Phil Stevenson
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philstevenson.bsky.social
Phil Stevenson
@philstevenson.bsky.social
Prof in plant sciences | Kew.org | NRI.org | pollinators | sustainable food | chemical ecology | ecological pest management | guitarist | @sheducationband | evidence based views | FRES | FRSC |
https://www.kew.org/science/our-science/people/phil-stevenson
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Hello Folks - I'm following the crowd here - hoping it's a more benevolent and inclusive space where I can share and discuss with intelligent folk who value evidence and integrity.
Smaller farms to be prioritised for UK nature funding, minister to announce. Emma Reynolds is expected to say an application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive will be opened to smaller and new farms first www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Smaller farms to be prioritised for UK nature funding, minister to announce
Emma Reynolds is expected to say an application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive will be opened to smaller and new farms first
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
The last chapter from PhD thesis by Juri Felix (co-supervised with @philstevenson.bsky.social) is now out in @oikosjournal.bsky.social! The study explores the effects of tree species identity and spatial scale on tree diversity effects #TreeDivNet nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
January 6, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Thrilled to see our new paper out from our amazingly productive PhD student Juri Felix’s who studied at @rhulbiology.bsky.social & @rbgkew.bsky.social. Congrats to Juri & @juliakoricheva.bsky.social
The last chapter from PhD thesis by Juri Felix (co-supervised with @philstevenson.bsky.social) is now out in @oikosjournal.bsky.social! The study explores the effects of tree species identity and spatial scale on tree diversity effects #TreeDivNet nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
January 6, 2026 at 1:36 PM
So Ranthambore was worth a visit. #ranthambore #rajasthan #india
December 20, 2025 at 4:53 PM
UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists who say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels but also 6C drop in temp if the key Atlantic Ocean currents change www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
Our #OA meta-analysis on ecological predictors of plant responses to sequential herbivory is out in @newphyt.bsky.social. It was an enjoyable collaboration with Zoë Delamore & Erik Poelman from @w-u-r.bsky.social and Zoë did a great job leading the project nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
December 18, 2025 at 12:05 PM
New paper alert! Sterol content of pollen directly influences solitary bee development & indicates that Osmia larvae are efficient in accumulating sterols or can biosynthesise or modify them, which challenges previous studies. @rbgkew.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Pollen and sterol content differentially affect solitary bee development
Pollen sterols are essential micronutrients for bees, with roles as membrane components, hormone precursors and for regulating gene expression. It is …
www.sciencedirect.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:19 PM
What a fabulous time in India last week at the wedding of my wife’s cousin. I have come back with 2 more kgs than I left with.
December 17, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Heather nectar metabolites reduce within-colony epidemics of the bumblebee parasite Crithidia bombi showing that anti microbial compounds in nectar are effective at improving bee health at colony levels. @rbgkew.bsky.social
@markjfbrown.bsky.social
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...
Heather nectar extracts reduce within-colony epidemics of the bumblebee parasite Crithidia bombi
Abstract. Disease and habitat loss are significant causes of pollinator declines, and evidence indicates the two are linked. In Britain, lowland heath is a
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
Ethnobotanical insights into the medicinal and food uses of Lamiaceae in the Mediterranean region: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Review by Cáceres et al.

Societal Impact Statement also available in CA, ES and FR.

📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#PlantScience #Ethnobotany
December 17, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
Interested in finding out about recording plants in bloom for the #NewYearPlantHunt? Join @bsbibotany.bsky.social for a webinar this evening ⬇️🌼
Join us at 7pm tomorrow 16 Dec for a webinar on #NewYearPlantHunt: Citizen Science in a Changing Climate.
We'll cover what the Plant Hunt is, where & when it happens, who takes part, how it works - and why it's important.
Join us to get ready for your Hunt:
www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...
December 16, 2025 at 7:30 AM
British students will be able to participate in EU-wide Erasmus Exchange scheme from January 2027, announcement expected today.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Farage is emboldening attacks on people of colour, according to Sangita Myrska who’s been repeatedly subjected to racial slurs by a Reform UK council leader who the party was forced to expel. How long is this allowed to go on for - aren’t there laws against it www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Broadcaster targeted with racist slurs accuses Farage of emboldening ‘toxic environment’ online
Farage is responsible for ‘dangerous’ culture shift, says broadcaster subject to alleged posts from Reform councillor
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A win for nature and people’: Elizabeth line soil used to create Essex bird haven
A record 39,000 birds are overwintering on Wallasea island wetlands thanks to soil transported from London tunnels www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘A win for nature and people’: Elizabeth line soil used to create Essex bird haven
A record 39,000 birds are overwintering on Wallasea island wetlands thanks to soil transported from London tunnels
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.

This is who it was:
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
UK government recognises contribution of synth fertiliser to global warming - & commits to enhance nutrient use efficiency & reduce intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from fertiliser production, restoring and improving soil health, building soil carbon, and reducing environmental harms.
Belém Declaration on Fertilisers
www.gov.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Trump’s anti-climate agenda could result in 1.3m more deaths globally, analysis finds
Fallout from increased emissions linked to president’s ‘America First’ policies expected to most affect those in poor, hot countries www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Trump’s anti-climate agenda could result in 1.3m more deaths globally, analysis finds
Fallout from increased emissions linked to president’s ‘America First’ policies expected to most affect those in poor, hot countries
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Union Roast here @rbgkew.bsky.social today serving Kew climate blend coffee comprising Yayu (arabica) & Excelsa (C excelsa) currently a major focus of our work diversifying crops for climate ready agriculture in Uganda led by Aaron Davis. Coffeee farmers replace robusta in response to low rainfall.
November 19, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
Why are the @bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social not even mentioning that this train hero is an immigrant - born in Algeria. Last week it was the first word in their report about a sex offender who was released in error. This hero is a Muslim immigrant. Not balanced reporting. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Rail worker who saved passengers from stabbings leaves hospital
Samir Zitouni's family say they are
www.bbc.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Make no mistake – this was a coup’: the extraordinary downfall of the BBC’s top bosses - a democratic state can not exist with opinion masquerading as fact -it needs balanced evidence based reporting but unlike all other news sources also needs to be bullet proof. www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
‘Make no mistake – this was a coup’: the extraordinary downfall of the BBC’s top bosses
The whirlwind that started when Deborah Turness came under attack at a board meeting is part of a wider political story, some say
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Non-native tree devastates Ethiopia’s ecosystems and threatens livelihoods
Prosopis, introduced to Ethiopia in the 1970s, now depletes water, harms livestock and disrupts ecosystems across Afar.

www.aljazeera.com/amp/gallery/...
Non-native tree devastates Ethiopia’s ecosystems and threatens livelihoods
Prosopis, introduced to Ethiopia in the 1970s, now depletes water, harms livestock and disrupts ecosystems across Afar.
www.aljazeera.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Al Gore wonders if ‘bullying’ Trump prompted Bill Gates to backtrack on climate www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Al Gore wonders if ‘bullying’ Trump prompted Bill Gates to backtrack on climate
Exclusive interview with ex-US vice-president at Cop30 also reveals his hope around much-maligned climate summit
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
We have never observed planetary boundaries. It's either time to start taking these issues seriously or get ready for massive 'unplanned degrowth'...

www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
FAO report: 1.7 billion people experience lower crop yields due to land degradation
The State of Food and Agriculture 2025 report focuses on land degradation caused by human activities
www.fao.org
November 8, 2025 at 9:10 AM