Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
@claramay.bsky.social
books, pond plants and wildflowers; Backlisted Podcast and WildflowerHour
(and more books)
Pinned
Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
@claramay.bsky.social
· Aug 16
What Wood Pigeons are saying:
“No, YOU make the tea”
“No, YOU make the tea”
Tremendous. Recommending to all and sundry:
November 21, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Tremendous. Recommending to all and sundry:
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
Written by a diverse group of farmers, foresters, smallholders, campaigners, academics, consultants and writers, ‘Common Treasures’ Vols. 1 & 2 offer an alternative perspective on the future of the countryside, writes @jenniferedgecombe.bsky.social www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/11/comm...
November 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Written by a diverse group of farmers, foresters, smallholders, campaigners, academics, consultants and writers, ‘Common Treasures’ Vols. 1 & 2 offer an alternative perspective on the future of the countryside, writes @jenniferedgecombe.bsky.social www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/11/comm...
Looking forward to reading these:
Pleased to have had the opportunity to review Common Treasures - essays on land use and the future of our countryside for @caughtbytheriver.bsky.social @littletollerbooks.bsky.social 🌱
www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/11/comm...
www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/11/comm...
Written by a diverse group of farmers, foresters, smallholders, campaigners, academics, consultants and writers, ‘Common Treasures’ Vols. 1 & 2 offer an alternative perspective on the future of the countryside, writes @jenniferedgecombe.bsky.social www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/11/comm...
November 21, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Looking forward to reading these:
A very positive review of this fun-sounding Austen sequel from @shinynewbooks.bsky.social: whilst I hesitate to lengthen the unwieldy TBR list further, I’m happy to add this one, as it sounds just the thing for a rainy winter’s day: shinynewbooks.co.uk/introducing-...
Introducing Mrs Collins by Rachel Parris
Reviewed by Harriet
Anyone who’s ever read (or watched) Pride and Prejudice will know that Mrs Collins is Elizabeth’s ‘intimate’ friend Charlotte Lucas, ‘a sensible, intelligent youn
shinynewbooks.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
A very positive review of this fun-sounding Austen sequel from @shinynewbooks.bsky.social: whilst I hesitate to lengthen the unwieldy TBR list further, I’m happy to add this one, as it sounds just the thing for a rainy winter’s day: shinynewbooks.co.uk/introducing-...
Discovered, rediscovered and enjoyed by many @backlisted.bsky.social listeners, The Lowlife is a tremendous read:
My new blog post on Alexander Baron's brilliant, entertaining boarding-house novel, THE LOWLIFE.
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2025/11/16/t...
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2025/11/16/t...
The Lowlife – Alexander Baron
I have read some wonderful books published by Faber Editions in the past – The Mountain Lion by Jean Stafford, Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks, and The Glass Pearls by Emeric Pressburger, to name a…
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Discovered, rediscovered and enjoyed by many @backlisted.bsky.social listeners, The Lowlife is a tremendous read:
deeply engrossed in They Were Counted by Miklos Banffy, which I would never have discovered without enthusiastic recommendations here - thank you - from @jacquiwine.bsky.social @nancykay-alt-acct.bsky.social and @neglectedbooks.com
They were right, it’s very readable and wide ranging
They were right, it’s very readable and wide ranging
November 16, 2025 at 11:06 PM
deeply engrossed in They Were Counted by Miklos Banffy, which I would never have discovered without enthusiastic recommendations here - thank you - from @jacquiwine.bsky.social @nancykay-alt-acct.bsky.social and @neglectedbooks.com
They were right, it’s very readable and wide ranging
They were right, it’s very readable and wide ranging
all in yellow for this evening's #WildflowerHour: Dandelion, Sows Thistle, and a very short Mullein:
November 16, 2025 at 8:09 PM
all in yellow for this evening's #WildflowerHour: Dandelion, Sows Thistle, and a very short Mullein:
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
It’s Sunday & it’s 8pm so it must be time for #wildflowerhour! Please share your pics of the wild & naturalised blooms you’ve spotted from across Britain & Ireland in the last week and did you manage to spot #thewinter10, our challenge for the coldest months! ☺️
#WildflowerHour #TheWinter10 from #Preston this week; a shy common daisy, ragwort, fox & cubs, hogweed, pineapple weed, angelica looking like snowflakes! Hedge mustard, white dead nettle, red campion, hazel catkins, buttercup, honeysuckle, spindle @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
It’s Sunday & it’s 8pm so it must be time for #wildflowerhour! Please share your pics of the wild & naturalised blooms you’ve spotted from across Britain & Ireland in the last week and did you manage to spot #thewinter10, our challenge for the coldest months! ☺️
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
English councils are planning to sell social clubs, sports centres and shopping arcades as they bet on a fire sale of assets to balance the books, according to a survey of local authorities.
The key cities group of councils, which represents second-tier cities in England, said 60% of councils were planning to sell assets to meet the escalating costs of adult and children’s social care. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
If you’re anything like us and Radio 4 is the background soundtrack to your existence, listen in at 3.45 today. I wrote a short story for Short Works about a wild boar release, rural ideologies and searching for balance in an environment that is intrinsically off-kilter
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Short Works, The Sounder by Jade Angeles Fitton
An original short work for Radio 4 by Jade Angeles Fitton
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 10:03 AM
If you’re anything like us and Radio 4 is the background soundtrack to your existence, listen in at 3.45 today. I wrote a short story for Short Works about a wild boar release, rural ideologies and searching for balance in an environment that is intrinsically off-kilter
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
The ridiculously satisfying task of covering the dust jackets of old books in a protective cover:
November 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The ridiculously satisfying task of covering the dust jackets of old books in a protective cover:
Rereading Nancy Mitford's The Blessing, and re-listening to the excellent vintage Backlisted podcast edition with Mitford biographer Laura Thompson, which discusses the book:
Fond of this episode as it's the first one I ever heard, back in the day 😊
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/4-n...
Fond of this episode as it's the first one I ever heard, back in the day 😊
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/4-n...
November 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Rereading Nancy Mitford's The Blessing, and re-listening to the excellent vintage Backlisted podcast edition with Mitford biographer Laura Thompson, which discusses the book:
Fond of this episode as it's the first one I ever heard, back in the day 😊
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/4-n...
Fond of this episode as it's the first one I ever heard, back in the day 😊
www.backlisted.fm/episodes/4-n...
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
We need nothing less than a profound humbling - a change of mindset and values, and a service relationship with Nature and each other if we are to survive.
I don’t say this lightly.
www.ipsnews.net/2025/11/the-...
I don’t say this lightly.
www.ipsnews.net/2025/11/the-...
The World's Forests Cannot Wait: Why COP30 Must Center Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities' Leadership
As world leaders prepare to gather in Brazil for COP30 next week, they will convene in the heart of the Amazon — a fitting location for what must become a turning point in how the world addresses the ...
www.ipsnews.net
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
We need nothing less than a profound humbling - a change of mindset and values, and a service relationship with Nature and each other if we are to survive.
I don’t say this lightly.
www.ipsnews.net/2025/11/the-...
I don’t say this lightly.
www.ipsnews.net/2025/11/the-...
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
🌎 #COP30 starts next week, and with the Paris Agreement’s 10-year anniversary approaching, this is a moment for delivery, not more targets; we need binding legislation.
🐝 It’s time for a joined-up climate and nature strategy. We need the Climate and Nature Bill.
👉 zerohour.uk/cop30 #CANBill
🐝 It’s time for a joined-up climate and nature strategy. We need the Climate and Nature Bill.
👉 zerohour.uk/cop30 #CANBill
🌏 COP30 and what we need to see from the UK
In the last few days, World leaders (and, going by previous conferences, a lot of fossil fuel lobbyists) have been arriving in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th Conference of the ...
zerohour.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:51 AM
🌎 #COP30 starts next week, and with the Paris Agreement’s 10-year anniversary approaching, this is a moment for delivery, not more targets; we need binding legislation.
🐝 It’s time for a joined-up climate and nature strategy. We need the Climate and Nature Bill.
👉 zerohour.uk/cop30 #CANBill
🐝 It’s time for a joined-up climate and nature strategy. We need the Climate and Nature Bill.
👉 zerohour.uk/cop30 #CANBill
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
Well done Zohran! And of course the real victor of the day - typography.
November 5, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Well done Zohran! And of course the real victor of the day - typography.
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
Major revision of #GBRedList of plants published today shows 25% of our native & archaeophyte flora threatened with extinction. Many iconic widespread species classified as threatened for first time including Betony, Marsh Marigold, Devil’s-bit Scabious and Harebell. Another wake-up call for action!
November 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Major revision of #GBRedList of plants published today shows 25% of our native & archaeophyte flora threatened with extinction. Many iconic widespread species classified as threatened for first time including Betony, Marsh Marigold, Devil’s-bit Scabious and Harebell. Another wake-up call for action!
A lesson in compassion and innovation from 1973
Treating prisoners with human dignity - insights from the Barlinnie Special Unit and reducing the need to have prisons. My Thought for the Day today on BBC Radio Scotland. Can also be heard about 1:24 in (0723) at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
November 6, 2025 at 8:09 AM
A lesson in compassion and innovation from 1973
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
Well done all involved in years of data gathering, analysis, coordination & funding for this new GB red list. Dedicated work by top botanists. And thanks to the brilliant conservation orgs & land managers stemming the haemorrhaging of biodiversity too. Many declines but also some glimmers of hope
New #GBRedList for vascular plants is published today by a team led by @bsbibotany.bsky.social with partners @naturalengland.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social @natreswales.bsky.social @nhm-london.bsky.social @plantlifeintl.bsky.social @rbgkew.bsky.social @thebotanics.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Well done all involved in years of data gathering, analysis, coordination & funding for this new GB red list. Dedicated work by top botanists. And thanks to the brilliant conservation orgs & land managers stemming the haemorrhaging of biodiversity too. Many declines but also some glimmers of hope
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
Mamdani's speech is SO GOOD: respectful, generous, sparkling.
November 5, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Mamdani's speech is SO GOOD: respectful, generous, sparkling.
Starting the day with a little dance of joy: this is great, and the bit about hands at the beginning is pure poetry:
❤️❤️
Read Mamdani’s victory speech here:
November 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Starting the day with a little dance of joy: this is great, and the bit about hands at the beginning is pure poetry:
Hogweed still going strong, and being visited by insects, and Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Cymbalaria muralis in a warm spot at the foot of a wall #thewinter10 #Wildflowerhour
November 2, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Hogweed still going strong, and being visited by insects, and Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Cymbalaria muralis in a warm spot at the foot of a wall #thewinter10 #Wildflowerhour
Reposted by Claraisreading 🌿💙📚📚
12/ The forth theme is focused on climate 'Solutions'.
Kicking us off for this section is 'Tomorrow' (2015) by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent that focuses on tracking down the solutions already being implemented all around us.
mubi.com/en/my/films/...
Kicking us off for this section is 'Tomorrow' (2015) by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent that focuses on tracking down the solutions already being implemented all around us.
mubi.com/en/my/films/...
TOMORROW - Trailer
YouTube video by DEMAIN le Film
www.youtube.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:21 AM
12/ The forth theme is focused on climate 'Solutions'.
Kicking us off for this section is 'Tomorrow' (2015) by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent that focuses on tracking down the solutions already being implemented all around us.
mubi.com/en/my/films/...
Kicking us off for this section is 'Tomorrow' (2015) by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent that focuses on tracking down the solutions already being implemented all around us.
mubi.com/en/my/films/...
November 1, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Oop! #theWinter10 begins this weekend. Now where did I see that Herb Robert?
A wonderful hybrid wildflower and fungi hour tonight! Hope you all enjoyed it! It’s getting harder to spot those flowers now so it must be time to start #thewinter10! Can you spot ten wild or naturalised blooms for #Wildflowerhour next Sunday?! Happy flower spotting!!
#WildflowerHour My finds in North Lancs and South Cumbria this week include Bramble, Spindle berries, Shaggy Soldier and Creeping Thistle.
October 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Oop! #theWinter10 begins this weekend. Now where did I see that Herb Robert?