Martin Elcoate
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melcoate.bsky.social
Martin Elcoate
@melcoate.bsky.social
Volunteer for The Green Runners; low carbon running & birding in Devon, mostly in squares.

Running in Squares - my blog for the OS

https://linktr.ee/MartinElcoate?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=0a99957a-af9c-4481-81d1-6ba562fb06ff
Pinned
Running in squares - I mostly keep my exploration local, whether running, walking or birding (many activities involve all three). Low carbon adventures from the front door.

#Running #Birding #LowCarbonAdventures #Local #ASingleMap #OrdnanceSurvey

getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/runni...
Running in Squares (OS Map Squares!)
Martin set himself a challenge to run through the 400 1 km squares in a 1:25.000 OS map centered on his home in Topsham, Devon...
getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Spotted Redshank on Bowling Green Marsh this morning (along with another Spot Red, Ruff and lots of other waders).

#DevonBirds #Birding
November 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Thought I’d have a nose around Dawlish Warren for a couple of hours this afternoon. No stripey warblers sadly but plenty of Goldcrests & Chiffs to keep my hopes up.

Best of the birds: Dartford Warbler, Barnacle Goose (my 1st this year), 12 Common Scoter & a great Great Northern Diver.
November 10, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
We stand with @badvertising.bsky.social and want to see an end to high carbon polluting advertising.

We campaign against #SportsWashing and love this campaign to put an end to high carbon polluting advertising on the TfL sites.

#HowWeSpeakOut

actionnetwork.org/letters/time...
November 10, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
This autumn, 8 of the UK’s leading climate change experts will brief an invite-only audience of politicians & leaders.

Check to see if your MP has responded to the invitation. If they’ve not responded then this website makes it easy to give them a nudge.

#HowWeSpeakOut

www.nebriefing.org
National Emergency Briefing on climate & nature
An unfiltered assessment of the latest threats to UK food supply, health and national security from eight leading experts to an invitation-only audience - also covering positive solutions. Westminster...
www.nebriefing.org
November 10, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
In 2013, my wife and I travelled 9,000 miles from south-west England to Kyoto in Japan - by train. With three young children in tow. This is the story ... (free on Patreon)
The long way round: a 9,000-mile family train ride to Japan | Adharanand Finn
Get more from Adharanand Finn on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
Great to see our badges out in the wild.
Salt Settlers Six - a simple game of how many 4.5km laps around the Otter Estuary can you run in 6 hours?

12 laps / 52km for me.

Beautiful day for a run, even if it was a bit of a grind towards the end.

Thanks to the other runners for their company & Climb South West for a top event.

#Running
November 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Mistle Thrush over the garden today was my first here since 11 January. 2025 has been a v poor year for Mistle Thrushes around Topsham.
November 9, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Recovery walk around Topsham this morning. Surprised to find a Garganey on Bowling Green Marsh. Also 2 Spotted Redshanks and a Ruff.

#DevonBirds #Birding
November 9, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Salt Settlers Six - a simple game of how many 4.5km laps around the Otter Estuary can you run in 6 hours?

12 laps / 52km for me.

Beautiful day for a run, even if it was a bit of a grind towards the end.

Thanks to the other runners for their company & Climb South West for a top event.

#Running
November 8, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Hey. 35 years ago I saw the Pixies at Exeter Great Hall. Next year I finally get to see them again, this time in Cornwall at the Eden Project. It’s going to be Gigantic!
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Breakfast birding - A Brambling called from overhead as I had my breakfast outside today. My first from home since 2020!
November 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
⚠️ Please report sightings of dead birds for possible testing for bird flu via the forms below ⬇️

📌 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/rep...
📌 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/.../daera-de....
📌 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/report
Report dead wild birds
How to report dead wild birds.
www.gov.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
My book THE LOST RAINFORESTS OF BRITAIN was published 3 years ago. Since then, it's sold nearly 100,000 copies.

More importantly, it's been so wonderful to see the momentum behind the movement to restore Britain's temperate rainforests gather pace - with many more victories yet to come, I hope.
October 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Sprite from the East- On my 10km run to Exmouth this morning I heard a distinctive call from the trees along the top of Bowling Green Road.

I stopped in my tracks to listen to what was only my 5th Topsham Yellow-browed Warbler.

Brilliant!

#LowCarbonBirding #Running #DevonBirds
October 31, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
1/3 We are celebrating member Hannah Cox's epic Project Salt Run; 100 marathons in 100 days across India.

Hannah, a purpose-led entrepreneur, is running the 4,030+ km route of the forgotten Inland Customs Line, a colonial boundary that enforced a devastating salt tax.
October 30, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
Great post on the topic of #HowWeSpeakOut
October 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
🚨 New study reveals that marathon records are now less likely due to climate breakdown.

Yet the industries fuelling the crisis for profit continue to use the sport as a billboard. 🤨

More on running's sportswashing problem 👉 thegreenrunners.com/sportswashin...

@thegreenrunners.bsky.social
Marathon records less likely because of climate change - study
Rising temperatures have made record times in some races
www.bbc.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I picked a new route to run to Teignmouth today.

30km through the Haldon foothills & Ashcombe, finding a new trig point on Teignmouth golf course before the long descent to the sea.

Short detour up a dead end lane to run a new stretch of road in my #ASingleMap

Great day to be out & about #running
October 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Firecrests - over the last two weeks I’ve added three new squares to my Firecrest map. Today I heard 3 birds in 93 80 near Mamhead. One popped up right next to the lane. Love them!

My Firecrest map is a 20kmx20km OS map centred on my home. #ASingleMap
October 27, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I’m in 😄👍🏻
A quick note to share an exciting new South-West Coast Path weekend retreat we're hosting, along with Damian Hall, next November. We'll run a 33-mile section of the coast path over two days, staying in a beautiful boutique hotel on the beach ... thewayoftherunner.com/south-west-c...
October 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Tried a spot of #VisMig from home. 2,220 Woodpigeons heading W, otherwise quiet.

#Birding
October 26, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Afternoon wander around Orcombe Point & Sandy Bay looking for migrant birds. Very few birds seen, highlights being a pair of Cirl Buntings & a Peregrine chasing a lone Woodpigeon over the sea.

A single Clouded Yellow butterfly was a lovely to see.
October 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
Big turnout at the Exeter is For Everyone rally today that was held to oppose the far-right march through the town centre. Music, singing, chanting and a whole lot of love for diversity.
October 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
I was at the Exeter march today to see the much larger #RefugeesWelcome counterprotest.

It was quite a sight.

Tonight I'll be showing my film 'Fires and Fascism' at Southernhay church at 6pm. It's about building community and suppressing fascism.

@ucu.org.uk

#ExeterIsForEveryone 🍉🌿🌈💚

1/3
October 25, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Woodpigeons - 13km run from home to Exmouth to meet Maya for a walk along the seafront.

Heard Firecrest as I ran but the big birdy event of the day was the Woodpigeon movement. As Maya & I walked, flock after flock headed west. c 13k in 80 minutes. Amazing sight!

#Birding #Running
October 25, 2025 at 10:35 AM