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Campaign for National Parks @campaign4parks.bsky.social · 1d

Over 200 charities, businesses & organisations have signed our open letter to Keir Starmer asking him not to weaken the laws protecting National Parks and Landscapes.

We're so thankful to everyone who added their name 💪

This letter represents millions of people and shows that #NationalParksMatter

Over 200 charities, businesses and organisations have signed our open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer asking him not to weaken the laws protecting National Parks and National Landscapes.

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 14d

Very excited to share that I'm writing a new book, THE GHOSTS OF CHALK COUNTRY - about the loss of England's chalk downland: a tale of flowers, fascism & freedom.

To be published by @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social in April 2027:
www.thebookseller.com/rights/willi...

Website: ghostsofchalkcountry.org

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 23d

How do we fix this mess?

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 28d

Absolutely delighted that my book THE LIE OF THE LAND has won the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing!

This week, one of the book’s recommendations, a ban on moorland burning, became a reality. Next, we need a Nature Bill for England…

bsky.app/profile/wain...

The Wainwright Prizes @wainwrightprize.bsky.social · 28d

The WINNER of the 2025 Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing...

The Lie of the Land, @guyshrubsole.bsky.social (@wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social)

#WainwrightPrize #StoriesThatConnect

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Aug 28

This week's column. The details will make you gasp and rage. This massive desecration of nature is almost unbelievable, but it is happening in the UK right now.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Bluefin tuna are miraculously returning to UK shores – only to be tormented for ‘sport’ | George Monbiot

A tournament in Cornwall will pit anglers against these magnificent creatures, as part of a rising trend for so-called ‘sportfishing’, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Amy-Jane Beer @amyjanebeer.bsky.social · Aug 26

This prize draw is generously supported by some of the cream of British nature writing.

A fiver to enter might win you books, art and other goodies.
That’s the ‘maybe’… the ‘definitely’ is that it will support our work to connect everyone in England and Wales with their nearby nature.

Right to Roam @righttoroam.bsky.social · Aug 26

Want to support the campaign for a real Right to Roam across England & Wales, all while having a chance to win a bundle of beautiful nature bundles?

Take part in our Prize Draw which closes at the end of the week!

Supported by @foldedorset.bsky.social

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/right-to-r...

Right to Roam: 10 Nature Inspired Prize Bundles

Help us fuel our campaign to secure a full right to roam in England to give people better access to nature.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Aug 26

Your chance to support Right to Roam's trailblazing grassroots work to expand responsible access to land and water.

All proceeds will go towards a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shift in our relationship with the countryside PLUS a chance to win some nature inspired prizes! ⬇️✨

Right to Roam @righttoroam.bsky.social · Aug 26

Want to support the campaign for a real Right to Roam across England & Wales, all while having a chance to win a bundle of beautiful nature bundles?

Take part in our Prize Draw which closes at the end of the week!

Supported by @foldedorset.bsky.social

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/right-to-r...

Right to Roam: 10 Nature Inspired Prize Bundles

Help us fuel our campaign to secure a full right to roam in England to give people better access to nature.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Aug 20

My mate Damien is currently undertaking the world's longest litter pick - the Lu'Crusade - on his bicycle, to raise money for Trash Free Trails.

If you can, please support his efforts!
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Help raise £5000 to complete a 1,000 mile litter pick for Trash Free Trails – JustGiving Crowdfunding

Iʼm raising money to complete a 1,000 mile litter pick for Trash Free Trails. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

www.justgiving.com

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Dartmoor Preservation Association @dpadartmoor.bsky.social · Aug 4

Love #Dartmoor? Now’s your chance to influence its future.

People who care passionately about the National Park are invited to share their views on the priorities that will guide this unique landscape for years to come.

Complete the Public Opinion Survey: forms.office.com/pages/respon...

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Jul 31

I got hold of the latest *official* stats for how many pheasants are being bred, reared and released in England

It's a big number - 25.9 million - but it's far less than the reality

It points to widespread rule-breaking by shooting estates failing to register:

whoownsengland.org/2025/07/31/l...

Latest pheasant release stats point to widespread rule-breaking by shooting estates

This post is by Guy Shrubsole. Photo: a rather gruesome sight on a shooting estate in Berkshire. 25.9 million pheasants are currently being bred, reared or released in England, according to the lat…

whoownsengland.org

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 31

Great leader in today's Guardian building on our research into ownership of rivers:

"...there is no guarantee that landowners will allow the public to enjoy these landscapes. This, surely, has to change."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on England’s riverbanks: landscapes that everyone should be able to enjoy | Editorial

Editorial: Only a small sliver of riverside land is accessible to the public. Rights of way shouldn’t depend on the goodwill of landowners

www.theguardian.com

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Wild Card @wildcard.land · Jul 30

Happy #RewildingRoundup 🐛💚

🌊 Research by @lewis-winks.bsky.social has shown that Devon's river Dart has a staggering 108 owners, many of whom are aristocracy, demonstrating the vital link between conserving nature and addressing the country's need for more public access & ownership.

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 30

No, the research focuses on ownership which is antecedent to access conditions - there are some estates such as Sharpham and Dartington which take a benevolent view on access, whereas others less so. Where permissive arrangements exist such as at Dartington, there are no guarantees they will remain.

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 30

Thanks Jenny!

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Jul 30

Excellent to hear @lewis-winks.bsky.social on the Today programme this morning discussing his research on 'Who owns the River Dart' - and why this shows we need a right of responsible access

Listen here (45mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Guardian story: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Devon campaigners call for ‘right to riverbank’ after finding Dart has 108 owners

Research shows difficulties ahead for ministers if they are to keep manifesto pledge to extend riverside public access

www.theguardian.com

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

Yes quite possibly. I would imagine the Dart has a relatively low number of owners per km compared to other rivers due to the large estates on its lower course, and Dartmoor having the Duchy ownership.

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

In the UK the river bed ownership varies. On the Dart, upstream (non tidal) it's mostly bankside landowners; downstream it's the Duchy of Cornwall. However I'm more interested in who controls access to the river itself!

Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

I didn't bother mapping all the small individual land parcels in towns and villages, for a few reasons - but mostly because they have nearly no bearing on access! That said, there are more corps in towns which could be added.

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

I hope this research supports campaigns for a rights-based approach to river access, rather than complex permissive negotiations; I also hope it supports groups such as Friends of The Dart to push for better protections for rivers.

Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

There are 108 separate riparian landowners from source to sea.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

Over the past 18 months I've been walking estates, speaking with landowners, examining angling maps, and trawling online records to determine who owns the River Dart in Devon- finally I can share the results!

Research: whoownsengland.org/2025/07/29/w...

Article:
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Devon campaigners call for ‘right to riverbank’ after finding Dart has 108 owners

Research shows difficulties ahead for ministers if they are to keep manifesto pledge to extend riverside public access

www.theguardian.com

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

I hope this research supports campaigns for a rights-based approach to river access, rather than complex permissive negotiations; I also hope it supports groups such as Friends of The Dart to push for better protections for rivers.

Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

There are 108 separate riparian landowners from source to sea.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.

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Lewis Winks @lewis-winks.bsky.social · Jul 29

Thanks for sharing, Annie!

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Annie Leymarie @annieleymarie.bsky.social · Jul 29

@lewis-winks.bsky.social, who compiled the River Dart research: “We’re calling for a rights-based approach to river access – similar to the system in Scotland, where the public has the right to responsibly walk, swim, paddle and canoe along most rivers and lochs, with sensible exceptions.”

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jul 29

Devon campaigners call for ‘right to riverbank’ after finding Dart has 108 owners

Research shows difficulties ahead for ministers if they are to keep manifesto pledge to extend riverside public access Campaigners in Devon are calling for a right to the riverbank after finding their local river, the Dart, has 108 separate owners, with an eighth of it owned via offshore companies. Locals used site visits, angling maps, Companies House records and Land Registry data to find out who owns the River Dart. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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