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Ben Averis

@averisben.bsky.social

1.2K followers 680 following 450 posts

Botanist and artist living near Edinburgh, Scotland. Botanical surveying/monitoring/teaching (http://www.benandalisonaveris.co.uk/). Botany, bryology, lichens, habitat classification, ecology, biodiversity, art, music, poetry...

www.benandalisonaveris.co.uk

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 1d

I refuse to let hopelessness prevail. This may just be one essay, by a lawyer few have heard of, in a newsletter read by a fraction of the public. But I will not stay silent.

Will you?
www.democracydocket.com/opinion/i-re...

I Refuse to Stay Silent. Will You?

Read more here.

www.democracydocket.com

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Reposted by Ben Averis

Donnachadh McCarthy @donnachadhmc.bsky.social · 3d

Please help combat BBC news blackout of Green Party!
@zackpolanski.bsky.social was the only party leader not interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg during their party conference.
So please RT his cracking conference speech..

Donnachadh McCarthy @donnachadhmc.bsky.social · 4d

Whatever your party politics, @zackpolanski.bsky.social leaders speech deserves to be heard..

www.youtube.com/live/TZx9Vng...

Leader's Speech - Zack Polanski at Green Party Conference 2025

YouTube video by Green Party of England & Wales

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Ben Averis

Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 3d

May 2015. David Cameron was Prime Minister, UK an EU member, Barack Obama was US President, and this male Marsh Tit hatched in Monks Wood. Colour-ringed 28 August 2015. Photo 2 April 2016. Observed every year since. @martamaziarz.bsky.social & I saw him again today, 10 yrs 5 mo old, still surviving.

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Reposted by Ben Averis

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

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Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 3d

Somewhere around here?

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 10d

I agree, especially as someone with an art school background. Creativity is so important, is linked to all sorts of things that people do (including science), and should be highly valued, encouraged and supported.

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 13d

Yes - that is a great photo of yours!

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 13d

I have wondered what happened to that piece of ground since I was there in 2014. Perhaps it has been built on.

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 13d

* Long Island City (not just Long Island).

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 13d

There's something about that Long Island skyline, with tall buildings well spaced, that has a special feel so different to that of the more crowded Manhattan skyscrapers. A bit like ancient standing stones, but huge. I drew this picture of it from a photo I took (from Manhattan) in 2014.

Long Island City, Queens, New York, looking east from 1st Avenue (somewhere near the intersection with E 39th Street) in eastern Manhattan. Drawn in coloured pencil in 2015, based on a photo taken in 2014. Drawing size: 21 x 30 cm.

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Reposted by Ben Averis

The Wildlife Information Centre @twic.bsky.social · 15d

Join us!

We are seeking 2 directors to fill vacancies on our Board. We are looking for individuals with expertise in finance, governance, communications/PR or fundraising. An ecology background is desirable.

📅 Application deadline: 12/10/25
💬 Interviews: 20/10/25
🔗 More info: tinyurl.com/pzu6j6yc

Dawn chorus workshop at Hadfast Valley SWT Reserve, Midlothian. Photo by Natalie Harmsworth.

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Reposted by Ben Averis

Argyll Countryside Trust @actinargyll.bsky.social · 15d

🔍 ACT is looking for rope access specialists to manage Rhododendron ponticum control on steep sites near Tayvallich.

🗓️ Tender deadline: 20th October 2025
💰 Estimated value: £200,000
📍 Location: North Knapdale, Argyll

Full details on Public Contracts Scotland: buff.ly/zo9T4Ym

📷 Ian Dow/ACT

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Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 21d

I actually quite like cottage cheese, but don't often buy it and sometimes do need to be reminded that it exists. This is when I've bought it, opened it, left it in the fridge and then forgotten about it, only to eventually remember when it's too late and it's started going mouldy!

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Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 23d

A recent poem.

Ain’t no Honey

He’s gotta lotta money
but he ain’t no honey

He’s a criminal, a liar,
whose insatiable desire
is for power, from a tower,
so the minions cower
and obey his every word,
no matter how absurd

He’s vulgar, cheap
He’s a lecherous creep
He’s loathsome, lewd
He’s tacky, he’s crude
He’s a philistine,
a pantomime,
whose intellect
is a minus sign

His tabloid prose
appeals to those
facilitating
his dictating,
lavishing praise
on the ravaging ways
of the bullying lout
who cheats, who flouts
the word of the law,
who steals from the poor,
who arrogantly stands
in denial and defiance
of the value and significance
of nature, science,
culture, art,
people with a heart
It’s a shameless sham
and he doesn’t give a damn

He’s like a lava flow
spreading layers of corruption,
an intrusively insidious,
felonious eruption
He’s a boastful, bloated,
tangerine-coated,
overly promoted,
self-devoted,
puerile, juvenile,
hideous-hairstyle
tool of trite,
greed and spite,
who has no sight
of good or right

Officials with a lot of clout
could block his domination
Sad to see them bottle out
in limp capitulation
But when the revolution’s risen,
and the people have their say,
and put that monster in a prison,
where the walls are thick and grey,
(this is if he hasn’t died;
just noting that as a wee aside),
behind the bars is where he’ll stay,
and we will shout a big “Hooray!”

So take him away
It’ll make our day
The whole regime
His evil team
Yes, take them away
Don’t delay
Gotta clear this ground
for a better kind of way

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 24d

There are millions feeling queasy
about the visitation
from that criminally sleazy
man who’s ruining his nation

Reposted by Ben Averis

Stop Trump Coalition @ukstoptrump.bsky.social · 24d

Yesterday, the largest far-right protest in UK history marched through London, led by racist Tommy Robinson.

Today, we say: They don’t speak for us — and they won’t have the last word.

This Wednesday we come together against Trump and for a better future. Do everything to be there.

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Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 25d

Not sure about this moss, but to me it has something of the look of Distichium capillaceum. Some of the shoots look like they might have the laterally-flattened form of that species.

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Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 29d

Who is chosen from their crew
to take position number two
makes no difference when they need a
total change of party leader

One who won't capitulate
to those promoting racist hate,
fossil fuels and faschist stench
One with wiser, proper strength

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Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 29d

Yes, it truly is a beautiful moss. Always a pleasure to find.

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · 29d

Just found some good patches of the beautiful moss Ptilium cristacastrensis in a conifer plantation in the lowlands of Angus, eastern Scotland.

The moss Ptilium cristacastrensis in a conifer plantation in lowlands Angus, eastern Scotland on 9th September 2025.

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Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · Sep 8

Thank you for including my book in your nature book challenge!

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · Sep 6

Western bryophyte interest in the Scottish central belt: I recently found this population of the oceanic liverwort Frullania teneriffae (in Britain seen mainly in native woods & rocky habitats in the W Highlands & Hebrides) on Norway Maple in a plantation in W Lothian, between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The oceanic liverwort Frullania teneriffae on the trunk of a Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) tree in West Lothian, Scotland, midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Found in late August 2025.

Broadleaved plantation woodland in West Lothian, Scotland, midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The yellow arrow indicates the location of a population of the oceanic liverwort Frullania teneriffae on the trunk of a Norway Maple (Acer platanoides). The bryophyte flora on this and other trees here (these trees being mainly Sycamore and Norway Maple) is generally quite rich. August 2025.

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Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · Sep 6

Green screens

May Greens be seen
on TV screens
more and more,
to underscore
the fact that they
have decent ways
to reinvent
our government

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · Sep 4

youtu.be/1KsgxOrgbOA?...

Is Zack Polanski the Left's answer to Nigel Farage?

YouTube video by Channel 4 News

youtu.be

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · Sep 3

Just written this poem in response to the Chinese military parade attended by Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Melt them down!

Russia, China, North Korea
Ruled by men inflicting fear
and force upon their populations
Awful way to run these nations

See how proudly they display
status through a huge array
of soldiers marching to a drill
and apparatus made to kill

Sure, they’re not the only ones
shunning peace, wielding guns
But no – they kind of are alone,
each sitting on his lonely throne

Looking to the west, we find
the USA’s not far behind
Britain too: “Immigrants!” “Boats!”
(You know the sources of these quotes)

Clearly, as I’m sure you know,
this is not the way to go,
so put those weapons in a great big pot
where they all melt down ‘cos it’s very very hot,
then use that metal in friendly ways
so we’re happy and together for the rest of our days,
Concertinas: buttons and reeds
Music is a thing that each and everyone needs
Or microscopes, that help us see
tiny little spores from a lichen on a tree
Then we know a bit more from what we saw,
which helps us care for the planet we adore
so if we want things better, let’s go to town
and get that bad stuff melted down!

Ben Averis @averisben.bsky.social · Sep 3

Fantastic colours and patterns.

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