‘Every time I write, I doubt myself’: Michael Rosen at 80 on deep grief, self-belief and chocolate cake The children’s author answers questions from readers, friends and writers on losing his son Eddie, surviving Covid, who he’d invite to his perfect birthday dinner and where he goes for inspiration

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/a...

The time has come to Transition Away from Fossil Fuels. ⏰
The Santa Marta Conference is right around the corner. Join us as we cover this historic event. 🌎

🔗 Register to follow along the open dialogues and watch our live broadcasts April 28 - 29: www.wedonthavetime.org/events/trans...

The National Forum for Biological Recording has been supporting and advocating for biological recorders with a unique voice for 40 years!

We are proud to be part of the Advisory Council and can't wait to celebrate at the #NFBRConference2026. Be sure to book your place 👇

May be of interest to other citizen scientists ( e.g. #observatree volunteers) who visit #Fineshade wood near Corby.

50 years of data reveal specialist butterflies disappearing across the UK, but the good news is that conservation efforts are making a real difference - helping butterflies isn’t complicated, we can all be part of the solution by making places butterfly-friendly 🦋 @savebutterflies.bsky.social

No sure that your statement about groundwater levels 'decreasing or stable...' is helpful. Maybe better to start with the general statement that they are 'above normal' given that your report explains that highest levels are usually in the spring and that monitoring is intermittent.

Massive congratulations to Diego for defending his PhD today 🍾🎉

And a big thank you to Adriane and @harrysiviter.bsky.social for examining!

‘The starting-point must be to marvel at all things, even the most commonplace’

Attributed to Carl Linnaeus in “Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life” by Jason Roberts

Pale pinky mauve flowers atop a narrow stem against a green back drop

After several years trying to establish Cuckoo flower from locally gathered seed I finally have a plant - bring on the Orange tip butterflies!

In its natural state, Ireland would be largely temperate rainforest, but only tiny remnants now survive.

A major threat to these are invasive plant species, many of which come from other temperate rainforest regions across the globe.

This, for example, is skunk-cabbage, from northwest America.

💻Webinar invite:
🌲Understanding and responding to the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts🌳
🗓️23 April 2026 | 🕒15:00–16:30 CEST

➡️ www.iufro.org/events/under...

#LandscapeRestoration #ForestLandscapes #ForestLandscapeRestoration #ForestScience #ForestResearch #WeCantLiveWithoutForests

LandIS is a comprehensive environmental information system containing the most extensive and detailed soil datasets available for England and Wales. Operated by Cranfield University for over 20 years - and originating from survey work dating back to the 1970s - it includes: ● NATMAP, the National Soil Map ● NATMAP Vector, a 1:250,000 map showing over 300 soil associations ● NATMAP Soilscapes, a simplified national soil map for broad applications ● NATMAP 1000 & 5000, gridded-vector soil reclassifications ● SOILSERIES datasets, offering detailed soil series properties ● Horizon data, describing physical and chemical properties of soil layers ● The National Soil Inventory, point based data on soil chemistry, structure, land use, and erosion

Unlocking the National Soil Map: free and unrestricted access to England and Wales's most comprehensive soil data defraenvironment.blog.gov.uk/2026/04/13/u...

LandIS Soil Data Portal portal.landis.org.uk

#soildata #openaccess #opendata?

Large chrysalis found in the compost this evening (safely re-buried elsewhere). Hawk moth of some kind? Anyone able to help ID more exactly?

For sheer colour intensity and vibrancy, nothing we do matches the natural world.

...brilliant!

Much the same in Derbyshire if it's any consolation. Today was marginally better than yesterday.

Hurray! Should be a deserved show down for other extreme right wingers in Europe.

Do you know someone who has been recording wildlife in the UK for many years? Have they made a real difference to our understanding of nature? If so, please nominate them for NBN Lifetime Achievement Award 2026. bit.ly/NBNawards26n... Deadline 18 May #NBNawards26 Thanks to sponsor @rspb.bsky.social

Do you know someone who does the vital job of verifying wildlife records in the UK? If so, please nominate them for the NBN Verifier’s Award. Deadline - 18 May #NBNawards26 bit.ly/NBNawards26n... Thanks to the prize sponsor @rspb.bsky.social

A scuba diver is underwater examining on the sea floor.

There are 7 different NBN Award categories to nominate someone for:
Lifetime Achievement, Verifier, Terrestrial Wildlife Recording, Marine Wildlife Recording, Group & Newcomer.

Who will you nominate?
bit.ly/NBNawards26n...

Deadline-18 May
@nbntrust.bsky.social
#NBNawards26 🌏

Oaks face 'slow burn' disaster Britain's oaks facing multiple threats in a ‘slow burn' ecological calamity – report.

Britain’s two native oak species, sessile oaks and pedunculate oaks, support more wildlife than any other native tree.

‘God squad’ waives endangered species law to allow US drilling in Gulf of Mexico Critics say exemption for fossil fuels exploits White House’s ‘self-made gas crisis’, and could doom the rare Rice’s whale

We’re suing the Trump admin for greenlighting extinction in the Gulf of Mexico. The “God Squad” voted last week to allow oil and gas companies to completely ignore endangered species protections in the Gulf — an exemption that could serve as a death sentence for already imperiled species.

A new economic superpower could spark a global retreat from fossil fuels | Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope Eighty-five countries have sought a roadmap to phasing out fossil fuels. A conference this month offers hope they could unite

COP has been totally captured by the fossil fuel lobby, but a genuine alternative may be emerging, just in the nick of time.
share.google/XrWaBBr3N8sL...

Two types of solar panel, gearing up for another season of high productivity.

They're both crucial to combating climate breakdown, but the wild oak will also help against equally dire *ecological* collapse.

3 vital strands to a viable future:
● Rewilding
● Clean energy
● More plant-based diets

I love seeing these rewilding posts.

Alt for photo: An almost completely green butterfly on a twig, with a background of yellow flowers and leaves of a similar green.

Sounds very exciting. #university of Birmingham/ #BIFoR students might be interested. @birminghamalum.bsky.social.

Grizzled Skipper butterfly resting on forget-me-nots against a chartreuse background

Grizzled Skippers are back!

The first Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae) of 2026 was seen in Hampshire on the 6 April.

Keep up with the first sightings as they happen 👉 butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/first-butter...

📷: Nigel Kiteley

The Beginning Of The End For Fossil Fuels Can Start In Colombia 🇨🇴
Everything you need to know about the first-ever Transition Away From Fossil Fuels Conference taking place in Santa Marta, #Colombia.

Read our latest piece on @forbes.com
www.forbes.com/sites/we-don...

Fluffy yellow-white willow catkins against a clear blue sky

First willow warbler of the year, soon there’ll be one in every other tree!

Join our next free workshop as we explore how the arms industry has embedded itself within our schools and universities and is shaping young minds...

With speakers from @caatuk.bsky.social, @transitionsec.bsky.social, Demilitarise Education, and University of Sussex 🧪
www.sgr.org.uk/events/milit...