It’s so important to think about a communal growing space as more than just what you grow, but the stories, conversations and emotions that space might start. Today we did just that. We’ll be working together to sow seeds, make bouquets and collect seeds later this year!
I ran a workshop at SAW Newcastle today, a community space for art, growing, to create a cut flower space. This caters to refugees and asylum seekers as well as members of the local community so we built in space to think about different community’s experiences of nature and flowers to our plans!
We hope those of you enjoying #ValentinesDay chocolates remember to thank the bats 🦇 as well as the person who gave you the chocolates ❤️🍫. Bats help to reduce insect damage in cacao plantations across the tropical world where chocolate is grown #BatsNeedFriends #Lovebats
I’m in this month’s Gardens Illustrated in the Gardening Talent section which is a huge honour!
I’m talking all things gardening inspiration, climate change and the importance of going peat free for nature and climate 🌍🌱🌳🌸
Happening tonight! Excited to discuss my Youth Ambassador role with @southdownsnp.bsky.social, being on the committee for the Sussex Mammal Group and the Ecological Society at Brighton Uni, and my new role as an ambassador for @campaign4parks.bsky.social
On @ukyouthfornature.bsky.social Instagram!
Super excited to be interviewed by Raman for my Instagram Live with @ukyouthfornature.bsky.social on Wednesday evening!
Excited to discuss all things nature recovery, National Parks, my pond research, and more! Promises to be a great conversation if you can tune in!
Been reading through the Government's new Land Use Consultation. Here's the juiciest bits I've seen so far!
An excellent, bold proposal to spare 9% of England's least-productive land for nature & carbon - restoring peat bogs & regenerating woods - & changes to ag land use over a further 10% /1
January seemed to the busiest month I could have imagined! I'm looking forward to a slightly less hectic February and a chance to properly get myself set up for the year rather than just running to keep up with it all!
"Today, the government begins a consultation into its much anticipated #LandUseFramework, and we, like many other landowners and policymakers, will be scrutinising the specifics."
Hilary McGrady, director general @nationaltrust.bsky.social, discusses how to get the upcoming framework right:
🦇 Nature vs Growth? The false choice threatening our future: www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/01... .
Should developers 'stop worrying about the bats and the newts'? They don't have to; pitting nature against development is dangerous, irresponsible and unnecessary.
With news expected tomorrow about a Consultation on Land Use, we look forward to hearing more about government's plans to improve decision-making & balance policy objectives.
If you need a reminder of what a Land Use Framework is & how it could change things, watch our 📽️👇
youtu.be/DEiJVNAsrR4?...
The decision to greenlight a giant new oilfield off Shetland has been ruled unlawful by the courts.
Great work from #StopRosebank, @tippingpointuk.bsky.social Uplift and @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social 👏
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A stag at Lyme Park. The stag is looking at the camera, and the Manchester skyline can be seen in the background.
Our reaction to the Chancellor’s speech on Wednesday🗣️:
"If the Chancellor wants to drive economic growth, she must also prioritise a healthy, resilient and thriving natural world. Clean water, healthy ecosystems and a stable climate are vital for sustainable growth.”
Environmental rules are vital to protect wildlife, but with intelligent planning it is perfectly possible to boost development & nature together🏘️
Government must stop demonising nature protection
Read more on our response to yesterday's speech from the Chancellor👇
www.wcl.org.uk/response-to-...
“There's no doubt that raising growth is hard” but “the UK's ‘first green chancellor’ shouldn't pit growing the economy against making it greener.”
Steve Coulter, head of economy, for @businessgreen.bsky.social:
Screenshot of a BBC Politics tweet shows Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaking at a podium during a live broadcast of her speech. The quote at the top reads, “We are reducing the environmental requirements placed on developers when they pay into a nature restoration fund… they can focus on getting things built and stop worrying about the bats and the newts,” as she addresses the audience. In the background, there are large screens displaying the live stream of the speech, with a banner at the bottom reading “Kickstarting Economic Growth.”
Stop worrying about bats and newts? No Rachel Reeves MP – start worrying about the future of our economy if we tear down the nature it depends on.
Nature isn’t a blocker; it’s the foundation of growth.
Loved this episode from three of my lovely cohort all about nutrient dense food, public procurement, and leadership and teams. It’s never been more relevant to have some of these big discussions!
open.spotify.com/episode/5K13...
Zero Hour’s statement following the #CANBill’s second reading debate in the House of Commons on 24 January—and Ed Miliband’s response to that debate, here: x.com/Ed_Miliband/... @ed-miliband.bsky.social
Watching the 2nd reading of the Climate and Nature Bill and my GOD this is the vision of the future I want to see!! I am so ENCOURAGED to see this debate. Thank you @rozsavagemp.bsky.social and thank you @zero-hour.bsky.social. This is change in action!
Even average usage of some fertilisers can be disastrous for populations of flowers & pollinators, study shows👇
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Farmers are crucial to restoring nature, so we're calling on Government to properly fund & support nature-friendly farming👩🌾
Otters among UK wildlife carrying toxic ‘forever chemicals’, analysis shows. Some wildlife species have accumulated many times more than safe amount of PFAS in their tissue and organs www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Every January, Oxford hosts two farming conferences: the mainstream Oxford Farming Conference and the newer Oxford Real Farming Conference, which focuses on transforming the food system. 👨🌾🌱
We attended both this year, and in this blog, @lucypegg.bsky.social writes on the lessons we learned:
Popping a link to the starter pack here for anyone who may be looking for it: go.bsky.app/LNv5K8h
Still putting it together if anyone has any recommendations or suggestions of people I’ve missed 😊
🔔Shout out time🔔
Shout out to one of our amazing volunteers at UK Youth for Nature @robsonpeisley.bsky.social for putting together a nature starter pack here this week. Doing the HARD work of connecting nature folks together!
A legend amongst us, a joy to be around. Thanks Robson ✨
This is a MAJOR issue, and at a very bare minimum we should be matching the EU’s ambition on non-essential use of PFAS in the UK!
How many more wake-up calls do we need? We don’t have long to stop catastrophic damage to the natural world we love and rely on. The Climate and Nature Bill will be voted on next week - there's no excuse for politicians of any party not to vote for it. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
I love our campaigns meetings at UKY4N, every Tuesday evening I leave with such a buzz from our volunteers showing up and bringing ideas to our campaigns.
The future of nature conservation is BRIGHT if these lot are involved!
🌊 “Roz Savage MP and Olympian Etienne Stott took to row boats to paddle past Parliament—to call on Ministers to back the Climate and Nature Bill. The #CANBill would require the UK to achieve its international climate and nature targets.”
news.sky.com/story/politi...
The despair to hope & joy pipeline is SO TRUE! I felt such fear and panic before being co-director at UK Youth for Nature, but I find myself with an abundance of hope daily.
Get out and find your community, find that hope because that is what we need to solve these twin climate & nature crises!
“Farmers must be properly supported to adapt and to become stewards of our land. Taking inspiration from the Climate and Nature Bill is a good start. We urge Ministers to back the #CANBill, to help our farmers adapt and thrive for generations to come.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...