Julia Barrell

If any of you have any sort of connection to my very small catchment area (Cardiff west) can you consider sharing this, I'm trying to drum up business so that I can afford to buy my wife little treats and so on, thanks
www.instagram.com/p/DUx5LLVDGA...

IOC bans Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych over 'helmet of remembrance' Skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych is banned from competing at the Winter Olympics for continuing to wear a helmet that features images of athletes killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articl...

Meet local celebrity Peter Redshank! Celebrity because it's the only ringed Redshank in the area, Peter because it was ringed (DK10753) as an adult on 22/2/2016 at Peterstone Great Wharf, & has been re-sighted many times since at/around Cardiff Bay. #birdingWales

Tomorrows sees the start of Welsh Dark Sky Week 🌌

Yes - I have booked the weather…

Check out your local National Park or National Landscape website/social media for events near you ✨

🗣️"Our pubs are not just businesses; they are integral parts of our social infrastructure."
🗣️"They deserve a future – let’s not call stop tap on our local pubs – let’s ensure that the beers keep flowing for years to come."
@camraofficial.bsky.social @plaidcymru.bsky.social @plaidclwyd.bsky.social

It's almost like being fabulously rich doesn't make you happy or well adjusted. It's almost like it makes you sad and lonely. And leaves you forever casting about for scapegoats to offset your deep self-loathing. Thank you Jim Ratcliffe and Elon Musk for these important life lessons.

'UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe In an interview with Sky News's Ed Conway, Sir Jim says Britain faces profound political, social and economic challenges, among them an unprecedented rise in immigration in recent years.

It’s always the ones you most expect.
news.sky.com/story/the-uk...

Point of no return: a hellish ‘hothouse Earth’ getting closer, scientists say Continued global heating could set irreversible course by triggering climate tipping points, but most people unaware The world is closer than thought to a “point of no return” after which runaway global heating cannot be stopped, scientists have said. Continued global heating could trigger climate tipping points, leading to a cascade of further tipping points and feedback loops, they said. This would lock the world into a new and hellish “hothouse Earth” climate far worse than the 2-3C temperature rise the world is on track to reach. The climate would also be very different to the benign conditions of the past 11,000 years, during which the whole of human civilisation developed. Continue reading...

Point of no return: a hellish ‘hothouse Earth’ getting closer, scientists say

Reform UK's Welsh leader 'not on the electoral register in December 2025' Martin Shipton Newly appointed Reform UK Wales leader Dan Thomas does not appear in the electoral register compiled in December 2025 that covers the part of Wales where he has his roots, we have been ...

This story just gets better and better -

nation.cymru/news/reform-...

The Cambrian Mountains Society & other groups from Mid-Wales are holding a protest at the Senedd on 11 Feb to object to the industrialisation of our wonderful, open, biodiverse & tranquil region for the wholesale construction of renewable power stations, electricity substations pylon chains & roads

Native trees key to more woodland bird chicks A global synthesis of decades of research suggests that woodlands dominated by native tree species support higher numbers of breeding birds and more fledged chicks than forests with a high proportion of non-native trees.

Woodland birds produce more fledged chicks in forests dominated by native tree species than in those with a high proportion of non-native trees, according to a major new global study:

The new leader of Reform UK Wales lives in Bath, not Wales Martin Shipton The newly appointed leader of Reform UK in Wales hasn’t moved back to his home town in the Valleys, but has bought a £1m house near Bath, we can reveal. Dan Thomas, the former Conservat...

Looks like Farage hadn't realised that in order to stand for Senedd elections, candidates have to live in Wales.

Why am I not surprised?

nation.cymru/news/the-new...

Symbolic of the Council's housing policy?

Homes aplenty for people with money but nowhere nearly enough for people with less?

Birthday Party For #RosaParks this Wednesday (4th Feb) in the Swansea OXFAM shop. 11am.
Remembering and celebrating her inspirational life!
There will be fairtrade refreshments, cake, and good company!

@oxfamcymru.bsky.social @fairtradewales.bsky.social

Emma Finucane sets new world record Welsh cyclist Emma Finucane has achieved her aim of breaking the women’s flying 200m track world record at the 2026 UEC European Track Championships. The 23-year-old became just the third woman to go ...

Welsh cyclist Emma Finucane has achieved her aim of breaking the women’s flying 200m track world record at the 2026 UEC European Track Championships

Magpie collecting sticks - presumably nest building.

Seems a bit early.

A satellite image showing the location of Crofty Industrial Estate and the meeting point

This Saturday (31st January) we have a field trip to Crofty, meeting at Crofty Industrial Estate at 08:00am. Come and join us for what should be a great morning with a variety of waterfowl and waders.

Full details at the link below:
www.gowerbirds.org.uk/event/crofty...

Gamekeeper pleads guilty in England’s first ever Hen Harrier persecution case (RSPB press release) Press release from RSPB (29 January 2026) GAMEKEEPER PLEADS GUILTY IN ENGLAND’S FIRST EVER HEN HARRIER PERSECUTION CASE On 29 January at York Magistrates Court Racster Dingwall – a head gamek…

Gamekeeper pleads guilty in England's first ever Hen Harrier persecution case (RSPB press release).

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #SeriousCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/29/g...

The Introduction to Whale and Dolphin Identification course!

It gives you the core skills to recognise species in the Northeast Atlantic , plus expert tips from professional whale watchers – so you can confidently tell your harbour porpoise from your humpback whale.

👉 orca.org.uk/training/int...

Natural Resources Wales issues stark warning over wildlife loss and polluted rivers A major Welsh environment report calls for action across society so people can live more sustainably.

Really worrying.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thank you #IEPAW for this thorough consideration of the challenges facing Wales’ SSSIs, and recommendations to improve their monitoring, management and protection. Delivering on these must be an urgent priority for #WelshGovernment to achieve Wales’ #30by30 ambitions.

Fantastic news!

Many many congratulations, Hannah!

Brilliant news!

Petition: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their...

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

In 2025, UK grassroots venues paid more tax than at any point in history... all while the average profit margin was just 2.5%.

#biggardenbirdwatch

1 blackbird!

Better than last year - no birds at all.

And, as usual, the sparrows who are normally here pretty much all the time were a no show ...

Railroad Bill’s 40th Birthday Reunion Tickets Buy tickets and see event information for Railroad Bill’s 40th Birthday Reunion.

Railroad Bill's 40th birthday celebration gig at The Gate, Cardiff, on Saturday, 25th April is absolutely not to be missed!

thegate.gigantic.com/railroad-bil...

Toy Mic Trev. Cardiff legend. Fact.

"Of 61 habitats assessed, only two were in favourable condition when considered in their entirety across Wales, while nearly 80% of habitats are classed as 'unfavourable-bad'"

A decade since the Environment Act and several years into a nature and climate emergency.

Not looking good Welsh Gov.

A healthy ecosystem requires a wide range of species interactions

Focussing only on, eg, pollination or predation, will not hep ecosystem-level conservation