Dr Jen Jones
@jensoilandpen.bsky.social
Writer, soil scientist, nature lover. Passionate about peat. Guardian Country Diarist. Writing for Bloomsbury's British Wildlife Collection.
The postman has just delivered this delicious collection. I was honoured to be invited to submit writing for it, not least because it emphasises the need to protect our bogs. It's fabulous. Thank you to @littletollerbooks.bsky.social for having the wisdom to publish such important writing.
September 30, 2025 at 11:15 AM
The postman has just delivered this delicious collection. I was honoured to be invited to submit writing for it, not least because it emphasises the need to protect our bogs. It's fabulous. Thank you to @littletollerbooks.bsky.social for having the wisdom to publish such important writing.
I love fallen autumn apples showing us creatures that are out there but we forget. It is thought that 59% of global biodiversity is in soil.
September 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I love fallen autumn apples showing us creatures that are out there but we forget. It is thought that 59% of global biodiversity is in soil.
My latest Guardian Country Diary piece had me going off piste, swapping Merseyside for Scotland. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Country diary: Down in the valley we go, journeying back in time | Jennifer Jones
Roslin Glen, Edinburgh: Turner and Wordsworth are with us as we go down a precarious path into ancient woodland
www.theguardian.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:23 AM
My latest Guardian Country Diary piece had me going off piste, swapping Merseyside for Scotland. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
My first mayfly this year seen in North Wales on 24th May. I saw my second on Friday at Musselburgh, Scotland. #DailyNature.
June 9, 2025 at 7:02 AM
My first mayfly this year seen in North Wales on 24th May. I saw my second on Friday at Musselburgh, Scotland. #DailyNature.
My few days in Scotland were full of wonders. Here Bass Rock stands bright with gannet guano, while on the beach I perused rocks, sands, plants and insects. Fabulous #DailyNature.
June 8, 2025 at 12:43 PM
My few days in Scotland were full of wonders. Here Bass Rock stands bright with gannet guano, while on the beach I perused rocks, sands, plants and insects. Fabulous #DailyNature.
Reposted by Dr Jen Jones
Happy publication day to @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social!
'Is A River Alive' is astonishing, necessary and beautiful, and a wonderful, fascinating read. I'm sure it will win accolades for years to come and in doing so, prompt more people into action to help protect the natural world.
'Is A River Alive' is astonishing, necessary and beautiful, and a wonderful, fascinating read. I'm sure it will win accolades for years to come and in doing so, prompt more people into action to help protect the natural world.
May 1, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Happy publication day to @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social!
'Is A River Alive' is astonishing, necessary and beautiful, and a wonderful, fascinating read. I'm sure it will win accolades for years to come and in doing so, prompt more people into action to help protect the natural world.
'Is A River Alive' is astonishing, necessary and beautiful, and a wonderful, fascinating read. I'm sure it will win accolades for years to come and in doing so, prompt more people into action to help protect the natural world.
It's International Dawn Chorus Day, but I'm not sure our birds got the message. Perhaps the cloud cover stole their desire to sing.
May 4, 2025 at 6:31 AM
It's International Dawn Chorus Day, but I'm not sure our birds got the message. Perhaps the cloud cover stole their desire to sing.
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social I love being a May Day baby, but it's even nicer when your brother gives you this book. Stunning ... and that's the book, not the fact that my brother bought it for me!
May 1, 2025 at 6:50 AM
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social I love being a May Day baby, but it's even nicer when your brother gives you this book. Stunning ... and that's the book, not the fact that my brother bought it for me!
Often the places I visit to write my Guardian Country Diary pieces impact on me, but none more so than this urban orchard. There was a special spirit to the place & I cannot find the words to convey that fully. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Country diary: A thriving new orchard in an unlikely place | Jennifer Jones
Knowsley, Merseyside: The Meadow Park community orchard started with just five trees, now there are 200 species of cherry, plum, apple, pear, quince and spindle
www.theguardian.com
April 29, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Often the places I visit to write my Guardian Country Diary pieces impact on me, but none more so than this urban orchard. There was a special spirit to the place & I cannot find the words to convey that fully. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A blackbird has been singing in one of our garden trees all day. It is the most glorious song to accompany you through the day. Not yet seen a swift this year, but this blackbird is uplifting @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social
April 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A blackbird has been singing in one of our garden trees all day. It is the most glorious song to accompany you through the day. Not yet seen a swift this year, but this blackbird is uplifting @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social
With an intense day of writing ahead, what better way to start than with dawn birdwatching. Chough seen and heard as soon as I got out of the car.
April 3, 2025 at 8:23 AM
With an intense day of writing ahead, what better way to start than with dawn birdwatching. Chough seen and heard as soon as I got out of the car.
I know that I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing exhibition about soil, but am delighted to discover that someone else did. @chiffchat.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @jopearlceramics.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/news/nationa...
www.thenational.scot/news/nationa...
King’s ‘incredible sense of curiosity’ praised during visit to soil exhibition
Charles also unveiled a plaque in the newly refurbished Salt Stair to mark the visit and the 25th anniversary of Somerset House.
www.thenational.scot
March 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I know that I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing exhibition about soil, but am delighted to discover that someone else did. @chiffchat.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @jopearlceramics.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/news/nationa...
www.thenational.scot/news/nationa...
A wonderful clear, crisp morning. On our early morning cemetery walk we stood transfixed and entranced watching a song thrush sending its glorious tones to the world. It was so close we could see its bill open and close. Then we witnessed one of those special sunrises. Fab way to start the day.
bill.open
February 27, 2025 at 8:13 AM
A wonderful clear, crisp morning. On our early morning cemetery walk we stood transfixed and entranced watching a song thrush sending its glorious tones to the world. It was so close we could see its bill open and close. Then we witnessed one of those special sunrises. Fab way to start the day.
I have been passionate about peat bogs for decades, have written a chapter on peat for my book, but articles like this show why we must care: www.theguardian.com/environment/....
World’s largely unprotected peatlands are ticking ‘carbon bomb’, warns study
Bogs and swamps are a colossal carbon store but their continued destruction would blow climate change targets
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2025 at 8:29 AM
I have been passionate about peat bogs for decades, have written a chapter on peat for my book, but articles like this show why we must care: www.theguardian.com/environment/....
Yesterday was World Wetlands Day, one I love to celebrate. So it was more sobering to read this article today. Based on research, it sounds alarm bells for the long term future of our peatlands: news.exeter.ac.uk/research/fut...
Future of UK peatlands under threat due to climate change
The UK’s peatlands face an uncertain future amid the escalating impacts of climate change. Peatlands are critical ecosystems for carbon storage and biodiversity, containing more carbon than all the wo...
news.exeter.ac.uk
February 3, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Yesterday was World Wetlands Day, one I love to celebrate. So it was more sobering to read this article today. Based on research, it sounds alarm bells for the long term future of our peatlands: news.exeter.ac.uk/research/fut...
My first bird of the day was a jackdaw; well, actually, there were about 20 of them as they left their roost in the cemetery. A lovely birding start to the year. Happy New Year, everyone.
January 1, 2025 at 9:37 AM
My first bird of the day was a jackdaw; well, actually, there were about 20 of them as they left their roost in the cemetery. A lovely birding start to the year. Happy New Year, everyone.
At 06:30 today we stood beside a main road, enchanted by two Song thrushes, in trees on opposite sides of the road. That even-paced repetition, different from each bird was glorious. Then on our return through the cemetery we enjoyed a chorus of Robins. Happy New Year's Eve.
December 31, 2024 at 8:30 AM
At 06:30 today we stood beside a main road, enchanted by two Song thrushes, in trees on opposite sides of the road. That even-paced repetition, different from each bird was glorious. Then on our return through the cemetery we enjoyed a chorus of Robins. Happy New Year's Eve.
Fiery embers of the day.
December 30, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Fiery embers of the day.
If you are looking for a holiday read comprising stunning, evocative writing about a beautiful part of Scotland I can recommend 'Windswept' by Annie Worsley.
December 19, 2024 at 12:15 PM
If you are looking for a holiday read comprising stunning, evocative writing about a beautiful part of Scotland I can recommend 'Windswept' by Annie Worsley.
www.theguardian.com/environment/... More lovely writing from @nicwilson.bsky.social. I would love to have witnessed this.
Country diary: A handful of summer on a frosty day | Nic Wilson
Southill, Bedfordshire: On a ringing session of seed-eating farmland birds, I see up close the subtle beauty of the yellowhammer
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2024 at 7:53 AM
www.theguardian.com/environment/... More lovely writing from @nicwilson.bsky.social. I would love to have witnessed this.
Have had fab few days at this conference. Spoke to bookseller earlier, mentioned my book (of course!), they thought it sounded great & looked forward to stocking it. I told them they'd have a couple of years to wait, but they didn't mind. @chiffchat.bsky.social #soil
December 13, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Have had fab few days at this conference. Spoke to bookseller earlier, mentioned my book (of course!), they thought it sounded great & looked forward to stocking it. I told them they'd have a couple of years to wait, but they didn't mind. @chiffchat.bsky.social #soil
It's World Soils Day today. This year's theme is 'Caring for soil'. Let's never forget the part that soil plays in our lives. Soil provides 94% of our food. And 25% of global.biodiversity is in soil. Let's celebrate soil today. @thegsbi.bsky.social @chiffchat.bsky.social
December 5, 2024 at 8:18 AM
It's World Soils Day today. This year's theme is 'Caring for soil'. Let's never forget the part that soil plays in our lives. Soil provides 94% of our food. And 25% of global.biodiversity is in soil. Let's celebrate soil today. @thegsbi.bsky.social @chiffchat.bsky.social
Shades of vermillion in a navy blue Merseyside sky. I hope everyone has a good Friday.
November 29, 2024 at 7:31 AM
Shades of vermillion in a navy blue Merseyside sky. I hope everyone has a good Friday.
I am writing a book about soil. I have a chapter on Soil as inspiration and I know this event will inspire me. I shall head southwards. Perhaps you too can be inspired by soil. @chiffchat.bsky.social @britishecolsoc.bsky.social
www.somersethouse.org.uk/press/soil-t...
www.somersethouse.org.uk/press/soil-t...
SOIL: The World at Our Feet
Somerset House presents SOIL: The World at Our Feet, a landmark exhibition unearthing the wonder of soil, its unbreakable bond to all life, and the vital role it plays in our planet’s future.
www.somersethouse.org.uk
November 28, 2024 at 8:45 AM
I am writing a book about soil. I have a chapter on Soil as inspiration and I know this event will inspire me. I shall head southwards. Perhaps you too can be inspired by soil. @chiffchat.bsky.social @britishecolsoc.bsky.social
www.somersethouse.org.uk/press/soil-t...
www.somersethouse.org.uk/press/soil-t...
My day on the bird feeding rota at Pickering's Pasture featured a beautiful River Mersey. Even better though was a brief encounter with a grey seal. The creature entranced me. I wished it well as it headed out to Liverpool Bay.
November 26, 2024 at 1:18 PM
My day on the bird feeding rota at Pickering's Pasture featured a beautiful River Mersey. Even better though was a brief encounter with a grey seal. The creature entranced me. I wished it well as it headed out to Liverpool Bay.