Tony Baines

Utterly appalling disregard for nature. Not a clue, sadly.

Windy day but a good crew out in Yateley West including prospective Hampshire Mayoral candidate @martin.tod.social

Very hard to beat the sandy beaches and gorgeous setting of Bournemouth @libdems.org.uk

Interesting to see what matters most to students at the UCA Freshers Fair in Farnham. Affordable housing and Gaza, perhaps unsurprisingly, topping the unconventional poll

Hope you're fully recovered now!

Nature Notes
Moths &
Hedgehogs rule ok?

Common Blue butterfly resting on heather against a dark pink background. Text overlay reads 'the results are in' with Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count logo. Photo credit Matt Berry

The #BigButterflyCount results are in and it's official...

2025 was an average year for butterflies.

See the full results and what can be done to help butterflies and moths 👇
https://butterfly-conservation.org/big-butterfly-count-results-2025

Not quite ready for a new career as a model but love Sally Ferguson's homage to our beautiful butterflies and moths at the graduate exhibition at Farnham's UCA @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Entertaining game at the picturesque Beveree this afternoon in National League South. Late drama as the visitors had a goal disallowed but it ended Hampton & Richmond 3-2 Ebbsfleet Utd

Superlative and uplifting choral presentiation from @stmartinsvoices.bsky.social at the uniquely cavernous setting of @brunelmuseum.bsky.social in Rotherhithe tonight. Nothing beats live performance

Good to see so many visiting @morecambefc.bsky.social fans applauding their team off the pitch at @theshots.bsky.social today. After all the issues they've had great that they still have a club to follow. @morecambefcfeed.bsky.social

Mega! 2 Death's-Head Hawk-moth caterpillars found in the In-laws garden today in Sleights, North Yorkshire. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @msj99.bsky.social

Amazing creatures! What an incredible find

My first National League South game of the season, a good close encounter, ends Maidenhead Utd 2-2 @hemelfc.bsky.social Enjoyable evening!

Good that Forestry England are making this point but surely they shouldn't have to in 2025?? @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

North London last night for footy. A lively match with some good young players on show. Home side took an early lead but it ended @walthamstowfc.bsky.social 2- 2 Bowers&Pitsea @isthmianleague.bsky.social

YouTube video by Archive UK tv Fred Dinenage remembers 'Out of Town' with Jack Hargreaves

Being an old school television buff 2 of my favourite presenters were the unique countryman Jack Hargreaves and the versatile Fred Dinenage. Both came to national prominence through their work in the South region. Just love this short news piece...
youtu.be/oJSWQLwXTkw?...

New ground for me as the home team make their debut in the @isthmianleague.bsky.social SE division. Very entertaining game which could have gone either way ends Hassocks 3-2 @hernebayfc.bsky.social

Who says young people don't do politics? Excluding me the average age of this @libdems.org.uk canvass team would have been very early 20s! 170 plus doors covered in Chineham on behalf of @alexkbrewer.bsky.social 🔶️

Southern Water applies for permission to draw water from rare chalk stream Environment secretary urged to stop drought order that could damage the ecology of River Test in Hampshire

How is it that we can even consider allowing such an iconic asset of nature as the River Test to be abused in this way?
www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Women's Open Golf: Mimi Rhodes hits hole-in-one England's Mimi Rhodes hits a miraculous hole-in-one on the fifth hole at the Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.

Never seen anything like this before. What are the chances?

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/v...

I have some good news for election nerds - "The British General Election of 2024" will be out this autumn, and if you're quick you can grab a 25% pre-order discount from Waterstone's by ordering your copy by 31st July, just enter code SUMMER25 www.waterstones.com/book/the-bri...

Baseleys Bridge is falling down (mind you it originates from 1792)

UK for example has consistently been close to or at the top of the pack in terms of this 'target'. Procurement is still terrible and our defence capacity has if anything got worse since the introduction of the two per cent target!

And some of the very best ice cream ever 🍦👍

Visited Domme above the Dordogne valley in France today. Spectacular views

So tiny and insignificant in the totality of things!

One good thing about being in rural Central France is that the sky is properly dark at night and you can actually see the stars. We've forgotten how glorious they are.

Eventful flight to Bordeaux. 4 allocated planes, boarded 3. Technical fault initially, too much fuel on the 1st replacement then returned back to Gatwick after reaching 8000 feet on the next one due to cabin pressure issues. Finally arrived on the 4th around 6 hours late. #joyoftravel

A lovely morning to be out in Sherfield-on-Loddon supporting our local MP @alexkbrewer.bsky.social 🌞🔶️🌞