Dom Spracklen

This study was made possible by long-term monitoring. These long-term datasets are vital for understanding how events like an HPAI outbreak affect seabird populations - not just immediately, but over decades. 🐦📈📉 #avianflu #seabirds

Two of the world’s largest Gannet colonies may not recover from the impact of bird flu until 2041 at the earliest, study finds Read a summary: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen... Full paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111887 #seabirds #hpai 🪶 🧪

Another successful team up of Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery and @nationaltrust.org.uk staff. 1000 trees planted at Black Hall farm in the north of the valley. Aspen, oak, birch, hazel & willow were added to a couple of existing fenced areas. @lakedistrictnpa.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social

(1/4) Our new study in @aer-ese-bes.bsky.social shows that well designed upland #woodlandcreation can avoid high #soilcarbon soils, a key aim of the #WoodlandTrust woodland creation guide principles and UKFS guidance. dx.doi.org/10.1002/2688...

A lovely article about our research on Gannets featuring interviews with #seabirders @heyjooode.bsky.social and @sue-lewis.bsky.social #ornithology

Our Nature Seminars started up again on Friday, with a great talk on Nightshades. Watch it here if you missed it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ri... Here is the full term-card so you can ensure you get a seat in person (followed by a drinks reception) or online. bookwhen.com/oxfordbiodiv...

Restoring Hardknott Forest Winter 2026 Newsletter out now: peat restoration, carcass ecology, new staff start with us, extra volunteering dates, farmer points at a post. mailchi.mp/leeds.ac.uk/...

Today the Government announced they will publish a new Trees Action Plan in 2026. Here's what I think a Trees Action Plan needs to do to meet nature targets, restore rainforests and 'ghost woods', & support the natural regeneration of trees & scrub: lostrainforestsofbritain.org/2025/11/25/a...

It's #NationalTreeWeek and yesterday we planted 800 trees along the edges of a newly rebuilt bridleway. It'll stablise the work and create a lovely mixed corridor of woodland in years to come. Oak, aspen, alder and grey willow pegs went in. @leedsleaf.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social

📣 Check out the new FAO report on #Climate and ecosystem service benefits of forests and trees for agriculture: 🔗 www.fao.org/newsroom/det... 📄 openknowledge.fao.org/items/f72aff...

Protecting and restoring forests boosts farming and food security. New @fao.org report presented at COP30 brings together recent research including work from @drcarlyreddington.bsky.social @universityofleeds.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social

Protecting and restoring forests can boost farming and food security. It isn't farming or forests but farming and forests. New report from @fao.org

If you’re at COP30 please join us to discuss what the world would be like without forests! UK pavilion Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 including food and drink after 😃

A new map shows how tropical deforestation causes local climate warming. Highlights the important local benefits of preserving tropical forest @drcarlyreddington.bsky.social cemac.github.io/deforest-web...

🌍 New Toolkit Alert!
 Tropical #deforestation is heating up local climates - with serious risks for #health, agriculture, and climate resilience 🌳🌡️ 🔗 cemac.github.io/deforest-web/map.html @envleeds.bsky.social @priestleycentre.bsky.social @metoffice.gov.uk @domspracklen.bsky.social

Lovely autumn colours for our visitors from @envleeds.bsky.social seeing our nature recovery work at @hardknottforest.bsky.social and Nature Rich Miterdale delivered with our partners @forestryengland.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk and funded by @heritagefunduk.bsky.social

Another nice output from TreE_PlaNat project @uktreescapes.bsky.social: a video on integrating natural processes into woodland creation has just been released www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0N2...

Ticks are more likely to carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease in areas where Common Pheasants Phasianus colchicus are released, according to new research. Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti... 🥇Subscriber Content

The tour continues...what a busy & chatty morning we had at West Cumbria Volunteering Fair. Jack's addition of a microscope to examine lichens was a winner. We nearly ran out of leaflets! @reachvolunteering.org.uk @cumbriacvs.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social

Last week we celebrated 10 Years of #TheGreatTrossachsForest National Nature Reserve with partners at #GlenFinglas. It's 20 years since the partnership began. We've achieved ✅Over 3,000 hectares of new woodland created ✅432 hectares of peatland restored ✅70% increase in black grouse lekking 1/4...

It was an honour to be at the launch of the Ingleborough NNR into the King's Series of NNRs earlier this month - check out the blog below for more on what the #WildIngleborough partnership has achieved since forming in 2021 🌳🦋🐦

The Amazon forest plays a critical role in the water cycle. A new study shows recent deforestation has caused reduced dry season rainfall across the southern Amazon. New story from @mongabay.com news.mongabay.com/2025/09/more...

As usual all our volunteer days filled up quickly, but a space has just opened up for this one. We can make another space available if anyone wants to bring a friend along. Please share. @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social @cumbriacvs.bsky.social www.trybooking.com/uk/FDWV

Find us, and loads of other groups advertising volunteering opportunities in Whitehaven on Thursday. @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social #whitehaven @cumbriacvs.bsky.social

Our volunteering restarts on Sunday. As well as the essential job of removing non-native trees, we've loads of wildflowers & native trees to plant. Top vol Ade has been growing aspen, birch & oak for us & we have 1000's of wildflowers from @wildhaweswater.bsky.social @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social

GOOD NEWS: the peat burning ban is being extended in the English uplands. 👏 Peatlands lock up carbon, protect water & support rare wildlife. We hope today's announcement signals a move to end this damaging practice for good, and thank our supporters for helping make it happen.

Ingleborough National Nature Reserve expanded - great news for the UK's best limestone habitats and wildlife. Research and monitoring by @universityofleeds.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🌍 Our new study in @natclimate.nature.com shows tropical #deforestation may cause ~28,000 heat-related deaths/year. 🌳🌡️💻🛰️ Using satellite data & mortality models we quantified the impact of deforestation-driven local warming on human health in the tropics. 
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s415... 🔗 rdcu.be/eEUbI

New study led by @drcarlyreddington.bsky.social tracks climate heating and human health impacts of tropical deforestation @universityofleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social @universityofleeds.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Tropical deforestation is a major public health issue. New study led by @drcarlyreddington.bsky.social, story by @jonathan-watts.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Deforestation has killed half a million people in past 20 years, study finds #climatecrisis Story by @jonathan-watts.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Brazil authorities suspend key Amazon rainforest protection measure - Suspension of soy moratorium could open up area of rainforest the size of Portugal to destruction Story by @jonathan-watts.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...

As seen at Gosforth Show last weekend, come & find our very educational & slightly interactive stall at the #krankenhaus festival this weekend. Difficult questions welcome! @showcasecumbria.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

Great to host the #CSSPBrazil meeting at the @universityofleeds.bsky.social Celebrating 10 years of Brazil - UK collaboration on climate science. #WCSSP #ISPF @metoffice.gov.uk @richardabetts.bsky.social

Research led by Dr Lawrence Jackson and Professor Cathryn Birch in collaboration with @ukceh.bsky.social reveals potential for improved humid heat early warning systems to help vulnerable people prepare for dangerous humid heatwaves. environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

As annoying as it was to find an abandoned camp site & litter at Hardknott, it's worth contrasting it with how quickly our dedicated volunteers & staff got rid of it. We're now back to finding only vintage litter, such as this rusting beer can & stubby beer bottle. @keepbritaintidy.bsky.social

Our spring appeal is here! We urgently need your help to save one of the world’s most threatened cloud forests. www.worldlandtrust.org/news/2025/03... 🔗

Support @worldlandtrust.org protect cloud forests in Honduras, crucial for amazing wildlife and clean water for surrounding communities: www.worldlandtrust.org/appeals/save...

Walking this weekend? Our recently revamped Visitor Gateway at #GlenFinglas in the #Trossachs is now open 10am to 4pm, every day. There's plenty of parking, 10 waymarked trails, friendly volunteers to give advice & a loo with a spectacular view 😆! Visit Glen Finglas 👉 buff.ly/oX68lRm

We're so close to our £1000 target to start funding the tools and equipment we need for our new #tree nursery. Donations and shares gratefully received. Many thanks. @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social @domspracklen.bsky.social gofund.me/ddccc2ea

Our friends at Nature Rich Miterdale need some help this Friday. If you fancy a healthy combo of practical conservation tasks, stunning views & occasional lounging in the sun, use the link below to book. Pls share. @leedsleaf.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social www.trybooking.com/uk/events/la...?

3 years ago, when I wrote The Lost Rainforests of Britain, I talked about the importance of expanding fragments of temperate rainforest like Wistman's Wood Well now the Duchy of Cornwall is actually doing it. (And through natural regeneration, not just planting!) duchyofcornwall.org/article/firs...

We’re thrilled to see the UK Government’s new proposal to ban heather burning on peatland, protecting our air, water and wildlife.

Call for applicants: fully-funded ISPF British Council Workshop on Future range of Amazonian Biodiversity, 27/7-2/8 in Manaus. We will train UK- and Brazil-based ecologists and conservationists on mechanistic range models and on Amazonian ecosystems. Details: shorturl.at/hIa7Z. Re-post, please!

Emerging hairy wood ants. A healthy, functioning woodland should have literally millions of these! They are a key part of many food chains. Their nests can be up to 2m high with 250,000 ants in the colony.

A new Leeds study has shown that reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands could help address the climate emergency 🐺 This reintroduction could lead to an expansion of native woodland, which could take in and store one million tonnes of CO2 annually 🌳 Read the full story 👇 bit.ly/4hFeNvM

Thanks to the local Youth Hostel staff who spent another volunteer day with us planting trees and sharing cheesecake. Trees: hazel alder, hawthorn & blackthorn. Cheesecake: lemon & blueberry.

Support our community wildflower and tree nursery and you could be one of our first supporters!

Hi everyone. We're currently at £230 of our £1000 target for the tree nursery. Thanks to all who have donated, it would be great if we could get to £500 by the end of the week. Anything you can afford is a big help. Thanks. @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social gofund.me/9671d159