Diane ONeill

Forgive us our trespasses… Sandwiched between the North Circular & the housing estates of Ilford lies a rare & precious jewel: the largest tidal reedbeds in London. However, they are in a bad way: smothered in plastic & rubbish swept in by the tide & with invasive species encroaching further every year. They are owned by public authorities (mainly @TfL) who have done absolutely nothing to care for them in decades & wont even let our volunteer run charity, the River Roding Trust, take responsibility for them & provide public access, at no cost to TFL. Local river guardians have decided that we will not allow this precious natural place to die through neglect, & so this weekend we hopped the river wall & trespassed onto this land, to care, protect & restore it in the face of the failure of the landowning public authority to do so themselves. We combed through the reeds & removed dozens of bags of rubbish coating the area, cut back invasive species & replaced them with native trees, & removed old tree guards from saplings that had been planted long ago & forgotten about. Whilst we managed to care for a few hundred metres of the reedbeds, there remains much to do over the remaining months of winter. There is something powerful about local communities acting, without permission or official sanction or funding, to care for nature when the government bodies that are supposed to do so have failed.

@RachelXReads So good to have read this conversation and seen an issue being discussed in a civilised way! Lots to think about…. And by the way I love books- both the classics and the modern classics! Thanks!

This is perhaps tangential, but I think the "books can't teach you anything" argument comes from the accurate observation that most *modern novels* honestly can't teach you anything. Classic literature was consumed with the struggle between good and evil; it obsessed over the question of humanity and its greater purpose; it scrutinized what it means to find true happiness. It was philosophy wrapped in the glory of a very human story. George Eliot knew that. Many modern writers do not. I know some who do, but they're bound by the market and feel forced to write what sells. It's time to repopularize excellent literature.

From Glasgow to Worthing, our partner councils' teams are busy planting new trees all over the UK right now! Where should we be planting next winter? Leave your suggestions in the comments 👇

@paulpowlesland Well done, what a fantastic birthday achievement! Your posts keep me on this x platform…. Many years ago I lived in a house just off Ilford Lane, the Roding not far away though hidden by a fenced off old factory wasteland- now houses I believe.

I had to spend my 35th birthday at home, isolating with Covid, so I decided to spend the day planting 35 black poplar trees. Five’s years later & a dozen of these trees survived & they’re starting to get massive: outgrowing the local lampposts & almost ready to climb! As I turn 40 tomorrow, I decided to repeat the exercise, planting 40 trees (18 blank poplar & 22 willow). Digging into the wet, silty mud beside the river, it was hard work, but immensely satisfying to mark the passage of time & a big life transition by giving a gift to the river, and not just receiving.

4 years ago today, 31 people died in the biggest Channel tragedy to date. As the Government intensifies its attack on one of the last few safe routes left — family reunion — more people will be forced into the same desperate journeys. We'll never accept this as the new normal.

@BBCNews Can women also be solo drinkers please?

'I've banned solo drinkers from my bar' bbc.in/3XoFdcN

“It isn’t people seeking sanctuary who are tearing our country apart. It’s toxic, racist narratives and the scapegoating of migrants for crises they did not cause.” Carla Denyer challenges the Home Secretary's new immigration reforms saying they just fuel far-right narratives.

Your home is not cold because of refugees. Your bills are not high because of refugees. Your low wages are not because of refugees. Hate corporate profits. Not people

🚨 BREAKING: The Home Secretary has just unveiled chilling immigration reforms, including plans to: ❌ Crack down on families’ right to reunite ❌ Leave recognised refugees and their children in limbo by reviewing their claim every 2.5 years

Yesterday, the @GOVUK ignored pleas from the public, civil society and cross-party parliamentarians and stripped vital wildlife protections from the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. This is hugely disappointing, but we are not giving up. (1/3)

Why isn't @UKLabour listening? People from across the political spectrum value nature and don't want development at any cost. @SteveReedMP @EmmaforWycombe @Keir_Starmer

Minority representation on TV causes outrage From the new Private Eye, in shops now.

At the River Guardians Summit & the poem ‘Riversong’ is read as waters from 20 different rivers are poured together, watched over by the Goddess of the Wye. In the river guardians sharing circle, it was really humbling to hear all of the different activities, events and river care & restoration being carried out by guardians across the country. Most of it is being carried out voluntarily in spare time and by people with no experience in ecology. The unifying factor is people who would not stand idly by as the river they love was destroyed.

Does Robert Jenrick complain about the lack of diversity in his private members club on Hertford Street? If not, why not?

I went on BBC Radio 5 Live last to speak against the government’s proposed repeat protest ban. Speaking in favour of the ban was Labour MP @PeterPrinsley. The main part of his argument was that these new powers were needed to prevent “intimidating” repeated pro-Palestinian protests in London. I clearly outlined why all the examples of intimidation he gave (eg swearing at or abusing others) are clearly already arrestable offences under the Public Order Act 1986 & therefore why these new powers are clearly an infringement of our ancient liberties rather than responding to any genuine need. It would be good for him to clarify: - what specific conduct he would like to see banned under this new measure which is not already a criminal offence? - whether he wishes to ban the act of people repeatedly protesting with a Palestine flag or using non-abusive slogans (eg “Free Palestine”)?

"As the Americans would say, 'butt out of our politics.'" Ed Miliband reacts to Elon Musk’s comments: "Who the hell is this guy?"

What isn't a Refugees fault: 1) Being a Refugee. 2) Being placed in hotel. 3) The housing crisis. 4) The fact the number of NHS beds have halved since the 80's. 5) The decline in school funding. 6) Low pay and insecure work. Look up not down - Refugees aren't to blame.

@revpaulwhite @Keir_Starmer Well said and totally agree!

The Home Secretary told us she will never “seek to stir up chaos, division or hate” – yet that is what we have seen this summer. Instead of scapegoating refugees & asylum seekers, perhaps the Home Secretary needs to be thinking about more humane policies, including safe routes.

“He... is clearly responsible for making the country more divisive, divided, poorer, less relevant in the world, fewer opportunities for our kids and grandkids.” Nick Clegg criticises Nigel Farage and labels Brexit “the most extraordinary act of self-harm”. #Newsnight