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Edward Pollard

@epollard.bsky.social
946 followers 283 following 1.4K posts

🌲 Biodiversity conservationist living in Cambridge, UK. 🦋 Cambridgeshire butterfly recorder so this account will mainly about butterflies and other general natural history

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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 4h
What is a HOA?
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 6h
Nice gimmick using the horses, but good to see the City Council putting in more genuine wildflower areas www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Shire horse teams help plant Cambridge city wildflower meadow
The meadow will be a fantastic sources for pollen and nectar, says Cambridge college gardener.
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Juliet Turner @juliet-turner.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
After saying I’d do it for years, I finally set up an online shop 🦑 Alongside my work as a biologist, I make lino cut art prints (often nature- inspired) that I have sold at art markets. I make some jewellery too… Check it out! www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Magp...
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
The contrast between the headline saying "verdant" and the desolate, post apocalyptic wasteland in the photo is unintentionally amusing. But the implication that 'bogland' is not of value is down right insidious
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
www.independent.ie/county/kerry...
independent.ie
Forestry on the wild Atlantic: Kerry farmer looks to cash in on 35-year project
From bogland to verdant woodland in three decades
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Wow. Where does one start.....? And this is an interesting quote from the land owner “I was always interested in trees and shrubs...especially native varieties,” said Tommy. @irishrainforest.bsky.social
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Andrew Knights @andrewknights.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Clouded Yellow from earlier today in Thetford Forest. It's the first time I have seen a Clouded Yellow on the same day as a Brambling!
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Yes. A friend of mine has seen one near the boathouses several times. Incredible isn't it
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Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The new (slightly revised) Red List of European Moths has been published by the EU. A summary and links to downloads can be found on our website. Moths play a vital role in ecosystems and there is also an important new document on how to plan for their conservation www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
As it's announced that Hedgehogs will adorn our banknotes a paper comes out documenting just how badly they are fairing in the UK onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
West European Hedgehog (<fc><fi>Erinaceus europaeus</fi></fc>) Decline in Great Britain: Evidence From Multiple National‐Scale Surveys
We combined and assessed multiple national-scale monitoring datasets for the West European hedgehog. They suggest a long-term and concerning abundance decline in agricultural landscapes but apparentl...
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Nic Wilson @nicwilson.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Join me for an afternoon of #swimming, #nature and reflection in the beautiful surroundings of Waresley Park in #Cambridgeshire. After our swim, we'll enjoy afternoon tea and explore how #journalling can support our wellbeing as we go into the darker months: waresleyparkestate.co.uk/whats-on-at-...
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Elia Guariento @eliaguariento.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
New paper out on the future impact of extreme weather events on butterflies in Italy - 🦋❄️🌡️⛈️ Lead by @dinobiancolini.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @euracalpenv.bsky.social @europebutterfly.bsky.social
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
A superb thread. One that resonates with my experiences in southeast Asia, as well as growing up not far from Muker (but my parents are southerners so I was never a 'local')
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
And the anticipation builds. Will there be any British media coverage of CBD COP17? Or will it be completely ignored, only to be followed by extensive coverage of the other COP two weeks later? @dpcarrington.bsky.social @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Redwings Over Cambridge, 5 Oct Winter is a coming
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
That's a wrap on 25th year of the intensive Marsh Tit study at Monks Wood. @martamaziarz.bsky.social & I colour-ringed all new juvs, we think. Adult survival good but recruitment low, likely related to drought/heatwaves. Extreme hot/dry or wet/cold weather in spring-summer seems to hit juvs badly.
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Absolutely cracking images from Andrew here. @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
All British pre-history can be seen at Cambridgeshire dig, says expert www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
All British pre-history can be seen at Cambridgeshire dig, says expert
Finds from a site best known for "Britain's Pompeii" reveal prehistoric people adapting to change.
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
But at least they aren't fascists
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
It's just getting confusing now
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The focus, and headline, might be about tree planting. But let's also note the commitment and ££ for supporting many other local initiatives.
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
There's an awful lot of upland that is being used for sheep there's not much market for
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
My immediate thought too. In part precipitated by the photo choice in the article showing a tree tube hellscape in a valley that appears to be full of trees. Thank you for continuing to push Defra on this. I'll raise it with them at COP17 too
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Botany aside, isn't it the term meadow applied to an area cut to supply hay? And so whatever the species composition this should be called pasture?
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Miles King @milesking.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Latest figures from Defra show 8% of English farms produce 62% of output (ie food) from 33% of farmland. Conversely 11% of output is produced from 30% of land. There is no question that there is plenty of space for nature on English farmland. Yet we still hear "every acre must be maximised".
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Nice to hear @chrisboardman.bsky.social extolling the benefits of right to roam during his commentary of the cycling World Championships today. @guyshrubsole.bsky.social
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
@billsutherland.bsky.social fyi
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William (Bill) Sutherland @billsutherland.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Paper written by a team of funders describing how they can and are encouraging the embedding of tests into practice. doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
doi.org
Role of funders in embedding tests in conservation practice
Effective conservation practice requires decisions based on reliable and relevant evidence, but significant gaps in the evidence base exist. Incorporating well-designed tests of the effectiveness of ...
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Could be observer bias. That's the place you go to look for them. Saying that there are places that appear to be more reliable each year - Ouse Washes, Trumpington Meadows. Maybe they favour the the rivers @martinswarren.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social
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Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust @sbbtrust.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Purchase one of our exclusive Swallowtail pin badges with all profits going to the conservation of Swallowtail & Birdwing butterflies around the world. sbbt.bigcartel.com Choose from British Swallowtail, Queen Alexandra's Birdwing and Ulysees butterfly. Shipping worldwide. www.sbbt.org.uk
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Very little evidence of the species successfully overwintering in the UK David. I think the first confirmed case was only a year or two ago in Dorset. So they are most likely new each year.
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Good to see, but just a shame that the National Trust decided to pull up the Ragwort. This summer especially our insects needed all the nectar they could find.
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
But why will they still not release the full report? One small hope is perhaps they are waiting for a 'big' occasion, perhaps at CBD COP17, or UNFCCC COP31. But I won't hold my breath
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Great Fen @greatfen.org.uk · 25/09/2026
We're sharing the power of #paludiculture at the Cambridge Biodiversity & Regenerative Food Festival this Sunday! Free entry. Parker's Piece, Cambridge | Sunday 27th September | 10:30 - 16:00. See you there!
A wildflower meadow with yellow and purple blooms amongst long grass. Text reads Cambridge Biodiversity & Regenerative Food Festival 27th Sept | 10:30am - 4pm, Parker's Piece Cambridge
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The plane has changed too. No Chinese flag, different position of the "Air China" and more
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David Bradley @sciencebase.com · 24/09/2026
Meanwhile, a friend spotted a massive flux of 100+ Clouded Yellow on mixed alfalfa/clover/trefoil fields in a nearby village. It would have been rude not to check them out. I counted about 50 CYs, and got an in-flight snapshot of one the males haring about #UKButterflies #MigrantSpecies
The Clouded Yellow is a migrant to the UK and doesn't, AFAIK, survive our winters (it will eventually, but needs its foodplants to be in bloom over winter to do so, not just about temperature as it doesn't hibernate). Nevertheless, it does breed here, and has done on this farm patch as there were lots of pristine specimens around. A friend saw hundreds a couple of days ago, I think I topped out counting at about 50.
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Roel Maalderink @roelmaalderink.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
De video waarvan Meta niet wil dat je ‘m ziet
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Ed Morrish @edmorrish.com · 24/09/2026
this is the guy i reposted the other day who interviewed meta employees with pervert glasses - meta have taken his video down for “harassment”. which makes it one of the most effective pieces of satire in recent memory
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Richard Fox @richardfoxbc.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
📣 New paper alert. Latest study by @mingrui-li.bsky.social as part of his PhD @uniexecec.bsky.social on the impact of public access to land on #CitizenScience butterfly recording. 🥾⛔️📋🦋 @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Modelling spatial deficits in citizen science recording: a case study from UK butterflies - Journal of Insect Conservation
Abstract Citizen science data are increasingly used to infer species distributions and monitor biodiversity at large spatial scales. However, recording effort is often uneven across space, potentially...
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Great paper. Thanks Richard
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The international system of units would like a word. Then again metric system is too modern for the USA. And they currently aren't all that interested in anything international either
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Fabulous river. Used to love swimming in the Swale when I was a lad. When it was called "swimming" not "wild swimming" 😂
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
And I probably still have a bird book somewhere that confidently states that their preferred habitat is remote uplands. I wish I could remember the term for that. The part of shifting baseline that is a misunderstanding of habits based on current distribution (see also Purple Emperor)
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Ravens were a rare bird. Had to travel to remote Scottish glens, or parts of The Lake District to try and see them. Hummingbird h'moths were around, but I think in smaller numbers. And certainly rarely made it to County Durham.
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Shifting baseline can quite disorienting. Just this morning (22nd Sept) while hanging the laundry in my Cambridge garden I had a Raven fly over, and Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring. Both unimaginable in my youth @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @tonyjuniper.bsky.social @craigbennett3.bsky.social
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Chris van Swaay @chrisvanswaay.eurosky.social · 21/09/2026
2026 gave us more butterflies on Dutch Butterfly Monitoring transects than 2023 and 2024 (these years were the worst since 1990), and a little bit more than 2025, especially in August. But beware of shifting baseline, numbers in most years in the 1990s were often twice as high as nowadays.
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Ash Dieback in Monks Wood NNR. Hectares of the canopy completely dead, but dense thickets below are thriving in the light.
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
#cat
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Black & white image of tabby cats sleeping on a zebra print blanket
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Sussex Wildlife Trust @sussexwildlife.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Do you know something about wildlife or conservation action within 1km of a railway track? Network Rail want to hear your views.  survey123.arcgis.com/share/24c3937c…
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