog) are naturally drier or dry and perfect for ticks for many reasons. Numbers are increasing rapidly for many reasons.

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 7d

Apparently not published but to be part of a book. We need to wait and see ...

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 7d

Andy, I seem to be very unsuccessful in influencing policy. This was just a statement raising a valid concern, which should be considered by Natural England. It was raised at the meeting.

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 8d

Not only do I love Tubingen but also peatlands! Shame to have missed this! Would love to see the talk, if this is possible :)

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 8d

Based on a recent Heather Trust day in the North York Moors with a tick expert. We clearly need research but I have been contacted by someone who seems to already know more about it ...

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Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 10d

What is wrong with Labour? This sums it up!

Defend Our Juries @defendourjuries.bsky.social · 10d

BREAKING: Police attempt to take wheelchair away from disabled protestor after arresting them under the Terrorism Act for holding a sign which says “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” for nine hours.

The defiance won’t stop. Lift The Ban: wedonotcomply.org

Reposted by Andreas Heinemeyer

Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 10d

What has Yvette Cooper’s proscription of Palestine Action done to this country?

Beyond absurd. It’s extreme authoritarianism. These police should be arresting rapists & crooks, not neglecting those duties to spend time arresting citizens standing against genocide.

It undermines police and the law.

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Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 11d

@naturalengland.bsky.social ticks are likely an unintended outcome of changes to upland heather management. Urgently needs to be considered as a real risk to animals & humans.

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 11d

One of the overlooked risks in the uplands. Banning heather burning will most likely cause a huge increase in ticks and their associated nasty illnesses. Tall heather & bracken as well as brash layers from heather cutting will be perfect habitats.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

As my daughter got sicker and sicker, our quest for answers dragged on. How did we all miss the bacteria taking over her body?

I write about nature, but when Milly got sick with a mystery illness, it never occurred to me that a long-forgotten tick bite could be the cause

www.theguardian.com

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 11d

I have just read it. So important to share this ordeal. Very sorry to hear this, but we all need to be much more aware! I just highlighted this to @naturalengland.bsky.social
Changes to heather management likely not good news as ticks will likely benefit from brash layers after cutting.

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 12d

Interesting bit here is the Before-After Control-Intervention (BACI), comparing like with like. I think this is the only replicated long-term BACI at multiple sites there is for any of this. And burnt plots got wetter over time...

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 12d

Mostly S cap, subnitens, pallustre and papillosum but also magellanicum, fimbriatum, russowii, fallax ...

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 12d

Simply not finished adding errors bars!
All species are recorded as per our report. Species are listed in it.

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 12d

Long-term monitoring is so important!
@ect-uk.bsky.social has a few peatland sites.
Peatland-ES-UK informs about heather management impacts on carbon, water & diversity.
Here the latest (total) vegetation cover data (5x5 m plots). Big Sphagnum increase across 3 sites on burnt plots (since 2021)!

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Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 12d

Music for reviewing evidence for peatland policy !
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr41...

Marshall Gilkes & WDR BIG BAND - Fresh Start | Konzert

YouTube video by WDR BIG BAND

www.youtube.com

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 14d

It certainly is not a 'major review', it only highlights that many claims are too generic/simplistic and often are not backed up by robust (or sometimes any) science. There is evidence either way about Sphagnum cover. But studies on reduction are often confounded by other factors (drainage/climate).

Andreas Heinemeyer @andreasheinem.bsky.social · 14d

Slowly, slowly progress is being made. So many overly generic/simplistic claims to tackle. 🫠