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And we are off! First planting session for the year, 520 plant plugs in today, & another group are coming to plant tomorrow.
Saltmarsh restoration on the Eden Estuary today.
#saltmarsh #NatureScot #NatureRestorationFund

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in reply to Dr. Katharine Hayhoe

Reforestation as a panacea for big city problems was already pointed out by our professor of water management in the mid 1990s.

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Eden estuary saltmarsh, aster seed heads late last year when we took a group of University of St Andrews students to see one of the Green Shores saltmarsh restoration sites
#MarshMadness #SaltMarsh #NatureRestorationFund

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The polytunnel volunteers have been working hard, we’re nearly out of space in the tunnel.
Fortunately we’ll be starting this year’s saltmarsh restoration planting next week, getting the plants out of the tunnel and into the estuary. Making more space for more propagation.
#saltmarsh #NatureRestorationFund #NatureScot

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Eating gels


Hi !cycling group,
I have a box of Clif Athlete Series Bloks Energy Chews. The "Recommendations for use" on the box say "Eat 3 to 6 pieces every hour during activity." There are 6 pieces in each wrapper. Eating 1 piece every 10 to 20 minutes seems like a lot to me. Are they just trying to get me to buy more of the product? Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Dirk
This entry was edited (1 week ago)

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Haddon Hall


When Deanna was here at Christmas, we did some sightseeing and one of the places we went was Haddon Hall. It was used in the filming of The Princess Bride, which is probably what brought it to our attention. We went for a "candlelight tour" and dinner. Approaching it at night, with the walls lit up, was very impressive. You cross a bridge over the River Wye on your way to the Hall, and that only adds to the atmosphere. Here's a quick video:



Pirates of Penzance at the ENO


About a month ago we went to the London Coliseum to watch the English National Opera perform Pirates of Penzance. Of course they don't allow photos or videos to be taken during the performance, only during curtain calls. We got the tickets at a discount because of our National Rail railcard. Still expensive, but worth it! A very good performance (but my favorite is still Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt, and Rex Smith at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in 1980). We will go back to the ENO.

#EnglishNationalOpera
#E N O



Spring biking sportives


Tomorrow I’m participating in the Verulam Cycling Club’s annual Reliability Ride. VCC is based in St. Albans, the next town south of Harpenden. It seems like almost every town in the UK has a cycling club, and a lot of of them have spring rides like this one. They are called “sportives” which is a which is a term new to me, and the idea is to help people people get in shape for the summer racing season. I plan to do at least two more of these this spring to help me get ready for chase the Sun.

There are two routes tomorrow. The long route is 66 miles, and the short route is 41 miles. I plan on doing the longer route.

in reply to Lany

Thanks! It was difficult, but fun. There were a few places where I would have stopped to take photos if I hadn't been in such a hurry.


Training for Chase the Sun


Hi !cycling group,
I'm training for Chase the Sun, following the 4-month training schedule below. But it seems to me that this schedule is a bit light on the actual biking. It describes a weekly schedule. Initially each week has one day on a stationary bike and 2 days on a real bike. Eventually it goes to one day on a stationary bike and 3 days on a real bike. Why not more days on a real bike? Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Dirk
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in reply to Cătă

Yep, it's a schedule for weekend warriors.
Thanks @Cătă!

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Volunteers have been hard at work in the polytunnel, propagating plants for saltmarsh restoration.
There will more opportunities to volunteer with Green Shores; saltmarsh restoration planting dates will be released soon for the Tay and Eden Estuaries
#NatureScot #NatureRestorationFund #saltmarsh #volunteering #EcosystemRestoration

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The Dornoch Academy students were helping propagate saltmarsh plants for saltmarsh restoration in the Dornoch Firth the other week.
Great to have them helping bulk up the plants.
#Saltmarsh #SaltmarshRestoration #NatureScot #NatureRestorationFund

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✅ Good news: Major companies like IKEA are doubling down on climate action—not just because it’s good for the planet, but because it’s good for business.

❌ Bad news: In the U.S., key climate and science initiatives have been paused or cancelled, putting critical research and solutions at risk.

💡 A surprising what-do-to: Feeling guilty about your personal climate footprint? Don't! Instead, think bigger. Guilt can lead to paralysis—and now more than ever, we need action that drives change.

As always, please use this info to start conversations this week! talkingclimate.ca/p/melting-ic…

in reply to Dr. Katharine Hayhoe

I hope this is true - regarding IKEA doubling down. Just this week I saw a documentary citing IKEA of massive green washing. But ok, it was regarding the huge amount of timber they need and the fact that furniture is too easily scrapped nowadays ...
arte.tv/en/videos/112297-000-A…

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More reflections of our recent trip to Dornoch Firth to monitor the effects of the fencing on saltmarsh restoration.
more info in the alt text

#Saltmarsh #NatureScot #NatureRestorationFund #SaltmarshRestoration

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The U.S. administration is rolling back critical climate initiatives, pulling out of the Paris Agreement, pausing wind farm permits, and reversing EV incentives—all while doubling down on fossil fuels.

But the rest of the world isn’t waiting; and you don't have to, either. From record clean energy investments to rapid battery innovation, global progress is accelerating and experts say the clean energy revolution is unstoppable.

This week’s newsletter dives into the challenges and opportunities we face—and how individuals can make a difference when we act together.

There's never been a better week to start a conversation with what you learn here ⬇️
talkingclimate.ca/p/no-one-per…

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in reply to Dr. Katharine Hayhoe

I agree, but what concerns me is the loss of the resaerch carried out in the US, this forms part of world wide resaerch in to what is happening with the climate generally, not just the loss of programmes but also the expertise that comes with that.
in reply to Dr. Katharine Hayhoe

We need a tariff on goods from Climate Change denying, fossil fuel guzzling countries, like Trump’s USA


My reading list


I read a lot as a kid, but it tapered off after college and adulthood. Now that I’m retired one of my goals is to do more reading. Here is my current reading list - the books that are on deck.

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Field work recently took us up to the beautiful Dornoch Firth.
Fencing is now in place to extend protection to existing saltmarsh and areas to be planted.
The Dornoch site was the original site to trial fencing as a successful method to support saltmarsh plantings establish and prevent further erosion of vulnerable sites.

#Saltmarsh #NatureScot #NatureRestorationFund

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