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Dr Jen Jones

@jensoilandpen.bsky.social
2.2K followers 704 following 82 posts

Writer, soil scientist, nature lover. Passionate about peat. Guardian Country Diarist. Writing for Bloomsbury's British Wildlife Collection.

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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
www.theguardian.com/environment/... On the day when it is announced Paul McCartney is to be nominated for a Mercury prize, my piece about Dungeon Lane is in the Guardian. Purely coincidental!
theguardian.com
Country diary: A trip down Dungeon Lane for Beatles nostalgia and coastal beauty | Jennifer Jones
Liverpool: Paul McCartney’s latest album has brought tourists here ,but there’s so much more to see than the sign
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Lovely to hear @lucylapwing.bsky.social being interviewed on BBC Radio 4 this morning. Thanks for speaking up for butterflies, Lucy.
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Annie Worsley @annieworsley.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
An antidote to news of war perhaps. A short post/read on light and the arrival of spring: notesfromasmallcroftbythesea.wordpress.com/2026/03/01/f...
notesfromasmallcroftbythesea.wordpress.com
February flight, flood, light
An east wind pushed and pulled at the threads of early February. For days, it flattened waves and suppressed the sea. It was a firm hand denying the impulse of waves to break into mischief. It crea…
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
I went in search of dinosaurs, bit fungi beguiled me instead. Such colour, form and texture.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
The postman has just delivered this delicious collection. I was honoured to be invited to submit writing for it, not least because it emphasises the need to protect our bogs. It's fabulous. Thank you to @littletollerbooks.bsky.social for having the wisdom to publish such important writing.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
I love fallen autumn apples showing us creatures that are out there but we forget. It is thought that 59% of global biodiversity is in soil.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
My latest Guardian Country Diary piece had me going off piste, swapping Merseyside for Scotland. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Country diary: Down in the valley we go, journeying back in time | Jennifer Jones
Roslin Glen, Edinburgh: Turner and Wordsworth are with us as we go down a precarious path into ancient woodland
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
My first mayfly this year seen in North Wales on 24th May. I saw my second on Friday at Musselburgh, Scotland. #DailyNature.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
My few days in Scotland were full of wonders. Here Bass Rock stands bright with gannet guano, while on the beach I perused rocks, sands, plants and insects. Fabulous #DailyNature.
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Annie Worsley @annieworsley.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Happy publication day to @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social! 'Is A River Alive' is astonishing, necessary and beautiful, and a wonderful, fascinating read. I'm sure it will win accolades for years to come and in doing so, prompt more people into action to help protect the natural world.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
It's International Dawn Chorus Day, but I'm not sure our birds got the message. Perhaps the cloud cover stole their desire to sing.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social I love being a May Day baby, but it's even nicer when your brother gives you this book. Stunning ... and that's the book, not the fact that my brother bought it for me!
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Often the places I visit to write my Guardian Country Diary pieces impact on me, but none more so than this urban orchard. There was a special spirit to the place & I cannot find the words to convey that fully. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Country diary: A thriving new orchard in an unlikely place | Jennifer Jones
Knowsley, Merseyside: The Meadow Park community orchard started with just five trees, now there are 200 species of cherry, plum, apple, pear, quince and spindle
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
A blackbird has been singing in one of our garden trees all day. It is the most glorious song to accompany you through the day. Not yet seen a swift this year, but this blackbird is uplifting @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
With an intense day of writing ahead, what better way to start than with dawn birdwatching. Chough seen and heard as soon as I got out of the car.
Sunrise over the Irish Sea at Llandudno. Little Orme headland also visible.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
I know that I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing exhibition about soil, but am delighted to discover that someone else did. @chiffchat.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @jopearlceramics.bsky.social www.thenational.scot/news/nationa...
thenational.scot
King’s ‘incredible sense of curiosity’ praised during visit to soil exhibition
Charles also unveiled a plaque in the newly refurbished Salt Stair to mark the visit and the 25th anniversary of Somerset House.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
A wonderful clear, crisp morning. On our early morning cemetery walk we stood transfixed and entranced watching a song thrush sending its glorious tones to the world. It was so close we could see its bill open and close. Then we witnessed one of those special sunrises. Fab way to start the day.
bill.open
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
I have been passionate about peat bogs for decades, have written a chapter on peat for my book, but articles like this show why we must care: www.theguardian.com/environment/....
theguardian.com
World’s largely unprotected peatlands are ticking ‘carbon bomb’, warns study
Bogs and swamps are a colossal carbon store but their continued destruction would blow climate change targets
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Yesterday was World Wetlands Day, one I love to celebrate. So it was more sobering to read this article today. Based on research, it sounds alarm bells for the long term future of our peatlands: news.exeter.ac.uk/research/fut...
news.exeter.ac.uk
Future of UK peatlands under threat due to climate change
The UK’s peatlands face an uncertain future amid the escalating impacts of climate change. Peatlands are critical ecosystems for carbon storage and biodiversity, containing more carbon than all the wo...
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
My first bird of the day was a jackdaw; well, actually, there were about 20 of them as they left their roost in the cemetery. A lovely birding start to the year. Happy New Year, everyone.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
At 06:30 today we stood beside a main road, enchanted by two Song thrushes, in trees on opposite sides of the road. That even-paced repetition, different from each bird was glorious. Then on our return through the cemetery we enjoyed a chorus of Robins. Happy New Year's Eve.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
Fiery embers of the day.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
If you are looking for a holiday read comprising stunning, evocative writing about a beautiful part of Scotland I can recommend 'Windswept' by Annie Worsley.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
www.theguardian.com/environment/... More lovely writing from @nicwilson.bsky.social. I would love to have witnessed this.
theguardian.com
Country diary: A handful of summer on a frosty day | Nic Wilson
Southill, Bedfordshire: On a ringing session of seed-eating farmland birds, I see up close the subtle beauty of the yellowhammer
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Have had fab few days at this conference. Spoke to bookseller earlier, mentioned my book (of course!), they thought it sounded great & looked forward to stocking it. I told them they'd have a couple of years to wait, but they didn't mind. @chiffchat.bsky.social #soil
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
It's World Soils Day today. This year's theme is 'Caring for soil'. Let's never forget the part that soil plays in our lives. Soil provides 94% of our food. And 25% of global.biodiversity is in soil. Let's celebrate soil today. @thegsbi.bsky.social @chiffchat.bsky.social
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Shades of vermillion in a navy blue Merseyside sky. I hope everyone has a good Friday.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
I am writing a book about soil. I have a chapter on Soil as inspiration and I know this event will inspire me. I shall head southwards. Perhaps you too can be inspired by soil. @chiffchat.bsky.social @britishecolsoc.bsky.social www.somersethouse.org.uk/press/soil-t...
somersethouse.org.uk
SOIL: The World at Our Feet
Somerset House presents SOIL: The World at Our Feet, a landmark exhibition unearthing the wonder of soil, its unbreakable bond to all life, and the vital role it plays in our planet’s future.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
My day on the bird feeding rota at Pickering's Pasture featured a beautiful River Mersey. Even better though was a brief encounter with a grey seal. The creature entranced me. I wished it well as it headed out to Liverpool Bay.
River Mersey at Pickering's Pasture, Halebank.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Autumn dark and light, Pickering's Pasture, Hale marsh.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Peat bogs are one of the many passions in my life. I could never tire of them. Today some valuable peat bogs are at risk. I am delighted to be contributing to an anthology about peat and bogs. It would be wonderful if anyone feels they can contribute here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/give-peat-...
crowdfunder.co.uk
Give Peat A Chance: a book of bogs
Exploring the rich significance of peat landscapes and challenges facing us as we consider renewable energy, climate change and biodiversity
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Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Another reminder: offsetting is a con. We need to BOTH care for nature as a carbon store AND stop burning fossil fuels #COP29 #ClimateEmergency www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Countries could use nature to ‘cheat’ on net zero targets, scientists warn
By relying on natural carbon sinks such as forests and peatlands to offset emissions, governments can appear closer to goals than they actually are
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
@roryfranciscymru.bsky.social Glad to find you here, Rory.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Our ash tree branches are aflame in the setting sun. Nature's glory resplendent.
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Nic Wilson @nicwilson.bsky.social · 09/11/2024
Morning. I've just set up a starter pack on life writing. Please, please share around so I can develop the life writing community & add to the 25 writers on the list. Thank you! go.bsky.app/27hdHdG
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
Our Liverpool sky is wonderfully stripey this morning. I hope everyone can have a good day.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 10/11/2024
On 11th November 1918 my paternal grandfather based in France wrote in his diary:"Armistice signed. Nearly a riot'. A few words say so much. Notice how every inch of paper was used. Diary entries in pencil, squeezed in between inked gun drill entries. Today we throw paper away without thought.
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 09/11/2024
A very misty, moisture morning on the Mersey today, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. Gulls & waders fly past, anglers fish, and folk walk, run & cycle.
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British Ecological Society @britishecologicalsociety.org · 30/10/2024
Bridget Emmett added: “Defra is once again facing real term cuts, adding to the last 15 years of budget reductions. And where has this left nature in the UK? One in six species are at risk of being lost and farmland birds have declined an average of 58% between 1970 and 2017." 🌍🧪
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Dr Jen Jones @jensoilandpen.bsky.social · 08/11/2024
I've just moved across here as I've heard it's kinder and more gentle than the other place. Based in north-west England, Love the natural world so much I write about it and I love soil even more. Writing a book about soil for Bloomsbury's British Wildlife Collection. That's keeping me busy.
View of line of conifer trees in North Wales with distant views to Welsh mountains.
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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 30/10/2024
European Hedgehog has been updated from Least Concern to Near Threatened in the latest release of the IUCN Red List: bit.ly/3Ury9Le
bit.ly
European Hedgehog listed as Near Threatened
European Hedgehog has been updated from Least Concern to Near Threatened in the latest release of the IUCN Red List. This change is based on a decline that appears to be approaching, or exceeding, 30%...
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