David Irwin
@davidirwin1987.bsky.social
Former journo, left for pastures news. I enjoy good books, old footpaths, folklore, writing, watching wildlife and tennis and most geeky things involving goblins.
Pinned
David Irwin
@davidirwin1987.bsky.social
· Jan 22
Boost for beloved British mammal
A new colony of the endangered species has been found in northern England
greenandpleasant2025.substack.com
Have started a substack for positive stories on nature, the environment and climate - hoping to use some of my old journo skills for a good cause. greenandpleasant2025.substack.com/p/boost-for-...
Reposted by David Irwin
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
Reposted by David Irwin
Free stickers suitable for flag-bearing lampposts. Send a large A4 envelope with a 1st class large stamp to me at Bragg Office, PO Box 6830 Bridport DT6 9BH and I’ll send you a sheet. #ReclaimtheFlag 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧
October 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Free stickers suitable for flag-bearing lampposts. Send a large A4 envelope with a 1st class large stamp to me at Bragg Office, PO Box 6830 Bridport DT6 9BH and I’ll send you a sheet. #ReclaimtheFlag 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧
Reposted by David Irwin
Thatcher first PM to raise global warming at the UN. Theresa May first G7 leader to legislate to stop unmitigated emissions. The Tories have turned their back on their own leaders, their own global leadership, their own credibility.
October 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Thatcher first PM to raise global warming at the UN. Theresa May first G7 leader to legislate to stop unmitigated emissions. The Tories have turned their back on their own leaders, their own global leadership, their own credibility.
Reposted by David Irwin
Very positive, lets get sharing the good news!
Unthinkable just 10 years ago:
Almost 3/4 of the EU’s electricity in 2024 was from renewable energy sources and nuclear.
Gas and coal electricity generation is at record low levels.
Almost 3/4 of the EU’s electricity in 2024 was from renewable energy sources and nuclear.
Gas and coal electricity generation is at record low levels.
April 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Very positive, lets get sharing the good news!
Reposted by David Irwin
🚗💨 EVs are holding up better than combustion cars, says ADAC.
In 2024, ICE cars aged 2–4 years were 2.5x more likely to break down than EVs.
EVs on the road ↑ 97%
EV breakdowns ↑ only 46%
In 2024, ICE cars aged 2–4 years were 2.5x more likely to break down than EVs.
EVs on the road ↑ 97%
EV breakdowns ↑ only 46%
April 16, 2025 at 7:15 AM
🚗💨 EVs are holding up better than combustion cars, says ADAC.
In 2024, ICE cars aged 2–4 years were 2.5x more likely to break down than EVs.
EVs on the road ↑ 97%
EV breakdowns ↑ only 46%
In 2024, ICE cars aged 2–4 years were 2.5x more likely to break down than EVs.
EVs on the road ↑ 97%
EV breakdowns ↑ only 46%
Latest visitor to the patio.
April 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Latest visitor to the patio.
Some photos of the Robins nesting in our ivy.
April 4, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Some photos of the Robins nesting in our ivy.
Pleased to see a lot of bees and butterflies on the wing in the last few days, including a sight of an orange-tip - one of my favourites.
April 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Pleased to see a lot of bees and butterflies on the wing in the last few days, including a sight of an orange-tip - one of my favourites.
Recently stumbled on the Three Ravens folklore podcast. Quality stuff.
April 3, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Recently stumbled on the Three Ravens folklore podcast. Quality stuff.
20 years on from reading the Radio Times preview of Doctor Who in the school library I'm delighted it's still here and it's brilliant.
March 26, 2025 at 9:21 AM
20 years on from reading the Radio Times preview of Doctor Who in the school library I'm delighted it's still here and it's brilliant.
Twenty years on from the "Trip of a Lifetime" promo, a new Doctor Who trailer is still great for the spirits...
March 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Twenty years on from the "Trip of a Lifetime" promo, a new Doctor Who trailer is still great for the spirits...
Found an old file of folklore columns I cut out more than a decade ago that I've now transferred to a much nicer folder - if only to show off the gorgeous artwork.
March 22, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Found an old file of folklore columns I cut out more than a decade ago that I've now transferred to a much nicer folder - if only to show off the gorgeous artwork.
These designs are awesome... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Royal Mail launches mythical creatures stamp collection
Myths and fables from across the UK are illustrated in the set of stamps.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 20, 2025 at 7:55 PM
These designs are awesome... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Picked up a 1999 Encyclopedia of Britain y'day. Net zero nay-sayers should check out these stats on the power sector and compare with now - wind has capacity to power 11m homes and renewables now make-up well over 40 per cent of electricity mix. The transition has been rapid and remarkable.
March 20, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Picked up a 1999 Encyclopedia of Britain y'day. Net zero nay-sayers should check out these stats on the power sector and compare with now - wind has capacity to power 11m homes and renewables now make-up well over 40 per cent of electricity mix. The transition has been rapid and remarkable.
The breakdown of the UK consensus on climate change is very sad. As a local reporter I covered a Tory council where the administration was actually very pro-net zero - notwithstanding inevitable disputes about scale of ambition/individual policies.
March 18, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The breakdown of the UK consensus on climate change is very sad. As a local reporter I covered a Tory council where the administration was actually very pro-net zero - notwithstanding inevitable disputes about scale of ambition/individual policies.
Reposted by David Irwin
Today in 180AD Commodus succeeded his father, Marcus Aurlieus as Roman Emperor. He would go berserk, naming the city, months & legions after himself.
One contemporary wrote that he turned Rome "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".
One contemporary wrote that he turned Rome "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".
March 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Today in 180AD Commodus succeeded his father, Marcus Aurlieus as Roman Emperor. He would go berserk, naming the city, months & legions after himself.
One contemporary wrote that he turned Rome "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".
One contemporary wrote that he turned Rome "from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".
I am very sceptical of politicians of any political stripe accusing civil servants of somehow being obstructive. Probably the most common reason they say "no" is because there isn't the money. And that's not blocking that's engaging with basic mathematic principles.
March 13, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I am very sceptical of politicians of any political stripe accusing civil servants of somehow being obstructive. Probably the most common reason they say "no" is because there isn't the money. And that's not blocking that's engaging with basic mathematic principles.
Trying to get back into pencil drawing after many years off..
March 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Trying to get back into pencil drawing after many years off..
Never saw Love Actually so no idea if Starmer should have gone all Hugh Grant at the White House. Personally I'd be quite keen on a British PM channelling Bob Hoskins ripping into the Mafia in The Long Good Friday. Lots of material there... "My new partnership is with Europe."
"MAGA, I've shit em."
"MAGA, I've shit em."
February 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Never saw Love Actually so no idea if Starmer should have gone all Hugh Grant at the White House. Personally I'd be quite keen on a British PM channelling Bob Hoskins ripping into the Mafia in The Long Good Friday. Lots of material there... "My new partnership is with Europe."
"MAGA, I've shit em."
"MAGA, I've shit em."
Reposted by David Irwin
"Under weaknesses, you've put 'Accidentally stopped the fight against Ebola'?"
February 26, 2025 at 5:17 PM
"Under weaknesses, you've put 'Accidentally stopped the fight against Ebola'?"
I am regularly disappointed but there is surely a plausible chance that various political figures and pundits who had cheered Trump's victory - indeed had rushed to be present at his inauguration and lavished his leadership with praise - face a real reckoning.
February 20, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I am regularly disappointed but there is surely a plausible chance that various political figures and pundits who had cheered Trump's victory - indeed had rushed to be present at his inauguration and lavished his leadership with praise - face a real reckoning.
This excerpt from the rather brilliant A Very British Coup - penned in the 80s - seems rather prescient.
February 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
This excerpt from the rather brilliant A Very British Coup - penned in the 80s - seems rather prescient.
Fantastic... www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
www.doctorwho.tv
February 15, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Fantastic... www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fea...
Why do I suspect the deal that Johnson urged Ukraine against signing nearly 3 years ago is going to look rather like the one that Trump - who he cheered into the White House - will be putting forward shortly?
February 12, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Why do I suspect the deal that Johnson urged Ukraine against signing nearly 3 years ago is going to look rather like the one that Trump - who he cheered into the White House - will be putting forward shortly?
