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Simon Tucker

@simonrtucker.bsky.social
434 followers 100 following 1.1K posts

7 years in farming. Went to Uni, 2:1 in Zoology, 31 years working as an IT consultant then 10 years as my own boss doing IT and eco-consultancy. Keen birder & conservationist, bird ringer & ringing trainer & blogger. Politically left wing.

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Reposted by Simon Tucker
This Many Years Ago @thismanyyearsago.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
64 years ago, on the 27th of September 1962, Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring was published. It handled the environmental harm caused by the pesticide DDT and the disinformation spread by the chemical industry. Carson managed to sway public opinion and even policy. #otd #history 🗃️
Rachel Carson photo credit: Science History Images / Alamy
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Nice to have a ringing demonstration go so well: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/26/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Ringing Demo @ Blakehill Farm: Saturday, 26th September 2026
We do a couple of ringing demonstrations for the Swindon Wildlife Group each year: usually autumn and late winter. Today was our second of the year: and the most popular to date. Robin Griffiths, n…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Oh dear, how sad! www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
bbc.co.uk
Watch: UN delegates walk out of Benjamin Netanyahu's speech
The Israeli delegation could be be seen cheering in support during Netanyahu's speech.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Politics isn't working. It's time to call time on the broken culture in Westminster and have a fresh start with a fair voting system. Add your name to @electoralreform.bsky.social‬'s call to #MakeSeatsMatchVotes action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/3782/pe...
action.electoral-reform.org.uk
First Past the Post means millions of our votes make no difference to parliament. Add your name now to demand a fairer voting system
It only takes 30 seconds
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Another quiet session: I moan enough in the intro, so I will leave it at that for now: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/24/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
Webb’s Wood: Wednesday, 23rd September 2026
I have to be honest, I am seriously thinking that I will have to either abandon my woodland sites for the time being or else set up my feeding stations much earlier than I would normally do so. Aft…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
After our previous end of year check, we completed the set yesterday. It has been a fantastic year, although we did encounter one tragedy on this session. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/18/l...
braydonforestringing.uk
Last of the Barn Owl Box Checks: Thursday, 17th September 2026
I was joined by Claire and Miranda at 10:00 this morning to check on the boxes we didn’t do last week. We started at Lower Pavenhill Farm. Back in May we ringed seven chicks and left the eigh…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I suppose it was just about worth it! Better than the Firs any way! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/17/l...
braydonforestringing.uk
Lower Moor Farm: Wednesday, 16th September 2026
I was joined this morning by Laura, Miranda and Ellie. We met at 6:30, set the usual nets and had them open by 7:20: quite quick for us. Unfortunately, the session was as quiet as most recent ones.…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Can they get any more dumb?
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Another quietish morning but it's hard to complain when your first round delivers a lovely first for the site: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/12/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Ravensroost Meadows: Saturday, 12th September 2026
We were hoping to work the plateau at Blakehill Farm this morning but, unfortunately, the wind forecast changed, with much higher base wind speeds and gusting up to 28mph. Working on the basis that…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Not sure why BlueSky insists on rotating the image but what a lovely bird to start a ringing session!
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
An absolutely cracking year for Barn Owls. I was worried about the heatwave but it doesn't seem to have had a negative impact, if the number of pellets and dead rodents we found on this round are anything to go by! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/11/b...
braydonforestringing.uk
Barn Owl Boxes: Follow Up. Thursday, 10th September 2026
I spent Thursday with Ellie, and her sister Milly, doing the first round of follow ups on our successful early season Barn Owl ringing sessions. We ringed 43 youngsters this early season in eight n…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Another smallish session but pleasant. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/11/b...
braydonforestringing.uk
Blakehill Farm West: Wednesday, 9th September 2026
Following the disappointment of Saturday I was hoping for better at Blakehill Farm this morning. I was joined by Miranda, Laura and Ellie. Because of the projected forecast, with the breeze coming …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
🚨 An undercover investigation shown on Channel 4 exposed Reform figures allegedly breaking the law over foreign funding. Now demand a full criminal investigation. Sign the petition. 🔥 you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/in...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Sign the petition to hold politicians to account
Together, we can make sure no one - however rich or powerful they may be - is allowed to take us or our democracy for a ride.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
The impact of the heatwave writ large! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/07/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
The Firs: Saturday, 5th September 2026
If any of my sites has displayed the negative impacts of the heatwave it is the Firs. In June and July we averaged 80 birds per session: a high of 120, a low of 51. Today was just 14 birds! This is…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
A decent August with some very nice birds: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/09/02/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
West Wilts Ringing Group Results: August 2026
An excellent month as usual in August. Despite the heatwave causing disruption: I went 10 days with no sessions, the team managed to get some excellent catches and good numbers. So fewer birds proc…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
A lovely solo session this morning: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/30/g...
braydonforestringing.uk
Going Solo: Lower Moor Farm, Sunday, 30th August 2026
As a trainer, I spend most of my sessions advising, supervising and scribing for the team. If it is just me and one other, then we might share the processing but, even then, biased in their favour,…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A small but varied catch this morning: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/26/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Red Lodge: Wednesday, 26th August 2026
I was joined this morning by Miranda, Steph, Ellie and Pete, and the morning’s entertainment, 7 year old Bea. We met at 6:00 and set about putting up our nets. Our last trip to Red Lodge was …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
We are having a bit of a weird time of it: not many birds, but some lovely catches for our sites. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/23/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
Three First for Year: Blakehill Farm East, Sunday, 23rd August 2026
That title is not too surprising: it is our first visit to this part of the reserve this year, having had to abort the previous attempt due to a seized padlock. I resolved that issue on Friday and …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
It isn't often that we catch only 26 birds - but to do so from 13 species is certainly unusual. To add to that two species, that we catch rarely, making their first appearance at the site this morning, was the icing on the cake. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/19/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
Two Firsts for Ravensroost Meadows: Wednesday, 19th August 2026
With the extremely dry conditions after the heatwave, and our small catch on Saturday at Somerford Common, I thought that I would try to organise sessions at sites where we can catch autumn migrant…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Managed to get out for the first time in a week: the heat far too stressful for birds or humans! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/16/s...
braydonforestringing.uk
Somerford Common: Saturday, 15th August 2026
We haven’t been out at all during the last week, because of the heatwave: I didn’t want to add any stress on the birds, or my team, come to that. I was joined for the morning by David a…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Hen Harrier persecution on UK grouse moors - new research suggests only 0.5 - 10% incidents are detected raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/08/12/h...
raptorpersecutionuk.org
Hen Harrier persecution on UK grouse moors – new research suggests only 0.5 – 10% incidents are detected
The ‘tip of the iceberg’ is a phrase often used by researchers and conservationists when describing the scale and extent of illegal raptor persecution in the UK, meaning that what is kn…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
The title says it all! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/09/s...
braydonforestringing.uk
Started Badly, Finished Nicely! Saturday, 8th August 2026
This morning we were scheduled for a session on the plateau area and its surrounding hedgerow adjacent to the Chelworth Industrial Estate which, we refer to as Blakehill Farm East. We had a good tu…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Mexico: Ban Shark Finning! actions.eko.org/a/mexico-ban...
actions.eko.org
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
A massive plastic pellet spill is threatening North Sea wildlife 🌊 Coastal communities are stepping up, but we need action. Join us and ask @andyburnham.bsky.social to launch an emergency response & hold polluters accountable! #NurdleSpill #StopPollution action.friendsoftheearth.uk/petition/tyn...
action.friendsoftheearth.uk
Tell Andy Burnham: Save the North Sea from plastic pellet disaster
One of the UK's biggest spills of plastic pellets (or “nurdles”) is flooding the North East’s coastline. It could harm wildlife in the North Sea for decades. Thousands of volunteers – including Friend...
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Our best July so far, with a notable first braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/04/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
West Wilts Ringing Group Results: July 2026
A quite exhilarating month in so many ways: starting with our highest ever July catch and the highest average per session.  Last July was our previous largest catch, so it is a year-on-year im…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
c.org/zrKb76FVwS
c.org
Sign the Petition
Save Our Reds: Protect Britain's native red squirrels before it's too late
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
A quiet session or, let me out it another way, plenty of opportunity for having a doze! braydonforestringing.uk/2026/08/02/a...
braydonforestringing.uk
A small catch: Ravensroost Wood, Saturday, 1st August 2026
I have spent the last couple of years working in the southernmost end of Ravensroost Wood, as there has been a fair amount of forestry management going on in the north end of the wood. I have decid…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Israel still listens to them, because they write their scripts and want to make sure they get it "right"
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
38d.gs/mexd
38d.gs
We pay our dues. They should too.
Amazon made £555 MILLION in profit in the UK last year, but only paid a fraction of what they should in tax. Jeff Bezos is rubbing his hands together, avoiding tax, while we pay our dues. Don't think ...
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
A lovely session in the Firs this morning: our best site for Spotted Flycatcher (n0t that we catch many) delivered again: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/29/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
The Firs Delivers Again! Wednesday, 29th July 2026
I was joined this morning by quite a large cohort from my team: Miranda, Ellie and Pete. as well as Sarah and young Dorothy. Dorothy has only been out for four sessions where she actually got to pr…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I've just signed "Tell Andy Burnham to launch a National Commission on Electoral Reform" - Will you support the campaign too? actionstorm.org/petitions/na... @OpenBritainHQ
actionstorm.org
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
A good session yesterday: and nice to ring some birds for a change. As a trainer I tend to supervise and check, rather than process. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/26/l...
braydonforestringing.uk
Lower Moor Farm: Saturday, 25th July 2026
A better morning than recently at Lower Moor Farm and, for once, I got to do a decent amount of ringing. When I have two or more of my team out, I tend to scribe and ensure that the data I am being…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A small but satisfying session yesterday morning: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/23/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Ravensroost Meadows: Wednesday, 22nd July 2026
A small session this morning, but a first for the site and a very nice second for the site. I was joined for the session by Laura, Adam and Pete. We met at 5:30, but Pete was leaving at 9:45 for a …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
A better than average, if not outstanding, session at Blakehill but with a few nice birds: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/19/b...
braydonforestringing.uk
Blakehill Farm West: Saturday, 18th July 2026
With the heatwave abating somewhat, and the forecast being for light basal winds with gusts at 14mph, we decided we could get a session in at Blakehill Farm West. We set up our usual nets, plus a f…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
A very quiet session, with a pleasant interlude: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/16/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Red Lodge: Wednesday, 15th July 2026
This heatwave is proving to be quite schizophrenic: the morning started cool at 4:30. It was overcast and very grey. The sun didn’t even begin to peep through until after we had packed up. I …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
This makes interesting reading: appliedecologistsblog.com/2026/05/18/l...
appliedecologistsblog.com
Long-term monitoring in community-managed Amazonian floodplains reveals some of the world’s highest jaguar densities
Long-term monitoring shows that Amazonian floodplain forests (várzea) can support high jaguar densities, but apparent stability may mask underlying population decline, highlighting the need for sus…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Staying out of the heat, for the bird's sake, a couple of nets, early start and early finish: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/09/a...
braydonforestringing.uk
A Bit More in the Garden: Thursday, 9th July 2026
With this heatwave I am reluctant to cause any disruption to the birds coping out in our woods and farmland. However, those that are costing me a fortune feeding in my garden I thought are fair gam…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
A pleasant, if standard session, at Webb's Wood. Lots of butterflies around as well. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/05/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
Webb’s Wood: Saturday, 4th July 2026
Having had such excellent hauls in the Firs in June, it was time to have a go in Webb’s Wood. It is exactly 680m due south from the ringing station in the Firs to that in Webb’s Wood. I…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Despite the restrictions caused by the heatwave, the group had a really good month. I am not sure why WordPress decided to use the least pleasant photograph of the post as its "come and read me" invitation! There are some nice photos in there as well. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/03/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
West Wilts Ringing Group Results: June 2026
A quite fantastic month all round: some fabulous nestlings ringed and a phenomenal month for catching and ringing.  Let’s start with the summary: 1) We were 9 birds short of last year’s…
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
A quiet session, but it worked well for the group of work experience teenagers spending the week with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/07/02/w...
braydonforestringing.uk
Work Experience @ Lower Moor Farm: Wednesday, 1st July 2026
After a quite remarkable June, it was our first July outing, to Lower Moor Farm. I was approached by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Public Engagement team a couple of months ago and asked if I would …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Just a nice easy morning which turned out better than I expected: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/06/30/a...
braydonforestringing.uk
An Hour in the Garden: Tuesday, 30th June 2026
There has been a lot of activity in my garden this summer: lots of juvenile Blue Tits, even more juvenile Starlings, of which I caught a fair number earlier this month using my Potter Traps. With t…
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Reposted by Simon Tucker
Richmond and Twickenham Friends of the Earth @rtfoe.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Well done @wildjustice.bsky.social & @badgertrust.bsky.social on a verdict which not only protects #Badgers but also protects campaigners from uncapped legal costs. Shame on @naturalengland.bsky.social, who claim to "help to protect & restore our natural world", whilst aiding those who destroy it.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
@naturalengland.bsky.social and DEFRA living down to expectation! Can we please have a statutory environment agency that puts wildlife and the environment ahead of money?
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
A quite remarkable session in the Firs yesterday: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/06/28/t...
braydonforestringing.uk
The Firs: Keeps Getting Better. Saturday, 27th June 2026
On the 10th June we ran a session for the Swindon Wellbeing Group at the Firs. It was a decent catch: 58 birds ringed and 12 birds retrapped from 16 species. I am not sure why I decided to go back …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Robin Griffiths, volunteer warden at the Ravensroost complex, and a key ringing site for me, published his latest territorial survey results. I read them and was a little perturbed by what I read, in relation to my Marsh Tit studies, so did some analysis. braydonforestringing.uk/2026/06/26/r...
braydonforestringing.uk
Ravensroost Territory Report: June 2026
The following territory report is the work of Robin Griffiths, the volunteer warden of the Ravensroost complex, and his team of committed volunteers, on behalf of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, and …
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
I hope this heatwave breaks soon. Got out Monday but it really wasn't worth the effort: braydonforestringing.uk/2026/06/25/n...
braydonforestringing.uk
Not A Lot Going On: Somerford Common, Monday, 22nd June 2026
Obviously this excessive heat has had a huge impact on our activities, not least because we don’t want to cause the birds any more stress that they are dealing with at the moment. Also, as Ri…
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Reposted by Simon Tucker
NationCymru @nation.cymru · 24/06/2026
A rare hen harrier survived just three days after settling on a north Wales moor before vanishing in what conservationists describe as highly suspicious circumstances
nation.cymru
Rare Hen Harrier vanishes in Welsh ‘Bermuda Triangle’
A rare hen harrier survived just three days after settling on a north Wales moor before vanishing in what conservationists describe as highly suspicious circumstances. In late August 2025, a satellite...
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
US Fisheries & Wildlife: No Land for Elon! actions.eko.org/a/us-fisheri...
actions.eko.org
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Reposted by Simon Tucker
Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 23/06/2026
Happy birthday to the heatwave of 1976 which began today 50 years ago, peaking at 35.9°C. If a comparable heatwave happened in the current climate it would be 3-4°C hotter, peaking at 38-39°C. And the actual forecast is for temperatures of 38-39°C in the next few days with a red heatwave warning.
The summer of 1976 translated into a warmer climate.
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Simon Tucker @simonrtucker.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
What possible benefit to users will be gained by this? I see lots of benefits to the streaming companies but none for people who will need to update their TV, people who are not IT literate. I would like to see a rational explanation for cutting off this easy to use service. c.org/zhbRpMRy9W
c.org
Sign the Petition
Save Freeview TV for Lynette and millions of others who depend on it!
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