Lesley
@englishfolkfan.bsky.social
Am @EnglishFolkfan as on the BlueBird since 2008
Independent interested creative
Independent interested creative
Wonderful wildlife news and a very special and splendid Advent for Shropshire 2025.
BREAKING: Beryl & Bertie have officially produced the first beaver kit born in Shropshire in over 400 years. 🦫🔥
Thank you to our partner Shrewsbury Town Council and to the support of members and our funders — helping us rebuild wetlands one adorable beaver at a time.
Thank you to our partner Shrewsbury Town Council and to the support of members and our funders — helping us rebuild wetlands one adorable beaver at a time.
December 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Wonderful wildlife news and a very special and splendid Advent for Shropshire 2025.
@vtheobscure.bsky.social You can have a lovely virtual one though :)
A reminder that my Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar starts tomorrow.
🎄
Of course, it may bear a distinct resemblance to my advent last year (and the year before that, and the year before that …)
😊
Artist: PB Hickling
🎄
Of course, it may bear a distinct resemblance to my advent last year (and the year before that, and the year before that …)
😊
Artist: PB Hickling
November 30, 2025 at 9:05 PM
@vtheobscure.bsky.social You can have a lovely virtual one though :)
Oh my, such an impressive Absolute Unit he is indeed, what say you @themerl.bsky.social ?
November 30, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Oh my, such an impressive Absolute Unit he is indeed, what say you @themerl.bsky.social ?
Well, it is almost December and the attention to detailing is delightful. :)
Christmas post box topper in Wiveliscombe tonight, the night the lights went on!
November 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Well, it is almost December and the attention to detailing is delightful. :)
Well worth viewing in large format for so much wonderful detailing by @martinrowson.bsky.social and bonus that comments btl was open for a short while. :)
November 28, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Well worth viewing in large format for so much wonderful detailing by @martinrowson.bsky.social and bonus that comments btl was open for a short while. :)
@catsofyore.bsky.social & @garius.bsky.social A great outcome when an English local council made the decision to use its resources to provide a new permanent home so that the welfare of cats in its area can continue to remain a priority.
Cats Protection Telford & District has moved into a new home in Wellington in a move made possible by Telford & Wrekin Council.
Council supports Cats Protection with move into new market home
Cats Protection Telford & District has moved into a new home in Wellington in a move made possible by Telford & Wrekin Council.
www.shropshirelive.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
@catsofyore.bsky.social & @garius.bsky.social A great outcome when an English local council made the decision to use its resources to provide a new permanent home so that the welfare of cats in its area can continue to remain a priority.
@genevievetudor.bsky.social Joyful of thoughts of heading North again are quite probably increased upon reading this news. :) #OrkneyFolkFestival
2026 Orkney Folk Festival Line Up Announced theorkneynews.scot/2025/11/27/2...
2026 Orkney Folk Festival Line Up Announced
Orkney Folk Festival has announced the first wave of artists appearing next year, taking place between 21 and 24 May 2026. Orkney Folk Festival Producer, Craig Corse said: “At the halfway point be…
theorkneynews.scot
November 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
@genevievetudor.bsky.social Joyful of thoughts of heading North again are quite probably increased upon reading this news. :) #OrkneyFolkFestival
@lizanderson.bsky.social Now this was an interesting wildlife read this morning, am presuming the science group have briefed all you marvellous mudlarkers on the creature and the reporting campaign. Am guessing your foreshore searching sometimes including 'working along at a snails pace'... :)
Search is on for the German hairy snail in London
Search is on for the German hairy snail in London
Conchologists, and citizen scientists team up to seek out endangered mollusc species along River Thames
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:32 AM
@lizanderson.bsky.social Now this was an interesting wildlife read this morning, am presuming the science group have briefed all you marvellous mudlarkers on the creature and the reporting campaign. Am guessing your foreshore searching sometimes including 'working along at a snails pace'... :)
Heads up for all you photo takers out there who already enjoy #SundayPix or those of you yet to submit a picture, @rosamundi.bsky.social has named the theme for this week #SundayPixOffTheBeatenTrack see her post:
Right, I'm hosting #SundayPix this week and I know some people like advance warning of the theme. Your theme for this week is #SundayPixOffTheBeatenTrack
The offbeat, the unusual, the exotic, or maybe just a little hidden corner of your own back garden. Everything is off the beaten track to someone.
The offbeat, the unusual, the exotic, or maybe just a little hidden corner of your own back garden. Everything is off the beaten track to someone.
November 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Heads up for all you photo takers out there who already enjoy #SundayPix or those of you yet to submit a picture, @rosamundi.bsky.social has named the theme for this week #SundayPixOffTheBeatenTrack see her post:
@catsofyore.bsky.social In case this hasn't reached your timeline, such a lovely piece about some of the cats who officially reside in the Colleges of Oxford University. Many are rescues and all are valued for the joy they bring to everyone who encounters them. :)
Walter de Staplecat, Simpkin IV, Teabag, Balthasar and Benny D Cat take the stage as we meet the college cats of Oxford. And, of course, Magdalen’s Ozymandias. Read on for our photo special. (Includes a cat map.) oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
College cats of Oxford
Once upon a time, we featured an image of Magdalen's kitten, Ozymandias, in our newsletter. We figured it might be a gentle contrast to our regular diet of planning and local politics.
The grey ball ...
oxfordclarion.uk
November 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
@catsofyore.bsky.social In case this hasn't reached your timeline, such a lovely piece about some of the cats who officially reside in the Colleges of Oxford University. Many are rescues and all are valued for the joy they bring to everyone who encounters them. :)
@shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social & @shrewsmorris.bsky.social Some great news if this can become the norm for power provision for folk festivals big and small. :)
Bristol to launch world-first ‘clean power hub’ for festivals and film crews
Bristol to launch world-first ‘clean power hub’ for festivals and film crews
City council and regional authority collaborate to guarantee renewable mobile energy for next summer’s festival season
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
@shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social & @shrewsmorris.bsky.social Some great news if this can become the norm for power provision for folk festivals big and small. :)
UNESCO @unesco.org So many years of being active world wide, read the latest issue Oct-Dec 2025 of their Courier magazine here: courier.unesco.org/en/latest
November 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
UNESCO @unesco.org So many years of being active world wide, read the latest issue Oct-Dec 2025 of their Courier magazine here: courier.unesco.org/en/latest
Some very good news to "Drive the Cold Winter Away" and look forward to next year when "Sumer is icumen in" and @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social 2026 delights us yet again. :)
Our friends over at @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social have announced the first batch of artists on their line up - with more to come!
shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up/line...
shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up/line...
November 14, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Some very good news to "Drive the Cold Winter Away" and look forward to next year when "Sumer is icumen in" and @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social 2026 delights us yet again. :)
Some old 'balls history you may find enlightening in a lovely short thread by Thames Mudlarker @lizanderson.bsky.social
From this week on the foreshore, my first Thames cannon ball eroding out of the mud between some concretion and an ancient timber. I’ve found muskets & canister shot, but never one of these. Known as a ‘falconet’ cannon ball because it was fired from a falconet, a fairly light, manoeuvrable gun 1/
November 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Some old 'balls history you may find enlightening in a lovely short thread by Thames Mudlarker @lizanderson.bsky.social
@themontgomerycanal.org.uk Ah now, such waterways memories for those of us of a certain age. ;)
Happy Birthday to King Charles III today. Pictured here in 1974 with Lord Davies and John Heap of IWA at the opening of Welshpool Town Lock on the Montgomery Canal. #iwa
November 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
@themontgomerycanal.org.uk Ah now, such waterways memories for those of us of a certain age. ;)
@garius.bsky.social Might be one to circulate to your history/computer games followers? The BBC report on the Pictish life games idea swivel to book is interesting: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 PM
@garius.bsky.social Might be one to circulate to your history/computer games followers? The BBC report on the Pictish life games idea swivel to book is interesting: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
pixelsonapage.bsky.social Not sure if you follow these jolly fellows & so might have seen this already, a 3 post thread on their events for the coming season in Kent:
The season's slowly starting - we now have a script, a song, and also a cause: this year's charity is The Gap Project in Broadstairs. (1/3) www.justgiving.com/page/hoodeni...
The Hoodeners, Hoodening with a Hooden Horse for The Gap Project
Help Benjamin Jones raise money to support Gap - A Thanet Community Project
www.justgiving.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
pixelsonapage.bsky.social Not sure if you follow these jolly fellows & so might have seen this already, a 3 post thread on their events for the coming season in Kent:
A long Memory Lane of #BBC listening & watching for many of us, thank you @mitchbenn.bsky.social and as Cathy says, give it a watch too:
Think it’s appropriate to get this out there once more #ImproudoftheBBC www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzqf...
Mitch Benn - I'm Proud of the BBC
YouTube video by andyhoudini
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
A long Memory Lane of #BBC listening & watching for many of us, thank you @mitchbenn.bsky.social and as Cathy says, give it a watch too:
Haven't come across such a padded sampler before and am presuming all the lovely crochet and cream threadworm was done by Annie Parker too. Such a glorious gift for the chaplain.
Annie Parker #stitch ed this sampler (now on show in our #CM150 exhibition) using her own hair as thread and gave it to the Rev John Horsley, chaplain to Clerkenwell Prison. In 1884 he gave it to our collection - Parker herself died the following year of TB aged only 35. #Museum30 #womensart
November 8, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Haven't come across such a padded sampler before and am presuming all the lovely crochet and cream threadworm was done by Annie Parker too. Such a glorious gift for the chaplain.
@rozesall.bsky.social Great writing on the historic longevity of the spindle here in England, and how its continuity can be seen if you know where to look. :)
Country diary: Red-hot spindle sets the hedgerow ablaze | Nic Wilson
Country diary: Red-hot spindle sets the hedgerow ablaze | Nic Wilson
Braughing, Hertfordshire: This fiery plant is one of the most startling sights of autumn – and it has a place in history in this county
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:49 AM
@rozesall.bsky.social Great writing on the historic longevity of the spindle here in England, and how its continuity can be seen if you know where to look. :)
@legolostatsea.bsky.social ...though only whimsy but also a lesson in random litter picking. ;)
Children leave for school early on November 6th. They want extra time to collect the sticks of fallen rockets. They sit in class comparing numbers, passing around the ones with strongest smell of gunpowder, inhaling as if each whiff contained the memory of its display. - Joanna Vickers #VOH
November 6, 2025 at 11:43 AM
@legolostatsea.bsky.social ...though only whimsy but also a lesson in random litter picking. ;)
@sgdesigns.bsky.social A lovely 5 post thread, pics & short vid, of historical railway magic running on the rails today inc the new build replica of the first steam train now carrying passengers. :)
Anyway, lads, went for a ride on a train today. Look at this! Flying Scotsman looking gorgeous, a simmering beauty that moved like a sewing machine
November 5, 2025 at 11:34 PM
@sgdesigns.bsky.social A lovely 5 post thread, pics & short vid, of historical railway magic running on the rails today inc the new build replica of the first steam train now carrying passengers. :)
@catsofyore.bsky.social Good news story in Shropshire UK, one of the UK Cats Protection charity branches now has a permanent shop after loosing their stall space in the local undercover market. Even more local good work in www.cats.org.uk cat care can happen! www.shropshirelive.com/news/2025/11...
Charity’s delight as Council collaboration secures new Wellington home
Cats Protection Telford & District, has expressed its profound relief and thanks to Telford & Wrekin Council after a collaboration secured a new town centre home for its popular fundraising stall.
www.shropshirelive.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:30 PM
@catsofyore.bsky.social Good news story in Shropshire UK, one of the UK Cats Protection charity branches now has a permanent shop after loosing their stall space in the local undercover market. Even more local good work in www.cats.org.uk cat care can happen! www.shropshirelive.com/news/2025/11...
@shrewsmorris.bsky.social Lovely Morris Sides goings on in Aotearoa New Zealand, reminds me of all the #Morris teams and the annual parading through Shrewsbury and the Shrewsbury Folk Festival site @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social Bells, sticks, hankies, ribbons & garlands mean fun & friends forever! :)
A tall woman (40s?) is standing in the middle of a crowd looking around with a serious expression.
Suddenly her face breaks into a huge grin, she cocks her ear to the side and exclaims breathlessly: "Morris Dancers! I can hear the bells! You never see them arrive or leave. They're magic." (5)
Suddenly her face breaks into a huge grin, she cocks her ear to the side and exclaims breathlessly: "Morris Dancers! I can hear the bells! You never see them arrive or leave. They're magic." (5)
November 3, 2025 at 12:16 PM
@shrewsmorris.bsky.social Lovely Morris Sides goings on in Aotearoa New Zealand, reminds me of all the #Morris teams and the annual parading through Shrewsbury and the Shrewsbury Folk Festival site @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social Bells, sticks, hankies, ribbons & garlands mean fun & friends forever! :)
@museumbums.bsky.social Am imagining the poster of this opinion must be a longtime follower of your good works on here and elsewhere. :)
Given their primary function it's amazing how attractive bums are.
November 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
@museumbums.bsky.social Am imagining the poster of this opinion must be a longtime follower of your good works on here and elsewhere. :)