Patrick Barkham

Beautifully put, thank you!

A century of care: Wildlife Trusts mark 100th birthday with woodland project First of the trusts, formed with 12 people in a Norfolk pub in 1926, buys swath of farmland to restore to nature

Happy 100th Birthday Norfolk Wildlife Trust! So exciting to visit its brand new nature reserve. Restoration projects like Wood Norton represent real local hope and action in gloomy times. And they are happening nationally, thanks to charities, farmers, businesses. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

What a GORGEOUS looking book - and what a WONDERFUL way to celebrate Norfolk Wildlife Trust's centenary and support all the animals & plants they benefit

@themarshtit.bsky.social writes beautifully so this will be a gem of a book!

Pre-order here: www.thebookhive.co.uk/product/this...

Photo of the Large Tortoiseshell seen yesterday at Ballard Down by Shona Refoy. An exciting spot after one seen at Baiter in Poole a few days ago. Please report any other sightings on our website or here

Thank you Cameron, you've given me my opening question to Nick when THIS WILD DREAM launches on Weds 18th March in Norwich.

What do this ancient oak, this swallowtail, this natterjack have in common?

1) They live on Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserves.

2) They benefit from people buying This Wild Dream. ALL profits go to NWT (nothing to me).

Help us celebrate NWT’s centenary TODAY www.thebookhive.co.uk/product/this...

Happy Birthday David!!! A fantastic day for a celebration. Everyone in the West Raynham area is in for a treat with the Nick Acheson talk – he is an utterly brilliant speaker (but you know that!)

What a day to have a birthday, although I hasten to add that NWT is considerably older than me.
We are looking forward to @themarshtit.bsky.social coming to West Raynham to talk about the Trust's centenary on 30 April. Booking details herewith. Should be a great occasion

Back the Badger! I'm running the 2026 TCS London Marathon for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, who celebrate their 100th birthday this year. The Wildlife Trusts are a federation of 46 independent charities working across Brita

Slightly less excitingly, I am spending hours trying to get fit enough to run the London Marathon dressed as a badger to raise money for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, and raise awareness of nature restoration. 2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/backtheba...

This Wild Dream – Celebrating 100 years of Norfolk Wildlife Trust - The Book Hive PREORDER — this title will be published 9th March 2026. Born and raised in Norfolk, conservationist, writer and broadcaster Nick Acheson travelled the world for many years before returning to […]

So many exciting things happening in NWT's centenary year. Thrilling new nature reserves being created, @chrisgpackham.bsky.social talk here: www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2026-..., NEW celebratory book by @themarshtit.bsky.social here: www.thebookhive.co.uk/product/this...

Centenary | Norfolk Wildlife Trust During 2026, we're hanging the bunting out as we celebrate our 100th birthday! To mark this memorable year, we invite you to celebrate with us as we continue to support Norfolk’s nature to thrive.

Happy 100th Birthday Norfolk Wildlife Trust!!! On March 6th 1926, Norwich doctor Sydney Long saved Cley marshland "as a bird breeding sanctuary for all time". So began the county Wildlife Trusts: 2,600 reserves, 945k members; local nature & people together.
www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/Centenary

Is it the same data? Good that the govt are talking about it, at least.

Analysis finds urban areas in England where no one lives within 15-minute walk of nature Government says it is working to solve ‘postcode lottery’ of access to green or blue spaces

Vital story by my colleague Helena Horton – about the number of people who don't live within a 15-min walk of green space. Freely accessible, wildlife-rich green space should be a modern-day human right! And good govts should see it as a public health essential. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Sadly it is not being recorded, sorry (I will suggest to BL that future events are because it would be great to widen access)

Sadly tonight isn't being recorded, sorry Nic!

‘It’s now or never’: Tunbridge Wells residents race to save commons from developers Campaign launched amid fears land in heart of Kent town that has been put up for sale could be turned into flats

'There's no common land left in England', someone told me once - there is and it is still being fought over.

@patrickbarkham.bsky.social shows how vulnerable commons can still be. Enclosure for development this time - always about profits from land.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Good combo!

Sorry to hear that Nic, hope you feel better soon. (I'm asking the organisers if tonight is being recorded or will be available online in any way.)

Hello Polly, I'll find out,

Floreana giant tortoise reintroduced to Galápagos island after almost 200 years Subspecies driven to extinction by hungry whalers returns after ‘back breeding’ programme using partial descendants

In case you missed this news, the Floreana giant tortoise is back. Heartening, fascinating story from the Galapagos. (And I always love writing stories I know I'll see in my kids' copy of The Week the following week!) www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

The Remarkable Life of Ronald Blythe | British Library Ronald Blythe (1922–2023) was one of Britain’s most distinctive and cherished chroniclers of rural life. His classic, Akenfield: Portrait of an English Vil

I’m chairing a talk @britishlibrary.bsky.social tonight exploring the fascinating life of Ronald Blythe (and his illuminating archive). Last few tickets available here, do pop along! events.bl.uk/events/the-r...

Second wild beaver spotted living at Norfolk nature reserve Exclusive: Pensthorpe was believed to be home to just one individual but pair have been filmed grooming each other

Beaver pair living wild in Norfolk. They, or the beaver bombers, chose an excellent location. Hope this amazing native species is protected and spreads. Beavers unlikely to cause probs in upper reaches of rivers but farmers may need support in some locations. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

runinthesleet YouTube video by Patrick Barkham

Had a beautiful, inspiring London Marathon training run in sleet today, 20 miles to Foxley Wood, Norfolk's largest ancient woodland, which Norfolk Wildlife Trust is expanding. This is my fuel. This is why I'm running. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnbE...
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/backtheba...

Agree!

Saunas, safaris and silence in Norfolk: a winter weekend on a rewilded retreat A transformative conservation project encompassing East Anglia’s large but secluded Fritton Lake has high-end hospitality and nature-rich experiences at its heart

Love a local holiday! Here's a midwinter break in the far east (of Norfolk and Suffolk) – www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/...

‘A beaver blind date’: animals given freedom to repopulate Cornish rivers Release into Helman Tor reserve marks historical first for keystone species hunted to extinction in UK 400 years ago

Great news amidst all the gloom. There have been a lot of beaver releases but these wild releases are really significant in England – finally we are giving this life-giving animal the right to roam. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Thank you Angela!

Thank you Rebecca!

Thank you Nicola, that's really kind of you to say.

Thank you Ralph, that's really kind. It is a tough illness and my sympathies to you too. We were very lucky with Dad, he seemed to have quite a benign iteration of it – it is all so individual isn't it?!