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Ben

@benjyhere.bsky.social
939 followers 1.2K following 3K posts

First and foremost, biodiversity: Frogs; Snakes; Bees but the wild kinds; Birds but not a twitcher. Occasional politics, of the woke, pro-Join #EU kind. Si j'avais le choix, je serais à Toulouse. SW London. Crepuscular.

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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 23h
The colour palette of frogs in my garden is really quite varied... @stevoallain.bsky.social @froglife.bsky.social @arc-trust.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Male Brimstone butterfly stocking up for hibernation. Box Hill, Surrey, 28.09.26 @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
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
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#aofoto
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Suave Morbida @maitre-poulard.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
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
Photo de Stonehenge village de Castle Combe situé dans le Wiltshire en Angleterre, souvent considéré comme l'un des plus beaux villages de la région des CotswoldsDébut des années 50, site bactériologique/chimique de Porton Down 
Un scientifique en tenue étanche et masque à gaz applique de petites gouttes de gaz sarin sur le bras d'un cobaye militaire. L'objectif principal était de tester la perméabilité de différentes couches de tissus et l'efficacité des vêtements militaires de protection contre les attaques chimiques.les Queen Elizabeth Gardens situés à Salisbury, dans le comté de Wiltshire en Angleterre, le long de la rivière Avon.
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Quite emotional to report that we've just found our amazing survivor Marsh Tit, still here in his ancient woodland kingdom. He's now 11 yrs 4 months old, survived the 2026 heatwaves/drought and smelt the wildfires of nearby Holme Fen. I ringed him in my 30s and I'm now in my 50s.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
@london.gov.uk led the way and won. Sadiq is a hero in this.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
As Carolyn in Cabin Pressure, she was sublime. @johnfinnemore.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
theguardian.com
Stephanie Cole, Coronation Street and Open All Hours actor, dies aged 84
Cole, described as an ‘extraordinary talent’, also appeared in Waiting for God, Tenko and had an extensive theatre career
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Ivy has the juice. Batman hoverfly, buff- tailed bumblebee and one of several ivy bees. No hornets on this visit sadly. #Ivy
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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
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...
theguardian.com
‘The man’s a psychopath when it comes to hedgerows’: Derek vs Derek, the unexpectedly heartwarming doc about farmers at war
One Devon farmer, called Derek, is committed to rewilding his land. His neighbour, also a Derek, tends cattle and crops. What happened when a film-maker decided to follow the bickering pair?
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Gregory Norminton @gregorynorminton.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
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.
wildlifetrusts.org
Rothbury Estate Match Appeal August 2026 | The Wildlife Trusts
The Rothbury Estate is more than a beautiful place. It's 3,800 hectares of rivers, woodlands, grasslands, peatlands and open moorland, where wildlife still has the chance to thrive at a scale rarely s...
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Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Radio 3 vs Classic FM.
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MꙬse Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
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Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 04/09/2026
Prison?
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
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.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Kingfisher. #ShitBirdPhotos
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Female (?) Migrant hawker hanging around the garden pond this evening. What size pond will they lay in? @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Love this game, this man and this dog. How far will they get today?
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
@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...
jeremybartlett.co.uk
Gorse, Ulex europaeus | Jeremy Bartlett's LET IT GROW blog
Gorse, Ulex europaeus - A mass of bright yellow gorse flowers, wafting their delicious coconut scent across the heathland, is one of the treats of spring.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Autumn comes to the #pond.
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Luca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Homer Simpson disappearing into hedge (in Lego) Credit to Jason Allemann & Kristal / @jkbrickworks
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
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...
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
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.
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Rob Stephens @tillingtonchum.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
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
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Mandy Forde @mandyforde.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
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
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MꙬse Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Turtle eclipse
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MꙬse Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
If you enjoyed this eclipse, you should pop the date of the next one in your colander.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Moonah. And Sunnah. #Ghosts
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Finally joined the Clouded yellow party, with at least 7 individuals on a tenanted National Trust farm in Surrey. Lots of blues, meadow browns, gatekeepers, skippers as well in what was at first glance an unpromising site... @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Willow emerald damselfly still patrolling my garden pond. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Long- tailed tits for the win. @rspb.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
@bbowt.bsky.social - is there any update on whether adders have used these? Pioneering tunnels help adders www.bbowt.org.uk/blog/kate-ti...
bbowt.org.uk
Pioneering tunnels help adders | Berks Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust
Roger Stace, Senior Land Manager (Berkshire) explains how a pioneering project at Greenham and Crookham Commons is giving adders a chance of survival
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
End of worm. @froglife.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Green- veined white butterfly posing obligingly in front of the pond. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Leader.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Volucella inanis and Isodontia mexicana in the garden, sharing a moment on the Hemp agrimony. Don't think that's the wasp the fly was trying to mimic...
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Willow emerald damselfly today, new for my garden. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
✅ Touring Clacton ✅ Visiting local businesses ✅ Listening to constituents’ concerns ✅ Hi-vis vest Make your Vote Count! #VoteBinface #Clacton
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Thought they were avoiding me... first Hummingbird Hawk moth of the year in my garden, having seen several elsewhere. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Off huntin'.
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German Embassy London @uk.diplo.de · 29/07/2026
The Bundeswehr is assisting French forces in fighting the wildfires in the Bordeaux area. Two of the Luftwaffe's CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters are flying in shifts to drop water over fire areas, with each helicopter able to drop 5,000L per flight.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Next stop, joining the European Union please.
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James CBR @jamescbr.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
So many local butterflies were concentrating on Marjoram in July. Now that it's going over the attention has switched to Ragwort. Here's a recent selection from the wild space in our local cemetery in Lowestoft. @bc-suffolk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Small Copper and Marmalade hoverfly interaction. Small Skipper nectaring avidly on Ragwort Meadow Brown male with open wings on Ragwort. Meadow Brown male nectaring on Ragwort, showing the undersides of his wings.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Common blue butterfly in to check out the garden Hemp agrimony before it goes over... @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ecameron.bsky.social
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Andy Paton @andypaton.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Glen Affric sees first wild-born beavers in 400 years
Conservationists believe there are at least two kits in Glen Affric following a release of 11 beavers.
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Oh, I thought they had all left SW London but I heard a roosting trill last night and I've just heard a screaming band of #swifts...!
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
I struck lucky and finally saw a Purple hairstreak in our local park. Also, gatekeepers and a small copper, as pictured, plus meadow browns, several whites, common blue males, painted ladies... @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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Chris Packham @chrisgpackham.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Return from holiday to find a Common darter has found our pond, not seen here before. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
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Ben @benjyhere.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Survivor. @stevoallain.bsky.social
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