Patrick Barkham

And right on cue, just out

@highpaycentre.bsky.social
schoolsweek.co.uk/best-paid-ac...

Hello Annie, it's accessible by train – we meet 100 yards from Hoveton & Wroxham station, which is 15 mins from Norwich (1hr 50 from London Liverpool Street). Bit of a trek there and back in a day so easier if you can overnight (in Wroxham/Norwich) Would be lovely to see you if you can make it!

It was about an hour of debate within the much larger and important Natural Environment Bill so hopefully not too infuriating for anyone.

Rare butterflies bounce back after landowners in Wales cut back on flailing hedges More than 300 brown hairstreak butterfly eggs were recorded in hedgerows near Llandeilo this winter after decade of decline

Cut blackthorn hedges less often = boost brown hairstreak butterflies. Really simple, cost-free (or even money-saving) measures can massively benefit wildlife. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland as MSPs back law Rest of UK has resisted calls to make builders install bricks that provide nesting for swifts and other endangered birds

Great news from Scotland: a LAW to ensure new buildings have swift bricks. (Contrary to Labour spin, there is no law and no guarantees that builders or planners will incorporate bricks in England.)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A large British Swallowtail butterfly - with tiger stripes of black and yellow - perched on a yellow flag iris at Norfolk Wildlife Trust Hickling reserve. Pic by Liz Dack.

Every summer I love showing people the glorious Swallowtail (weather permitting!) on my home patch. The weekend tour is full but still a few places on June 9, 10. greenwings.co/our-holidays... I'll also be celebrating World Swallowtail Day June 14 with Norfolk Wildlife Trust (pic by NWT's Liz Dack)

The world of today looks bad, but take hope: we’ve been here before and got through it – and we will again | Martin Kettle As I write my last regular column for the Guardian, my thoughts turn to the lessons and hope we can take from history, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

After 41 years at the Guardian, Martin Kettle has written his last column. This is it. (I have read him since I was a politics sixth-former, and his wisdom and ability to see the big picture is immense.) www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Good question! According to Ian Collins, Ronnie never mentioned the two Roberts but it would surprising if their paths didn't cross – creative, daring artists hanging out in rural Suffolk all seemed to find each other in the 40s and 50s (your book sounds great btw)

“It’s so neat because he knows that paper is precious, ink is precious and words are precious. Every word has to work so he’s constantly revisiting and honing it down to get the essence of it all. There’s no waste.”

British Library acquires archive of rural life writer and essayist Ronald Blythe Exclusive: Collection includes workbooks and index cards, and papers that show his research for bestseller Akenfield

Writers' archives are fascinating, and it was amazing to have a rootle through Ronnie Blythe's archive. Great news that the @britishlibrary.bsky.social are looking after it. Ronnie Blythe event there in Feb: events.bl.uk/events/the-r... My story here: www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

It was ideal for the snow, just not so sure how great it will be in the heat of late April!

How demand for elite falcons in the Middle East is driving illegal trade of British birds Exclusive: data reveals hundreds of UK nests have been raided in the past decade amid growing appetite to own prized birds for racing and breeding

Fascinating, troubling story. (I missed this earlier in the week - sharing it in case you did too!) www.theguardian.com/environment/...

YouTube video by Patrick Barkham Training for the London marathon in snow is hazardous. Especially when you're dressed as a badger.

Training for the @londonmarathon.bsky.social in the snow is hazardous. Especially when dressed as a badger. I'm fundraising for Norfolk Wildlife Trust (to restore land for nature &people) #backthebadger here 2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/backtheba... Thank you! www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLww...

I'm running the 2026 TCS London Marathon dressed as a badger to raise money for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the oldest of @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social – celebrating its 100th birthday this year. Please have a laugh at me and help save wildlife! 2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/backtheba...

1 Boatman's Row in Wells-next-the-Sea - Book Now | Glaven Valley 1 Boatman's Row in Wells-next-the-Sea is a 1 bed property for up to 2 guests. Book direct through Glaven Valley today for the best price!

If anyone needs a writers' retreat (or just a lovely holiday), my 1-bed cottage in Wells-next-the-Sea has good availability in Jan/Feb/March. It's my favourite place in the world. www.glavenvalley.co.uk/holiday-cott...

That looks just like my local river, the Bure. So beautiful in winter!

‘You could see bones’: Families’ anguish over coastal erosion threat to Norfolk graves Bereaved relatives say delays over risks at village churchyards are causing distress and call for council action

Interesting dilemma caused by coastal erosion in Norfolk (one of many unforeseen adaptations required by increasing climate change) www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

You don't at all! It was lovely to have your enthusiasm. But I'm sorry there was some editing (for instance I am slightly cross with the editors for removing the exclamation mark I put after your light-hearted comment about AI – they shouldn't have removed it)

‘It brings you closer to the natural world’: the rise of the Merlin birdsong identifying app Merlin has been trained to identify the songs of more than 1,300 bird species around the world

Thanks to Bluesky residents for being so enthusiastic about Merlin! Guardian story here: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Country diary: Postcard from a pier, where brent geese are the main attraction | Lev Parikian Ryde, Isle of Wight: Lots of commotion here among the hovercraft and herring gulls, but it’s the wonderful, tubby geese that make my winter

Brent geese sound like “a cement mixer being cleaned with bricks”? Calumny! They make the most gorgeous purring conversation. And I agree with @levparikian.bsky.social, they are the most beautiful geese. Lovely country diary here: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Good to see Minette Batters, ex-NFU Prez, say in her Farm Review that "the principles behind Landscape Recovery and Countryside Stewardship are sound, but there is a need to scale the concept" - & propose Landscape Recovery projects for all 93 English river catchments!

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Thanks everyone for replying, I've been inundated with wonderful Merlin-lovers. And sorry I can't feature you all. Merlin's new users are increasing by 30% per month. I'm sure someone can do the maths but pretty soon *everyone* will be using it!

Ah great. So much love for Merlin out there!!!

The Remarkable Life of Ronald Blythe | British Library Ronald Blythe (1922–2023) was one of Britain’s most distinctive and cherished chroniclers of rural life. His classic, Akenfield: Portrait of an English Vil

Really pleased to be contributing to an event at the British Library celebrating the FANTASTIC Ronnie Blythe, with Ian Collins (who has written the brilliant biography of his life) Jenny Hall and Helen Melody. Tickets here: events.bl.uk/events/the-r...

Hello Natasha, I'd love to chat if you can spare 10 mins (prob tomorrow). My email is patrick.barkham@theguardian.com - thank you!

Great, thank you. If you email me, perhaps we could chat for 10/15 mins tomorrow? patrick.barkham@theguardian.com Many thanks.

I'd like to chat to one or two people, ideally women (I've already talked to a load of men) who've got into the Merlin app for identifying birdsong this year. For a nice positive story. Please drop me a line, thank you!

‘We hate it. It’s desecration’: the real cost of HS2 The long read: Ten years after I first followed the proposed route, I retraced my steps to see what life was like along the world’s most expensive, heavily delayed railway line

I walked the line of HS2 from London to Birmingham. This is what I found: www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte... More widely, the scale of construction going on outside Birmingham was epic. All this striving for... no economic growth. The model isn't working anymore.

White storks to make historic return to London in 2026 Species extinct as breeding birds in Britain since 1416 to be reintroduced in Barking and Dagenham as part of rewilding effort

Exciting project to bring beautiful wildlife and people together in Barking & Dagenham – great work London Wildlife Trust! www.theguardian.com/environment/...

This brilliant documentary is a fabulous, funny and vital exploration of farming and rewilding, starring @derekgow1965.bsky.social & his farmer neighbour Derek Banbury. Its maker is seeking funds to show the film to the most important audience: farmers! www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/derek-vs-d...