Ben

If I were allowed to write a @theguardian.com Country Diary, it might go something like this. @nicwilson.bsky.social @katebradbury.bsky.social @levparikian.bsky.social @brigit.strawbridge.bsky.social Balham, SW London: little beats the thrill of nesting swifts and you can have it too. A 🧵

It's that time of the year again when the @nationaltrust.org.uk membership elects new Council members. It's vital that all NT members use their vote (online) to keep the Restore Trust Reform-adjacent entryists off the Council & away from any decision making. Vote online by 30th October - Friday.

Speaking of voting, if you're a member and you'd like to keep the National Trust's Council free from interference from Britain (and the US's) richest financiers, don't forget to vote before the end of the month. Quick-vote takes moments and avoids the Restore Trust slate of candidates.

Proper Spring tide in #Bosham #ChichesterHarbour today, footpath blocked in several locations.

Light before the storm. #Bosham #ChichesterHarbour #Sussex

Outstanding work, thank you.

Do it, do it, do it. And #Rejoin...

New Bond announced

And we need to take our responsibilities as a member seriously, not just make noise. It's a collective.

I was in the woods again today. #FlyAgaric #Iconic #Autumn #MushroomMonday

Strong want.

#aofoto

The most substantial, huge, enormous, immense, vast, massive, colossal, gigantic, giant, mammoth, whopping, ginormous, humungous, scary, alarming, daunting, formidable, intimidating, terrifying, fearsome and petrifying of all the dinosaurs was the thesaurus.

Well, well- it looks like the Brown hairstreak colony on the cherry plum in my Balham garden has persisted for a fourth year... will have a better look in winter when the leaves have fallen. #Butterflies @richardfoxbc.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

So, finally, a PM who admits there **was** Russian interference in the Brexit Referendum — after all the evidence amassed by myself @carolecadwalla.bsky.social @lukeharding1968.bsky.social Sergei Cristo, J Patrick et al — dismissed as conspiracy for ten long years Truth is the daughter of Time

Various pollinators still enjoying the copious flowering ivy in my local park. #Ivy

DBS Check. #IYKYK

#LifeGoals #Portal #Ivy @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social

Yes, Somerset, yes! #Sunset #SomersetSunset #Sunmerset

Common or Ruddy darter? Pinched waist and seemingly black legs would suggest Ruddy. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Tormentil in full flush, a queen hornet enjoying the ling and the slow march of the fungi... #HighChart #SurreyHills

Support the National Trust by voting for Council members by 11:59pm on 30 October 2026. Quickvote is convenient if you're short of time or worried about inadvertently voting for Restore Trust's Bonigala, Cristea, Goldman, Mealing or Omrani. In our often bad times, the Trust's doing good things.

2 nights ago, I could have sworn I heard a (female) tawny owl call somewhere near the back of our house. This evening a neighbour on the next street confirmed they heard it too. Tawnies really are becoming very suburban here in Balham. @rspb.bsky.social 📸 mine, but in Scotland.

Autumn scenes from the far East of #Surrey on land that I manage. Common carder bumblebee on Ling, Clouded yellow butterfly and Harebells soaked in dew. @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The colour palette of frogs in my garden is really quite varied... @stevoallain.bsky.social @froglife.bsky.social @arc-trust.bsky.social

Male Brimstone butterfly stocking up for hibernation. Box Hill, Surrey, 28.09.26 @savebutterflies.bsky.social

This is not just a Common blue on Ling. This is a Common blue on Ling on lowland heath which we're restoring in the east of Surrey. These are exciting times. #LowlandHeath

#aofoto

Le Wiltshire, perle de l'Angleterre rurale, célèbre pour ses paysages de collines verdoyantes, ses sites préhistoriques uniques, ses expérimentations humaines au gaz sarin sur de jeunes soldats pendant la guerre froide, ses villages de charme... 🧵1/2

@london.gov.uk led the way and won. Sadiq is a hero in this.

As Carolyn in Cabin Pressure, she was sublime. @johnfinnemore.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Ivy has the juice. Batman hoverfly, buff- tailed bumblebee and one of several ivy bees. No hornets on this visit sadly. #Ivy

Derek v Derek is a great film – highly recommend it to everyone, farmers and rewilders alike. And I hugely enjoyed talking to Derek and Derek for this feature. As a badge promoting the film says: "I'm with Derek." www.theguardian.com/film/2026/se...

Donations to buy the Rothbury Estate for the nation via the Wildlife Trust are currently being match funded. So hurry over now, bung them a few bob, and see your donation doubled.

Radio 3 vs Classic FM.

Prison?

I mean this should probably go in the #ShitBeePhotos album but this male Ivy bee dropped down into my lap in the garden this morning, making it the first I've seen this year.

Kingfisher. #ShitBirdPhotos

Female (?) Migrant hawker hanging around the garden pond this evening. What size pond will they lay in? @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Love this game, this man and this dog. How far will they get today?

@jeremybartlett.bsky.social I was researching gorse as I've found decent quantities of Ulex minor on sites i am managing in Surrey. Given that geography, would this largely rule out the likelihood of there being U. gallii present too, at least naturally? www.jeremybartlett.co.uk/2015/04/22/g...

Autumn comes to the #pond.

Homer Simpson disappearing into hedge (in Lego) Credit to Jason Allemann & Kristal / @jkbrickworks

Jfc, this isn't complicated. I'm really sorry if you had a coronary episode but idiots are lighting fires and if this stops a few then we're in a slightly better place...

I tidied up a disposable bbq as part of my job today so I liked the defib alert. Only wished it had added, don't litter the countryside you arse.

This morning, a House Martin spectacular at the end of the garden. Upwards of a hundred, presumably first generation on the move, flying above, with many congregating on and around one of the birches. Glorious! #HouseMartins #UKwildlife #Birds

Not been able to stop talking photos of insects this week, for which I offer no apology. I grow Rosebay Willowherb in the hope of seeing these fantastic creatures, Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars. Plant it and they will come #WildWebsWednesday #TeamMoth @cofnod.org.uk @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Turtle eclipse