Jen Ratcliffe

@jenratcliffe

✏️Writer, birder, boater, poet 🌱 #DailyNature 🌊Water Book Club 🚢 Mess In A Boat Substack 🚂#TravelWriter 🛶#UKCanals 🏆 In The Dark LL 25 WC NatureWriting SL 24 Porthleven SL 23 📰 IntrepidTimes, WaterwaysWorld Telegraph #NatureWriting #NaturePoetry

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Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 9d

Pearl glass framed by black-veined embroidery: petals of ants, draped like stiffly ironed capes make it awkward for delicate limbs to crawl the wall. Why you aren't flying? Is it over? Some ants amongst them are so tiny like dust, others are commanding, capable, robust. #DailyNature #NatureWriting

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 9d

Do the scary thing A lovely welcoming and community atmosphere at the New Mersey Poets Blast in the Park this Saturday. I only managed one of my poems, I have a nervous physical reaction to public presentations 😅, but look here - one whole poem unscathed, next time it will be two 💚💪 #NaturePoetry

In front of green trees and a monument plinth stands a curly haired woman in sunglasses and a black dress speaking into a microphone.

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 10d

One pale peppermint, husked and dry. Curved and grooved like the back of a terrapin: a strange flag, that says 'this was once lush'. Bullets of tadpole shaped seeds lay charcoaled against a porridge bleached grass. The hair of dormant, dying gods, matted and crisp. 2 #DailyNature #NatureWriting

We see a plot of grass stitches with the remainder of its straw, almost white grass. Upon it is an upturned fallen leaf, still green.

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 10d

Another wonderful poem 😊 submitted to yesterday's #DailyNature via Substack

Devon/ Murphy Carpenter
When I first saw the yellow and black
It took my breath away
Rows upon rows
Reaching their petals to the sun
Tall green stems
Hardy and thick
I wiped a tear
As they were torn down
To make room for
My home
My heart was healed
As I look to my back acre
And see them return
To me
Forgive me
For destroying their lineage

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 11d

#DailyNature contribution from Raymond via Substack 💚

A comment from Raymond via Substack for the community #DailyNature observations:

"White-barres red wings,
Circling, soaring, sweeping,
Majesties of the air,
Majesties of my heart,
A round dozen Red Kites,
True joy teir presence brings."

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 11d

#DailyNature #Lammas 1. Undulating rolls of carbon doused wool, feather, split and dry on the tail end of a blue sky. Their canals of air looking like archipelagos of the sky - whisps like the masts rocks of heaven, the jaws of space entry. I smile at their familiar faces - clouds, we missed you.

From Top: A true blue sky is cut midway by clouds, first crackled and then conjoined in a velvet grey mass like the conjoined inverse of freckles for rain.

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 14d

Made up to be included in this roundup of #waterways themed podcasts in this month's Waterways World 💚 In such good company too ( @noswpod.bsky.social 👀💙 ) with a few more I definitely need to have a listen of🔊 PS. Our next live episode is tomorrow evening! #UKCanals #Narrowboat #Books #nature

An article beginning with 'Listen Up!' listing several of the best inland waterways themes podcasts: Nighttime On Still Water, The Water Road, Robbie Cummings Canal Boat Podcast, Water Book Club, Chesterfield Canal Trust Video Podcast, The Towpath Talk: A Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Podcast &etc.

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 14d

⏰Water Book Club Reminder: Tomorrow Live w/ author Katire Carr Who compiled her late brother's memoir sea-kayaking the Shipping Forecast... then went on to complete the challenge herself! 7.30PM [GMT] Thursday 30th July open.substack.com/live-stream/... #naturewriting #travelwriting #bookclub

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 16d

Bladdy speeding summer tourists at it again - not even looking where they're going 😂🐦💚 #narrowboat #UKCanals #Waterways #nature #dailynature #birder #birdsky #lifeonwater

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 22d

If you're floating around near Liverpool on 1st August and fancy sitting in some gardens and listening to poetry, come along to the Anglican cathedral and head to the gardens - I have a small performance slot where I totally won't be feeling really nervous 💚🫣 #Poetry #Liverpool

'It's back! A lovely poetry BLAST! in the park'
Saturday 1st August
St James Gardens. 4-7pm
Poetry - Fun - Friends - Food
Everyone welcome
- flyer by the new mersey poets

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 25d

Saw this modern art exhibition on the way home today #UKCanals #Nature #Art

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· 29d

Web-shaped chocolate-orange wings spotted like leopards tumble in air and grasses. #DailyNature #ButterflyCount

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Jun 23

Hello Water Book Clubbers 🌊📘 We're back this Thursday with a new episode & format: a pre-recorded walk along Stoke's canals with author Amanda Tuke discussing her debut book 'Wild Pavements' Premiers Thursday evening 💚 @amandatuke.bsky.social #WaterBookClub #NatureWriting #BookClub #Boats

'Water Book Club' over water with book illustration 'A Virtual Canal Walk with Amanda Tuke Premiers June 25th' then the front cover of a book showing a golden toad, birds, mushroom, and background of London 'Wild Pavements: Exploring Cities with an Urban Naturalist' Amanda Tuke.

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Jun 18

It takes a full turn but here we are again, ten o clock and sunset lingers like party streamers caught in trees after the event has long ended, still warm with the air of celebration. That quiet hour around the fire where no one wants it to end. Midsummer brewing on the breeze... #DailyNature

Grapefruit peel and tears of a sunset beneath the soft grey of a darkening sky at summer sunset. Trees are black as ink, scarcely sketched in the canal below.

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· May 12

I might be a little quiet on here for a while as we've had some sad news in our family. The next full moon is a blue moon, I'll play a little Elvis for you 💙 substack.com/@jenratcliff...

Jen Ratcliffe - Substack

When we were young, my nan would lead us out into the garden and we'd sit under the moon with candles. My dad would ask 'Colleen, it's freezing out here - what are you doing?'
'Making memories' she'd reply...
My nan sadly passed away on Friday.
She lent me the knowledge of art and poetry as a form of beauty and intelligence. There was never a question of our equality with animals with her. She was passionate and fabulously flippant, never foolhardy, yet still believed the world full of magic.
She once told me a compliment unsaid remained a compliment unknown. So, here's a memory that's a compliment to her life, and now at least you know it.

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· May 4

Happy bank holiday everyone! - for those who like join in #DailyNature monthly challenges it's coming up to a year since we began them! So shall we go onto year 2 in June in keeping with solstice & equinox OR would you like to inverse to the in-between and concentrate on greater sabbats?

An illustration of the wheel of the year (obtained via Google search) showing the equinox & solstice Yule, Ostara, litha, mabon with the greater sabbats in-between imbolc, Beltane, lughnasadh, samhain

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Apr 30

I took a stroll through this portal yesterday 💚

A mudded desire line between wild garlic and other burning green foliage, leads up towards a gnarled and bent Yew Tree. Shaped over the path like a horse shoe.

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Apr 27

🌊Water Book Club Live Free Author Event with the lovely 👤 @nicwilson.bsky.social Guardian Country Diarist on her poetic, nature filled memoir: 📘Land Beneath The Waves 🗓️1st May 2026 ⏰6.30PM [GMT] 🧭https://substack.com/live-stream/160706?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1vfbak #NatureWriting

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Apr 20

Fantastic morning spent with @AmandaTuke urban plant hunting around Stoke canals & talking about her exceptionally inspiring new book Wild Pavements 🌱 📘 "Expect nature to be wherever you are, and you'll start experiencing our cities completely differently" #NatureWriting #BookSky #UKCanals

Infront of a small creek a book with print illustration showing animals, flora and urban buildings reads 'Wild Pavements Exploring Britain's Cities With An Urban Naturalist' by Amanda Tuke

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Apr 18

What a gift today has been 💚 I've never seen a stoat so close, despite originally naming our boat after them - this little one wasn't bothered about my presence, much more concerned about a rather large crow! #Nature #NatureVideo #Stoat #NaturePhotography #NatureWriting

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Apr 16

Simply an excellent tree

Oregan white oak? Twisting and turning as though dancing in a 1940s cartoon near the canal

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Apr 7

April, aperire, to open and so the world does. That fresh cucumber slice of morning drift as nights fig dress turns to a buttery morning gold has me awake and open to the world. Good morning everyone ☀️ #Morning #Nature #Sunrise

The morning is thawing from plum to peach to ice blue, sliced by telephone wires and silence

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Apr 2

Church windows strapped to the back of a chocolate mining bee, fuzzily grasping pillowy petals of a blackthorn blooming tree, is greeted by the windy echos of robin and chiffchaff. #NatureWriting #BloomScrolling #DailyNature #Bees

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Apr 1

Oh April, how you fall. With invisible rain camouflaging blossom, diving feathered hunger gliding floats of tourists, overzealous plans needy comfort speeches of air quiet of heart. A year just falls apart #NaturePoetry #April

Rosey chery blossom blooms against cerulean sky with a starched apple blossom neighbour - From an April gone by

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Mar 28

A little different adventure with nature today #dailynature

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Mar 26

Clouds the chin of a fin whale, Impasto striped pearl glades in pebble swathes, a single cluster cauliflower unfurls it's slow body: caterpillar dragon soup. Air prepared for show, Listen to what you can see. #DailyNature #NatureWriting #NaturePoetry #Poetry #Sky #Nature #Photography #Colour

A sky mottling from greys to cadmium white, moves in still shot, trees black reach towards it

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Mar 26

🎙️🛶🌊📚Water Book Club Live with author Hannah Pierce Tonight at 7pm [GMT] on Substack, discussing her book All Boats Are Sinking 🛶🏔️ Access here - subscribe prior to 7pm to send questions in the chat substack.com/live-stream/... #Substack #waterways #boat #ukcanals #books #author #water #humour

Left, water and a library style stamp that reads Water Book Club with subtitles Live Q&A with Hannah Pierce March 26th 7PM. Right, a pink book cover with black and white illustration of a woman pulling a mooring rope, the title reads All Boats Are Sinking - Navigating Life, Love and Locks on a Narrowboat, Hannah Pierce

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Mar 22

#HappyWorldWaterDay Spent the day slopping through clammy ground, finding hidden paths to lower levels of streams, eyes blurred by heat in thickly spread condensation, cooing over lambs licking dew off of grass stems, gabbing with my sister - our existence tied to our watery planet #DailyNature

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Mar 21

Blazing Little wren playing hide and seek, doesn't mind me sat near the bridge reading. Blackbird, lapwing, little egret, swan, graylag, Canada goose, robin, song thrush and even a humming bee all at the party 🐦 #DailyNature #Birding #Birder #wren #spring #britishspringtime #videonature

Jen Ratcliffe@jenratcliffe· Mar 20

Happy Ostara - how are you celebrating today? Familiar fog returned - woven into sky like wool rings of jersey, it is not heat, nor sun but blossom unfurling hives, twinkling eyes rounded cheeks of newborns - Ostara untwines her hair, morning dew smooths fray ends frey beginnings #DailyNature