Michael J. Warren
@drmjwarren.bsky.social
Writer, naturalist, medievalist, teacher. Trustee of Curlew Action. The Cuckoo’s Lea, Bloomsbury, out now: birds in our ancient and modern senses of place. Marshes. Winter. Whisky.
https://linktr.ee/cuckooslea
www.birdsandplace.co.uk
https://linktr.ee/cuckooslea
www.birdsandplace.co.uk
Pinned
Michael J. Warren
@drmjwarren.bsky.social
· May 25
Well, here it is. My copy arrived. Out 5th June. This is the beautiful indie-exclusive edition with it’s gorgeous sprayed edges. Thanks ever so @amyjanebeer.bsky.social, Mary Colwell and @jon-moses.bsky.social for your generous cover quotes. @chiffchat.bsky.social #naturewriting
Continuing with the Devon series in the run up to my event on 13th @thebookery.bsky.social, bird place-name of the day 110 is: GOSFORD. Straightforward this one and the name hasn’t changed at all from the Old English: gos + ford. ‘Ford where geese can cross’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
November 9, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Continuing with the Devon series in the run up to my event on 13th @thebookery.bsky.social, bird place-name of the day 110 is: GOSFORD. Straightforward this one and the name hasn’t changed at all from the Old English: gos + ford. ‘Ford where geese can cross’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Really looking forward to this, with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social, next Thursday (13th Nov). Come and join us for an evening of birds, place and belonging. #Crediton #naturewriting
🎫 Have you got your ticket yet?
🐦⬛ We can't wait to welcome @drmjwarren.bsky.social to The Bookery this coming Thursday to discuss his new book, The Cuckoo’s Lea: The Forgotten History of Birds and Place, in conversation with environmental campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole! 🧵 ⬇️
🐦⬛ We can't wait to welcome @drmjwarren.bsky.social to The Bookery this coming Thursday to discuss his new book, The Cuckoo’s Lea: The Forgotten History of Birds and Place, in conversation with environmental campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole! 🧵 ⬇️
November 8, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Really looking forward to this, with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social, next Thursday (13th Nov). Come and join us for an evening of birds, place and belonging. #Crediton #naturewriting
Reposted by Michael J. Warren
🎫 Have you got your ticket yet?
🐦⬛ We can't wait to welcome @drmjwarren.bsky.social to The Bookery this coming Thursday to discuss his new book, The Cuckoo’s Lea: The Forgotten History of Birds and Place, in conversation with environmental campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole! 🧵 ⬇️
🐦⬛ We can't wait to welcome @drmjwarren.bsky.social to The Bookery this coming Thursday to discuss his new book, The Cuckoo’s Lea: The Forgotten History of Birds and Place, in conversation with environmental campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole! 🧵 ⬇️
November 8, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🎫 Have you got your ticket yet?
🐦⬛ We can't wait to welcome @drmjwarren.bsky.social to The Bookery this coming Thursday to discuss his new book, The Cuckoo’s Lea: The Forgotten History of Birds and Place, in conversation with environmental campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole! 🧵 ⬇️
🐦⬛ We can't wait to welcome @drmjwarren.bsky.social to The Bookery this coming Thursday to discuss his new book, The Cuckoo’s Lea: The Forgotten History of Birds and Place, in conversation with environmental campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole! 🧵 ⬇️
Oh please let these forecast temperatures be on the way later on this November. I can’t deal with this warmth. Literally very comfortable out in shorts and t-shirt today. 😔 #WarmNovember #RecordBreakingWeather
November 8, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Oh please let these forecast temperatures be on the way later on this November. I can’t deal with this warmth. Literally very comfortable out in shorts and t-shirt today. 😔 #WarmNovember #RecordBreakingWeather
Reposted by Michael J. Warren
"Giving up [on 1.5C] would be a total betrayal. Defeatism never took a single of a fraction of a degree of global warming. It never created a single job.”
Hear, hear, Ed Miliband.
(But also: some of those defeatists appear to be in the Treasury currently)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Hear, hear, Ed Miliband.
(But also: some of those defeatists appear to be in the Treasury currently)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Giving up would be a betrayal’: Miliband says 1.5C target still alive before Cop30
Exclusive: Environment secretary says global tipping points are possible as he rejects far-right climate ‘defeatism’
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:22 PM
"Giving up [on 1.5C] would be a total betrayal. Defeatism never took a single of a fraction of a degree of global warming. It never created a single job.”
Hear, hear, Ed Miliband.
(But also: some of those defeatists appear to be in the Treasury currently)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Hear, hear, Ed Miliband.
(But also: some of those defeatists appear to be in the Treasury currently)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Bird place-name of the day 109: RAMRIDGE (lost place, somewhere in Devon parish of Holcombe Burnell: www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/Resu... ). OE hremn + hrycg. ‘Ravens’ ridge’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
November 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Bird place-name of the day 109: RAMRIDGE (lost place, somewhere in Devon parish of Holcombe Burnell: www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/Resu... ). OE hremn + hrycg. ‘Ravens’ ridge’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Still in Devon, bird place-name of the day 108 is KIGBEARE. OE ca + bearu. ‘Jackdaw wood’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
November 6, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Still in Devon, bird place-name of the day 108 is KIGBEARE. OE ca + bearu. ‘Jackdaw wood’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Reposted by Michael J. Warren
European countries want Brazil to increase forest conservation (it certainly can). But some of the world's best opportunities to spare & restore carbon in native forests—while displacing the least food production—actually lie in Europe. Our analysis shows this: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 5, 2025 at 5:02 PM
European countries want Brazil to increase forest conservation (it certainly can). But some of the world's best opportunities to spare & restore carbon in native forests—while displacing the least food production—actually lie in Europe. Our analysis shows this: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Michael J. Warren
This is absolutely appalling.
"The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit."
Absolutely pathetic.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit."
Absolutely pathetic.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK opts out of flagship fund to protect Amazon and other threatened tropical forests
Decision is bitter blow to Brazil ahead of fund’s launch at Cop30 – and an embarrassment to Prince William
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
This is absolutely appalling.
"The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit."
Absolutely pathetic.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"The UK will not contribute to a flagship fund for the world’s remaining tropical forests, in a bitter blow to the Brazilian hosts on the eve of the Cop30 climate summit."
Absolutely pathetic.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Next in the Devon series, bird place-name of the day 107: DUNKESWELL. OE dunnoc + wella. ‘Dunnock’s spring’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
November 4, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Next in the Devon series, bird place-name of the day 107: DUNKESWELL. OE dunnoc + wella. ‘Dunnock’s spring’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Bird place-name of the day 106: EXWELL BARTON. Continuing my daily Devon series in the run up to my event @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton, here’s one you’d never guess. From OE geac + wella, it means ‘cuckoo’s spring’. Now what about that? #birdsandplace #naturewriting
November 3, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Bird place-name of the day 106: EXWELL BARTON. Continuing my daily Devon series in the run up to my event @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton, here’s one you’d never guess. From OE geac + wella, it means ‘cuckoo’s spring’. Now what about that? #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Reposted by Michael J. Warren
Nature writers are invariably a delight to talk to & when I asked for top tips on editing, this is what they said... @nicwilson.bsky.social @drmjwarren.bsky.social @amyjanebeer.bsky.social @jensoilandpen.bsky.social @derekniemann.bsky.social shorturl.at/y1IiL Here's me chatting to lovely Nic Wilson.
When I asked some of my favourite nature writers for their top tips on editing, this is what they said…
Dr Jen Jones – “My tips would be: always read your work out loud, don’t be precious about your words, and remember the edited piece will be better. It is hard getting rid of words…
freelancenaturewriter.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Nature writers are invariably a delight to talk to & when I asked for top tips on editing, this is what they said... @nicwilson.bsky.social @drmjwarren.bsky.social @amyjanebeer.bsky.social @jensoilandpen.bsky.social @derekniemann.bsky.social shorturl.at/y1IiL Here's me chatting to lovely Nic Wilson.
Two authors writing about special places, together on a bookshelf in Southwold. 😁 If you’d like to see me and @guyshrubsole.bsky.social together for real, join us on 13th November @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton (19:30). See below for tickets and details. #naturewriting #Crediton #WhatsOn
November 2, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Two authors writing about special places, together on a bookshelf in Southwold. 😁 If you’d like to see me and @guyshrubsole.bsky.social together for real, join us on 13th November @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton (19:30). See below for tickets and details. #naturewriting #Crediton #WhatsOn
For bird place-name of the day 105, I’m using the same map for yesterday, because right by Yarner Wood, in the corner of the map, is ULLACOMBE (Farm), one of several old owl-combe places in this part of the country. #birdsandplace #baturewriting @thebookery.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
For bird place-name of the day 105, I’m using the same map for yesterday, because right by Yarner Wood, in the corner of the map, is ULLACOMBE (Farm), one of several old owl-combe places in this part of the country. #birdsandplace #baturewriting @thebookery.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael J. Warren
🎫 Ticket £5, book & ticket £20 from the bookshop or online at www.thebookery.org.uk/events
@bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @drmjwarren.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social #TheBookery #Crediton #WhatsOn
@bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @drmjwarren.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social #TheBookery #Crediton #WhatsOn
November 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🎫 Ticket £5, book & ticket £20 from the bookshop or online at www.thebookery.org.uk/events
@bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @drmjwarren.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social #TheBookery #Crediton #WhatsOn
@bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @drmjwarren.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social #TheBookery #Crediton #WhatsOn
Reposted by Michael J. Warren
Great day searching for Hazel Gloves and other fungi in Devon rainforests with David Satori from RBG Kew, who’s researching the mycorrhizal fungal diversity of British Atlantic oak and hazel woods: www.kew.org/science/our-...
November 1, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Great day searching for Hazel Gloves and other fungi in Devon rainforests with David Satori from RBG Kew, who’s researching the mycorrhizal fungal diversity of British Atlantic oak and hazel woods: www.kew.org/science/our-...
Continuing my Devon series of bird place-name of the day for the next 2 weeks, number 104 is YARNER (Wood), OE earn + ofer, ‘eagle ridge’. Still on my list of places to get to when I’m next Devon way visiting my father-in-law. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
November 1, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Continuing my Devon series of bird place-name of the day for the next 2 weeks, number 104 is YARNER (Wood), OE earn + ofer, ‘eagle ridge’. Still on my list of places to get to when I’m next Devon way visiting my father-in-law. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Bird place-name of the day 103: Devon double whammy, right next to each other! Rockbeare (rook wood) and Cranbrook (cranes’ stream). Rockbeare is old, but Cranbrook is a newly built town, named after nearby minor name Crannaford (why not just keep the old name?!). #birdsandplace #naturewriting
October 31, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Bird place-name of the day 103: Devon double whammy, right next to each other! Rockbeare (rook wood) and Cranbrook (cranes’ stream). Rockbeare is old, but Cranbrook is a newly built town, named after nearby minor name Crannaford (why not just keep the old name?!). #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Because I’m in Crediton (Devon) on 13th Nov for a book talk, I thought I’d do a Devon sequence for my bird place-name of the day series as a run up to the event. So, 102 is RUXFORD BARTON, near Sandford, north of Crediton. OE hroc + ford. ‘Rook’s ford’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
October 30, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Because I’m in Crediton (Devon) on 13th Nov for a book talk, I thought I’d do a Devon sequence for my bird place-name of the day series as a run up to the event. So, 102 is RUXFORD BARTON, near Sandford, north of Crediton. OE hroc + ford. ‘Rook’s ford’. #birdsandplace #naturewriting
On Thurs 13th Nov I’ll be chatting with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social about birds in Devon’s place-names, including the cuckoo. Did you know that the earliest written reference to a cuckoo (a riddle) is in a medieval manuscript that has been kept in Exeter for 1000 years? Come and find out more!
October 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
On Thurs 13th Nov I’ll be chatting with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social about birds in Devon’s place-names, including the cuckoo. Did you know that the earliest written reference to a cuckoo (a riddle) is in a medieval manuscript that has been kept in Exeter for 1000 years? Come and find out more!
Thanks @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social, and anyone in Devon whose interest is piqued by Brigit’s very kind words can hear all about #thecuckooslea when I’m in conversation with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social on Thursday 13th November at @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton. #naturewriting #birdsandplace
Just finished @drmjwarren.bsky.social's The Cuckoo's Lea and I absolutely LOVED it. In fact it's one of my favourite reads so far this year.
#Nature, #History, #birds, #language #landscape and more... woven together seamlessly, and so beautifully. Fascinating! I can't recommend it highly enough
#Nature, #History, #birds, #language #landscape and more... woven together seamlessly, and so beautifully. Fascinating! I can't recommend it highly enough
October 29, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Thanks @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social, and anyone in Devon whose interest is piqued by Brigit’s very kind words can hear all about #thecuckooslea when I’m in conversation with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social on Thursday 13th November at @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton. #naturewriting #birdsandplace
Thanks to all who have bought tickets for this so far. There’s an error on the poster: the event is on THURSDAY 13th, not Wednesday. Just to avoid confusion! @thebookery.bsky.social #naturewriting #birdsandplace #thecuckooslea
People of Devon, @guyshrubsole.bsky.social and I are in conversation about birds, landscape and belonging @thebookery.bsky.social, 13th November. Lots of Devon places are in the book, and crows, lots of crows! Join us! Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cre... #authorevent #naturewriting
October 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Thanks to all who have bought tickets for this so far. There’s an error on the poster: the event is on THURSDAY 13th, not Wednesday. Just to avoid confusion! @thebookery.bsky.social #naturewriting #birdsandplace #thecuckooslea
It will indeed be excellent @nicolawriting.bsky.social! Very much looking forward to chatting with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social about birds and place in the Devon landscape. (There’s an error on the poster: should be Thursday 13th, not Wednesday 13th.) #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Oooh, this'll be excellent! @drmjwarren.bsky.social & @guyshrubsole.bsky.social in conversation ...
Very excited to be chatting with @drmjwarren.bsky.social about his wonderful book THE CUCKOO'S LEA, on 13th November in Crediton - we'll be discussing lost species remembered in placenames, rekindling wonder, & spirits of place.
Get tickets here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cre...
Get tickets here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cre...
October 29, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It will indeed be excellent @nicolawriting.bsky.social! Very much looking forward to chatting with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social about birds and place in the Devon landscape. (There’s an error on the poster: should be Thursday 13th, not Wednesday 13th.) #birdsandplace #naturewriting
Only two weeks till @guyshrubsole.bsky.social and I are in conversation about birds, sense of place and land-belonging @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton. Lots of Devon in #thecuckooslea, so will all be very locally focused. A not-to-be-missed event for Devon people!
Very excited to be chatting with @drmjwarren.bsky.social about his wonderful book THE CUCKOO'S LEA, on 13th November in Crediton - we'll be discussing lost species remembered in placenames, rekindling wonder, & spirits of place.
Get tickets here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cre...
Get tickets here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cre...
October 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Only two weeks till @guyshrubsole.bsky.social and I are in conversation about birds, sense of place and land-belonging @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton. Lots of Devon in #thecuckooslea, so will all be very locally focused. A not-to-be-missed event for Devon people!
Reposted by Michael J. Warren
The world is deeply unserious about dealing with climate change. We need to reduce emissions by 50% in 5 years and we're nowhere near that.
World’s climate plans fall drastically short of action needed, analysis shows
Recent plans submitted to UN by more than 60 countries would cut carbon by only 10%, a sixth of what is needed
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:06 AM
The world is deeply unserious about dealing with climate change. We need to reduce emissions by 50% in 5 years and we're nowhere near that.