Some amazing prizes up for grabs for #MyWainwrightPledge, including a week’s stay somewhere I literally went two weeks ago! I can vouch, therefore, that it’s amazing! Wheatlands Farm ecolodge in Devon.

#thecuckooslea #naturewriting #WainwrightPrize

If there’s one outcome I wanted for #TheCuckoosLea it’s that it will bring greater attention to the heritage of our ancient place-names which include a lot of nature! Making @wainwrightprize.bsky.social’s shortlist this year is validation of that aim. #naturewriting #PlaceNames #WainwrightPrize

Yesterday, my brilliant friend @amyabdelnoor.bsky.social published her debut novel, Everland, about two girls, 33 years apart, dealing with the ongoing horror of the occupation in Palestine. Deep empathy with others through the power of fiction. Buy and read! uk.bookshop.org/p/books/ever...

This morning’s visitor. Had them as flyovers before but not actually IN our garden! Was very interested in the upturned bucket, which it kept tapping. #greenwoodpecker #gardenbirds #naturewriting

With Melissa Harrison last night @thebookery.bsky.social in Crediton, talking about her latest novel, The Given World. Do yourself a favour this summer: buy and read this book! It’s so tender and profound, with one of the most heartachingly beautiful endings of any book I know. #naturewriting

Oh go on, and a garganey. They’re so beautiful.

And the American golden plover

And here’s a wood sandpiper

One of the ruffs I discuss in my GCD

Many congratulations to Mary Colwell, who is honored with an MBE for @curlewaction.bsky.social and all her work for nature. And just as the public consultation is published for the GCSE Natural History. Have your say: consult.education.gov.uk/gcse-and-a-l...

It’s out folks, the paperback of #thecuckooslea. Newly designed with cool, fold-out flappy bits! If you’ve not bought the book yet, now’s your moment; if you have, well, you’ll want this copy too! ☺️ #birdsandplace #naturewriting

Final bird of the #AtlanticRainforest trinity at @rspb.bsky.social’s Gwenffrwd Dinas reserve. Pied flycatcher at the nest. #birdsandplace @guyshrubsole.bsky.social

Back out in the #AtlanticRainforest this morning @rspb.bsky.social Dinas reserve. Following wood warblers yesterday, a redstart nest this morning. These little gems suit the rainforest name—so tropical!

Seeing wood warblers in Welsh #AtlanticRainforest is always super special. Pied flycatchers and red starts to come. First visited here as a kid in the 80s; it’s as magical as it ever was. Talk about birds and place: the rainforest trinity! #RSPBDinas @guyshrubsole.bsky.social @rspbcymru.bsky.social

Another #cuckoo on the Essex coast today. And #turtledoves are in too. 😁

The cuckoos have been putting in some serious promo for my book this spring (out in paperback 5th June)! I’ve been obsessively pursuing them this month where I live in Essex. This one just this morning. A reason for hope and joy every time you hear one. #cuckoos #thecuckooslea #naturewriting

Thanks to a lovely audience for my talk on #cuckooslea @chipcampdenlitfest.bsky.social. What a wonderful, beautiful town, with swifts overhead! Brill talk immediately after mine by @adamweymouth.bsky.social on #lonewolf.

Oh the rain is glorious! Anyone else? “Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain …” (Edward Thomas) #naturewriting

Very enjoyable evening with @ajaytegala.bsky.social last night deep in the Deepings for their lit fest. Thank you to everyone who joined us—what a great night! Go and find cuckoos and nightingales this lovely spring day! #DeepingsLitFest #naturewriting

I'm joining fabulous people for this year's WILD KEEP weekend at Hedingham Castle, 3-4 MAY. East Anglian people, join the May bank holiday fun--crafts, history, authors, music, nature, food! www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk/events/wild-... #CastleHedingham #naturewriting @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social

Well, head my first cuckoo of 2026 last weekend and hoping to see one this weekend … so place-name of the day 148 is lost YAGDON (Shrop). OE geac + dun. ‘Cuckoo hill’. #PlaceNames #naturewriting #birdsandplace

I’m all up for activism, but didn’t see myself ever being chained to railings. Still, since I am … join me at the Steyning Festival on 22nd May, in conversation with Henri Brocklebank from @sussexwildlife.bsky.social Tickets: www.steyningfestival.co.uk/events/micha... #AuthorTalk #naturewriting

So this is happening. I’m in conversation with acclaimed novelist and nature writer Melissa Harrison about her incredible new novel, The Given World. Come and join us Devon people! Tickets here: www.ticketsource.com/thebookery/m... @thebookery.bsky.social #naturewriting #AuthorTalk #Crediton

Place-name of the day 147. Because some of these are already in bloom. Hatherleigh (Dev). OE haguþorn + leah. ‘Hawthorn wood/clearing’. #PlaceNames #naturewriting

My driveway hawthorn. Little early fella. We’ll have to rename this mainstay of hedgerows the April Tree in future years. #SpringIsHere #Hawthorn #ClimateChange

Nightingales are in. 28 singing makes at last count at @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social reserve at Fingringhoe, Essex. #Nightingales #SpringHasArrived #SpringBirds

Signs of spring this Easter Day. 😁 #SpringFlowers #WhatToLookForInSpring #naturewriting

Break from the cranes to bring you place-name of the day 146. Because it’s Easter and spring. And it’s time we had some flower names. Boultham (Lincs). OE bulut + hamm. ‘Land hemmed in by marsh where ragged robin or cuckoo flower grows’. #PlaceNames #naturewriting