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Simon Collins

@sirgeogy.bsky.social
914 followers 1.7K following 452 posts

Geographer River Mole SE England. Trustee River Mole River Watch www.rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk 🌪️Extreme wx Site Investigator TORRO www.torro.org.uk ☀️I’m into writing, local weather, climate, rivers and walking. themolestory.com

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psbaker10.bsky.social @psbaker10.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
30 years of greening in S England link.springer.com/content/pdf/... @sirgeogy.bsky.social
link.springer.com
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David Ogden 🇬🇧🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @daveosw16.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
1.6mm of rain fell overnight on Streatham Hill. First significant fall since 27th June. 53 days with <1mm. Met Office estimate we need 150mm to make up the deficit.
August total rainfall 2.2mm (includes 0.8mm on 17th Aug), bringing total for year to 338.8mm. Graphic showing light rain fell from 02:00 to 06:00.
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Dead Fish 🔻 @deadfish1965.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
"I'm fairly certain I understand".
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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 17/08/2026
The death of the Cambridge professor Jason Arday demands something he was not afforded in life, Tayler Austin Harper argues: a frank look at the systemic, ritualized dishonesty that undid him. theatln.tc/WE5nvCYb
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
“Is a River Alive?” asked @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social Right now, the River Mole is on life support, having dried up in the Mole Gap on 1 Aug— repeating ’22, ’76 & ’49. The EA fish rescue last week moved hundreds to safer flows saving them from the drying pools turning into algal soup.
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David Ogden 🇬🇧🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @daveosw16.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
0.6mm of rain fell in Streatham Hill about 02:00 and 50 days since the last measurable rain. Not enough to break the drought. We needs days of steady rain.
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Major fish rescue on the River Mole:: After the river dried up near Dorking thru Mole Gap .. water in isolated pools >28°C & oxygen hit 30% the EnvAgency, with RiverMoleRiverWatch & local anglers, saved hundreds of fish—inc 5lb pike & 3lb chub—relocating them upstream to healthier flow.
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Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf @rahmstorf.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
www.forbes.com/sites/davidr...
forbes.com
Climate Scientist Fleeing Wildfires: ‘We’re In A Race Against Time’
Professor Stefan Rahmstorf escapes out-of-control wildfires in France, and warns fossil fuel inaction is supercharging climate disasters.
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Jodie Bettis @jodiebettis.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
True. It’s rife down my end of the Mole too…😖 @invasivesnet.bsky.social @seriverstrust.bsky.social @sirgeogy.bsky.social
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Jodie Bettis @jodiebettis.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
👏 Well done to #RiverMoleRiverWatch for your outstanding work this year. Just back from a v successful AGM. Great speakers, clear (& mercifully rapid) trustee reporting, tea on tap, & a walk with picnic by the river. 🏞️ @sirgeogy.bsky.social #loveyourriver
Poster describing River Mole River WatchMan standing by sign showing a map of the River Mole areaRiver Mole in the sunshine with green vegetation in channel Green plants surrounding spring water site in dappled shade
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Great AGM on Saturday .. Thanks to everyone for coming and our great line up of speakers.
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Leo Murray @crisortunity.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Meanwhile
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10/03/2026
Chris Murphy: "I Just came from a two hour, closed door classified briefing on the war. It just confirmed to me it's totally incoherent. We are not gonna be able to achieve any of our stated objectives ... this is a disaster of epic proportions, a 10 day debacle"
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Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Reaching net zero by 2050 is often framed as a cost burden. The UK Climate Change Committee’s latest analysis suggests the opposite. The real risk is fossil fuel dependency.
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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Where was Farage’s closest aide and Reform UK Welsh leader Nathan Gill heading when he was arrested for taking bribes from Putin’s pal Medvedchuk? To a Kremlin sponsored conference in Moscow, to talk about the role of crypto currencies in politics The warnings are there for us all to see
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Fiona Harvey @fionaharvey.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Reaching net zero by 2050 ‘cheaper for UK than one fossil fuel crisis’
Climate change committee finds move to renewable energy would also bring health, economic and security benefits
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
The “cost” of cutting UK emissions to net-zero is less than the cost of a single fossil-fuel price shock www.carbonbrief.org/ccc-net-zero...
carbonbrief.org
CCC: Net-zero will protect UK from fossil-fuel price shocks - Carbon Brief
The “cost” of cutting UK emissions to net-zero is less than the cost of a single fossil-fuel price shock, according to a report from the CCC.
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PIK_climate @pik-potsdam.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
"It's snowing, there is no climate change": Climate myths are a growing problem on social media, but the science is clear. The Planetary Boundaries Science Lab teamed up with PIK scientist @rahmstorf.bsky.social to cut through the top 5 myths around climate change. 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mla...
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Andy Herrod Weather @andyherrodweather.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Today's #sunset time in #reigate is 15:52 which is the earliest it gets. Great news, we are turning the corner. The bad news is that the #sunrise time continues to get later and doesn't start heading in the right direction until 3rd January!!
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The Flood Hub People @thefloodhubpeople.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
We know how important great content is for raising #flood resilience awareness. From written resources to graphics, we create engaging, flood-related content tailored to your website or project to help spread the message further. Find out more 👉 thefloodhubpeople.co.uk/flood-resili...
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
💧 River Mole October results are out! Late rain diluted pollution as flows rose — a brief, seasonal lift. But 80% of our 1,000 tests still show the river failing water-quality standards. We’ll keep pushing for real change. ☔️✅ www.rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk/post/river-m...
rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk
River Mole October Water Quality: Late Rainfall Provides Some Relief After Dry Spell💧
Here’s our October round-up from River Mole River Watch citizen-science testing across the River Mole and a dip into exciting data from the new AquaWatch live "Waka" sensors installed in September.Oct...
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Dundee Satellite Station Ltd. @dundeesat.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
METOP-C, 1020 UTC Overpass:
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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
I think the odds on the USA would be much shorter.
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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Food is too expensive, controlled by billionaires. Energy is too expensive, controlled by billionaires. Housing is too expensive, controlled by billionaires. Wages are too low, controlled by billionaires. I'm going to blame... immigrants.
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The Flood Hub @thefloodhub.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Cooking fats, oils, food scraps, and even wet wipes can build up in drains and pipes, leading to blockages and sewer flooding in homes and gardens. 🚫💧 🧻 Remember to only flush the 3 Ps: Pee, Poo, and Paper, and always bin cooled fats, oils and grease instead of washing them down the sink.
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Dakota Smith @weatherdak.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Alrighty, ready to see something really cool? (and maybe a little nauseating) The evolution of Hurricane Melissa's mesovortices at peak strength.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year. UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year. Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M. This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Beautiful iridescence over Reeth, North Yorks
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
‼️Flood alerts issued preemptively for River Mole due to Storm Benjamin from early hours 23 October for Upper and a bit later for Middle Mole : use links below to find details. check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/target-area/... check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/target-area/...
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Brendan May @brendanmay.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
If you are watching the Reform Party controlled Councils with their endless mishaps, resignations, fallouts, scandals, mismanagement and sheer comedic idiocy, but still thinking of making these clowns a national government, representing the UK on the global stage, you are literally insane.
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THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 12/10/2025
🔗 Read @carolecadwalla.bsky.social's full story www.thenerve.news/p/reform-uk-...
thenerve.news
The contact of Reform UK’s Russian puppet Nathan Gill is linked to efforts to destabilise the US and Ukraine. Why, even now, is no one asking questions?
Gill, former leader in Wales of Nigel Farage's party, admits taking bribes to help Putin. And his Russian connection - the Ukrainian politician Oleh Voloshyn - in turn has links to a key figure wante...
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THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 12/10/2025
More than just a bad apple: why we must look closer at the Nathan Gill scandal New evidence connects the Ukrainian politician who paid bribes to Gill - Reform UK’s former leader in Wales - to a campaign to destabilise the US election @carolecadwalla.bsky.social reports
The contact of Reform UK's Russian puppet Nathan Gill is linked to efforts to destabilise the US and Ukraine. Why, even now, is no one asking questions?
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
NEW: The British politician, his Russian intelligence handler & a Kremlin plot against the US & Ukraine. My new piece about Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage for @thenerve_news in which we ask: Why, even now, is no-one asking questions? t.co/BUTtpK9C4S
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
The man who bribed Gill - Oleh Voloshyn - is part of a much wider network of pro-Russian actors. He worked with this guy, an FSB agent, who I've been fascinated by for years, My investigation for @thenerve.news shows how Gill was a pawn in a Kremlin operation that spanned both Europe & US 2/
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
My colleagues & I have taken a huge gamble to set up @thenerve.news We’re trying to build a new independent publication from the ground up. Social media is our only distribution for now. Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Why didn't the River Mole dry up this summer? Remember my post on historic vanishings thru the Mole Gap? Despite the record dry spring & low flows, it kept flowing! No vanishing like '76/'22. Here's a quick review on why it didn't dry up. www.rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk/post/will-th...
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
🚨 Despite Thames Water’s recent upgrade at Merstham STW, our latest tests show contaminants >2× the legal limit and Bad water quality status in Redhill Brook. Wastewater treatment is still failing to deliver improvements needed to protect the River Mole www.rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk/post/redhill...
rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk
Redhill Brook: Where Groundwater Meets Wastewater — and Promised Thames Water Upgrades Fail to Deliver a Cleaner River
A catchment-scale investigation revealing how treated wastewater still drives pollution in the Mole’s largest tributary — despite Thames Water’s 2025 upgrade at Merstham sewage works.Our September 202...
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
🚨 Despite Thames Water’s recent upgrade at Merstham STW, our latest tests show contaminants >2× the legal limit and Bad water quality status in Redhill Brook. Wastewater treatment is still failing to deliver improvements needed to protect the River Mole www.rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk/post/redhill...
rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk
Redhill Brook: Where Groundwater Meets Wastewater — and Promised Thames Water Upgrades Fail to Deliver a Cleaner River
A catchment-scale investigation revealing how treated wastewater still drives pollution in the Mole’s largest tributary — despite Thames Water’s 2025 upgrade at Merstham sewage works.Our September 202...
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Vatnik Soup @vatniksoup.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
The 2nd edition of “Vatnik Soup — The Ultimate Guide to Russian Disinformation” is officially out! You can order your copy here: vatniksoup.com/en/books/
vatniksoup.com
The Book | Vatnik Soup
Vatnik Soup: Your most comprehensive resource on pro-Kremlin disinformation and propaganda.
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Vatnik Soup @vatniksoup.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
In today’s Vatnik Soup REBREW, I’ll reintroduce an American political commentator and pro-Kremlin propagandist, Tucker Carlson. He’s best known for his promotion of crazy conspiracy theories and for his support of authoritarian regimes around the world. 1/24
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Vatnik Soup @vatniksoup.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Throughout his career, Tucker has shed skins like a snake, from bow-tied political pundit to far-right crusader to full-blown anti-American conspiracy theorist. Every reinvention serves one purpose: keeping himself rich, relevant and at the center of the outrage machine. 24/24
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Amazingly enough, it seems like the claims made in a book listing the successes of Brexit might not be quite right... presumably also the book doesn't include how UK exports haven't risen since 2019, and UK immigration has, when I seem to remember the promise was of the opposite.
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
September’s River Mole water quality snapshot is out! Low river flow = higher pollution concentration. Phosphate & nitrate both worryingly high — 80% of streams in Moderate-Poor-Bad status. Ammonia off scale in a few badly behaved streams. Read more www.rivermoleriverwatch.org.uk/post/river-m...
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Keeping people in poverty is an expensive luxury. My column on the false economies of austerity, which costs us all a fortune. Despite the government's claims, austerity continues under Labour. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
It hurt when I crashed my bike into a pothole – and it taught me the true price of austerity | George Monbiot
Fixing that hole could have cost under £100; the cost of not doing so is limitless. My prang highlights the neoliberal folly of false economies, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
History repeats.
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Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Reform’s Russia connections are a danger to our national security. It’s time for a public inquiry.
bylines.scot
Nathan Gill’s treachery puts him in same league as the “Cambridge Five”
Reform’s Russia connections may endanger our security – time for a public inquiry
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Dan Harris @roostweather.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
"Hurricane #Humberto to batter Britain"... not quite as simple as that. Notwithstanding if it were to reach the UK it would be Ex-Humberto, the deep low that arrives at the weekend may contain some portion of Humberto but actually spawn from a completely different initial low.
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Super day with SERT & EA testing water quality on Redhill Brook at Mercers Park, Moors nature reserve and into Redhill: interesting catchment wrt geology, quarrying and landfill. Delighted Simon Elson could join us as his expertise was invaluable. plus great coffee at lovely Aquasport cafe 👍
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Simon Collins @sirgeogy.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Post I wrote on impact of Gatwick Airport expansion on the River Mole in 2023 ..still valid so posting here again. themolestory.com/2023/10/20/g...
themolestory.com
A River Runs Through It. Proposed Gatwick Northern Runway expansion and impacts on the River Mole
(Note: this was written by me in October 2023) ABSTRACT Overall, the Gatwick Northern Runway Project has schemes that could improve on existing flood risk mitigation and water quality management. S…
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