Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 5h

We are nature. Its best interests are our best interests. So it's pretty dim of our chancellor to again pit wildlife against people, boasting of 20,000 homes built despite "some snails" that "are a protected species or something". www.theguardian.com/environment/... Unsavoury lobbying here too.

Rachel Reeves clears planning blockage amid ‘good relationship’ with developer

Exclusive: Chancellor says 20,000 homes were being held up due to ‘some snails that are a protected species or something’

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 23h

As a young reporter, I interviewed Jilly Cooper about the Animals in War memorial – she was so warm, kind and funny. I imagine she was a great friend to everyone she met. A lovely person.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

Dame Jilly Cooper obituary

Author whose bestselling novels, including Riders and Rivals, were set deep in an English countryside where the natives pursued land, sports, and each other, with lust and gusto

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 2d

Calling young people aged 14 and under! The Guardian is looking for your 250-word pieces of writing about nature and landscape for the Young Country Diary. Entry here (and published diaries will be paid): www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Nature boys and girls – here’s your chance to get published in the Guardian

Our wildlife series Young Country Diary is looking for articles written by children, about their autumn encounters with nature

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 4d

I wrote this story back in 2020 about Larch Maxey www.theguardian.com/environment/... Now he faces losing his home - fundraiser here: gofund.me/ce4ec3de0

‘Seeing the trees being ripped down is really hard’: meet a father and son protesting against HS2

The controversial HS2 route slices through some of England’s most precious woodland. But standing in its way are father and son Larch and Seb Maxey. They explain why living 30ft off the ground in prec...

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 4d

Extraordinary that a peaceful environmental protester faces losing his home over his opposition to the destruction of ancient woods and trees. Gofundme page for Dr Larch Maxey here gofund.me/ce4ec3de0 @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

Donate to Save Larch’s home from HS2, organized by Merlin Matthews

Hi, Dr. Larch Maxey has dedicated 40 years to sustainability and climate solutions. In 2020… Merlin Matthews needs your support for Save Larch’s home from HS2

gofund.me

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 5d

And the European Green to Grey project is a vivid telling of this story greentogrey.eu

Green to Grey – How Europe is squandering the little nature it has left

Green to Grey is a pioneering collaboration between journalists and scientists counting every green space lost in Europe between January 2018 and December 2023.

greentogrey.eu

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 5d

In case you missed this, natural areas equivalent in size to Cyprus have been lost across Europe in just 5 years (2018-2023). www.theguardian.com/environment/...

UK fifth-worst country in Europe for loss of green space to development

Exclusive: 1,680 football pitches of protected natural land in England, Wales and Northern Ireland lost in five years

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 5d

Great appeal here to protect a fantastic ancient woodland in Buckinghamshire. I've just walked through this landscape – the ancient royal hunting forest of Bernwood is being bisected by HS2 – and it is a magical area. Good luck @bbowt.bsky.social! www.bbowt.org.uk/news/wildlif...

Wildlife Trust launches £300,000 appeal to protect ancient woodland in Buckinghamshire | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has launched its £300,000 appeal to secure the future of Hamgreen Wood, an ancient woodland home to rare bat and butterfly species.

www.bbowt.org.uk

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 10d

Please spread the word – we urgently need more Lyme-literate doctors, the NHS must take this seriously, @ukhsa.bsky.social needs to log ALL cases. How many more Millys are there out there who believe they have long covid or other illnesses and they actually have undiagnosed Lyme?

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 10d

This is the story of my daughter Milly and Lyme Disease. There was no rash, no "summer flu", NHS blood tests negative. And she's been ill for a quarter of her life.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Thank you @lymediseaseuk.bsky.social & @lymeresourcecentre.bsky.social for raising UK awareness.

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

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 11d

If you pick up the Guardian Weekend Magazine today, please read about my daughter Milly’s battle with Lyme disease. And if you’re feeling bold, drop your copy into your local GP. There are thousands of Millys out there. Most are currently not helped at all by the NHS or, worse, not believed.

Photo of page from Guardian Weekend magazine showing Patrick’s 13-year-old daughter Milly and the starting words of a long feature story about her battle with Lyme Disease which was missed by the NHS for years.

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 11d

If you pick up the Guardian Weekend Magazine today, please read about my daughter Milly’s battle with Lyme disease. And if you’re feeling bold, drop your copy into your local GP. There are thousands of Millys out there. Most are currently not helped at all by the NHS or, worse, not believed.

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Reposted by Patrick Barkham

Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 18d

More great coverage of a brilliant initiative. Great to see @norfolkponds.bsky.social getting the coverage it deserves.
£2000 per pond, what a bargain!
@patrickbarkham.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘It’s resurrection’: 1,000-year-old seeds could grow ancient plants in England’s ice-age ghost ponds

An expert team are resurrecting ice age ponds and finding rare species returning from a ‘perfect time capsule’

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 13d

In case you missed it: lots of amazing and heartening pond restoration going on. Research is likely to confirm that seeds "lost" in the bottom of filled-in ponds can remain viable for 100s of years so ponds and their aquatic plants leap back to life. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘It’s resurrection’: 1,000-year-old seeds could grow ancient plants in England’s ice-age ghost ponds

An expert team are resurrecting ice age ponds and finding rare species returning from a ‘perfect time capsule’

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 13d

Nothing nicer at this time of year than mellow sunshine and a red admiral nectaring on ivy. Love the blue on its hindwings 😍

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 16d

Good news from Chicago! Rivers can be cleaned up, and are being cleaned up. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Hundreds plunge in Chicago River for first official swim in nearly 100 years

Group participates in previously unthinkable mile-long swim after US made key progress to clean polluted rivers

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 21d

This Saturday I'm bringing the wild world of Roger Deakin to the Leiston Book Festival – tickets and fascinating full programme here: www.leistonbookfestival.co.uk Looking forward to it!

Home | Leiston Book Festival | 20 Sept

The first Leiston Book Festival took place on 7 September 2024 and was a great success. In 2025 we continue the theme established last year as six renowned writers explore ideas about our changing lan...

www.leistonbookfestival.co.uk

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 21d

Really honoured to be interviewing nature writing legend Richard Mabey on Oct 3rd at the brilliant North Norfolk Festival of Literature and Landscape in Wells-next-the-sea – full programme and tickets here literatureandlandscape.org

Literature & Landscape

North Norfolk Festival of the arts and nature

literatureandlandscape.org

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 22d

New legal challenge to try and save beautiful and wildlife-rich Whitewebbs Park from Spurs new football academy. The speed at which 20k was raised (and then exceeded) shows the strength of local feeling against this takeover of public green space. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New legal challenge to plan for Spurs football academy in London park

Campaigners crowdfund £26,000 to seek judicial review of move to construct pitches in wildlife-rich area

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Patrick Barkham

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 29d

This is infuriating. What is the point of a Marine Protected Area if trawlers are allowed to keep ploughing it?
Yet again, the government has succumbed to commercial lobbying.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Bottom trawling to continue in English protected waters, government rules

Defra says blanket ban on ‘destructive’ fishing practice disproportionate as MPs urge minister to reconsider

www.theguardian.com

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 29d

Perhaps not quite the amazing butterfly summer many of us experienced. I know @savebutterflies.bsky.social adjust data for an early flight season but I wonder if some low numbers are because species eg Meadow Brown had been and gone before the Big Butterfly Count? www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Britain’s butterflies bounce back in annual count – but only to average levels

Biggest insect survey in world finds UK’s hot summer led to increase in numbers of many species, but overall trends are still concerning

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Patrick Barkham

RSPB England @rspbengland.bsky.social · Sep 4

Thanks to brilliant conservation efforts with our partners it has been a record year for Hen Harriers in the Forest of Bowland, with one of the highest number of fledglings recorded in over 40 years! Read all about it here: www.rspb.org.uk/england/engl...

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · Sep 4

Thank you! It's been a super summer for butterflies, hooray!

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Reposted by Patrick Barkham

Little Toller Books @littletollerbooks.bsky.social · Aug 28

Ahead of the publication of Unschooled @patrickbarkham.bsky.social travelled to Glasgow to meet @carogileswrites.bsky.social

Read Caro's story today in the @theguardian.com in print & on online.

Huge thanks to Patrick for listening & responding so beautifully

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Inside the school refusal crisis: how a mother and her daughters survived a broken system

Caro Giles had to home-educate three of her four daughters when they grew so distressed at the prospect of school that they made themselves ill. Why is our approach to education failing so many young ...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Patrick Barkham

Mark Avery @markavery.bsky.social · Aug 31

Sunday book review: Nature Changing by David North
Publisher: Mascot Media
Review: markavery.info/2025/08/31/s...

'...the most gorgeous book I've read this year'

#cley #norfolk #naturewriting @norfolknats.bsky.social @norfolkbea.bsky.social @cleyspy.bsky.social @patrickbarkham.bsky.social

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