What did the countryside sound like two hundred years ago? With the help of John Clare’s poetry we discover the landscape of the past - do listen BBC Open Country

Get ready for #ActionforWildlifeDay2024 TOMORROW at Carsington Water! 🐦🌳 10th August, 11.00 - 16.30, Carsington Water Join us for a day of family fun, learning, and a celebration of our incredible wildlife. ➡️henharrierday.uk/events/action-… Chris Packham Indy Kiemel Greene Mark Avery

A friend of mine, Sandro Bianco, was fishing for Bluefin today at the Paloma light-buoy, between Grado & Trieste & hooked a 3m Thresher Shark, bringing it alongside to cut the line close to the mouth. I think this is the 3rd TS hooked but not boated in the Gulf of TS in a month.

Spot on speech today Mark Cocker a #ActionForWildlifeDay2024 #henharrierday Thought provoking: Language matters. Names matter. Don’t fall into the toxic positivity trap. Thank you.

Great to hear from Jo Smith Rose O'Neill Olivia Blake MP Martin Simpson Mark Thomas Mark Avery Mark Cocker Chris Packham Ruth Tingay yesterday and see friends from Derbyshire Swift Conservation Badger Trust Urgency, action, clarity, kindness and hope needed...and #StopTheCull

A great #ActionForWildlifeDay2024 at Carsington yesterday. Top presentations; highlight being Mark Cocker - and some ace music, especially from the evergreen Martin Simpson. And it mostly wasn't raining...

We always talk about Nature's powers of recovery. Yet the recent bounce back - after the worst year ever for inverts - of butterflies, hoverflies and bumblebees (albeit ongoing & incomplete even now) so gladdens my heart 😁

1/3 Great turnout at #henharrierday - lots of organisations present & thanks to to Hen Harrier Action for the huge task of setting everything up - even the sun eventually turned up. Martin Simpson Martin Simpson & Sing it Bold SingItBold providing the music

2/3 Good range of speakers inc Mark Thomas RSPB Investigations RSPB highlighting the work still needed to tackle raptor persecution, and thoughtful words as ever from Mark Cocker

We are dismayed that someone has had a go at gauging the eyes out of our new sculpture, Martha in BCA Grinlow Wood. We are very sad about this especially in the light of all the generous donations that ennobled us to get her made. We would appreciate any information

Country diary: My summer garden is quieter than it should be | Susie White theguardian.com/environment/ar…

Happy World Elephant Day! Several years ago at a waterhole in Africa. ©Tim Gallagher

Recording of Part 1 of Hen Harrier Day 10th August, 2024. The Gospel Community Choir 'Sing It Bold'. youtu.be/SIxZLCbTTQM They set the day off to a great start and made the dismal weather seem irrelevant. Thank you 'Sing It Bold!! More elements of the day to come.

The Little Owls are resplendent in their post-moult plumage outside the living room window. Sadly, this is the 2nd year running that they have failed to successfully breed. Meanwhile, a young fox passes by... Mark Cocker

“Birds are also victims of salmon farming” These are the “well paid jobs for rural communities” : shovelling lice-ridden, diseased dead salmon and killing wild birds. There is nothing good about this industry. RSPCA Assured stamp it “welfare assured”. youtu.be/QSmHoPR4-8Q?si…

The hare taken by stealth & surprise. #naturephoto

I’d love a guide to the mysterious hieroglyphics of leaf mines and cuttings.

A close examination of a cuckoo wasp by Mark Cocker: "It strikes me that this tiny insect is like all life itself – mysterious, beautiful, completely improbable and, ultimately, full of remorseless terror." theguardian.com/environment/ar…

c1/2 of Oxf biology undergrads can't name 1 Brit butterfly. Yet the @Collins New Nat recent titles on bees and shieldbugs primarily uses scientific nomenclature. We're facing the 6th Extinction. A blog asking who the books are for & what roles they play? markcocker.com/blog/

📺Watch Mark Cocker's powerful talk on why we need to reimagine our relationship with nature. #ActionForWildlifeDay ➡️youtu.be/xdgZ9-q1lhk?fe…