Stephen G. Rae
@stephengrae.bsky.social
Writer of folklore and poetry at The FolkLore Press; Botanist; Druid, alias the Bard of Cumberland; contemporary artist; filmmaker at Land of Lore Films; tales in Cumbria Lakeland Walker magazine.
Pinned
Stephen G. Rae
@stephengrae.bsky.social
· Jul 24
📣 arriving 29 July 2025; available in print and ebook; online or can be ordered at your local bookstore:
"Folklore of the Lake District"
ghost stories, folk tales, nature lore, dialect, verse
bardofcumberland.com/folklore
#bookologythursday #lakedistrict
"Folklore of the Lake District"
ghost stories, folk tales, nature lore, dialect, verse
bardofcumberland.com/folklore
#bookologythursday #lakedistrict
In Cumbrian dialects, 'tod' is fox
Fox is a spirit guide and trickster, and it carries a magical pearl that brings good fortune to whomever finds it
more in my "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Fox Spirits by Stephanie Bayles
Fox is a spirit guide and trickster, and it carries a magical pearl that brings good fortune to whomever finds it
more in my "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Fox Spirits by Stephanie Bayles
January 28, 2026 at 8:26 AM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'tod' is fox
Fox is a spirit guide and trickster, and it carries a magical pearl that brings good fortune to whomever finds it
more in my "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Fox Spirits by Stephanie Bayles
Fox is a spirit guide and trickster, and it carries a magical pearl that brings good fortune to whomever finds it
more in my "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Fox Spirits by Stephanie Bayles
The global attack on nature is threatening the UK’s national security, government intelligence chiefs have warned, as the increasingly likely collapse of vitally important natural systems would bring mass migration, food shortages and price rises, and global disorder.
Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn
Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:23 AM
The global attack on nature is threatening the UK’s national security, government intelligence chiefs have warned, as the increasingly likely collapse of vitally important natural systems would bring mass migration, food shortages and price rises, and global disorder.
In Cumbrian dialects, 'yar' is hare
a symbol of femininity and rebirth, and a messenger, moving by moonlight between this world and The Otherworld
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Adam Oehlers
a symbol of femininity and rebirth, and a messenger, moving by moonlight between this world and The Otherworld
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Adam Oehlers
January 27, 2026 at 11:42 AM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'yar' is hare
a symbol of femininity and rebirth, and a messenger, moving by moonlight between this world and The Otherworld
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Adam Oehlers
a symbol of femininity and rebirth, and a messenger, moving by moonlight between this world and The Otherworld
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Adam Oehlers
In Cumbrian dialects, 'merl' is blackbird
one should never fall asleep whilst listening to it's song or you shall awaken in Fairyland
more in my 'Folklore of the Lake District'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#birds #folklore #booksky
art: Blackbird Stealing Redcurrants by Angela Harding
one should never fall asleep whilst listening to it's song or you shall awaken in Fairyland
more in my 'Folklore of the Lake District'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#birds #folklore #booksky
art: Blackbird Stealing Redcurrants by Angela Harding
January 26, 2026 at 3:20 PM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'merl' is blackbird
one should never fall asleep whilst listening to it's song or you shall awaken in Fairyland
more in my 'Folklore of the Lake District'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#birds #folklore #booksky
art: Blackbird Stealing Redcurrants by Angela Harding
one should never fall asleep whilst listening to it's song or you shall awaken in Fairyland
more in my 'Folklore of the Lake District'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#birds #folklore #booksky
art: Blackbird Stealing Redcurrants by Angela Harding
In Cumbrian dialects, 'corby' is carrion crow:
one crow is bad luck
two crows is good luck
three crows for health
four crows for wealth
five crows and sickness is coming
six crows for a death is nearby
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#birds #folklore #booksky
one crow is bad luck
two crows is good luck
three crows for health
four crows for wealth
five crows and sickness is coming
six crows for a death is nearby
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#birds #folklore #booksky
January 25, 2026 at 11:34 AM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'corby' is carrion crow:
one crow is bad luck
two crows is good luck
three crows for health
four crows for wealth
five crows and sickness is coming
six crows for a death is nearby
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#birds #folklore #booksky
one crow is bad luck
two crows is good luck
three crows for health
four crows for wealth
five crows and sickness is coming
six crows for a death is nearby
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#birds #folklore #booksky
"we are all in agreement!"
daffodils nodding
on spring breeze
from: "often I stop and look back"
bardofcumberland.com/poetry/
#bookwormsat #haiku #poetry
daffodils nodding
on spring breeze
from: "often I stop and look back"
bardofcumberland.com/poetry/
#bookwormsat #haiku #poetry
January 24, 2026 at 3:44 PM
"we are all in agreement!"
daffodils nodding
on spring breeze
from: "often I stop and look back"
bardofcumberland.com/poetry/
#bookwormsat #haiku #poetry
daffodils nodding
on spring breeze
from: "often I stop and look back"
bardofcumberland.com/poetry/
#bookwormsat #haiku #poetry
In Cumbrian dialects, 'bull-tree' is the elder tree.
If your bath your eyes in the green juice of the elder wood, you might see faeries and witches!
art: Arthur Rackham
If your bath your eyes in the green juice of the elder wood, you might see faeries and witches!
art: Arthur Rackham
January 23, 2026 at 10:39 PM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'bull-tree' is the elder tree.
If your bath your eyes in the green juice of the elder wood, you might see faeries and witches!
art: Arthur Rackham
If your bath your eyes in the green juice of the elder wood, you might see faeries and witches!
art: Arthur Rackham
Thankfully a win for our precious Cumbrian wildlife. The quarry is now a biodiversity treasure.
Clints quarry in Moota cannot reopen due to great crested newts
The Planning Inspectorate says work on the Lake District site would significantly impact the species.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Thankfully a win for our precious Cumbrian wildlife. The quarry is now a biodiversity treasure.
Brilliant documentary that explores the role that mosses have played in the Earth's evolution - the magical world of moss
BBC Four - The Magical World of Moss
How science is only beginning to unlock the secrets and potential of an amazing plant.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Brilliant documentary that explores the role that mosses have played in the Earth's evolution - the magical world of moss
Europe's 'ghost cat' is returning; tracking the elusive Wildcat.
'This mysterious little beast is returning to our forests': Rare images of Europe's 'ghost cat'
Wildcats are so elusive, they were thought to be extinct in parts of Europe. But they are making a comeback in some areas.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Europe's 'ghost cat' is returning; tracking the elusive Wildcat.
It's #RedSquirrelAppreciationDay
in Cumbrian dialects, 'con' and 'swirrel' is red squirrel
It's said that at one time a red squirrel could travel from Carlisle to Penrith without ever touching the ground.
art: Robert E. Fuller
in Cumbrian dialects, 'con' and 'swirrel' is red squirrel
It's said that at one time a red squirrel could travel from Carlisle to Penrith without ever touching the ground.
art: Robert E. Fuller
January 21, 2026 at 2:49 PM
It's #RedSquirrelAppreciationDay
in Cumbrian dialects, 'con' and 'swirrel' is red squirrel
It's said that at one time a red squirrel could travel from Carlisle to Penrith without ever touching the ground.
art: Robert E. Fuller
in Cumbrian dialects, 'con' and 'swirrel' is red squirrel
It's said that at one time a red squirrel could travel from Carlisle to Penrith without ever touching the ground.
art: Robert E. Fuller
In Cumbrian dialects, 'urchin' is hedgehog
the entire world was once a big lake, and it was a giant hedgehog who brought earth in it's needles to create dry land
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky
art: Hannah Kugelfant
the entire world was once a big lake, and it was a giant hedgehog who brought earth in it's needles to create dry land
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky
art: Hannah Kugelfant
January 21, 2026 at 9:18 AM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'urchin' is hedgehog
the entire world was once a big lake, and it was a giant hedgehog who brought earth in it's needles to create dry land
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky
art: Hannah Kugelfant
the entire world was once a big lake, and it was a giant hedgehog who brought earth in it's needles to create dry land
more: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky
art: Hannah Kugelfant
In Cumbrian dialects, 'pyat' is magpie:
One is for sorrow,
but two for mirth,
three's for a wedding,
four for a death,
five for heaven,
six for hell,
but seven's the divil's oan sel
more in my: 'Folklore of the Lake District"
#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky
art: Christian Schmidt-Ramussen
One is for sorrow,
but two for mirth,
three's for a wedding,
four for a death,
five for heaven,
six for hell,
but seven's the divil's oan sel
more in my: 'Folklore of the Lake District"
#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky
art: Christian Schmidt-Ramussen
January 20, 2026 at 1:36 PM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'pyat' is magpie:
One is for sorrow,
but two for mirth,
three's for a wedding,
four for a death,
five for heaven,
six for hell,
but seven's the divil's oan sel
more in my: 'Folklore of the Lake District"
#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky
art: Christian Schmidt-Ramussen
One is for sorrow,
but two for mirth,
three's for a wedding,
four for a death,
five for heaven,
six for hell,
but seven's the divil's oan sel
more in my: 'Folklore of the Lake District"
#folklore #lakedistrict #booksky
art: Christian Schmidt-Ramussen
Let's head to Scotland for #BlueMonday and discover 'The Blue Men of the Minch', beings from folklore who inhabit a stretch of water between the Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland, looking for sailors to drown and stricken boats to sink.
January 19, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Let's head to Scotland for #BlueMonday and discover 'The Blue Men of the Minch', beings from folklore who inhabit a stretch of water between the Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland, looking for sailors to drown and stricken boats to sink.
Susanna Blamire was a dialect poet of the Romantic age. Her poems reflected the reality of rural life, and her 'And ye shall walk in silk attire' was referenced by Dickens in his 'The Old Curiosity Shop'
more: 'Folklore of the Lake District' by Stephen G. Rae
#bookwormsat #folklore #lakedistrict
more: 'Folklore of the Lake District' by Stephen G. Rae
#bookwormsat #folklore #lakedistrict
January 17, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Susanna Blamire was a dialect poet of the Romantic age. Her poems reflected the reality of rural life, and her 'And ye shall walk in silk attire' was referenced by Dickens in his 'The Old Curiosity Shop'
more: 'Folklore of the Lake District' by Stephen G. Rae
#bookwormsat #folklore #lakedistrict
more: 'Folklore of the Lake District' by Stephen G. Rae
#bookwormsat #folklore #lakedistrict
In Cumbrian dialects, 'watter-moose' is water vole
the water vole is famously known as 'Ratty' in Kenneth Grahame's classic children's tale 'The Wind in the Willows'
from: 'Folklore of Lake District'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Ratty by Chris Dunn
the water vole is famously known as 'Ratty' in Kenneth Grahame's classic children's tale 'The Wind in the Willows'
from: 'Folklore of Lake District'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Ratty by Chris Dunn
January 16, 2026 at 9:37 AM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'watter-moose' is water vole
the water vole is famously known as 'Ratty' in Kenneth Grahame's classic children's tale 'The Wind in the Willows'
from: 'Folklore of Lake District'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Ratty by Chris Dunn
the water vole is famously known as 'Ratty' in Kenneth Grahame's classic children's tale 'The Wind in the Willows'
from: 'Folklore of Lake District'
bardofcumberland.com/folklore
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Ratty by Chris Dunn
In Cumbrian dialects, mooas or mause is mouse
Don't set out on a perilous journey if you see a mouse. Just stay inside and read my "Folklore of the Lake District" 🐭
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Anna Matveeva
Don't set out on a perilous journey if you see a mouse. Just stay inside and read my "Folklore of the Lake District" 🐭
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Anna Matveeva
January 15, 2026 at 10:24 AM
In Cumbrian dialects, mooas or mause is mouse
Don't set out on a perilous journey if you see a mouse. Just stay inside and read my "Folklore of the Lake District" 🐭
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Anna Matveeva
Don't set out on a perilous journey if you see a mouse. Just stay inside and read my "Folklore of the Lake District" 🐭
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Anna Matveeva
"For just across the Lune's broad stream,
A man once lived could solve a dream"
local wizard, William Fairer's 'Book of Black Art' was too dangerous to open and went missing after his death
more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#bookologythursday #booksky
A man once lived could solve a dream"
local wizard, William Fairer's 'Book of Black Art' was too dangerous to open and went missing after his death
more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#bookologythursday #booksky
January 15, 2026 at 8:29 AM
"For just across the Lune's broad stream,
A man once lived could solve a dream"
local wizard, William Fairer's 'Book of Black Art' was too dangerous to open and went missing after his death
more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#bookologythursday #booksky
A man once lived could solve a dream"
local wizard, William Fairer's 'Book of Black Art' was too dangerous to open and went missing after his death
more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#bookologythursday #booksky
In Cumbrian dialects, 'mowdiwarp' is mole
In lore, if you hold a dying mole in your hands until it passes, your hands will acquire the power of healing
from: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Fern Forest Fables
In lore, if you hold a dying mole in your hands until it passes, your hands will acquire the power of healing
from: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Fern Forest Fables
January 14, 2026 at 7:28 AM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'mowdiwarp' is mole
In lore, if you hold a dying mole in your hands until it passes, your hands will acquire the power of healing
from: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Fern Forest Fables
In lore, if you hold a dying mole in your hands until it passes, your hands will acquire the power of healing
from: Folklore of the Lake District
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #booksky
art: Fern Forest Fables
My first Lake District snowdrops 🤍
spring is just around the corner
spring is just around the corner
January 13, 2026 at 11:54 AM
My first Lake District snowdrops 🤍
spring is just around the corner
spring is just around the corner
Bear has been venerated as a 'brother' for thousands of years; from the ancient hunter tribes to modern Shamanic people. Within Druidry, the bear is regarded as the 'King of all Animals'.
art: Kevin Peterson
art: Kevin Peterson
January 12, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Bear has been venerated as a 'brother' for thousands of years; from the ancient hunter tribes to modern Shamanic people. Within Druidry, the bear is regarded as the 'King of all Animals'.
art: Kevin Peterson
art: Kevin Peterson
In Cumbrian dialects, 'sweetmart' is pine marten
in lore, pine martens are believed to plait horses’ manes during the night
more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Robert E. Fuller
in lore, pine martens are believed to plait horses’ manes during the night
more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Robert E. Fuller
January 12, 2026 at 2:07 PM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'sweetmart' is pine marten
in lore, pine martens are believed to plait horses’ manes during the night
more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Robert E. Fuller
in lore, pine martens are believed to plait horses’ manes during the night
more: "Folklore of the Lake District"
bardofcumberland.com/folklore/
#nature #folklore #lakedistrict
art: Robert E. Fuller
In Cumbrian dialects, 'yar' is hare
Mountain Hare is the only hare species native to the UK. Outwith the Scottish Highlands, its known as the Snow Hare. They are a 'priority species' at risk from the effects of climate change.
📷 Paul Hobson
Mountain Hare is the only hare species native to the UK. Outwith the Scottish Highlands, its known as the Snow Hare. They are a 'priority species' at risk from the effects of climate change.
📷 Paul Hobson
January 11, 2026 at 10:53 AM
In Cumbrian dialects, 'yar' is hare
Mountain Hare is the only hare species native to the UK. Outwith the Scottish Highlands, its known as the Snow Hare. They are a 'priority species' at risk from the effects of climate change.
📷 Paul Hobson
Mountain Hare is the only hare species native to the UK. Outwith the Scottish Highlands, its known as the Snow Hare. They are a 'priority species' at risk from the effects of climate change.
📷 Paul Hobson