Helen Baczkowska
@helenb92.bsky.social
My first book Twyford Rising, is a story of land and resistance. My second is on the many lives of Britain's common lands - the past and present lives, the tamed and the wild ones.
http://helenbaczkowska.com
http://helenbaczkowska.com
Copy of medieval stained glass depicting pollarding in #norwichcastle. Pollarding was crucial for small timber, and created gnarled old trees full of life. Few trees except willow pollarded now, but we should make new ones where we can.
Photos of old & new to follow.
#pollarding
Photos of old & new to follow.
#pollarding
November 17, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Copy of medieval stained glass depicting pollarding in #norwichcastle. Pollarding was crucial for small timber, and created gnarled old trees full of life. Few trees except willow pollarded now, but we should make new ones where we can.
Photos of old & new to follow.
#pollarding
Photos of old & new to follow.
#pollarding
I am living in such fear of what the Planning & Infrastructure Bill will mean if passes unamended into law.
How then to speak for old trees, the bats who encircle it at night or the birds that live in this hedge?
www.wildlifetrusts.org/all-you-need...
How then to speak for old trees, the bats who encircle it at night or the birds that live in this hedge?
www.wildlifetrusts.org/all-you-need...
November 9, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I am living in such fear of what the Planning & Infrastructure Bill will mean if passes unamended into law.
How then to speak for old trees, the bats who encircle it at night or the birds that live in this hedge?
www.wildlifetrusts.org/all-you-need...
How then to speak for old trees, the bats who encircle it at night or the birds that live in this hedge?
www.wildlifetrusts.org/all-you-need...
The Fens are autumn browns and greys today. A warm breeze rattling in the reeds. Never thought I would love these flatlands, but now I am drawn to them as winter approaches.
November 3, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The Fens are autumn browns and greys today. A warm breeze rattling in the reeds. Never thought I would love these flatlands, but now I am drawn to them as winter approaches.
Myddfai Common in autumn sun, an old track vanished beneath gorse, only the lichen covered signpost still shows the way. Local herbalists once gathered their plants here, their lore handed down from a faery. The golden light and disappearing path makes all this believable.
#commonland
#commonland
November 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Myddfai Common in autumn sun, an old track vanished beneath gorse, only the lichen covered signpost still shows the way. Local herbalists once gathered their plants here, their lore handed down from a faery. The golden light and disappearing path makes all this believable.
#commonland
#commonland
Train journey opportunity to catch up on reading. Peter Marren's books always raise a smile for me...elegant mix of science and wit. An underrated nature writer imho.
June 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Train journey opportunity to catch up on reading. Peter Marren's books always raise a smile for me...elegant mix of science and wit. An underrated nature writer imho.
Finally picked up my Mum's old gramophone today. Still works! If we run out of electricity, the party is at mine, listening to Bing Crosby.
June 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Finally picked up my Mum's old gramophone today. Still works! If we run out of electricity, the party is at mine, listening to Bing Crosby.
Drying petals for rose petal tea. I stopped buying herb teas years ago as the price is so high, and most of the ingredients seem to grow in my garden. I will add lime flowers to these for a restful, soothing drink.
June 7, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Drying petals for rose petal tea. I stopped buying herb teas years ago as the price is so high, and most of the ingredients seem to grow in my garden. I will add lime flowers to these for a restful, soothing drink.
She is an attentive one, looking at those ears! I miss seeing the world through the gap between the ginger ears of my driving pony, although right now I have these 2 in my care.
May 30, 2025 at 10:34 PM
She is an attentive one, looking at those ears! I miss seeing the world through the gap between the ginger ears of my driving pony, although right now I have these 2 in my care.
Amazing to be here at Mayflower Studios in Southampton for a book reading. After 30 years, Twyford Down still arouses strong emotions among many.
#defendnature
#twyforddown
#defendnature
#twyforddown
May 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Amazing to be here at Mayflower Studios in Southampton for a book reading. After 30 years, Twyford Down still arouses strong emotions among many.
#defendnature
#twyforddown
#defendnature
#twyforddown
England still feels like an adopted country for me.
But then, there are blackcaps and blackbirds, song thrushes, and bulbous buttercups in the churchyard.
And I realise I love England's gentle wildness.
#churchyardsandwildlife
#wilderchurchyards
But then, there are blackcaps and blackbirds, song thrushes, and bulbous buttercups in the churchyard.
And I realise I love England's gentle wildness.
#churchyardsandwildlife
#wilderchurchyards
April 29, 2025 at 7:49 PM
England still feels like an adopted country for me.
But then, there are blackcaps and blackbirds, song thrushes, and bulbous buttercups in the churchyard.
And I realise I love England's gentle wildness.
#churchyardsandwildlife
#wilderchurchyards
But then, there are blackcaps and blackbirds, song thrushes, and bulbous buttercups in the churchyard.
And I realise I love England's gentle wildness.
#churchyardsandwildlife
#wilderchurchyards
Gypsy cob foal born on the common at 6am. Right outside my front door. I watched her wobbly first steps.
I am calling her Annie, after my mum who saved this bit of land from the plough & made it a common. Without her, me, baby Annie & her mum would not have such a great place to be.
I am calling her Annie, after my mum who saved this bit of land from the plough & made it a common. Without her, me, baby Annie & her mum would not have such a great place to be.
April 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Gypsy cob foal born on the common at 6am. Right outside my front door. I watched her wobbly first steps.
I am calling her Annie, after my mum who saved this bit of land from the plough & made it a common. Without her, me, baby Annie & her mum would not have such a great place to be.
I am calling her Annie, after my mum who saved this bit of land from the plough & made it a common. Without her, me, baby Annie & her mum would not have such a great place to be.
And on my loke...
April 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
And on my loke...
All night vigil at the gates of Lakenheath air base.
'You looking at Facebook?' I was asked, as I tapped at my phone. No, I am writing a bird list...greenfinch and goldcrest in the gateside trees, a song thrush further away.
'You looking at Facebook?' I was asked, as I tapped at my phone. No, I am writing a bird list...greenfinch and goldcrest in the gateside trees, a song thrush further away.
April 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
All night vigil at the gates of Lakenheath air base.
'You looking at Facebook?' I was asked, as I tapped at my phone. No, I am writing a bird list...greenfinch and goldcrest in the gateside trees, a song thrush further away.
'You looking at Facebook?' I was asked, as I tapped at my phone. No, I am writing a bird list...greenfinch and goldcrest in the gateside trees, a song thrush further away.
Staring contest with one of the local roe deer at Crow Green common. I lost, walking away before causing too much fear. Sound track of blackbird evensong and jackdaws returning to roost.
April 21, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Staring contest with one of the local roe deer at Crow Green common. I lost, walking away before causing too much fear. Sound track of blackbird evensong and jackdaws returning to roost.
Sunset yesterday, at the gates of USAF Lakenheath.
Tea and good company in the face of weapons of mass destruction felt quietly, powerfully hopeful. And there blackbirds, singing their hearts out from inside the fences.
#LakenheathAllianceforPeace.
#Nonukes
Tea and good company in the face of weapons of mass destruction felt quietly, powerfully hopeful. And there blackbirds, singing their hearts out from inside the fences.
#LakenheathAllianceforPeace.
#Nonukes
April 18, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Sunset yesterday, at the gates of USAF Lakenheath.
Tea and good company in the face of weapons of mass destruction felt quietly, powerfully hopeful. And there blackbirds, singing their hearts out from inside the fences.
#LakenheathAllianceforPeace.
#Nonukes
Tea and good company in the face of weapons of mass destruction felt quietly, powerfully hopeful. And there blackbirds, singing their hearts out from inside the fences.
#LakenheathAllianceforPeace.
#Nonukes
Some days make up for all the ones spent worrying about how to defend nature.
Today was one, collecting DNA samples from adders, finding them in heath and scrub, seeing the beauty in her patterned scales and bright amber eyes.
Reminds me why I do what I do.
#norfolkwildlifetrust
#naturalengland
Today was one, collecting DNA samples from adders, finding them in heath and scrub, seeing the beauty in her patterned scales and bright amber eyes.
Reminds me why I do what I do.
#norfolkwildlifetrust
#naturalengland
April 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Some days make up for all the ones spent worrying about how to defend nature.
Today was one, collecting DNA samples from adders, finding them in heath and scrub, seeing the beauty in her patterned scales and bright amber eyes.
Reminds me why I do what I do.
#norfolkwildlifetrust
#naturalengland
Today was one, collecting DNA samples from adders, finding them in heath and scrub, seeing the beauty in her patterned scales and bright amber eyes.
Reminds me why I do what I do.
#norfolkwildlifetrust
#naturalengland
Wotld going to hell in a handcart, but the Gypsy ponies on the common like a scratch every day.
March 30, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Wotld going to hell in a handcart, but the Gypsy ponies on the common like a scratch every day.
Dusk on the Dingle Marshes in Suffolk.
Reed tips skimmed by marsh harriers, the bass notes of bitterns, out there, somewhere. A splash that might an otter.
So many reasons to #defendnature.
Reed tips skimmed by marsh harriers, the bass notes of bitterns, out there, somewhere. A splash that might an otter.
So many reasons to #defendnature.
March 26, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Dusk on the Dingle Marshes in Suffolk.
Reed tips skimmed by marsh harriers, the bass notes of bitterns, out there, somewhere. A splash that might an otter.
So many reasons to #defendnature.
Reed tips skimmed by marsh harriers, the bass notes of bitterns, out there, somewhere. A splash that might an otter.
So many reasons to #defendnature.
Old parish boundary marker in Norfolk, on the edge of a lost marshy common. Wondering if it leans because of the boys heads pushed against it, long ago, to make them remember the edges of their village?
Mistle thrush, 2 chiffchaffs and a lone red deer in what is left of the common.
Mistle thrush, 2 chiffchaffs and a lone red deer in what is left of the common.
March 25, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Old parish boundary marker in Norfolk, on the edge of a lost marshy common. Wondering if it leans because of the boys heads pushed against it, long ago, to make them remember the edges of their village?
Mistle thrush, 2 chiffchaffs and a lone red deer in what is left of the common.
Mistle thrush, 2 chiffchaffs and a lone red deer in what is left of the common.
Spotted in a Norfolk village.
March 23, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Spotted in a Norfolk village.
Litcham Common, Norfolk
March 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Litcham Common, Norfolk
Gypsy ponies on the common this week, including this handsome little stallion. No people, just the horses, but well cared for and owner visits daily.
Liking how my village has welcomed the horses. The grazing & whiskery kisses are welcome too.
Liking how my village has welcomed the horses. The grazing & whiskery kisses are welcome too.
March 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Gypsy ponies on the common this week, including this handsome little stallion. No people, just the horses, but well cared for and owner visits daily.
Liking how my village has welcomed the horses. The grazing & whiskery kisses are welcome too.
Liking how my village has welcomed the horses. The grazing & whiskery kisses are welcome too.
Guided by the light. I have watched this ash grow larger, crazier & slowly closer to the ground for two decades.
I used to take kids to see if they could leap high enough to touch it, now it is lower to the ground and they are taller than me.
#defendnature
I used to take kids to see if they could leap high enough to touch it, now it is lower to the ground and they are taller than me.
#defendnature
March 20, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Guided by the light. I have watched this ash grow larger, crazier & slowly closer to the ground for two decades.
I used to take kids to see if they could leap high enough to touch it, now it is lower to the ground and they are taller than me.
#defendnature
I used to take kids to see if they could leap high enough to touch it, now it is lower to the ground and they are taller than me.
#defendnature
Busy day on my local common. Woodpeckers, nuthatch, chiffchaff, two peregrines locking talons, tumbling downwards, then soaring back into a clear blue sky. Goldfinch, a mumuration of starlings settling in the reeds, a barn owl quartering at dusk.
What lives on your nearest common land?
What lives on your nearest common land?
March 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Busy day on my local common. Woodpeckers, nuthatch, chiffchaff, two peregrines locking talons, tumbling downwards, then soaring back into a clear blue sky. Goldfinch, a mumuration of starlings settling in the reeds, a barn owl quartering at dusk.
What lives on your nearest common land?
What lives on your nearest common land?
Ah, discussed this poem yesterday on a ramble with @themarshtit.bsky.social. no where known or famous, just old wet pastures and fragments of commons in the Norfolk Claylands.
February 3, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Ah, discussed this poem yesterday on a ramble with @themarshtit.bsky.social. no where known or famous, just old wet pastures and fragments of commons in the Norfolk Claylands.