@patrickbarkham.bsky.social
Guardian Natural History Writer, author of The Swimmer – the Wild Life of Roger Deakin, Wild Child, Islander, Badgerlands, The Butterfly Isles and a few others. President of Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Special interests: butterflies, trees, restoring nature.
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialI'm very taken with Nick Hayes' new book, The Medicine Tree. It has fiery arguments, earthy prose and it offers a vision of what positive, modern, inclusive Englishness could be. And it is never, ever boring. Interview here... www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialI've written Joe Harkness's obituary for the Guardian. I hope it pays good tribute to a wonderful man who was brave, honest and made the world a better place. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialGorgeous visit to the sunny Lincolnshire coast yesterday to see the latest golf course given back to nature. Credit to @nationaltrust.org.uk for being brave. This is nature as human regen too – fantastic new green infrastructure for Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialSurprisingly, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris didn’t pour themselves a Guinness during their epic signing queue at Epic, Norwich, last night. It was a fabulous Book of Birds evening. Many thanks to the great crowd and to @norwichartscentre.bsky.social for hosting us.
@nicwilson.bsky.socialReposted by @patrickbarkham.bsky.socialVery much looking forward to celebrating autumn, nature writing & John Clare's poetry in the beautiful setting of Clare Cottage in Helpston on Monday 12 Oct: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-th...
Everyone welcome. No writing experience necessary. #johnclare #naturewriting @johnclare.bsky.social
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialHope they will - it's a great film, and very entertaining (as well as carrying some vital messages for the future of the way we farm, produce food and help restore nature).
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialAlso going to bang on about more literary legends talking in Norfolk. The Mannington Book Bash is simply the nicest small literary festival. This Fri, I'm interviewing Jackie Morris. On Sat, I'm talking to Norfolk legends Norman Lamb and Delia Smith. Both are brilliant! mannington.co.uk/book-bash/
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialGoing to bang on about this a few more times because it is tomorrow, 24th, in Norwich, and it's a really special treat! Wainwright Prize winners 2026 Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris are talking about their gorgeous BOOK OF BIRDS (I'll be interviewing them) at 7.30pm. Last few tickets left!
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialThere won’t be two more interesting people speaking in Norwich this Thursday!
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialCan't quite believe I will be interviewing 2x Norfolk legends in the space of a day next weekend – Norman Lamb (brilliant new book about how to fix mental health treatment) and DELIA SMITH (amazing new book about how to fix the world). At the Book Bash. You're invited! mannington.co.uk/book-bash/
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialMy beautiful 1-bed cottage in Wells-next-the-Sea is surprisingly available for most of Oct. The season of geese, sunsets and hot chips! It's a blessed retreat for writing, walking, swimming, bird-watching, sea-watching. Book directly with Lisa for best rates www.glavenvalley.co.uk/holiday-cott...
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialRest in peace, Joe Harkness. I was shocked and gutted when I heard the news. He was a generous, inspirational teacher and such an important writer. He was brutally honest, inclusive and funny too. When I interviewed him last summer (below) he was so full of life. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialDerek v Derek is a great film – highly recommend it to everyone, farmers and rewilders alike. And I hugely enjoyed talking to Derek and Derek for this feature. As a badge promoting the film says: "I'm with Derek." www.theguardian.com/film/2026/se...
@guyshrubsole.bsky.socialReposted by @patrickbarkham.bsky.socialThe amazing disappearing woodland target! 🌳 In their 2021 Vision, Dartmoor National Park Authority set a goal to create 2,000 hectares of new broadleaf woodland (image 1). In their reissued 2026 Vision, DNPA have now... deleted any target for creating woodland on Dartmoor! (image 2) 🤪
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialAlso huge congrats to Luke Barley and Cal Flyn for winning their Wainwright categories. Both are brilliant books.
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialRight Norfolk dwellers, you've got the 2026 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE WINNERS Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris talking in Norwich next Thursday. Tickets not quite sold out yet. Come along, they are both amazing. And deserved winners! www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialWill next year see a butterfly slump after this year's lovely year of (relative) abundance? I spoke to Matthew Oates and Richard Fox to find out more. Personally, I'm hopeful. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialThanks Edward, and thank you for spotting. I always try to do more than just regurgitate press releases (although don't succeed 100% of the time!)
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialReposted by @patrickbarkham.bsky.socialNorfolkians! This is a HUGE autumn highlight – the star of this year's Reith Lectures, Robert Macfarlane, and wonder-artist Jackie Morris talking about their beautiful Book of Birds at Epic Studios. Sept 24th. (I'll be asking the questions, and I can't wait.) Tickets miraculously still available.
@patrickbarkham.bsky.socialMore marathon-running badgers! Great work Nik Shelton, who has a much better badger head than I did, and is raising money for The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants, one of the most dynamic Wildlife Trusts who are doing fantastic work for local nature. www.justgiving.com/page/nik-she...
