Barbara McFarlane
@barbaramcfarlane.bsky.social
Architect, activist, follower of green initiatives, active in local amenity groups / loves sea-kayaking, outdoor swimming, art, exploring wildlandscapes and literature. Strong ties with Northwich.
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
"The slaughter. The massacre. The genocide. When will it stop?"
As a woman is arrested under the Terrorism Act for holding a sign, she asks when will it end?
It's on all of us to take action to stop the genocide and resist attempts to label those who do as 'terrorists'.
As a woman is arrested under the Terrorism Act for holding a sign, she asks when will it end?
It's on all of us to take action to stop the genocide and resist attempts to label those who do as 'terrorists'.
November 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
"The slaughter. The massacre. The genocide. When will it stop?"
As a woman is arrested under the Terrorism Act for holding a sign, she asks when will it end?
It's on all of us to take action to stop the genocide and resist attempts to label those who do as 'terrorists'.
As a woman is arrested under the Terrorism Act for holding a sign, she asks when will it end?
It's on all of us to take action to stop the genocide and resist attempts to label those who do as 'terrorists'.
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Good news: Study shows France’s birds making tentative recovery after neonicotinoid pesticide ban
UK has only just closed loophole in neonics ban (‘derogations’) so may be too soon to see recovery here?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK has only just closed loophole in neonics ban (‘derogations’) so may be too soon to see recovery here?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
With neonicotinoid pesticide ban, France’s birds make a tentative recovery - study
Analysis shows small hike in populations of insect-eating species after 2018 ruling, but full recovery may take decades
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Good news: Study shows France’s birds making tentative recovery after neonicotinoid pesticide ban
UK has only just closed loophole in neonics ban (‘derogations’) so may be too soon to see recovery here?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK has only just closed loophole in neonics ban (‘derogations’) so may be too soon to see recovery here?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@sustainhackney.bsky.social Films for Action Fri 21 Nov with panel discission after www.sustainablehackney.org.uk/event-detail...
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
@sustainhackney.bsky.social Films for Action Fri 21 Nov with panel discission after www.sustainablehackney.org.uk/event-detail...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
We've transferred funds from a successful legal campaign to stop the Waterworks Centre & surrounding land being re-designated for housing development to a new page. The threat to this closed Asset of Community Value and the wider area remains, so we will be ready www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-th...
STOP INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE LEE VALLEY PARK!
I live in Hackney, close to the border with Waltham Forest, I have been an active campaigner for the marshes since 2012.
www.crowdjustice.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM
We've transferred funds from a successful legal campaign to stop the Waterworks Centre & surrounding land being re-designated for housing development to a new page. The threat to this closed Asset of Community Value and the wider area remains, so we will be ready www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-th...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
The @houseofcommons.parliament.uk rejected the science-based amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (244 votes to 132). We will continue to campaign to limit the damage this badly thought out piece of legislation will do.
www.bats.org.uk/our-work/bio...
www.bats.org.uk/our-work/bio...
Planning and Infrastructure Bill - Biodiversity policy & advocacy - Bat Conservation Trust
The government published the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in March 2025, this outlined its proposals for reforming the planning process. Although th...
www.bats.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The @houseofcommons.parliament.uk rejected the science-based amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (244 votes to 132). We will continue to campaign to limit the damage this badly thought out piece of legislation will do.
www.bats.org.uk/our-work/bio...
www.bats.org.uk/our-work/bio...
Defective work done under ECO4 & damage done should be remediated. The failures give retrofit & renewables a bad name @fuelpovertyaction.bsky.social also say “5. The Government's new Warm Homes Plan must include independent checks on all work, proper training, and full protections for residents”
I’m afraid I’ve heard enough to take this seriously - No.10 is thinking of abolishing ECO, the main source of funding for upgrading fuel poor homes.
There’s no way to sugar coat this: it would be a disaster.
And it would mean this government spending less on upgrading homes than the last one
There’s no way to sugar coat this: it would be a disaster.
And it would mean this government spending less on upgrading homes than the last one
To be clear, what is being proposed here is to axe the main mechanism for getting Britain’s homes insulated - which is by FAR the best way to reduce household energy bills in the long term 🤦♂️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
November 5, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Defective work done under ECO4 & damage done should be remediated. The failures give retrofit & renewables a bad name @fuelpovertyaction.bsky.social also say “5. The Government's new Warm Homes Plan must include independent checks on all work, proper training, and full protections for residents”
I think you are papering over truth @fuelpovertyaction.bsky.social say “1. The Government must replace Trustmk and reform Ofgem
2. All ECO4 homes must be checked and fixed, funded by ending broken ECO4 scheme now
3. Fine energy firms for wasting £bns of our money and allow’g damage to our homes...
2. All ECO4 homes must be checked and fixed, funded by ending broken ECO4 scheme now
3. Fine energy firms for wasting £bns of our money and allow’g damage to our homes...
November 5, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I think you are papering over truth @fuelpovertyaction.bsky.social say “1. The Government must replace Trustmk and reform Ofgem
2. All ECO4 homes must be checked and fixed, funded by ending broken ECO4 scheme now
3. Fine energy firms for wasting £bns of our money and allow’g damage to our homes...
2. All ECO4 homes must be checked and fixed, funded by ending broken ECO4 scheme now
3. Fine energy firms for wasting £bns of our money and allow’g damage to our homes...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
🔴 MPs are banned from been paid to give 'political advice' - but Lords can.
And guess what? Many Conservative shadow ministers in the Lords are being paid by the industries they’re meant to scrutinise.
New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/the-lords-...
And guess what? Many Conservative shadow ministers in the Lords are being paid by the industries they’re meant to scrutinise.
New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/the-lords-...
The Lords’ Work? How Tory Shadow Ministers Are Cashing In
Many Conservative shadow ministers in the Lords are being paid to ‘advise’ the same industries they’re meant to scrutinise.
democracyforsale.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:23 PM
🔴 MPs are banned from been paid to give 'political advice' - but Lords can.
And guess what? Many Conservative shadow ministers in the Lords are being paid by the industries they’re meant to scrutinise.
New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/the-lords-...
And guess what? Many Conservative shadow ministers in the Lords are being paid by the industries they’re meant to scrutinise.
New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/the-lords-...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Whilst a lot of what Bill Gates wrote in his memo makes a certain amount of sense, his main point that short term emissions reduction is not the priority is based on flawed and out of date data.
I’ve scribbled on his graph below to add a very important line - reality.
#climatechange #acceleration
I’ve scribbled on his graph below to add a very important line - reality.
#climatechange #acceleration
October 30, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Whilst a lot of what Bill Gates wrote in his memo makes a certain amount of sense, his main point that short term emissions reduction is not the priority is based on flawed and out of date data.
I’ve scribbled on his graph below to add a very important line - reality.
#climatechange #acceleration
I’ve scribbled on his graph below to add a very important line - reality.
#climatechange #acceleration
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
October 23, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
We don't just want 9 river walks, we want access to all rivers. 96% of rivers in England and Wales have no rights of access. Landowners have blocked public access to rivers for centuries. Labour's promise is just 9 new river walks. We say that's not enough.
October 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
We don't just want 9 river walks, we want access to all rivers. 96% of rivers in England and Wales have no rights of access. Landowners have blocked public access to rivers for centuries. Labour's promise is just 9 new river walks. We say that's not enough.
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
"We can’t say it strongly enough: for planning reform to succeed for both people and nature, this newt-bashing, snail-baiting, spider-hating scapegoating must stop."
@richardbenwell.bsky.social, chief exec @wclnews.bsky.social, outlines what's needed to create balance between nature and planning:
@richardbenwell.bsky.social, chief exec @wclnews.bsky.social, outlines what's needed to create balance between nature and planning:
Cross-government planning proposals threaten nature and must be fixed
This post is by Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link The planning system must be improved for nature. When development damages protected wildlife, developers shouldn’t …
buff.ly
October 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
"We can’t say it strongly enough: for planning reform to succeed for both people and nature, this newt-bashing, snail-baiting, spider-hating scapegoating must stop."
@richardbenwell.bsky.social, chief exec @wclnews.bsky.social, outlines what's needed to create balance between nature and planning:
@richardbenwell.bsky.social, chief exec @wclnews.bsky.social, outlines what's needed to create balance between nature and planning:
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Only in Britain could the monarch effectively own the sea-bed, and milk it for profit
So much for King Charles' 'green credentials'
This is absolutely outrageous and has to stop
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
So much for King Charles' 'green credentials'
This is absolutely outrageous and has to stop
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Greenpeace threatens to sue crown estate for driving up cost of offshore wind
Environmental group accuses king’s property management company of ‘milking for profit’ its monopoly ownership of seabed
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Only in Britain could the monarch effectively own the sea-bed, and milk it for profit
So much for King Charles' 'green credentials'
This is absolutely outrageous and has to stop
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
So much for King Charles' 'green credentials'
This is absolutely outrageous and has to stop
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Don't care about the massive damage done to native ecosystems by the constant release of vast numbers of invasive pheasants for shooting?
Maybe you'll care about catching Lyme disease instead.
Maybe you'll care about catching Lyme disease instead.
Ticks are more likely to carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease in areas where Common Pheasants Phasianus colchicus are released, according to new research.
Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🥇Subscriber Content
Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🥇Subscriber Content
October 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Don't care about the massive damage done to native ecosystems by the constant release of vast numbers of invasive pheasants for shooting?
Maybe you'll care about catching Lyme disease instead.
Maybe you'll care about catching Lyme disease instead.
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
River abstraction has soared 76% over two decades, threatening rivers, ecosystems and future supply. Water companies fall back on extracting more from already stressed rivers 4/4
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
England’s rivers ‘under threat’ as water extraction surges to record levels
Exclusive: Investigation finds 76% rise in water taken from rivers and lakes for industrial or public consumption in two decades
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
River abstraction has soared 76% over two decades, threatening rivers, ecosystems and future supply. Water companies fall back on extracting more from already stressed rivers 4/4
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Utterly beholden to lobbyists, staggeringly ignorant and dismissive of the natural world: Rachel Reeves might not look or sound like Donald Trump, but she is behaving very much like him. This government is even more of an ecological hazard than the Tories were.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Rachel Reeves clears planning blockage amid ‘good relationship’ with developer
Exclusive: Chancellor says 20,000 homes were being held up due to ‘some snails that are a protected species or something’
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Utterly beholden to lobbyists, staggeringly ignorant and dismissive of the natural world: Rachel Reeves might not look or sound like Donald Trump, but she is behaving very much like him. This government is even more of an ecological hazard than the Tories were.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Andy Street is spot on. Birmingham is a brilliant city. Vibrant, diverse, wonderful.
“I’ll put it bluntly, Robert is wrong… it’s actually a very integrated place... Not the definition of a slum.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands 2017-24, responds to Robert Jenrick's comments on Handsworth.
#Newsnight
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands 2017-24, responds to Robert Jenrick's comments on Handsworth.
#Newsnight
October 7, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Andy Street is spot on. Birmingham is a brilliant city. Vibrant, diverse, wonderful.
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Excellent analysis of this disaster. Oxygen Conservation's purchase of BrewDog's Lost Forest at Kinrara - parkswatchscotland parkswatchscotland.co.uk/2025/10/04/o...
Oxygen Conservation's purchase of BrewDog's Lost Forest at Kinrara - parkswatchscotland
BrewDog’s sale of Kinrara, the estate near Aviemore which it purchased for £8,800,000 in December 2020, and the announcement by Oxygen Conservation earlier this week that it had purchased it (they hav...
parkswatchscotland.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Excellent analysis of this disaster. Oxygen Conservation's purchase of BrewDog's Lost Forest at Kinrara - parkswatchscotland parkswatchscotland.co.uk/2025/10/04/o...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
I wrote this story back in 2020 about Larch Maxey www.theguardian.com/environment/... Now he faces losing his home - fundraiser here: gofund.me/ce4ec3de0
‘Seeing the trees being ripped down is really hard’: meet a father and son protesting against HS2
The controversial HS2 route slices through some of England’s most precious woodland. But standing in its way are father and son Larch and Seb Maxey. They explain why living 30ft off the ground in prec...
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I wrote this story back in 2020 about Larch Maxey www.theguardian.com/environment/... Now he faces losing his home - fundraiser here: gofund.me/ce4ec3de0
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
‘An attack like this is against all human kind’ – mother of Manchester arena victim
www.channel4.com/news/an-atta...
www.channel4.com/news/an-atta...
‘An attack like this is against all human kind’ – mother of Manchester arena victim
We were joined by Figen Murray. She is the mother of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
www.channel4.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:07 PM
‘An attack like this is against all human kind’ – mother of Manchester arena victim
www.channel4.com/news/an-atta...
www.channel4.com/news/an-atta...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Israel’s ecocide in Gaza sends this message: even if we stopped dropping bombs, you couldn’t live here @georgemonbiot.bsky.social @theguardian.com
Israel’s ecocide in Gaza sends this message: even if we stopped dropping bombs, you couldn’t live here | George Monbiot
Consider the annihilation of agricultural land alongside the genocide – and grasp the chilling totality of this attempt to eliminate all life, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Israel’s ecocide in Gaza sends this message: even if we stopped dropping bombs, you couldn’t live here @georgemonbiot.bsky.social @theguardian.com
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
How many people think to themselves, "I'd vote Labour, if only they could be more like Trump." I would guess it's a number close to zero.
But Labour seems to be chasing a figment of its imagination, and this is perhaps the most grotesque example so far.
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...
But Labour seems to be chasing a figment of its imagination, and this is perhaps the most grotesque example so far.
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...
Labour Party Conference: Housing chief Steve Reed tips his hat to Trump
With his MAGA-style slogan and red baseball cap, the new housing secretary has brought energy to the Labour Party Conference. But is it the right energy? asks Will Hurst
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 1:30 PM
How many people think to themselves, "I'd vote Labour, if only they could be more like Trump." I would guess it's a number close to zero.
But Labour seems to be chasing a figment of its imagination, and this is perhaps the most grotesque example so far.
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...
But Labour seems to be chasing a figment of its imagination, and this is perhaps the most grotesque example so far.
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
Lovely to see @rowanmoore.bsky.social giving space and thought to the ideas in Homesick, alongside the excellent Eviction by Jess Field:
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
How Britain’s housing was broken | The Observer
Jessica Field’s Eviction and Peter Apps’ Homesick chart the rise and ruin of social housing in the UK
observer.co.uk
September 28, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Lovely to see @rowanmoore.bsky.social giving space and thought to the ideas in Homesick, alongside the excellent Eviction by Jess Field:
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Barbara McFarlane
“Our warnings [...] were ignored, & since then we've had to watch helplessly as the UK Govt sold out our seas & communities, allowing fishing pressure to build relentlessly as [...] industrial vessels squeezed out the small local boats" @hugotagholm.bsky.social
www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...
www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...
Warnings over collapsing fish stocks as experts advise ‘zero catch’ for cod
Conservationists call for action to follow scientific advice and end overfishing in the North Sea and west of Scotland.
www.independent.co.uk
September 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
“Our warnings [...] were ignored, & since then we've had to watch helplessly as the UK Govt sold out our seas & communities, allowing fishing pressure to build relentlessly as [...] industrial vessels squeezed out the small local boats" @hugotagholm.bsky.social
www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...
www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...