Ian Tattum
@iantattum.bsky.social
Writer and independent scholar.
Used to be a vicar.
Writing in Spelt, Black Bough Poetry, BB journal, Frost Magazine, The Clearing,The Pilgrim, Landlines for Nature ,The Church Times.
Fellow of the Linnaean Society and the Zoological Society of London,
Used to be a vicar.
Writing in Spelt, Black Bough Poetry, BB journal, Frost Magazine, The Clearing,The Pilgrim, Landlines for Nature ,The Church Times.
Fellow of the Linnaean Society and the Zoological Society of London,
Pinned
Ian Tattum
@iantattum.bsky.social
· Jun 29
A piece I wrote about having a nature deprived childhood.
There don’t seem to be enough articles about working class childhoods which were just a bit dull because you didn’t get out much , and family members were not very enthusiastic.
But you did have picture books of stuffed birds.😊
There don’t seem to be enough articles about working class childhoods which were just a bit dull because you didn’t get out much , and family members were not very enthusiastic.
But you did have picture books of stuffed birds.😊
I am writing again
A few musings on Arthur Machen, HP Lovecraft and the tame mysticism of some nature writing.
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I am writing again
Reposted by Ian Tattum
You still have to read as far as the title, Elon. You know, to make sure you are listening to the book you intended to.
November 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
You still have to read as far as the title, Elon. You know, to make sure you are listening to the book you intended to.
Reposted by Ian Tattum
Ok President Trump, if you sue the BBC for $1bn for spreading lies, I’ll sue you for the same amount. I reckon Planet Earth would crowdfund that. Then I’ll buy Mar A Largo, turn it into a climate change research centre, free Melania, and put a 1000% tariff on orange face paint.
November 10, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Ok President Trump, if you sue the BBC for $1bn for spreading lies, I’ll sue you for the same amount. I reckon Planet Earth would crowdfund that. Then I’ll buy Mar A Largo, turn it into a climate change research centre, free Melania, and put a 1000% tariff on orange face paint.
A few musings on Arthur Machen, HP Lovecraft and the tame mysticism of some nature writing.
November 10, 2025 at 8:29 PM
A few musings on Arthur Machen, HP Lovecraft and the tame mysticism of some nature writing.
An opportunist pilgrimage to Caerleon to see the birthplace of Arthur Machen.
Appropriately enough the weather cleared to let some golden sunshine in.
For those in the know- there were no nettles to rollin.
Appropriately enough the weather cleared to let some golden sunshine in.
For those in the know- there were no nettles to rollin.
November 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
An opportunist pilgrimage to Caerleon to see the birthplace of Arthur Machen.
Appropriately enough the weather cleared to let some golden sunshine in.
For those in the know- there were no nettles to rollin.
Appropriately enough the weather cleared to let some golden sunshine in.
For those in the know- there were no nettles to rollin.
In church this morning I had to step over a crushed earwig on the way back from receiving communion.
A sad but timely reminder of the vulnerable of all life,
A sad but timely reminder of the vulnerable of all life,
November 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
In church this morning I had to step over a crushed earwig on the way back from receiving communion.
A sad but timely reminder of the vulnerable of all life,
A sad but timely reminder of the vulnerable of all life,
Reposted by Ian Tattum
8 November 1934 | A Dutch Jewish boy, Benjamin Raphaël Pais, was born in Harlingen.
In November 1942, he was deported to #Auschwitz with his sister Jansje. After the selection, they were murdered in a gas chamber together with their mother Roosje.
In November 1942, he was deported to #Auschwitz with his sister Jansje. After the selection, they were murdered in a gas chamber together with their mother Roosje.
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
8 November 1934 | A Dutch Jewish boy, Benjamin Raphaël Pais, was born in Harlingen.
In November 1942, he was deported to #Auschwitz with his sister Jansje. After the selection, they were murdered in a gas chamber together with their mother Roosje.
In November 1942, he was deported to #Auschwitz with his sister Jansje. After the selection, they were murdered in a gas chamber together with their mother Roosje.
Reposted by Ian Tattum
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:21 AM
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Ian Tattum
Elon Musk’s new pay package would feed all forty million Americans on SNAP for the next ten years. He wouldn’t notice the difference but the country would.
November 8, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Elon Musk’s new pay package would feed all forty million Americans on SNAP for the next ten years. He wouldn’t notice the difference but the country would.
Reposted by Ian Tattum
Turn left for a hearty walk up the hill under the November trees.
Are you heading out somewhere this weekend to enjoy the colours?
#FingerPostFriday
Are you heading out somewhere this weekend to enjoy the colours?
#FingerPostFriday
November 7, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Turn left for a hearty walk up the hill under the November trees.
Are you heading out somewhere this weekend to enjoy the colours?
#FingerPostFriday
Are you heading out somewhere this weekend to enjoy the colours?
#FingerPostFriday
‘ To speak quietly is not to be absent’
Is one of the very wise observations in this.
True of writing of all types.
Just reading the impressive new biography of Peter Mattheissen and the writer, brilliant as he was, is often saying ‘ah, I can feel this’ very loudly.
Is one of the very wise observations in this.
True of writing of all types.
Just reading the impressive new biography of Peter Mattheissen and the writer, brilliant as he was, is often saying ‘ah, I can feel this’ very loudly.
This, by the way, is when I first started writing about it. The TLS, 2014. A great deal, for me, followed from this. richarddsmyth.com/2017/07/07/t...
November 7, 2025 at 3:54 PM
‘ To speak quietly is not to be absent’
Is one of the very wise observations in this.
True of writing of all types.
Just reading the impressive new biography of Peter Mattheissen and the writer, brilliant as he was, is often saying ‘ah, I can feel this’ very loudly.
Is one of the very wise observations in this.
True of writing of all types.
Just reading the impressive new biography of Peter Mattheissen and the writer, brilliant as he was, is often saying ‘ah, I can feel this’ very loudly.
Reposted by Ian Tattum
Latest review is up on my Substack. Read all about the poetic alchemy practised by @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social ✨
Delighted to receive this review of my poetry collection "Wolf Eye" by @victoriaspires.bsky.social Victoria Spires on Substack. Thank you Victoria:
open.substack.com/pub/victoria...
open.substack.com/pub/victoria...
Alchemising the mundane
The poetry of Paul Brookes
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Latest review is up on my Substack. Read all about the poetic alchemy practised by @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social ✨
I heard a tawny owl tonight,
November 6, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I heard a tawny owl tonight,
I love Natalie Merchant’s voice
And a photo of the bay
And a photo of the bay
November 6, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I love Natalie Merchant’s voice
And a photo of the bay
And a photo of the bay
Reposted by Ian Tattum
The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
October 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
Just got an email from my old parish.
I may be retired but I still have to think about church gutters 😊😊
I may be retired but I still have to think about church gutters 😊😊
November 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Just got an email from my old parish.
I may be retired but I still have to think about church gutters 😊😊
I may be retired but I still have to think about church gutters 😊😊
Finding the biography of Peter Mattheissen difficult to resist and it has got me wondering why, as a working class oik from Milton Keynes I was so early drawn to writers from Rhode Island🤔
November 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Finding the biography of Peter Mattheissen difficult to resist and it has got me wondering why, as a working class oik from Milton Keynes I was so early drawn to writers from Rhode Island🤔
Reposted by Ian Tattum
For anyone interested in Nature in the UK, this is really, really depressing reading. Despite all our efforts over the past decades (site protection, farming schemes), wild plants, an essential element of the natural world, are disappearing before our eyes. britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
A new vascular plant Red List for Great Britain
| British & Irish Botany
britishandirishbotany.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:04 PM
For anyone interested in Nature in the UK, this is really, really depressing reading. Despite all our efforts over the past decades (site protection, farming schemes), wild plants, an essential element of the natural world, are disappearing before our eyes. britishandirishbotany.org/index.php/bi...
Reposted by Ian Tattum
A warning.
We are all familiar with the far right bots that constantly attack and criticise the Labour government.
Often with no picture or bio, few posts expect some critical, strange names....or occasionally they have created a whole fake persona.
1/2
We are all familiar with the far right bots that constantly attack and criticise the Labour government.
Often with no picture or bio, few posts expect some critical, strange names....or occasionally they have created a whole fake persona.
1/2
November 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM
A warning.
We are all familiar with the far right bots that constantly attack and criticise the Labour government.
Often with no picture or bio, few posts expect some critical, strange names....or occasionally they have created a whole fake persona.
1/2
We are all familiar with the far right bots that constantly attack and criticise the Labour government.
Often with no picture or bio, few posts expect some critical, strange names....or occasionally they have created a whole fake persona.
1/2
It is how weird how in the US politics that are a bit left of centre and pursue a programme to reduce social inequalities are seen as extremist but the terrorist in chief in the White House , disappearing people from the streets and snatching cash isn’t 🤔
Today is only the beginning.
Our time has come, New York. Our time is now.
Our time has come, New York. Our time is now.
Today is only the beginning.
YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:59 AM
It is how weird how in the US politics that are a bit left of centre and pursue a programme to reduce social inequalities are seen as extremist but the terrorist in chief in the White House , disappearing people from the streets and snatching cash isn’t 🤔