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Emma Whitfield

@emmawhitfield.bsky.social
196 followers 238 following 82 posts

Volunteer for Wildlife Trust BCN, butterfly transect walker at Priory Park, Bedford, interested in conservation, butterflies & all natural history

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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Vicki Hird MSc FRES @vickihird.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
SFI all gone in less than a day. Makes it more critical government find more money in the next budget, for the huge scale of need, for nature, all farmers, not canibalise other scheme budgets (CS, LR) and recognise how essential the transition is for national security www.fwi.co.uk/business/pay...
fwi.co.uk
£233m of SFI26 money all spent within matter of hours - Farmers Weekly
Fears that the funds available for Window 2 of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) would disappear quickly have come to fruition with all the money
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Guardian Environment @environment.theguardian.com · 16/09/2026
Record heatwaves bring Britain’s second-best butterfly season in 16 years
theguardian.com
Record heatwaves bring Britain’s second-best butterfly season in 16 years
Volunteers counted almost 1.4m common butterflies and moths, with painted ladies up 335% on last year
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
John Walters @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Our largest moth the Death's Head Hawk most obvious when compared as a pupa to Convovulus & Hummingbird Hawks. The Convovulus pupa has a 'jug handle' extension where its 10 cm long tongue develops. The DHH lacks this as it has a very short tongue used to suck honey from honeybee comb.
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘Small changes can make a big difference’: how getting farmers, fishers and beavers together could save a Cornish river
A local initiative is testing simple ways to stop algal blooms in the River Fal threatening some of England’s most biodiverse marine habitats
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Mr and Mrs Trellis @thenorfolkcoast.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Why are artificial lawns bad for the environment? - University of Plymouth.. www.plymouth.ac.uk/discover/why...
plymouth.ac.uk
Why are artificial lawns bad for the environment?
Why are artificial lawns bad for the environment? Discover why artificial grass is growing in popularity as an alternative to real lawns and why this is...
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
It’s too hot for the insects today - all of these in the shade on one small patch of an oak tree in our garden sitting very still! I know how they feel!
Red-legged shield bugs matingNoon flySome sort of flyAnother fly
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Partial eclipse viewed through a monocular focussed onto a piece of card - quite a peaceful experience alone in a field at the bottom of our garden. The light from the sun was definitely dimmer & very atmospheric
Monocular with a sun shield used to focus the sun onto a piece of cardPartial eclipse at maximum with low light levels
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Little Green Space @lgspace.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Herbs provide food and shelter for all sorts of insects – many have nectar-rich flowers that attract bumblebees and butterflies. They're usually easy to grow, and cope well with hot, dry weather. They taste great too! More: littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/her...
Comma butterfly on lavenderBasilChamomile flowerBumblebee on oregano flowers
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Walk at Bicton Common on the Pebblebed heaths - Grayling were hard to spot when they landed with their cryptic camouflage & seemed to prefer very stony dry open ground. Also found a Hornet Robberfly having just seen one on the sign - what a beast! @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Grayling with its cryptic camouflageGrayling butterfly feeding on heatherHornet robber flySign about hornet robber fly
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Lovely cliff walk from Sidmouth towards Branscombe - several Walls where we had seen them before, lots of Clouded Yellows & surprised to find a small colony of 2nd brood Dingy Skippers. Also lots of flowers still in bloom despite the drought. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
View of Sidmouth round to Ladram BayWallDingy skipperClouded yellow
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
The scabious at Pegsdon was alive with thousands of Six-Spot Burnets & there were so many Chalkhill Blues flying over the slopes. The marjoram looked beautiful & was full of butterflies. Thanks to @wildlifebcn.org & the volunteers for all the work they do. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social
Six spot burnetsScabious full of six spot burnetsChalkhill blueChalkhill blue on marjoram
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Wildlife Trust BCN @wildlifebcn.org · 22/07/2026
“I’ve lived through 50-odd years of good natural history... & Strawberry Hill is taking me back to my teenage years, for insect abundance and birdsong.” 🐦🦋 Our CEO @brianecambs.bsky.social on why Strawberry Hill in Beds matters for UK nature conservation: www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...
independent.co.uk
Call for more ‘truly wild’ areas to show how nature-rich UK could be
Some rewilding sites are amazing experts and the public with how much wildlife they support, backers of projects say.
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Visited Chicksands Wood - pleased to have such close views of a White-letter Hairstreak. Brief views of a worn female Purple Emperor running along leaves sucking up honeydew! Lots of Ringlets & Silver-washed Fritillaries (mostly female). Also fresh Painted Ladies. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social
Silver-washed fritillary Painted LadyWhite-letter hairstreak Purple Emperor
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Fantastic butterflies at Sharpenhoe today feeding on the Marjoram & Knapweed. Hundreds of Chalkhill Blues, also still a few Dark Green Fritillaries, some fresh Peacocks, Red Admirals, Painted Ladies plus one Small Blue. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @chilternsnl.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk
Mating Chalkhill BluesMake Chalkhill BluePeacockPainted Lady
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Last day of @mariposanature.bsky.social Spanish Pyrenees holiday finished on a high with unexpected find of a Dryad on the scree slopes on the Spanish/French border. Thanks to Peter & Pau for excellent guiding - a brilliant holiday with over 100 species.
Piedmont Ringlet, by far the most numerous Ringlet hereContinental SwallowtailDryadLooking at Dryad on scree slopes on Spanish/French border
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
5th full day of @mariposanature.bsky.social Spanish Pyrenees holiday with more spectacular views & butterflies. Finally got brilliant views of Apollo along with lots more different Blues & Coppers.
ApolloPyrenees viewScarce CopperGlandon Blues puddling
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
4th full day of @mariposanature.bsky.social Spanish Pyrenees holiday with increasing heat & numerous butterflies, especially puddling Blues & Skippers. The highlight was the Mountain Alcon Blues laying eggs on Gentians - easy to find as they’re white. A brief fly-by of Apollo but not for stopping!
Eggs of Mountain Alcon Blue very obvious & shining whiteSouthern White AdmiralPuddling BluesMountain Alcon Blue laying eggs on Gentians
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
We went up high to escape the heat on the 3rd full day of the @mariposanature.bsky.social Spanish Pyrenees holiday. Lots of Piedmont Ringlets, Blue Spot Hairstreaks & Glandon Blues. Lovely views, flowers & this beast of a male Rhinoceros Beetle from the morning moth trap.
Rhinoceros beetleGreat Sooty SatyrLesser Marbled FritillaryView of the Pyrenees from Astún
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Another very hot day visiting one of the deserted villages on the 2nd full day of the @mariposanature.bsky.social Spanish Pyrenees holiday. Lots of Arbutus trees but only fleeting views for some of Two Tailed Pasha. Many other butterflies & dramatic geology.
Spanish SwallowtailQueen of Spain fritillaryCardinalDramatic geology
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
First full day of @mariposanature.bsky.social holiday in the Spanish Pyrenees. Lovely base at Casa Sarasa with 57 species in one & a bit days. Fantastic scenery & abundance of butterflies in the meadows.
Casa SarasaMarbled FritillaryHigh Brown Fritillaries on a TeazelRipart’s Anomalous Blue
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Quite a few 2nd generation Commas (13) & first Meadow Browns on our transect at Priory Park this morning. Also a few faded Painted Ladies & a nest of Peacock caterpillars. Only 3 Whites but a couple of Common Blues @ukbms.bsky.social @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social
CommaMeadow BrownPainted LadyPeacock caterpillars on nettles
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
12 species on transect at Priory Park including a Green Hairstreak which is new for the transect. 24 Painted Ladies so it will be interesting to see if they lay eggs on the Thistles. Also Common Blue, Brown Argus, Brimstone & a few Speckled Woods. @ukbms.bsky.social @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social
Speckled woodGreen Hairstreak Painted lady on thistlePainted Lady on bramble flower
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Well, we planted the Mulleins for the Mullein moths & they are now busy munching their way through the leaves & flower spikes - I hope they leave some flowers! @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social
Mullein mothsMullein mothMullein moth
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Incombe Hole & Steps Hill were very hot & we weren’t sure we’d find the Marsh Fritillaries but eventually found 3. Also lots of Dingy Skippers, a few Green Hairstreak, lots of Common Blues, a few Duke of Burgundy & these Grizzled Skippers in cop @upperthames.bsky.social
Marsh FritillaryDuke of Burgundy Dingy SkipperMating pair of Grizzled Skippers
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Trip to Kensworth Quarry in the heat today & found 2 Duke of Burgundy & lots of Small Blues, also a female Brimstone flying around a Buckthorn bush & lots of Common Blues @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social
Brimstone flying around Buckthorn bushMake common blueSmall blueDuke of Burgundy
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Hyperlocal, seasonal and eco-friendly: British flower farms are coming up roses
Figures show domestic flower growers are expanding their market share, as the government gives sector official recognition
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Danube Clouded Yellow, one of Europe's most threatened butterfly species. A privilege to see on the @mariposanature.bsky.social holiday to Romania.
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk/butterfly/sw... Swallowtail
britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk
Swallowtail - Britain’s Favourite Butterfly
The Swallowtail is one of the 60 beautiful butterflies found across the UK. Will it be Britain's Favourite Butterfly?
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Today is the start of week six of UKBMS butterfly transects. Thousands of volunteers go out each week to walk a butterfly transect and contribute data to a fifty year-long dataset. Want to get involved..? Visit our website for all the info - ukbms.org
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Butterfly Conservation Bedfordshire & Northamptonshire @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Our latest branch newsletter is now available, and can be viewed on our website (link in bio). We are looking for enthusiasts from Bedfordshire to get more involved in our next issue. Contact us for more info! #butterflyconservation #ukbutterflies #bcbedsnorthants #savebutterflies
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Good numbers of butterflies at Pegsdon despite the strong breeze - lots of Dingy Skipper, Brimstones, Green Hairstreaks & our first Small Coppers of the season. Also Holly Blue, Orange Tip & Speckled Wood @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org
Dingy skipperBrimstoneSmall copperGreen hairstreak
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Butterfly Conservation Bedfordshire & Northamptonshire @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
An exciting opportunity for someone in Beds or Northants who has experience with numbers/finance. Full details in pics! Contact us via links in bio to discuss further.
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Wild Justice @wildjustice.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
NEW REPORT: Today we publish Unprotected Nature, a report revealing Natural England's failure to designate any new protected sites. Read about it in the Guardian here: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
England wildlife watchdog ‘has stopped designating special sites for protection’
Exclusive: Report finds Natural England has created no new SSSIs, which protect areas from development, since 2023
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Lovely sunny day for a walk around Bison Hill Whipsnade & we weren’t disappointed. 4 Green Hairstreaks, 3 Duke of Burgundy & 3 Grizzled Skippers plus numerous Brimstones including this very fat female egg-laying on Buckthorn. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @midsandeastnt.bsky.social
Green HairstreakDuke of BurgundyGrizzled SkipperFemale Brimstone egg laying on Buckthorn
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Butterfly transect today at Priory Park Bedford with 42 butterflies of 7 species. Lots of Green-veined Whites & a pair of Small Whites. Orange tip egg on Garlic Mustard & moth caterpillars feeding on Hawthorn, Agriopis species, possibly Dotted Border? @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social
Orange tip maleMating Small WhitesOrange tip egg on Garlic MustardLoopy moth caterpillar feeding on Hawthorn
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Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Our online meeting today with butterfly monitoring coordinators revealed that most EU Member States still have not decided whether to use the Grassland Butterfly Index, and many are consulting with citizens. Now is your chance to urge them to help pollinators and choose this unique insect indicator
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Stop mowing the lawn – and five more ways to save Britain’s ‘charming’ and ‘polite’ gatekeeper butterflies
Conservation can be hard work. But not when it comes to helping these little orange and brown beauties
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Reposted by Emma Whitfield
Guardian Environment @environment.theguardian.com · 09/03/2026
Large tortoiseshell butterfly confirmed no longer extinct in UK
theguardian.com
Large tortoiseshell butterfly confirmed no longer extinct in UK
Early spring sightings show colourful insect is a resident species for first time in decades, says conservation charity
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
How an annual ‘wedding flight’ of 1,000 virgin queens is ensuring the revival of Europe’s dark bee
The Belgian ceremony attracts beekeepers from the Netherlands, France and Germany keen to boost dark bee numbers and stop the spread of the hybrid honeybee
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Rare butterflies bounce back after landowners in Wales cut back on flailing hedges
More than 300 brown hairstreak butterfly eggs were recorded in hedgerows near Llandeilo this winter after decade of decline
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Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
We have a new blog on our efforts to save one of Europe's most threatened butterflies: the Nevada Grayling (Pseudochazara williamsi), found in just a few locations in southern Spain. www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
Nevada Grayling by Sam Ellis
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Guardian Environment @environment.theguardian.com · 05/01/2026
Monarch butterflies could disappear. Butterfly Town USA is scrambling to save them
theguardian.com
Monarch butterflies could disappear. Butterfly Town USA is scrambling to save them
Pacific Grove is known as ‘Butterfly Town USA’ for its role as an overwintering spot. As the insect’s population plummets, residents are coming to its rescue
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
We've not made a big song and dance about it, but throughout this past year we've donated funds to support @europebutterfly.bsky.social's invaluable work after every single butterfly tour we've run. We were the first wildlife tour company to commit to do so, and we're with them going forwards.
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Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
The European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is growing fast thanks to some funding from the EU. We now have transects in nearly every European country. This is a powerful dataset to assess the health of our environment and improve biodiversity conservation
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
1. Some good news at last. This week’s column is about the amazing thing a couple of us stumbled into three years ago, which we’ve now developed into a global research programme. It doesn’t change everything, of course, but it could help change quite a lot. + 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Over a pint in Oxford, we may have stumbled upon the holy grail of agriculture | George Monbiot
I knew that a revolution in our understanding of soil could change the world. Then came a eureka moment – and the birth of the Earth Rover Program, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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Mark Avery @markavery.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Sunday book review: The Birds of Bedfordshire by Tony Ploszajski Review: markavery.info/2025/11/09/s... Publisher: Beds Nat Hist Soc 'Excellent' The last Northants avifauna is 130 years out of date... #bedfordshire #birds @wildlifebcn.org #Sandy #TheLodge @rspb.bsky.social @steveblain.bsky.social
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Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
We have added two new pages to our website: habitat management principles for butterflies (and other pollinators) and causes of decline. Check them out here www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
bc-europe.eu
Habitat Management for Butterflies
Habitat Management for Butterflies
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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
We're thrilled to share this film featuring some of the dedicated volunteers who monitor butterflies for the UKBMS A huge thank you to them, and everyone who's supported the scheme over the last 50 years. #UKBMS50 youtu.be/OrF5AgseX1U?...
youtu.be
Celebrating 50 years of butterfly monitoring
YouTube video by Butterfly Conservation
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Wild Justice @wildjustice.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
The Hon Mr Justice Fordham has released his written judgement about why he dismissed Natural England's attempt to increase our costs cap for our legal challenge against Badger cull licences 🦡⚖️ A v important judgement for all environmental groups! Details 🔽 wildjustice.org.uk/badgers/high...
wildjustice.org.uk
High Court judgment reaffirms costs cap protection for environmental claims - Wild Justice
The High Court has reaffirmed costs cap protections for NGOs after blocking an attempt by Natural England to hike campaigners’ […]
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Emma Whitfield @emmawhitfield.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Number of wild bee species at risk of extinction in Europe doubles in 10 years
Number of endangered butterfly species also surging amid habitat destruction and global heating, finds study
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