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Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery Nathan Gill admits eight charges of bribery while being a Member of the European Parliament.

Nathan Gill is no fringe politician.

He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.

A Brexit Party MEP.

A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:

"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."

This is a MASSIVE story

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

Reform UK's Crypto Donations Put Under Spotlight as Experts Warn It's 'Impossible to Trace' Foreign Cash Anti-corruption campaigners raise the alarm over loopholes that could allow large sums of untraceable money to slip past checks

Reform UK’s Crypto Donations Put Under Spotlight as Experts Warn It’s ‘Impossible to Trace’ Foreign Cash

August 10th - I saw three separate parties of young Wrens yesterday, walking through the woods - all recently fledged.
It's been a wonderful year for insectivorous birds.
We need some rain now in Dorset, to ensure the bounty of the spring & early summer is fully realised & sustained.
#wrens

A very strangely lit sky this evening and not a breath of air.
Large water drops are falling out of the clouds but you wouldn't call it rainfall.
Looking out of the kitchen window, the Buzzard across the field in the Raptor Oak looks rather unsettled.
#buzzards #strangetimes

Trump: It looks like it’s about $3.1 billion

Powell: I’m not aware of that.

Trump: It just came out

Powell: You just added in a third building

Trump: It’s a building that’s being built

Powell: It was built five years ago.

Hen Harrier chicks fledge with RSPB support after suspicious loss of parent birds RSPB press release (24 July 2025) Chicks fledge with RSPB support after suspicious loss of parent Hen Harriers.  In May 2025, over a period of eight days, four breeding male Hen Harriers suspi…

Hen Harrier chicks fledge with RSPB support after suspicious loss of parent birds raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/07/24/h...

Entry-exit system news: everything British travellers need to know about EES and Etias for holidays - Which? The Etias visa waiver expected to launch in 2026 has almost tripled in price

Another Brexit benefit....

www.which.co.uk/news/article...

Hiding in plain sight - the best strategy?
As light conditions fade the camera switches to IR.
The frog remains motionless despite the proximity of birds and a Common Shrew.
When the Water Shrew appears, the frog is gone. I wonder how that interaction played out? The Water Shrew has a venomous bite.

Young Greenfinches competing for a bathing berth at the #weedypond
#ukbirds #ukwildlife

1/2 The no. of Chiffchaffs in the garden are decreasing now as this year's birds disperse.
'Chaffs are already heading down to the Channel coast on their migration route back to the Mediterranean region (see 2/2).
This bird is very familiar with this bathing spot & how a hinged stalk aids bathing.

Mmmm... the water level is falling in the #Weedypond & that's to be expected.
The strangest thing is the rate at which the willow, hazel and blackthorn trees are shedding their leaves, in the drought conditions.
It looks more like October than the 15th of July.
#MoreRainPlease #ukwildlife

The British “wealth exodus” is a big fat myth Rachel Reeves is not responsible for chasing millionaires away from UK PLC.

The idea that millionaires are departing Britain en-masse is a myth that's being propped up to protect the interests of the wealthy.

@hollies.bsky.social takes down the "wealth exodus" narrative in the @newstatesman.com
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

cruel

Reform UK lost both of their first seat defences.

And wasted the tax payer ~£50k in the process.

Recruitment firm to make office move - Insider Media A Coventry recruitment firm is to move into bigger offices as a result of continued growth.

Reform UK's Campaign Manager for Coventry is John Ahearne

He owns a recruitment company which obtained funding and business support from the European Regional Development Fund:

www.insidermedia.com/news/midland...

Will he be advocating for working closer with Europe?

Reform UK loses by-elections called after councillors quit days into roles The Liberal Democrats and Tories won council seats that Nigel Farage’s party had claimed in May’s local election

Reform UK loses by-elections called after councillors quit days into roles

www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...

Reform lose two council by-elections in seats they only won in May This was the first time Reform defended council seats in by-elections...

Reform has lost two council by-elections in seats they only won in May

I see the Blackbirds are nesting again, mused the Greenfinch.
There are still lots of birds nest-building & feeding young in the gardens & hedges of Britain.
Leave the trimmers & strimmers in the shed until Maggie May wakes up in September.
It's a bumper year. Let's make it count.
#birds #nature 🌿

Tussling hedgehogs, incidentally proving the old saying about the fox knowing many tricks, but the hedgehog only needs one. (Local adages may vary.)
We're pretty sure we see the same big male having a go at any other hodge who crosses his path! The others try to stay out of each other's way.

Hedgehogs, eh. What are they like? 🦔

Bagpuss £50 note

Seems I did this about 7 years ago

YouTube video by Fieldsports Channel Shooters win grouse shooting debate at Westminster, 2025

The Grouse Shooting Debate as presented by the Fieldsports Channel.....
Always important to understand how the opposing camp is spinning the story.
How I hate that urban v rural argument - as described so "eloquently" by Rishi Sunak.

youtu.be/_eKYY0mrdJQ?...

A change in the weather....
A cooler breeze brought the Swallows out onto the wires here at the cottage this afternoon.
Lots of first-brood youngsters out and about - 20/30 birds swooping low over the garden.
#swallows #birds #ukbirds

Finch after finch coming to drink at the weedy pond this afternoon.
If you're a seed-eater you need to take plenty of water onboard to balance-out those dry seeds, which I guess are desiccating in the heat of these unusually hot, dry, June days.
#ProvidePlentyofWater
@bto-gbw.bsky.social

Little Robin Redbreast
The first hint of red feathers begin to moult through, on the left lower breast of this juvenile bird.
#nature #weedypond #robins

The Chaffinch siblings are growing-up fast - such bright eyes they have....
Some sib'rivalry - c'est la vie.
#weedypond

A Hare on the track yesterday evening.
I wonder how the decision process went?
> Something in the track
> Looks like a human
> Can't smell; hear; see; a dog.
> A casual retreat is all this is necessary.....
#hare #ukwildlife

Three hoglets turned up at the back door a few days ago. Mum is going somewhere else, leaving the babies for us to sort out! All look to be doing well.