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Michael Hill

@mike-hill.bsky.social
466 followers 703 following 60 posts

CEO of landscape charity Friends of the Lake District. Before that, 35 years in media and technology, mostly at the BBC. Now usually up a mountain in #Cumbria UK. @friendsoflakes.bsky.social

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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
A rare opportunity to explore an old tungsten mine today, near Mungrisdale. With the expert guidance of Warren Allison we waded into tunnels deep under the fell. He pointed out the vein of quartz that miners chased into the mountain, blowing passageways with dynamite (the tungsten is in the quartz).
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 11/06/2025
Ever-rising height of car bonnets a ‘clear threat’ to children, report says
theguardian.com
Ever-rising height of car bonnets a ‘clear threat’ to children, report says
High-fronted SUVs are more likely to kill and are on the rise in Europe with the UK an extreme example The bonnet height of new cars in the UK and Europe is rising relentlessly, a report has found, bringing a “clear and growing threat to public safety, especially for children”. Higher fronts on cars significantly increase the death rate when pedestrians are struck. The analysis also found that drivers in the tallest cars could not see children as old as nine at all when they were directly in front of the vehicle. Continue reading...
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
First ‘legs out’ walk of the summer
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Annie Leymarie @annieleymarie.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Heat pumps are only a matter of 'political controversy' because gas and boiler companies have stoked a culture war against them. You'd expect the BBC to resist lobbying, but it succumbs again and again. It’s an institutional problem. A culture of fear and favour dominates the organisation.
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Gabrielle Drolet @gabrielledrolet.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Cartoon with caption by my buddy @jackhauen.bsky.social
Two people riding bikes in Amsterdam. One says “if anyone proposed this in my town I’d kill them”
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
This is a moronic decision. There’s nothing ‘woke’ about heat pumps.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Spotted this camping #cargobike made by @riesemuller.bsky.social. Definitely on the wish list!
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Ah this feels familiar #Brexit
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Kara Jane Adams @ghostinexile.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
The question of if a country could fuck itself harder than the UK did with Brexit has today been answered.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Big plume of filthy water heading out into the River Kent. Hey @unitedutilities.bsky.social, it hasn’t even rained recently. What’s the excuse this time?
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Been building an electric cargo bike at the weekends. It’s a Dutch ‘Bakfiets’ with new front forks, rebuilt front wheel with hub motor, and it’ll shortly have hydraulic disc brakes too. Gem seemed to enjoy the first wobbly test ride!
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
If you’ve ever wondered how coppicing works, or whether the ancient craft of hedge-laying has a future, here’s a short video I’ve made. youtu.be/MUw7fYP9kyo?...
youtu.be
Postcard video March 2025 hedge laying and coppicing
YouTube video by Friends of the Lake District
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Water vapour was definitely doing its thang today
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
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Dani Dark Skies ✨ @danidarkskies.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
An attack on nature is taking place across the pond as Trump (AKA Musk) empties the National Park/Forestry of staff. These great landscapes are what make the national identity. Without them, the U.S is nothing. This has potential to be repeated in the U.K. in 4 years. Stay wise to it.
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De Filmende Fietser @filmendefietser.eurosky.social · 04/02/2025
When the Dutch build bike parking facilities, they don't 'just' build them. They build pieces of art. Like the IJboulevard parking at Amsterdam Central Station. The parking not only offers space for 4,000 bikes, it also houses two copies of famous paintings that are actually in the Rijksmuseum.
A photo of the inside of the IJboulevard parking facility, showing multiple lanes with two-tiered bike racks, the wooden ceiling and numerous information signs which tell how much free parking space there is.A photo of the inside of the IJboulevard parking facility, showing multiple lanes with two-tiered bike racks, the wooden ceiling and numerous information signs which tell how much free parking space there is. Each section has it's own name, so people can remember where they parked their bike. This section is called 'Water'.A photo of the inside of the IJboulevard bike parking facility, showing how the wooden ceiling is curved on the side. The lights between the wooden tiles are also curved. On the left side of the photo there is a very long two-tiered bike rack, of which the bottom part is full of bikes. A photo of one of the paintings in the IJboulevard bike parking facility, showing a swan.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Great opportunity to work with the brilliant team here at @friendsoflakes.bsky.social on an 18-month traineeship. Learn about Landscape Engagement from the best in the business! Please share. #Cumbria #lakedistrict #jobs #landscape www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/engagement-t...
friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk
Engagement Trainee
This position will help us to deliver our engagement program across Cumbria, connecting communities with the Lake District and Cumbrian landscapes and building support for our incredible work.
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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 20/01/2025
“Public transport doesn’t need invention. Just like water and electricity, we've solved the technology challenges for urban and long-distance transport. It’s the political will, not technological capability, that is lacking. We don't need invention; we need implementation.” @garethdennis.bsky.social
A hand holds a book, “How The Railways Will Fix The Future” by Gareth Dennis. A cyclist rides through a station underpass in the background, with a blue and yellow train waiting at the platform above.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Stolen from Facebook (but true, nonetheless)
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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 11/01/2025
“People ask me to predict the future, when all I want to do is prevent it. Better yet, build it. Predicting the future is too easy, anyway. You look at the people around you, the street you stand on, the air you breathe, and predict more of the same. To hell with more. I want better.” - Ray Bradbury
A woman in a winter coat cycles next to a pedestrian path through a tunnel in Rotterdam. A large circular glass skylight can be seen overhead.
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Hackney Cyclist @hackneycyclist.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Cycle parking at a hospital in the Netherlands. Dedicated spaces for staff, as well as patients coming for medical appointments by bike
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Bubble and squeak…and bubbles
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Agree, she’s great. She is quietly incredibly knowledgeable, and has an impressive range of presentation styles, including powerful empathy. She always gets the best out of an interviewee.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
This is really good
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Hackney Cyclist @hackneycyclist.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Sustainable safety in action: Well designed cycling infrastructure means that small mistakes do not lead to serious consequences.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
We’re doing one of our favourite medium-level walks today, up from Ambleside and over Wansfell Pike, down to Troutbeck, and back round through the woods. The view/effort ratio is fantastic, with 360 degree interest at the top.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Build the high quality infrastructure to enable it, and people will choose active travel. This is amazing. tfl.gov.uk/info-for/med...
tfl.gov.uk
New TfL data shows cycling journeys in London are up by 26 per cent compared to 2019 levels
New TfL data shows cycling journeys in London are up by 26 per cent compared to 2019 levels
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
A very windy walk past one of our loveliest bits of land. Not particularly ‘tranquil’ today though!
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
I enjoy making these short videos for our monthly newsletter. I’ll post a link in the comments, so you can subscribe. youtu.be/jJcgQyNMIrU
youtu.be
Postcard Video Dec 2024 Hedges
YouTube video by Friends of the Lake District
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Bryn Davidson - Lanefab @lanefab.com · 05/12/2024
20 slides x 20 seconds each. Pecha Kucha is a fun but challenging format through which to present your ideas or work. The bus just keeps on rolling… youtu.be/7XY0zf-sbsU?...
youtu.be
Vancouver PechaKucha Night - Vol 52 - Bryn Davidson / Lanefab
YouTube video by Bryn Davidson
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The Trandalorian @charliejaneanders.com · 03/12/2024
Here's your daily reminder that bookstores keep the love of reading alive — but they also keep neighborhoods beautiful. They are places to gather, to celebrate stories, to find community. Please do your holiday shopping at your local independent bookstore, if you are lucky enough to still have one.
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Geoff Norcott @geoffnorcott.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Massive away win for the little fella.
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Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
If children walked to school in our bike lanes would city leaders still consider paint a good enough barrier?
painted bike lane with a child wearing backpack staring at it on the street.
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Sophie Pedder @sophiepedder.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Wow. Here is one to brighten up your morning. The first images of the restored interior of Notre Dame cathedral. Breathtaking. In just five years France did it
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James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
The liars, of course, have all moved on to new cons & deceptions. The fishing industry can't. A vaguely honest media would be holding Farage & the rest to account for this instead of promoting a meaningless petition... www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymout...
plymouthherald.co.uk
Fishermen left feeling 'betrayed' by Brexit
'Brexit was sold to our fishermen as a golden opportunity, yet the truth is that many fishermen have experienced the complete opposite'
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Scott Dworkin @dworkin.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
I love this.
A restaurant board sign that reads: “we are not all in the same boat. We are in the same storm. Some have yachts. Some have canoes. And some are drowning. Just be kind and help when you can.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
This is a great piece in @theguardian.com about how we can improve infrastructure in tourist areas like the #lakedistrict www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/...
theguardian.com
Millions of tourists in UK could be asked to pay local visitor levy
Councils, politicians and campaigners hope a ‘tourist tax’ would raise money to fund services in areas affected by high visitor numbers
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Qagggy! @qagggy.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Advisors told Ljubljana’s mayor that pedestrianizing downtown would be political suicide. Eighteen years later, he’s still mayor.
The pedestrian core of Ljubljana. Two women walking in the street. Others in the sidewalk area. Parked bikes in the foreground.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Active travel will save the world. Electric cars are a distraction. theconversation.com/cycling-is-t...
theconversation.com
Cycling is ten times more important than electric cars for reaching net-zero cities
Active travel can help tackle the climate crisis earlier than electric vehicles – even if you swap the car for a bike for just one trip a day.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Super proud of the @friendsoflakes.bsky.social team for delivering another brilliant Fell Care Day, this time in #coniston www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Lake District walking routes repaired by volunteers
Dozens of people take part in Fell Care Day, but icy conditions cancel a summit climb.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Full house for a talk by @lauralaker.bsky.social at the @kendalmountainfest.bsky.social . She talked about @sustrans.bsky.social and the National Cycle Network, and how we need proper long-term planning for #activetravel.
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Walking one of the trails marked out for a @kendalmountainfest.bsky.social run later. Tricky conditions! Quite deep water over frozen ground #fellrun #parkrun
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Very proud of the work that’s gone into this report. We’ve had press, TV, and radio coverage, and dozens of supportive emails. Also grateful for the support from @campaign4parks.bsky.social @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social and others
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Linda K Sienkiewicz @lindaksienkiewicz.com · 20/11/2024
"Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." -J.R.R. Tolkien art by Hirabayashi Takahiro
Crouched female figure with her palm held up to a goldfish as if to welcome it to her
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Maggie Tokuda-Hall @maggietokudahall.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
I keep getting hung up on the "but that's not true" of it all and I genuinely don't know how to function in a world where that's increasingly irrelevant the higher up the power chain you go.
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Gerald Butts @gmbutts.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
The Danes have figured shit out. Morning commute in #Copenhagen. 🇩🇰
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
In times like these, small acts of kindness matter. A smile, a soft word, a helping hand. Each individually fragile, together they are the atomic bonds of our humanity.
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Chris Boardman CBE @chrisboardman.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Switching just 1 trip a day from 🚗 to 🚴 or 🚶‍♂️ = almost 30% less transport CO2 for the ave UK urban resident. If 1 in 5 did this in 🇪🇺 it’d cut emissions from all 🚗 travel in 🇪🇺 by 8%. The potential impact of active travel on CO2 could be huge
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Michael Hill @mike-hill.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Reposting this as well as liking it, because that’s the only way to boost signal on Bluesky. There is no algorithm here - it’s us.
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