Helen Baczkowska
@helenb92.bsky.social
My first book Twyford Rising, is a story of land and resistance. My second is on the many lives of Britain's common lands - the past and present lives, the tamed and the wild ones.
http://helenbaczkowska.com
http://helenbaczkowska.com
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
26 years ago, I visited the old growth forests these trees come from. I was the guest of a First Nations people, supporting their anti-logging campaigns. And still it goes on.
#axedrax
#axedrax
One thing to say: #AxeDrax
No. Cutting down trees, grinding them up, shipping them across the Atlantic and then burning them is NOT "green".
#ClimateEmergency #NatureCrisis
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
No. Cutting down trees, grinding them up, shipping them across the Atlantic and then burning them is NOT "green".
#ClimateEmergency #NatureCrisis
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say
Exclusive: report by Stand.earth says subsidiary of power plant received truckloads of whole logs at biomass pellet sites
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
26 years ago, I visited the old growth forests these trees come from. I was the guest of a First Nations people, supporting their anti-logging campaigns. And still it goes on.
#axedrax
#axedrax
100% agree with @hedgehoghugh.bsky.social. Low level of literacy and low level of willingness to learn or listen. The notion that nature can jog on somewhere else, or thrive in just-planted woods is either stupidity or wilful fantasy and lies.
#planningandinfrastructurebill
#planningandinfrastructurebill
“There is a very low level of ecological literacy being displayed by ministers,” I have written about his,
@magdalenoxford.bsky.social
#RemembranceDay
@philippullmanreal.bsky.social
@pricklesandpaws.bsky.social
#hedgehogs and much more!
hughwarwick.substack.com/p/planning-a...
@magdalenoxford.bsky.social
#RemembranceDay
@philippullmanreal.bsky.social
@pricklesandpaws.bsky.social
#hedgehogs and much more!
hughwarwick.substack.com/p/planning-a...
Planning ... a disaster?
“There is a very low level of ecological literacy being displayed by ministers,” said Sally Hayns, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, in the Guardian yesterday.
hughwarwick.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 AM
100% agree with @hedgehoghugh.bsky.social. Low level of literacy and low level of willingness to learn or listen. The notion that nature can jog on somewhere else, or thrive in just-planted woods is either stupidity or wilful fantasy and lies.
#planningandinfrastructurebill
#planningandinfrastructurebill
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
“Nothing I have seen or heard gives me comfort that Rachel Reeves understands the importance of nature to economic and social wellbeing, nothing,”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out
Exclusive: Leading ecologists say warnings over threat to wildlife have been ignored in drive to build 1.5m new homes
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
“Nothing I have seen or heard gives me comfort that Rachel Reeves understands the importance of nature to economic and social wellbeing, nothing,”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
This is deeply disappointing from Starmer.
The UK *helped design* this 'TFFF' fund, designed to stop deforestation, and supposedly 'continues to back the fund' (in theory). But now isn't putting any money into it 🤯
How embarrassing for the UK.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The UK *helped design* this 'TFFF' fund, designed to stop deforestation, and supposedly 'continues to back the fund' (in theory). But now isn't putting any money into it 🤯
How embarrassing for the UK.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
November 5, 2025 at 7:40 PM
This is deeply disappointing from Starmer.
The UK *helped design* this 'TFFF' fund, designed to stop deforestation, and supposedly 'continues to back the fund' (in theory). But now isn't putting any money into it 🤯
How embarrassing for the UK.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The UK *helped design* this 'TFFF' fund, designed to stop deforestation, and supposedly 'continues to back the fund' (in theory). But now isn't putting any money into it 🤯
How embarrassing for the UK.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The dark months are back and I can walk at night without having to stay up late. Here's another night walk on my Substack, featuring Dolly and little Daisy her foal.
#commonland
#gypsyponies
commonplace92.substack.com/p/night-walk-2
#commonland
#gypsyponies
commonplace92.substack.com/p/night-walk-2
Night walk 2
I sought out the comfort of the horses on the common tonight, the warmth of their breath and their whiskery noses, curious on my palms.
commonplace92.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The dark months are back and I can walk at night without having to stay up late. Here's another night walk on my Substack, featuring Dolly and little Daisy her foal.
#commonland
#gypsyponies
commonplace92.substack.com/p/night-walk-2
#commonland
#gypsyponies
commonplace92.substack.com/p/night-walk-2
I am living in such fear of what the Planning & Infrastructure Bill will mean if passes unamended into law.
How then to speak for old trees, the bats who encircle it at night or the birds that live in this hedge?
www.wildlifetrusts.org/all-you-need...
How then to speak for old trees, the bats who encircle it at night or the birds that live in this hedge?
www.wildlifetrusts.org/all-you-need...
November 9, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I am living in such fear of what the Planning & Infrastructure Bill will mean if passes unamended into law.
How then to speak for old trees, the bats who encircle it at night or the birds that live in this hedge?
www.wildlifetrusts.org/all-you-need...
How then to speak for old trees, the bats who encircle it at night or the birds that live in this hedge?
www.wildlifetrusts.org/all-you-need...
Film showing in Norwich on Nov 19th - trailer is sobering, but I am looking forward to being on panel afterwards, weaving threads of ecological resistance and resilience and my one families stories of standing up to fascism in Europe. Come and join us!
Documentary 'Fires and Fascism' @ the Derby Quad.
Sun 9 Nov at 15:30.
Director Q&A.
Get tickets here:
www.derbyquad.co.uk/events/fires...
Trailers:
fires-and-fascism.co.uk
Sun 9 Nov at 15:30.
Director Q&A.
Get tickets here:
www.derbyquad.co.uk/events/fires...
Trailers:
fires-and-fascism.co.uk
Fires And Fascism + Director Q&A | Derby QUAD
View our latest event: Fires And Fascism + Director Q&A. See what the available times are for this event.
www.derbyquad.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Film showing in Norwich on Nov 19th - trailer is sobering, but I am looking forward to being on panel afterwards, weaving threads of ecological resistance and resilience and my one families stories of standing up to fascism in Europe. Come and join us!
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
Our Land, a new documentary, interrogates the connections between land, power and a sense of belonging following the Right to Roam movement in England and Wales. It captures the tension between public campaigners fighting for greater access to nature and landowners.
November 3, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Our Land, a new documentary, interrogates the connections between land, power and a sense of belonging following the Right to Roam movement in England and Wales. It captures the tension between public campaigners fighting for greater access to nature and landowners.
The Fens are autumn browns and greys today. A warm breeze rattling in the reeds. Never thought I would love these flatlands, but now I am drawn to them as winter approaches.
November 3, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The Fens are autumn browns and greys today. A warm breeze rattling in the reeds. Never thought I would love these flatlands, but now I am drawn to them as winter approaches.
Myddfai Common in autumn sun, an old track vanished beneath gorse, only the lichen covered signpost still shows the way. Local herbalists once gathered their plants here, their lore handed down from a faery. The golden light and disappearing path makes all this believable.
#commonland
#commonland
November 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Myddfai Common in autumn sun, an old track vanished beneath gorse, only the lichen covered signpost still shows the way. Local herbalists once gathered their plants here, their lore handed down from a faery. The golden light and disappearing path makes all this believable.
#commonland
#commonland
Finally set up Substack. My first post is a night walk on the common land where I live, the ghosts that followed me and rosemary burned for remembrance.
commonplace92.substack.com/p/night-walk...
commonplace92.substack.com/p/night-walk...
Night walk, October 31st 2025
Bramble followed me across the common, keeping to the shadows on silent paws and meowing occasionally, as if to check I knew she was there.
commonplace92.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Finally set up Substack. My first post is a night walk on the common land where I live, the ghosts that followed me and rosemary burned for remembrance.
commonplace92.substack.com/p/night-walk...
commonplace92.substack.com/p/night-walk...
November 1, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
In case you missed the announcement in our newsletter, we are open for non-fiction submissions, both full-length and flash, until the end of October. You can read our submission guidelines and submit via hinterlandnonfiction.submittable.com Subscribers can submit for free as usual, any time!
October 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
In case you missed the announcement in our newsletter, we are open for non-fiction submissions, both full-length and flash, until the end of October. You can read our submission guidelines and submit via hinterlandnonfiction.submittable.com Subscribers can submit for free as usual, any time!
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
Do you think this planning bill is worth it? This government is selling out our nature and wildlife to benefit wealthy property developers. We were promised change with Labour.
Sign our petition to scrap the destructive Planning and Infrastructure Bill 👇
protectthewild.org.uk/planningbill...
Sign our petition to scrap the destructive Planning and Infrastructure Bill 👇
protectthewild.org.uk/planningbill...
August 16, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Do you think this planning bill is worth it? This government is selling out our nature and wildlife to benefit wealthy property developers. We were promised change with Labour.
Sign our petition to scrap the destructive Planning and Infrastructure Bill 👇
protectthewild.org.uk/planningbill...
Sign our petition to scrap the destructive Planning and Infrastructure Bill 👇
protectthewild.org.uk/planningbill...
Local action for nature works, as @felbecktrust.bsky.social prove every day!
My very good friends at Felbeck Trust @felbecktrust.bsky.social have a fundraiser in November. They do wonderful work for nature with dedicated volunteers. It’s an honour to be their patron.
If you’re in Norfolk please attend and support www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening...
If you’re in Norfolk please attend and support www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening...
November 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Local action for nature works, as @felbecktrust.bsky.social prove every day!
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
Niki Bowers, contemporary UK printmaker based in Norfolk #WomensArt
November 1, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Niki Bowers, contemporary UK printmaker based in Norfolk #WomensArt
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
Gold spills across the quiet sand.
Footprints fade where sea meets land.
Waves whisper tales the sea once knew.
Of sunlit hearts and skies of blue.
The lighthouse hums and the gulls all sing.
A walk and a sigh is a timeless thing.
Footprints fade where sea meets land.
Waves whisper tales the sea once knew.
Of sunlit hearts and skies of blue.
The lighthouse hums and the gulls all sing.
A walk and a sigh is a timeless thing.
November 1, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Gold spills across the quiet sand.
Footprints fade where sea meets land.
Waves whisper tales the sea once knew.
Of sunlit hearts and skies of blue.
The lighthouse hums and the gulls all sing.
A walk and a sigh is a timeless thing.
Footprints fade where sea meets land.
Waves whisper tales the sea once knew.
Of sunlit hearts and skies of blue.
The lighthouse hums and the gulls all sing.
A walk and a sigh is a timeless thing.
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
Christmas bargain £13.59 (with free p&p) for 'Broadland. Shaping Marsh and Fen' by Tom Williamson & Alison Yardy (with ecology @jo-the-botanist.bsky.social and geology @timholtwilson.bsky.social). 400 pages of landscape history.
Go www.herts.ac.uk/uhpress/book... @broadsnationalpark.bsky.social
Go www.herts.ac.uk/uhpress/book... @broadsnationalpark.bsky.social
Broadland
www.herts.ac.uk
November 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Christmas bargain £13.59 (with free p&p) for 'Broadland. Shaping Marsh and Fen' by Tom Williamson & Alison Yardy (with ecology @jo-the-botanist.bsky.social and geology @timholtwilson.bsky.social). 400 pages of landscape history.
Go www.herts.ac.uk/uhpress/book... @broadsnationalpark.bsky.social
Go www.herts.ac.uk/uhpress/book... @broadsnationalpark.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
It’s our final round of Nature or No Nature!
Keir Starmer, you’re up again.
Nature in the UK will thrive or fail based on your government's decisions.
This huge responsibility lays with you and it cannot be ignored.
So, our final question to you:
Keir Starmer, you’re up again.
Nature in the UK will thrive or fail based on your government's decisions.
This huge responsibility lays with you and it cannot be ignored.
So, our final question to you:
June 10, 2025 at 9:31 AM
It’s our final round of Nature or No Nature!
Keir Starmer, you’re up again.
Nature in the UK will thrive or fail based on your government's decisions.
This huge responsibility lays with you and it cannot be ignored.
So, our final question to you:
Keir Starmer, you’re up again.
Nature in the UK will thrive or fail based on your government's decisions.
This huge responsibility lays with you and it cannot be ignored.
So, our final question to you:
Train journey opportunity to catch up on reading. Peter Marren's books always raise a smile for me...elegant mix of science and wit. An underrated nature writer imho.
June 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Train journey opportunity to catch up on reading. Peter Marren's books always raise a smile for me...elegant mix of science and wit. An underrated nature writer imho.
Finally picked up my Mum's old gramophone today. Still works! If we run out of electricity, the party is at mine, listening to Bing Crosby.
June 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Finally picked up my Mum's old gramophone today. Still works! If we run out of electricity, the party is at mine, listening to Bing Crosby.
Reposted by Helen Baczkowska
The Planning & Infrastructure Bill is being voted on today⏰
Don't let Parliament strip nature protections from our National Parks ⚠️
Last call to write to your MP as they vote on the Planning Bill www.cnp.org.uk/support/camp...
Don't let Parliament strip nature protections from our National Parks ⚠️
Last call to write to your MP as they vote on the Planning Bill www.cnp.org.uk/support/camp...
Don’t bulldoze National Park protections
Join our campaign to stop the UK government’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill weakening the planning protections that keep our National Parks nature-rich and safe.
www.cnp.org.uk
June 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The Planning & Infrastructure Bill is being voted on today⏰
Don't let Parliament strip nature protections from our National Parks ⚠️
Last call to write to your MP as they vote on the Planning Bill www.cnp.org.uk/support/camp...
Don't let Parliament strip nature protections from our National Parks ⚠️
Last call to write to your MP as they vote on the Planning Bill www.cnp.org.uk/support/camp...
Drying petals for rose petal tea. I stopped buying herb teas years ago as the price is so high, and most of the ingredients seem to grow in my garden. I will add lime flowers to these for a restful, soothing drink.
June 7, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Drying petals for rose petal tea. I stopped buying herb teas years ago as the price is so high, and most of the ingredients seem to grow in my garden. I will add lime flowers to these for a restful, soothing drink.