Sarah Jane Butler
@sarahjanebutler.bsky.social
Writer and ditch-poker. First novel, Starling, published by @FairlightBooks 2022. Next book, The Many Lives of Rivers, due 2027. Agent Julia Silk/Greyhound. she/her; pwME https://linktr.ee/sarahjanebutler
Research assistant Flo - always ready with a fresh angle/swiping paw
November 2, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Research assistant Flo - always ready with a fresh angle/swiping paw
All down the upper Medway Keep Out signs banish us from the river - the miles I paddled quite legally in the 80s are forbidden to us now, and all the swimming spots are plastered in No Swimming notices. I’m outraged and grieving our loss
October 29, 2025 at 8:45 AM
All down the upper Medway Keep Out signs banish us from the river - the miles I paddled quite legally in the 80s are forbidden to us now, and all the swimming spots are plastered in No Swimming notices. I’m outraged and grieving our loss
On Sunday the main sewer burst again in our village, swamping the river and killing every fish. The good thing? Local people called our citizen science team and we raised the alarm. Southern Water fixed the breach. But it KEEPS HAPPENING.
#RippleEffect #CitizenScience #PollutionWatch #SouthernWater
#RippleEffect #CitizenScience #PollutionWatch #SouthernWater
September 9, 2025 at 8:32 AM
On Sunday the main sewer burst again in our village, swamping the river and killing every fish. The good thing? Local people called our citizen science team and we raised the alarm. Southern Water fixed the breach. But it KEEPS HAPPENING.
#RippleEffect #CitizenScience #PollutionWatch #SouthernWater
#RippleEffect #CitizenScience #PollutionWatch #SouthernWater
A fabulous evening with the Project Ripple Effect team at the Houses of Parliament last night to celebrate our work to study and protect the Upper Medway, and call for far better care for rivers and regulation of pollution. #Medway #RiverHealth #EcologyandConservation project-ripple-effect.co.uk
June 19, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A fabulous evening with the Project Ripple Effect team at the Houses of Parliament last night to celebrate our work to study and protect the Upper Medway, and call for far better care for rivers and regulation of pollution. #Medway #RiverHealth #EcologyandConservation project-ripple-effect.co.uk
I spent a happy sleepless while in the dark hours last night sending myself messages about geology - I was wondering about the earliest rivers here (wherever here is, since the land of SE Britain has wandered half the globe since the earliest times on earth) and dreaming of floating free #geology
June 6, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I spent a happy sleepless while in the dark hours last night sending myself messages about geology - I was wondering about the earliest rivers here (wherever here is, since the land of SE Britain has wandered half the globe since the earliest times on earth) and dreaming of floating free #geology
Southern Water replied - with an utterly useless link. @southernwater.bsky.social I reported serious, ongoing sewage pollution to you yesterday and this is your no-reply response?
June 3, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Southern Water replied - with an utterly useless link. @southernwater.bsky.social I reported serious, ongoing sewage pollution to you yesterday and this is your no-reply response?
Yesterday we tested our most worrying site in the upper #Medway catchment again. Ammonia well over healthy limits again. Sewage stink again. But for the first time we found NOT ONE Riverfly. No one admits responsibility for the shit killing the Grom #tunbridgewells www.project-ripple-effect.co.uk
June 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Yesterday we tested our most worrying site in the upper #Medway catchment again. Ammonia well over healthy limits again. Sewage stink again. But for the first time we found NOT ONE Riverfly. No one admits responsibility for the shit killing the Grom #tunbridgewells www.project-ripple-effect.co.uk
Event publicity rural style - tree by the river to snag the walkers and - essential! - the Notice Oak on the way to school. Post Office and pub next. (It’s about our citizen science project on the #Medway sharing results with local people. So much to say!) #localaction #riveraction #environment
May 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Event publicity rural style - tree by the river to snag the walkers and - essential! - the Notice Oak on the way to school. Post Office and pub next. (It’s about our citizen science project on the #Medway sharing results with local people. So much to say!) #localaction #riveraction #environment
It was me, the blackbirds, wrens and robins at 4.15am today but as the sun touched the treetops we were joined by song thrush, tits, chaffinch, goldfinch and even a goldcrest. I didn’t mean to be awake for the dawn chorus but what a glorious start to the day #dawnchorus #sussex #birds #naturewriting
May 17, 2025 at 9:43 AM
It was me, the blackbirds, wrens and robins at 4.15am today but as the sun touched the treetops we were joined by song thrush, tits, chaffinch, goldfinch and even a goldcrest. I didn’t mean to be awake for the dawn chorus but what a glorious start to the day #dawnchorus #sussex #birds #naturewriting
I wrote about what research looks like for this writer today - hunter-gathering, snuffing the scent of new knowledge , library-joy and getting out on the road. It’s here to read eepurl.com/jdR3_U
May 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I wrote about what research looks like for this writer today - hunter-gathering, snuffing the scent of new knowledge , library-joy and getting out on the road. It’s here to read eepurl.com/jdR3_U
Ten days exploring rivers of the north, and I’m heading home. And this, the view from the train as I left #BerwickonTweed was the perfect ending #rivertweed #exhaustedbuthappy
March 23, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Ten days exploring rivers of the north, and I’m heading home. And this, the view from the train as I left #BerwickonTweed was the perfect ending #rivertweed #exhaustedbuthappy
My river research trip reaches Durham, and oh my, it’s stunning. And I had the huge fortune to be shown the city by underwater archaeologist Gary Bankhead, whose knowledge is incredible. I’m feeling VERY lucky. Oh, and it was St Cuthbert’s Day, and the sun shone!
March 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
My river research trip reaches Durham, and oh my, it’s stunning. And I had the huge fortune to be shown the city by underwater archaeologist Gary Bankhead, whose knowledge is incredible. I’m feeling VERY lucky. Oh, and it was St Cuthbert’s Day, and the sun shone!
In #Leeds the river Aire was buried right under the main station, in the Dark Arches. I couldn’t quite believe it, but here it is. Poor river. #aire #riverjourney
March 19, 2025 at 10:04 PM
In #Leeds the river Aire was buried right under the main station, in the Dark Arches. I couldn’t quite believe it, but here it is. Poor river. #aire #riverjourney
@saltpublishing.com Look what a gorgeous table I found at the Grove Bookshop in Ilkley - so much temptation! #Ilkley #gorgeousbooks
March 18, 2025 at 8:38 AM
@saltpublishing.com Look what a gorgeous table I found at the Grove Bookshop in Ilkley - so much temptation! #Ilkley #gorgeousbooks
Days 4 & 5 of my river trip: the gorgeous #Wharfe in #Yorkshire. So glad I caught the Sunday bus yesterday to see the Strid, named (by a Yorkshire paper) the most dangerous stretch of river in the world. Today, talking sewage with the fabulous Ilkley Clean River group. Am exhausted and happy!
March 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Days 4 & 5 of my river trip: the gorgeous #Wharfe in #Yorkshire. So glad I caught the Sunday bus yesterday to see the Strid, named (by a Yorkshire paper) the most dangerous stretch of river in the world. Today, talking sewage with the fabulous Ilkley Clean River group. Am exhausted and happy!
A day on the Don in sunny Sheffield - beautiful waters fresh from the moors, garlanded with litter, woven with ducks, hopes of salmon, crashing metal and birdsong. And treasure above a weir, an offering of golden CDs.
March 15, 2025 at 9:36 AM
A day on the Don in sunny Sheffield - beautiful waters fresh from the moors, garlanded with litter, woven with ducks, hopes of salmon, crashing metal and birdsong. And treasure above a weir, an offering of golden CDs.
I’m always happy to find more rivers! (I caught a glimpse of the Sheaf yesterday too - very exciting to see it reappearing.)
March 14, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I’m always happy to find more rivers! (I caught a glimpse of the Sheaf yesterday too - very exciting to see it reappearing.)
And breathe … my hotel’s surrounded by roads and walls but round the corner I found the river Don. I feel a lot better now.
March 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
And breathe … my hotel’s surrounded by roads and walls but round the corner I found the river Don. I feel a lot better now.
Packing for my long-dreamed-of trip to the NE of England to visit rivers and people. Off to the station imminently and full of butterflies. What will I have forgotten? Will I stay upright? Wish me luck! #chronicillness #rivers #naturewriting
March 13, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Packing for my long-dreamed-of trip to the NE of England to visit rivers and people. Off to the station imminently and full of butterflies. What will I have forgotten? Will I stay upright? Wish me luck! #chronicillness #rivers #naturewriting
One of the best things I’ve done is be part of the Ripple Effect Project, doing citizen science on the river Medway. If you’re near, do come and find out what we’ve learned and the difference we’re already making. Lunch too!
March 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
One of the best things I’ve done is be part of the Ripple Effect Project, doing citizen science on the river Medway. If you’re near, do come and find out what we’ve learned and the difference we’re already making. Lunch too!
Hmm. But we call this our truck - definitely not a lorry or a van
January 12, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Hmm. But we call this our truck - definitely not a lorry or a van
Soul music from the Ashdown Forest. One small stream carrying the melt down to the Medway below, and I’m happy #naturewriting #ashdownforest
January 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Soul music from the Ashdown Forest. One small stream carrying the melt down to the Medway below, and I’m happy #naturewriting #ashdownforest
Lovely selection! How about Tarka the Otter? And Estuary by Rachel Lichtenstein. And Dart by Alice Oswald, and so many poems by Ted Hughes. I’m reading almost nothing but river books at the moment and here’s a pile of TBRs …
January 3, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Lovely selection! How about Tarka the Otter? And Estuary by Rachel Lichtenstein. And Dart by Alice Oswald, and so many poems by Ted Hughes. I’m reading almost nothing but river books at the moment and here’s a pile of TBRs …
I interviewed Martin yesterday about his fascinating, complicated life on the river. He talked for over two hours. Got home - only six minutes recorded!!!! Thank god for old habits and always taking notes just in case! #writing #writerslife
December 4, 2024 at 12:18 PM
I interviewed Martin yesterday about his fascinating, complicated life on the river. He talked for over two hours. Got home - only six minutes recorded!!!! Thank god for old habits and always taking notes just in case! #writing #writerslife
It's cold and damp and perfect for curling up with a winter book. So I made a list of titles I love to read when it's freezing and dark outside. (And this weekend Bookshop.org are delivering orders free.) uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-...
November 30, 2024 at 12:53 PM
It's cold and damp and perfect for curling up with a winter book. So I made a list of titles I love to read when it's freezing and dark outside. (And this weekend Bookshop.org are delivering orders free.) uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-...