Eben Muse
@ebenmyrddin
Access and nature campaigner, physicist, researcher/translator who writes. Keen climber/runner. Views are my own.
It's a bit worrying that Plaid seem to be leaning into the badger culling thing, with the votes of reform behind them. Hopefully not a sign of things to come. Loathe this AI slop by the way - as if photos of actual Welsh farmers are hard to find.
Oi, av yew got a loicense for that there paddleboard? 🚨👮♂️ That'll be £1000 please and thank you @righttoroam.bsky.social
Casually doing more damage than 10,000 wild campers would and broadcasting it on Facebook set to bouncy pop music. Going to bear this one in mind next time someone tells me access on foot will destroy our landscapes
A little over a year ago I wrote a country diary about a wildfire that took place in North Wales. This week there have been several more, and I think it's interesting to see which way it pushes public discourse.
One of the (many, many) drawbacks of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water's corporate structure (non profit, arms-length organisation) is that they aren't beholden to the FOI act. They also aren't very responsive to requests made via the EIR act (based on the more than a month since I sent mine out).
The picture around more or less livestock on the hills isn't quite as simple as many on either side believe. Grazing is part of the answer, as well as the problem. But as anyone who's spent any time in molinia-dominated uplands know, this statement is total bullshit. Sheep have created a tinderbox.
With a total expenditure in the billions you'd think Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water could afford to pay a translator a dime for such 'important' communications. The text on the image here is missing a "mae". And what the hell is "offer aer"? Basic stuff.
To be called out like this by WalesOnline is so deeply deeply embarrassing
What a headline. Call me crazy but I'm not going to cede all long grass to the ticks.
All my support for Abergavenny to achieve this accolade, but there's something so insane about employing (wrong word) an AI image generator to create this postcard instead of hiring an actual artist or other human being to do so.
The people of Hay on Wye have been swimming at the Warren for decades. Only after huge effort did they manage to get it dedicated as an official bathing spot (one of 4 inland). Now, they know that it's horribly polluted (likely by agricultural runoff). What about the 100s of other swim spots?
In many conversations over many years, I've often been puzzled at how little many landowners seem to know about liability and their duty under the law.
This might (?) be the first mass swim trespass in Wales, but judging by the overwhelmingly enthusiastic reaction to it on social media, it surely won't be the last.
Especially in this increasingly lethal heat, they have a duty to provide us with safe access to recreational swimming and other water-based activities. A £4 fee for 15 minutes, a few times a day simply won't cut it.
Also, I believe the phrase is "bampot". An insult originating in place where you can swim in every single lakes and reservoirs. 🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
'Against Labour, against Reform. No comment on the ruling party of the country we're holding the conference in' What the fuck are these guys doing?
In 2024, after many long years of campaigning by local swimmers, the river Wye in Hay on Wye was designated as an official bathing site. It is the only Welsh river to hold this status, and is therefore closely monitored. Is it time to campaign for more Welsh bathing rivers and lakes/reservoirs?
The water temperature at the mouth of the Taf, a little ways downstream from here, is nearly 20 degrees. A far cry from temperatures that could cause cold water shock.
The Gwyrfai was polluted by sewage 147 times in 2025 - lasting 1,199 hours. The bar is in hell, guys.
As a veteran and former principal cornet of Nantlle Royal Silver Band, this line from Dyffryn Nantlle's wikipedia gave me a right laugh. 😆 "Others were more noted for their drinking ability and prowess with their fists" Sounds like Pen-y-Groes!
These are the actual scenes in the Taf on a sunny day. @cardiffcouncil.bsky.social do your job and make the river safe to swim challenge (impossible).
There is not one 'lifeguarded beach' in the county of Cardiff. What's the point of these messages?
I've only recently come to properly understand the obsession with badger culling and all the many problems of the cou tryside they are blamed for. Pesticides killing pollinators? No, it's badgers. High rates of cattle-to-cattle TB? No, it's the badgers. Hedgehog numbers dropping? BADGERS!
The comments are full of people ragging on their awful record and awful attitude.