Lesley Mason
@squinancywort.bsky.social
Botanist, Ecologist, Dog cuddler
I've just signed up to take part in the #GreatUKWaterBlitz by @earthwatcheurope.bsky.social. Join the fight for healthy freshwater here: earthwatch.org.uk/greatukwater...
Great UK WaterBlitz - Earthwatch Europe
Join the Great UK WaterBlitz and help fight for healthy freshwater. Help us measure water quality across the UK.
earthwatch.org.uk
July 22, 2025 at 6:29 AM
I've just signed up to take part in the #GreatUKWaterBlitz by @earthwatcheurope.bsky.social. Join the fight for healthy freshwater here: earthwatch.org.uk/greatukwater...
Reposted by Lesley Mason
It's hard to get your head around the scale of the environmental vandalism the Labour government is hoping to unleash. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is up there with Trump's executive orders. And the reason is the same: corporate power.
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour’s great nature sellout is the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime | George Monbiot
The horrifying planning bill, which rips up environmental protections, was drafted with CEOs in mind. We know because Keir Starmer told us, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
April 24, 2025 at 6:34 AM
It's hard to get your head around the scale of the environmental vandalism the Labour government is hoping to unleash. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is up there with Trump's executive orders. And the reason is the same: corporate power.
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Lesley Mason
1. Because this issue is critical, but has received remarkably little coverage, here's a thread pulling out the key themes from my article yesterday, on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which puts decades of environmental protections to the torch. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour’s great nature sellout is the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime | George Monbiot
The horrifying planning bill, which rips up environmental protections, was drafted with CEOs in mind. We know because Keir Starmer told us, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
April 25, 2025 at 6:19 AM
1. Because this issue is critical, but has received remarkably little coverage, here's a thread pulling out the key themes from my article yesterday, on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which puts decades of environmental protections to the torch. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Lesley Mason
FACTS AND ADVICE ON ADDER BITES
The adder is one of Britain's most misunderstood animals. It's a fascinating creature, often referred to in literature and folklore. Many people take great pleasure in spotting adders while out in the countryside. The adder is also our only venomous snake. 🧵
The adder is one of Britain's most misunderstood animals. It's a fascinating creature, often referred to in literature and folklore. Many people take great pleasure in spotting adders while out in the countryside. The adder is also our only venomous snake. 🧵
March 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM
FACTS AND ADVICE ON ADDER BITES
The adder is one of Britain's most misunderstood animals. It's a fascinating creature, often referred to in literature and folklore. Many people take great pleasure in spotting adders while out in the countryside. The adder is also our only venomous snake. 🧵
The adder is one of Britain's most misunderstood animals. It's a fascinating creature, often referred to in literature and folklore. Many people take great pleasure in spotting adders while out in the countryside. The adder is also our only venomous snake. 🧵
Reposted by Lesley Mason
🦇Throwing bats under the train: HS2’s bat tunnel and the dangerous spin behind deregulation. Read our latest news piece here: www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/04...
Throwing bats under the train: HS2’s bat tunnel and the dangerous spin behind deregulation - News - Bat Conservation Trust
HS2's so-called bat tunnel has become a political scapegoat, used to justify rolling back environmental protections. But the real story is very different. This page breaks down what the bat tunnel is,...
www.bats.org.uk
April 3, 2025 at 1:29 PM
🦇Throwing bats under the train: HS2’s bat tunnel and the dangerous spin behind deregulation. Read our latest news piece here: www.bats.org.uk/news/2025/04...
A lovely day and great to meet some new people and old friends
Fine weather for our first field meeting of the year on Sunday. A joint meeting with @bbsbryology.bsky.social which turned up a range of wetland mosses and liverworts. #moss #liverworts #bryophytes
April 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A lovely day and great to meet some new people and old friends
Reposted by Lesley Mason
Sir Keir has misrepresented the impact of conservation on housing in Ebbsfleet. The majority of the homes are going ahead. The distinguished jumping spider isn’t even in the development area, but it is a precious habitat. Let's move beyond nature vs. growth - sustainable development benefits us all.
March 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Sir Keir has misrepresented the impact of conservation on housing in Ebbsfleet. The majority of the homes are going ahead. The distinguished jumping spider isn’t even in the development area, but it is a precious habitat. Let's move beyond nature vs. growth - sustainable development benefits us all.
Brilliant to see my first Large Tortoiseshell butterfly minutes from home 😀
March 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Brilliant to see my first Large Tortoiseshell butterfly minutes from home 😀
Unbelievable. Donald Trump has been invited to a state visit to the UK. We should not be rolling out the red carpet to celebrate this man. Agree? Add your name to the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no...
No second state visit for Trump
This is UNBELIEVABLE. Keir Starmer has just handed Donald Trump a letter from King Charles, inviting him for a second state visit to the UK. It’s totally unprecedented, and I was so outraged when I he...
you.38degrees.org.uk
February 28, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Unbelievable. Donald Trump has been invited to a state visit to the UK. We should not be rolling out the red carpet to celebrate this man. Agree? Add your name to the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no...
Reposted by Lesley Mason
Great to see the BBCT BuzzingSouthEast group at the NHM looking at super SE British bumblebees!
February 18, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Great to see the BBCT BuzzingSouthEast group at the NHM looking at super SE British bumblebees!
Reposted by Lesley Mason
Beavers in the UK have a positive impact on bat species www.uwe.ac.uk/news/bat-stu....
January 15, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Beavers in the UK have a positive impact on bat species www.uwe.ac.uk/news/bat-stu....
Reposted by Lesley Mason
Unbelievably exciting news, a Greater mouse-eared bat has been found during an #NBMP hibernation survey in Dover! This is the first record of this species in Kent since 1985.
Well done Claire and huge thanks to @fionamathews.bsky.social and Dr John Puckett for helping to confirm ID
Well done Claire and huge thanks to @fionamathews.bsky.social and Dr John Puckett for helping to confirm ID
January 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Unbelievably exciting news, a Greater mouse-eared bat has been found during an #NBMP hibernation survey in Dover! This is the first record of this species in Kent since 1985.
Well done Claire and huge thanks to @fionamathews.bsky.social and Dr John Puckett for helping to confirm ID
Well done Claire and huge thanks to @fionamathews.bsky.social and Dr John Puckett for helping to confirm ID
Reposted by Lesley Mason
I published these 10 & 12 years ago, when it seemed that frames like ‘get rid of the green crap’ & environmental groups being lumped into an ‘anti-growth coalition’ were on their way out. Truth is though that there is no growth on a polluted & degraded planet. Perhaps I’ll write new editions.
February 3, 2025 at 8:27 AM
I published these 10 & 12 years ago, when it seemed that frames like ‘get rid of the green crap’ & environmental groups being lumped into an ‘anti-growth coalition’ were on their way out. Truth is though that there is no growth on a polluted & degraded planet. Perhaps I’ll write new editions.
Reposted by Lesley Mason
Newts and economic growth: ARC’s views on government planning proposals 👇
www.arc-trust.org/planning-ref...
📷 Great crested newt caught during a survey by Jim Foster/ARC
www.arc-trust.org/planning-ref...
📷 Great crested newt caught during a survey by Jim Foster/ARC
February 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Newts and economic growth: ARC’s views on government planning proposals 👇
www.arc-trust.org/planning-ref...
📷 Great crested newt caught during a survey by Jim Foster/ARC
www.arc-trust.org/planning-ref...
📷 Great crested newt caught during a survey by Jim Foster/ARC
Reposted by Lesley Mason
More runways , more planes , more fossil fuels . It’s not just sitting idly by , it’s actively accelerating climate collapse in the reckless pursuit of growth in archaic industries instead of a rapid transition to a green economy .
January 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
More runways , more planes , more fossil fuels . It’s not just sitting idly by , it’s actively accelerating climate collapse in the reckless pursuit of growth in archaic industries instead of a rapid transition to a green economy .
Reposted by Lesley Mason
We clocked up 32 species in flower on our urban #NewYearPlantHunt in Sittingbourne, including Blue Fleabane, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, and Musk Stork's-bill. Musk Stork's-bill was super-abundant on the roadside verges, but we only saw one with flowers. #KentNature @bsbibotany.bsky.social
December 30, 2024 at 3:14 PM
We clocked up 32 species in flower on our urban #NewYearPlantHunt in Sittingbourne, including Blue Fleabane, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, and Musk Stork's-bill. Musk Stork's-bill was super-abundant on the roadside verges, but we only saw one with flowers. #KentNature @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Reposted by Lesley Mason
Flowering Hawthorn in urban Ashford for the #NewYearPlantHunt as well as numerous Trachycarpus fortunei seedlings under a mature tree which is producing lots of fruit. Thanks to @squinancywort.bsky.social for organising, lots of fun despite gloomy weather! Total of 33 species found in flower.
December 29, 2024 at 5:12 PM
Flowering Hawthorn in urban Ashford for the #NewYearPlantHunt as well as numerous Trachycarpus fortunei seedlings under a mature tree which is producing lots of fruit. Thanks to @squinancywort.bsky.social for organising, lots of fun despite gloomy weather! Total of 33 species found in flower.
Reposted by Lesley Mason
Very impressive total of 34 from the first of the group New Year Plant Hunts we're running this year. Will you be NYPHing in Kent and how many will you find?
34 species in flower in urban Ashford, including Primrose, Jersey cudweed, Shaggy soldier and Ivy-leaved toadflax #newyearplanthunt with @bsbibotany.bsky.social and @kentfieldclub.bsky.social
December 30, 2024 at 8:20 AM
Very impressive total of 34 from the first of the group New Year Plant Hunts we're running this year. Will you be NYPHing in Kent and how many will you find?
34 species in flower in urban Ashford, including Primrose, Jersey cudweed, Shaggy soldier and Ivy-leaved toadflax #newyearplanthunt with @bsbibotany.bsky.social and @kentfieldclub.bsky.social
December 29, 2024 at 8:50 PM
34 species in flower in urban Ashford, including Primrose, Jersey cudweed, Shaggy soldier and Ivy-leaved toadflax #newyearplanthunt with @bsbibotany.bsky.social and @kentfieldclub.bsky.social
Reposted by Lesley Mason
It's December 1st , I'm going for a slightly different advent this year– introducing 20 days of the worst fox hunting crimes from across the country with @huntsabs.bsky.social . Up first , the Avon Vale Hunt . . .
We need a #RealBanNow
We need a #RealBanNow
December 1, 2024 at 4:26 PM
It's December 1st , I'm going for a slightly different advent this year– introducing 20 days of the worst fox hunting crimes from across the country with @huntsabs.bsky.social . Up first , the Avon Vale Hunt . . .
We need a #RealBanNow
We need a #RealBanNow
Reposted by Lesley Mason
🌍🌱🌲🌳🌾🐕Dogs protect trees in UK. Trained to sniff out disease.
@forestresearchuk.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@forestresearchuk.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Bark detective: dog trained to sniff out UK tree disease
Six-year-old spanador called Ivor taught to identify tree fungal-like organism killing trees and shrubs around UK
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2024 at 7:22 AM
🌍🌱🌲🌳🌾🐕Dogs protect trees in UK. Trained to sniff out disease.
@forestresearchuk.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@forestresearchuk.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Lesley Mason
Important new parliamentary petition to end the badger cull and adopt other approaches to bovine TB control;
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
Blog here: thebadgercrowd.org/important-ne...
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
Blog here: thebadgercrowd.org/important-ne...
Petition: End the Badger cull and adopt other approaches to bovine TB control
The Government’s TB Eradication Strategy allows the continued killing of badgers, a protected species, until the end of this Parliament, despite the Labour manifesto calling the cull “ineffective.”
W...
petition.parliament.uk
November 29, 2024 at 5:39 PM
Important new parliamentary petition to end the badger cull and adopt other approaches to bovine TB control;
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
Blog here: thebadgercrowd.org/important-ne...
Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
Blog here: thebadgercrowd.org/important-ne...