David Craven
@davidjcraven.bsky.social
“Think David Attenborough meets a snarky film critic. A delightful mix of wildlife passion and pop culture commentary!” apparently… 😉
Reposted by David Craven
Anti-nature policies are a dead end for Labour.
You don’t secure lasting growth by risking long-term harm to the ecosystems we rely on.
The public knows this.
There’s no need for the Government to pick a fight with voters on nature.
It’s bad policy and bad politics.
You don’t secure lasting growth by risking long-term harm to the ecosystems we rely on.
The public knows this.
There’s no need for the Government to pick a fight with voters on nature.
It’s bad policy and bad politics.
February 13, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Anti-nature policies are a dead end for Labour.
You don’t secure lasting growth by risking long-term harm to the ecosystems we rely on.
The public knows this.
There’s no need for the Government to pick a fight with voters on nature.
It’s bad policy and bad politics.
You don’t secure lasting growth by risking long-term harm to the ecosystems we rely on.
The public knows this.
There’s no need for the Government to pick a fight with voters on nature.
It’s bad policy and bad politics.
One great thing about the presence of little egrets in the UK now is that you can have a grey day, muddy river, and then this flash of pure brilliant white.
Through a bus window so not exactly great quality.
Through a bus window so not exactly great quality.
February 19, 2026 at 8:12 AM
One great thing about the presence of little egrets in the UK now is that you can have a grey day, muddy river, and then this flash of pure brilliant white.
Through a bus window so not exactly great quality.
Through a bus window so not exactly great quality.
Come on BBC, you can do better than just noting he’s contradicting his own government from 24 hours ago. He’s also contradicting himself from a few weeks ago, which was contradicting himself from before that, which was contradicting himself from before that.
Stable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Stable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Do not give away Diego Garcia, says Trump
The US president says
www.bbc.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Come on BBC, you can do better than just noting he’s contradicting his own government from 24 hours ago. He’s also contradicting himself from a few weeks ago, which was contradicting himself from before that, which was contradicting himself from before that.
Stable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Stable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by David Craven
The flooding across the UK at the start of this year has been extraordinary. And new Aviva analysis shows we've built more and not fewer homes in at risk areas in recent years.
We have a housing crisis but and flooded housing crisis isn't a solution.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
We have a housing crisis but and flooded housing crisis isn't a solution.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
One in nine new homes in England built in areas of flood risk, study shows
Figures from Aviva also show number of homes being built in risky areas is on the rise
www.theguardian.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:19 AM
The flooding across the UK at the start of this year has been extraordinary. And new Aviva analysis shows we've built more and not fewer homes in at risk areas in recent years.
We have a housing crisis but and flooded housing crisis isn't a solution.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
We have a housing crisis but and flooded housing crisis isn't a solution.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Two people who will talk about the impact of immigrants on public services, while merrily off-shoring their own income, taking money from the public purse that could pay for public services.
Meanwhile, immigrants are net contributors.
Meanwhile, immigrants are net contributors.
Isabel Oakeshott in Dubai defending Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco.
On immigration.
Irony is dead.
On immigration.
Irony is dead.
February 18, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Two people who will talk about the impact of immigrants on public services, while merrily off-shoring their own income, taking money from the public purse that could pay for public services.
Meanwhile, immigrants are net contributors.
Meanwhile, immigrants are net contributors.
Reposted by David Craven
Love to get a comment back on a paper that says "The results look fake, and the images of plastics also look like these were created by AI".
We counted each and every piece by hand. I assure you they are not fake.
We counted each and every piece by hand. I assure you they are not fake.
February 17, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Love to get a comment back on a paper that says "The results look fake, and the images of plastics also look like these were created by AI".
We counted each and every piece by hand. I assure you they are not fake.
We counted each and every piece by hand. I assure you they are not fake.
Reposted by David Craven
I couldn't help myself, and have written up #spawnwatch thoughts at Tetrapod Zoology. Shout-outs to key #books on British #amphibians, to nature gardening, to the ever-present menace of free-roaming pet cats, but above all to the value of #frogs... tetzoo.com/blog/2026/2/...
Spawnwatch 2026 — Tetrapod Zoology
Once again it is that time of year again, by which I mean… spawnwatch season, of course.
tetzoo.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:12 PM
I couldn't help myself, and have written up #spawnwatch thoughts at Tetrapod Zoology. Shout-outs to key #books on British #amphibians, to nature gardening, to the ever-present menace of free-roaming pet cats, but above all to the value of #frogs... tetzoo.com/blog/2026/2/...
Musk’s position is wrong on almost every conceivable level.
For starters, trying telling many Scots or Irish they have a common culture with the English!
But from day one America was a far broader mix. Pretending otherwise just isn’t possible.
For starters, trying telling many Scots or Irish they have a common culture with the English!
But from day one America was a far broader mix. Pretending otherwise just isn’t possible.
We must speak plainly about the agenda Elon Musk & other MAGA leaders are pushing. It’s white nationalism.
There’s no room for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native, Jewish or all other Americans in Musk’s monocultural vision.
Multiculturalism is superior. We can’t allow Musk & others to end it.
There’s no room for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native, Jewish or all other Americans in Musk’s monocultural vision.
Multiculturalism is superior. We can’t allow Musk & others to end it.
February 16, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Musk’s position is wrong on almost every conceivable level.
For starters, trying telling many Scots or Irish they have a common culture with the English!
But from day one America was a far broader mix. Pretending otherwise just isn’t possible.
For starters, trying telling many Scots or Irish they have a common culture with the English!
But from day one America was a far broader mix. Pretending otherwise just isn’t possible.
Reposted by David Craven
why do you need to observe your house if you're not in it. you are giving yourself an opt-in mental illness. no one has to live like this
February 9, 2026 at 6:06 AM
why do you need to observe your house if you're not in it. you are giving yourself an opt-in mental illness. no one has to live like this
Reposted by David Craven
🧪🏺 Authors assert:
"archaeologists must evaluate these implications to proactively shape the foundations of our engagement with [gen- #AI]"
My take?
We should we should boycott & call out its use in #scicomm as something which *by its nature* diminishes accuracy, nuance & educational benefit.
"archaeologists must evaluate these implications to proactively shape the foundations of our engagement with [gen- #AI]"
My take?
We should we should boycott & call out its use in #scicomm as something which *by its nature* diminishes accuracy, nuance & educational benefit.
🧪🏺 Update - authors have new paper showing how useless gen- #AI is for archaeological illustration.
All 400 images were multiply inaccurate (physically, socially, technologically, environmentally), even with improved prompts.
JUST USE HUMAN EXPERTS & ARTISTS
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
All 400 images were multiply inaccurate (physically, socially, technologically, environmentally), even with improved prompts.
JUST USE HUMAN EXPERTS & ARTISTS
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
February 14, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Given Jim Ratcliffe says there needs to be an open debate on immigration, I wonder if he’d happily sit in a TV studio and discuss his views with someone who can demolish them for their profound ignorance? Pretty sure I know the answer.
February 13, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Given Jim Ratcliffe says there needs to be an open debate on immigration, I wonder if he’d happily sit in a TV studio and discuss his views with someone who can demolish them for their profound ignorance? Pretty sure I know the answer.
I think they should say to government ministers in these cases “You can appeal, but if you lose, you pay the country back”. That would stop frivolous appeals designed only to waste time.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
Palestine Action ban ruled unlawful but group remains proscribed for now - live updates
Three judges rule against the Home Office in a massive blow to the government, but say the ban must remain until a further hearing.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 12:40 PM
I think they should say to government ministers in these cases “You can appeal, but if you lose, you pay the country back”. That would stop frivolous appeals designed only to waste time.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...
We have our own little redpoll flock
February 13, 2026 at 8:56 AM
We have our own little redpoll flock
Reposted by David Craven
Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude
February 10, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude
Given how Jim Ratcliffe organises his affairs, the average immigrant probably contributes more than him to the UK. So let’s strip him of his knighthood and give it to an immigrant.
February 11, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Given how Jim Ratcliffe organises his affairs, the average immigrant probably contributes more than him to the UK. So let’s strip him of his knighthood and give it to an immigrant.
100% correct and exactly what we should be expecting from every organisation.
February 10, 2026 at 8:59 AM
100% correct and exactly what we should be expecting from every organisation.
Reposted by David Craven
Nothing to worry about here, nope. All is well...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
UK and US sink to new lows in global index of corruption
Countries’ drop in scores in annual table comes amid ‘worrying trend’ of backsliding in established democracies
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Nothing to worry about here, nope. All is well...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Reposted by David Craven
Policy by Pub Bore. He's just that spittle-flecked Hate Guy in the corner of your done-up bar saying that modern beer is horrible and anyone under 50 is lazy and a loser. As beatable a politician as there'll ever be.
BREAKING: Nigel Farage calls for an end to working from home and the focus on work-life balance
"People aren't more productive working from home - it's a load of nonsense”
Whatever you do JUST DON’T VOTE REFORM!
"People aren't more productive working from home - it's a load of nonsense”
Whatever you do JUST DON’T VOTE REFORM!
February 9, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Policy by Pub Bore. He's just that spittle-flecked Hate Guy in the corner of your done-up bar saying that modern beer is horrible and anyone under 50 is lazy and a loser. As beatable a politician as there'll ever be.
At least 41m people in America are Hispanic and around 40% voted for Trump in 2024. And I’m sure plenty more know or understand Spanish. And there’ll be plenty who get that you can understand music without understanding the words
So when he says “nobody” he means “the white people I care about”.
So when he says “nobody” he means “the white people I care about”.
February 9, 2026 at 9:32 AM
At least 41m people in America are Hispanic and around 40% voted for Trump in 2024. And I’m sure plenty more know or understand Spanish. And there’ll be plenty who get that you can understand music without understanding the words
So when he says “nobody” he means “the white people I care about”.
So when he says “nobody” he means “the white people I care about”.
Reposted by David Craven
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
February 8, 2026 at 12:50 PM
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
Also, as with “Boris Johnson’s 2019 Landslide”, the idea that Labour triumphantly won some massive majority is a myth. In both cases the opposition and a hideous electoral system handed out something disproportionate.
I do wonder about anyone who thinks McSweeney single-handedly won Labour its majority. They do realise they were up against a catastrophically unpopular government? The 2024 result was very much an underperformance against the fundamentals.
Not *all* Labour MPs wanted McSweeney out.
“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.
“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.
“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.
“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.
February 8, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Also, as with “Boris Johnson’s 2019 Landslide”, the idea that Labour triumphantly won some massive majority is a myth. In both cases the opposition and a hideous electoral system handed out something disproportionate.
Reposted by David Craven
🚨 Want to work with Little Terns?
We’re recruiting a Head Little Tern Warden and 2 Assistants to protect the Beacon Ponds colony at Spurn.
👉 spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news
We’re recruiting a Head Little Tern Warden and 2 Assistants to protect the Beacon Ponds colony at Spurn.
👉 spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news
February 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM
🚨 Want to work with Little Terns?
We’re recruiting a Head Little Tern Warden and 2 Assistants to protect the Beacon Ponds colony at Spurn.
👉 spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news
We’re recruiting a Head Little Tern Warden and 2 Assistants to protect the Beacon Ponds colony at Spurn.
👉 spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news
Reposted by David Craven
Have a read of this. Great scoop, obviously, but it’s also an absolute masterclass in how to report on these jokers. Plenty of London-based hacks could learn a lot from Martin Shipton here. If they actually wanted to…
nation.cymru/news/the-new...
nation.cymru/news/the-new...
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...
nation.cymru
February 7, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Have a read of this. Great scoop, obviously, but it’s also an absolute masterclass in how to report on these jokers. Plenty of London-based hacks could learn a lot from Martin Shipton here. If they actually wanted to…
nation.cymru/news/the-new...
nation.cymru/news/the-new...
I was listening to someone talking about how they’ve ‘trained their robins’ to come and sit and sing on a fence post, in exchange for food. All I could think was “yeah, it’s not the robin that’s been trained there”.
February 7, 2026 at 11:34 AM
I was listening to someone talking about how they’ve ‘trained their robins’ to come and sit and sing on a fence post, in exchange for food. All I could think was “yeah, it’s not the robin that’s been trained there”.