Phil Metcalfe
@philipimetcalfe.bsky.social
Nature Based Solutions advisor at the Environment Agency. Dartmoor Headwaters Project Manager and working on a range of Natural Flood Management projects across Devon and Cornwall. Views are most certainly my own.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... When I visit beaver territories in the UK it's so abundantly obvious that they will support rare an common species alike. The extraordinary levels of biomass and habitat heterogeneity are seldom seen in other environments. Great to see it measured!
Habitat heterogeneity and food availability in beaver‐engineered streams foster bat richness, activity and feeding
Beavers reshape ecosystems in ways that benefit bat richness, activity and feeding activity. We linked increased habitat structures (standing deadwood and canopy heterogeneity) and prey abundance to ...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... When I visit beaver territories in the UK it's so abundantly obvious that they will support rare an common species alike. The extraordinary levels of biomass and habitat heterogeneity are seldom seen in other environments. Great to see it measured!
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
Expect your mobile to go off 3pm Sunday! Be prepared for a test of the Govt's emergency alert system. Full info... www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/09...
LIVING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE? If you've a hidden mobile, you the link above has details of how to opt out of the alert.
Pls share
LIVING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE? If you've a hidden mobile, you the link above has details of how to opt out of the alert.
Pls share
September 2, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Expect your mobile to go off 3pm Sunday! Be prepared for a test of the Govt's emergency alert system. Full info... www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/09...
LIVING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE? If you've a hidden mobile, you the link above has details of how to opt out of the alert.
Pls share
LIVING WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE? If you've a hidden mobile, you the link above has details of how to opt out of the alert.
Pls share
Yet more land managers recognising the need to tackle climate change and consider change and uncertainty to restore floodplain functionality and improve community flood resilience. A long journey ahead but very exciting!
September 2, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Yet more land managers recognising the need to tackle climate change and consider change and uncertainty to restore floodplain functionality and improve community flood resilience. A long journey ahead but very exciting!
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
New PhD funding opportunity: Quantifying natural flood management through peatland restoration in the upland moorland environment (Physical Geography @exeter.ac.uk )
@dpanici.bsky.social @philipimetcalfe.bsky.social @uoe-creww.bsky.social
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
@dpanici.bsky.social @philipimetcalfe.bsky.social @uoe-creww.bsky.social
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
Quantifying NFM through peatland re | University of Exeter
The University’s Department of Geography invites applications for a PhD studentship funded by the Environment Agency and South West Water and the University of Exeter to commence as soon as possible t...
www.exeter.ac.uk
July 22, 2025 at 8:47 AM
New PhD funding opportunity: Quantifying natural flood management through peatland restoration in the upland moorland environment (Physical Geography @exeter.ac.uk )
@dpanici.bsky.social @philipimetcalfe.bsky.social @uoe-creww.bsky.social
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
@dpanici.bsky.social @philipimetcalfe.bsky.social @uoe-creww.bsky.social
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
"Through the death of a million ash trees, a more resistant population of ash is appearing."
Spectacular news!!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Spectacular news!!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘New hope’: ash trees rapidly evolving resistance to dieback, study reveals
Subtle DNA changes in trees demonstrate Charles Darwin’s natural selection – although human help may be needed
www.theguardian.com
June 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
"Through the death of a million ash trees, a more resistant population of ash is appearing."
Spectacular news!!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Spectacular news!!
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
I will be delivering a seminar on #OurFragileMoments at the @exeter.ac.uk, UK on Thursday, May 8th from 4-5PM local time:
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
Details | University of Exeter
www.exeter.ac.uk
April 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I will be delivering a seminar on #OurFragileMoments at the @exeter.ac.uk, UK on Thursday, May 8th from 4-5PM local time:
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
The reality of sex and gender is complicated. It calls for nuanced examination and thought. The public sphere is terribly bad at this. Add in the close ties between gender and people's self-image, and the issue is ripe for demagoguery.
Or you could just be kind to people different from you.
Or you could just be kind to people different from you.
The U.K. Supreme Court rules that Britain's equalities law defines a woman as someone born biologically female. The ruling means a transgender person with a certificate that recognizes them as female should not be considered a woman for equality purposes.
UK Supreme Court rules that equalities law defines a woman as someone born biologically female
The Supreme Court has ruled that the U.K. equalities law defines a woman as someone born biologically female.
bit.ly
April 16, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The reality of sex and gender is complicated. It calls for nuanced examination and thought. The public sphere is terribly bad at this. Add in the close ties between gender and people's self-image, and the issue is ripe for demagoguery.
Or you could just be kind to people different from you.
Or you could just be kind to people different from you.
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
I’m am adaptation scientist and here’s what I had to say about this—many years ago already.
March 15, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I’m am adaptation scientist and here’s what I had to say about this—many years ago already.
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
People are afraid of lab-grown meat because everyone keeps calling it lab-grown meat
People will stop being afraid of it when they try it and realize it tastes good
But politicians can't keep interfering with the freedom to try it in the first place
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/s...
People will stop being afraid of it when they try it and realize it tastes good
But politicians can't keep interfering with the freedom to try it in the first place
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/s...
Who’s Afraid of Lab-Grown Meat?
Mississippi became the third state to ban cell-derived meat, a product not for sale in the United States. But not all livestock producers are opposed to cultivated protein.
www.nytimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 1:39 PM
People are afraid of lab-grown meat because everyone keeps calling it lab-grown meat
People will stop being afraid of it when they try it and realize it tastes good
But politicians can't keep interfering with the freedom to try it in the first place
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/s...
People will stop being afraid of it when they try it and realize it tastes good
But politicians can't keep interfering with the freedom to try it in the first place
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/s...
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
📣 New publication! Our latest #Briefing document, covering the issue of tracks and roads on peatlands, is now available on our website.
Read Networks of change: Tracks and roads on peatlands bit.ly/3Fx9xMq #Policy #Science #Peatlands
📷 Richard Lindsay
Read Networks of change: Tracks and roads on peatlands bit.ly/3Fx9xMq #Policy #Science #Peatlands
📷 Richard Lindsay
March 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
📣 New publication! Our latest #Briefing document, covering the issue of tracks and roads on peatlands, is now available on our website.
Read Networks of change: Tracks and roads on peatlands bit.ly/3Fx9xMq #Policy #Science #Peatlands
📷 Richard Lindsay
Read Networks of change: Tracks and roads on peatlands bit.ly/3Fx9xMq #Policy #Science #Peatlands
📷 Richard Lindsay
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
Labour MP Richard Burgon raises looming welfare cuts during PMQs, criticising the “easy option” of cutting benefits for the poor and vulnerable:
“So instead of cutting benefits for disabled people wouldn’t the moral thing to do…introduce a wealth tax on the very wealthiest people in our society”
“So instead of cutting benefits for disabled people wouldn’t the moral thing to do…introduce a wealth tax on the very wealthiest people in our society”
March 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Labour MP Richard Burgon raises looming welfare cuts during PMQs, criticising the “easy option” of cutting benefits for the poor and vulnerable:
“So instead of cutting benefits for disabled people wouldn’t the moral thing to do…introduce a wealth tax on the very wealthiest people in our society”
“So instead of cutting benefits for disabled people wouldn’t the moral thing to do…introduce a wealth tax on the very wealthiest people in our society”
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
🌞 Solar just keeps getting better!
The latest NREL PV efficiency charts highlight record-breaking solar tech:
⚡ 33.9% – Longi’s perovskite-silicon tandem
⚡ 27.09% – Longi’s heterojunction back-contact
⚡ 23.64% – First Solar’s thin-film CIGS
⚡ 47.6% – Fraunhofer ISE’s four-junction cell
The latest NREL PV efficiency charts highlight record-breaking solar tech:
⚡ 33.9% – Longi’s perovskite-silicon tandem
⚡ 27.09% – Longi’s heterojunction back-contact
⚡ 23.64% – First Solar’s thin-film CIGS
⚡ 47.6% – Fraunhofer ISE’s four-junction cell
March 11, 2025 at 7:49 PM
🌞 Solar just keeps getting better!
The latest NREL PV efficiency charts highlight record-breaking solar tech:
⚡ 33.9% – Longi’s perovskite-silicon tandem
⚡ 27.09% – Longi’s heterojunction back-contact
⚡ 23.64% – First Solar’s thin-film CIGS
⚡ 47.6% – Fraunhofer ISE’s four-junction cell
The latest NREL PV efficiency charts highlight record-breaking solar tech:
⚡ 33.9% – Longi’s perovskite-silicon tandem
⚡ 27.09% – Longi’s heterojunction back-contact
⚡ 23.64% – First Solar’s thin-film CIGS
⚡ 47.6% – Fraunhofer ISE’s four-junction cell
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
Pls help me spread word tomorrow (Tue) 8pm on ITV I'll be talking you through how to check if you can boost your State Pension by possibly £10,000s. There is an urgent deadline coming after which many lose the opportunity.
This is a must watch for anyone age 40 to 73.
This is a must watch for anyone age 40 to 73.
March 3, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Pls help me spread word tomorrow (Tue) 8pm on ITV I'll be talking you through how to check if you can boost your State Pension by possibly £10,000s. There is an urgent deadline coming after which many lose the opportunity.
This is a must watch for anyone age 40 to 73.
This is a must watch for anyone age 40 to 73.
The magic thing about a few sunny days in a row, is knowing that the night sky will be wondrous ✨
March 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
The magic thing about a few sunny days in a row, is knowing that the night sky will be wondrous ✨
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
NEW: Official advisers CCC say UK shld cut emissions 87% by 2040
⚖️Net cost of net-zero 73% less than thought
💷Total cost to 2050 = £108bn (~£4bn/yr, 0.2% GDP)
🏡🚗H’hold energy/fuel bills to fall £1,400
🔌Electrification is key
THREAD + charts
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/10
⚖️Net cost of net-zero 73% less than thought
💷Total cost to 2050 = £108bn (~£4bn/yr, 0.2% GDP)
🏡🚗H’hold energy/fuel bills to fall £1,400
🔌Electrification is key
THREAD + charts
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/10
February 26, 2025 at 10:27 AM
NEW: Official advisers CCC say UK shld cut emissions 87% by 2040
⚖️Net cost of net-zero 73% less than thought
💷Total cost to 2050 = £108bn (~£4bn/yr, 0.2% GDP)
🏡🚗H’hold energy/fuel bills to fall £1,400
🔌Electrification is key
THREAD + charts
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/10
⚖️Net cost of net-zero 73% less than thought
💷Total cost to 2050 = £108bn (~£4bn/yr, 0.2% GDP)
🏡🚗H’hold energy/fuel bills to fall £1,400
🔌Electrification is key
THREAD + charts
www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/10
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
#beaver droning with Devon Wildlife Trust today. Amazing seeing the dams and wetland spread all the way across the valley bottom now at this site #NatureBasedSolutions @exeter.ac.uk @uoe-creww.bsky.social
February 18, 2025 at 2:58 PM
#beaver droning with Devon Wildlife Trust today. Amazing seeing the dams and wetland spread all the way across the valley bottom now at this site #NatureBasedSolutions @exeter.ac.uk @uoe-creww.bsky.social
Facinating new tool to investigate the environmental, social and economic benefits of agroforestry from the University of Illinois 🌳🐄🌳🌾
I'll be diving into the platform to see how it works. Interested to see if we should pilot a similar platform here in the UK? #agroforesty phys.org/news/2025-02...
I'll be diving into the platform to see how it works. Interested to see if we should pilot a similar platform here in the UK? #agroforesty phys.org/news/2025-02...
New agroforestry maps plot environmental, social and economic benefits of trees
There's a longstanding attitude in many farming communities that trees and agriculture don't mix. But agroforestry—the intentional integration of trees and shrubs in agricultural systems, such as plan...
phys.org
February 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Facinating new tool to investigate the environmental, social and economic benefits of agroforestry from the University of Illinois 🌳🐄🌳🌾
I'll be diving into the platform to see how it works. Interested to see if we should pilot a similar platform here in the UK? #agroforesty phys.org/news/2025-02...
I'll be diving into the platform to see how it works. Interested to see if we should pilot a similar platform here in the UK? #agroforesty phys.org/news/2025-02...
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
Hey, folks, do you want to follow real, science-based solutions to climate change? Especially in these dark times?
Then please follow @projectdrawdown.bsky.social and sign up for our newsletter!
We will be your fearless, fact-based source of climate solutions! Let’s go!
Then please follow @projectdrawdown.bsky.social and sign up for our newsletter!
We will be your fearless, fact-based source of climate solutions! Let’s go!
There is positive climate news to be found (really). People around the world are still taking action, and organizations are standing up and moving forward. Follow Project Drawdown and subscribe to our newsletter today for the latest climate solutions news and insights. drawdown.org/newsletter-s...
Newsletter Sign-up
Our mission is to help the world reach “Drawdown" as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible.
drawdown.org
January 24, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Hey, folks, do you want to follow real, science-based solutions to climate change? Especially in these dark times?
Then please follow @projectdrawdown.bsky.social and sign up for our newsletter!
We will be your fearless, fact-based source of climate solutions! Let’s go!
Then please follow @projectdrawdown.bsky.social and sign up for our newsletter!
We will be your fearless, fact-based source of climate solutions! Let’s go!
A vision of what the UK could become 🤞... If the agroforestry grant scheme and farm advisory network support farms to move in a more resilient and sustainable direction.
Ancient wood-pastures have their share to landscape level biodiversity, either through their own species pool or as corridors for several species. These aerial photographs shows the ancient wood-pastures of Transylvania within a general landscape setup, where other landcovers are also visible.
January 25, 2025 at 6:25 PM
A vision of what the UK could become 🤞... If the agroforestry grant scheme and farm advisory network support farms to move in a more resilient and sustainable direction.
72 species of saproxylic beetles!! 🤯 👏👏
Dead wood is surely one of the most undervalued biodiversity treasure troves of habitats! 😍
Dead wood is surely one of the most undervalued biodiversity treasure troves of habitats! 😍
Killerton is a haven for wildlife, and this research proves it – the estate has:
🧓1,500 veteran trees
💪200 ancient trees
🦇13 species of bat
🪰68 species of two-winged flies
🪲72 species of saproxylic beetles
The whole story:
🧓1,500 veteran trees
💪200 ancient trees
🦇13 species of bat
🪰68 species of two-winged flies
🪲72 species of saproxylic beetles
The whole story:
Magnificent area of Devon gains massive recognition
It's loved by so many people
buff.ly
January 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
72 species of saproxylic beetles!! 🤯 👏👏
Dead wood is surely one of the most undervalued biodiversity treasure troves of habitats! 😍
Dead wood is surely one of the most undervalued biodiversity treasure troves of habitats! 😍
UK food security 2024 (links to full report).
Climate shocks continue to threaten domestic food supply as well as global imports. Drought and water stress on Spanish produce particularly worrying 🙈
The race is firmly on to improve domestic resilience and sustainability. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Climate shocks continue to threaten domestic food supply as well as global imports. Drought and water stress on Spanish produce particularly worrying 🙈
The race is firmly on to improve domestic resilience and sustainability. www.gov.uk/government/n...
UK Food Security Report 2024 published
UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published the UK Food Security Report 2024
www.gov.uk
January 15, 2025 at 6:58 PM
UK food security 2024 (links to full report).
Climate shocks continue to threaten domestic food supply as well as global imports. Drought and water stress on Spanish produce particularly worrying 🙈
The race is firmly on to improve domestic resilience and sustainability. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Climate shocks continue to threaten domestic food supply as well as global imports. Drought and water stress on Spanish produce particularly worrying 🙈
The race is firmly on to improve domestic resilience and sustainability. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Phil Metcalfe
#JustOut Modeling carbon sequestration in soils and biomass in heterogeneous #agroforestry systems? See our new study using the DayCent model on 5 temperate silvoarable and 1 silvopastoral systems @usyseth.bsky.social @johansix.bsky.social @cirad.bsky.social
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 13, 2025 at 6:29 AM
#JustOut Modeling carbon sequestration in soils and biomass in heterogeneous #agroforestry systems? See our new study using the DayCent model on 5 temperate silvoarable and 1 silvopastoral systems @usyseth.bsky.social @johansix.bsky.social @cirad.bsky.social
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Logged forests might not be the end of the road for biodiversity in tropical forest ecosystems!
Wonderful study highlighting high levels of biodiversity when left to regrow.
Its hard not to get a little bit Jeff Goldblumy when you read such things 😪
theconversation.com/nature-benef...
Wonderful study highlighting high levels of biodiversity when left to regrow.
Its hard not to get a little bit Jeff Goldblumy when you read such things 😪
theconversation.com/nature-benef...
Nature benefits when logged tropical forests are left to recover – here’s how
While tropical forests are home to rare species, logged forests still feel and sound like forests, while oil palm plantations are agricultural landscapes.
theconversation.com
January 12, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Logged forests might not be the end of the road for biodiversity in tropical forest ecosystems!
Wonderful study highlighting high levels of biodiversity when left to regrow.
Its hard not to get a little bit Jeff Goldblumy when you read such things 😪
theconversation.com/nature-benef...
Wonderful study highlighting high levels of biodiversity when left to regrow.
Its hard not to get a little bit Jeff Goldblumy when you read such things 😪
theconversation.com/nature-benef...
In a world where the climate and seasonal weather patterns become less predictable, and where food security along with biodiversity, water quality and flood risk are impacted by extreme weather events, controlled environment agriculture seems to make more sense than ever
news.sky.com/story/could-...
news.sky.com/story/could-...
Could this be the future of farming? Inside Europe's biggest vertical farm
The whole point of a vertical farm is to create an environment where you can grow plants, stacked on top of each other in high density. The idea being that you can grow your salads or peas somewhere c...
news.sky.com
January 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
In a world where the climate and seasonal weather patterns become less predictable, and where food security along with biodiversity, water quality and flood risk are impacted by extreme weather events, controlled environment agriculture seems to make more sense than ever
news.sky.com/story/could-...
news.sky.com/story/could-...