Guardian writer. Books, butterflies, Norfolk Wildlife Trust President. Latest is THE SWIMMER, biography of Roger Deakin. (The silver fox in the Speedos is Rog.)
Norfolk
Joined March 2009
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Come on @MatthewOates76 and the Purple Emperor brigade – our Imperial Majesty requires your URGENT help, by voting here: britainsfavouritebutterfly.c… The Emperor simply cannot finish 14th. Mediocrity will not be tolerated.
Patrick Barkham retweeted
Rewetting and rewilding our vast uplands, and restoring herds of hardy native cattle and especially ponies is the surest pathway to wildfire resilience.
The current sheep-wrecked, scorched earth approach is not working and is depressing af.
(By me) spectator.com/article/rewild…
The badger staggered his way around the London Marathon (slowly, 5:14) but what a wonderful experience – the positivity and kindness of the crowds was amazing! Pure joy; a privilege to take part. Thank you everyone for your support for Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the badger!
ALT Patrick Barkham in a badger onesie and badger face-mask standing on the Mall biting his medal at the colourful finish-line of the 2026 London Marathon.
Patrick Barkham retweeted
BREAKING NEWS: Network Rail unblocked the swift homes because of the strength of feeling shown by THOUSANDS of people, led by @DeborahPitman. Thanks to @GreenJennyJones @ZacGoldsmith @DeborahMeaden @PamAyres & Transport Minister Lord Hendy
Dear all, I'm running the London Marathon this Sunday dressed as a badger for Norfolk Wildlife Trust – to make our beautiful blue & green planet a tiny bit more beautifully blue & green! Any support for NWT gratefully received, thank you 🙏2026tcslondonmarathon.enthus…
Patrick Barkham retweeted
Please help get this message to CEO of @networkrail Jeremy Westlake. Email him asking him to unblock the swift nesting sites in the chapel Milton viaduct, Derbyshire. His email is [email protected] @deborahpitman has been asking for ages but she’s been ignored
This is such a beautiful film - a gorgeous cinema treat for all butterfly lovers but everyone else as well. From April 19… I massively recommend it! @MatthewOates76 theguardian.com/film/2026/ma…
This is going to be amazing! Jackie Morris and Rob Macfarlane speaking about LOST BIRDS. I'm honoured to be hosting them at Epic Studios, Norwich. norwichartscentre.co.uk/even…
Good news! Thrilling news! Keep a lookout...
theguardian.com/environment/…
Happy 100th Birthday Norfolk Wildlife Trust! So exciting to visit its new nature reserve. Restoration projects like Wood Norton represent real local hope & action in gloomy times. And they are happening nationally, thanks to charities, farmers, businesses. theguardian.com/environment/…
Patrick Barkham retweeted
Unable to sit on my favourite garden chair this afternoon as it was already occupied...
Happy 100th Birthday @NorfolkWT !!! Norwich doctor Sydney Long began the county wildlife trusts by saving Cley marshes on March 6th 1926. From one reserve, there are now 2,600 nationwide, and 945k members. Free entry to NWT reserves this weekend! bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g2…
Patrick Barkham retweeted
Today, full legal protection has been granted in Wales and beavers are recognised as a native species by the @WelshGovernment. This brings Wales in line with Scotland & England, ensuring cross-border consistency.
Find out more 👇 1/4
beavertrust.org/historic-mom…
Beaver pair living wild in Norfolk. They, or the beaver bombers, chose an excellent location. Hope this amazing native species is protected and farmers supported if they need support (but beavers likely to be unproblematic) theguardian.com/uk-news/2026…
Had a beautiful, inspiring London Marathon training run in sleet today, 20 miles to Foxley Wood, Norfolk's largest ancient woodland, which @NorfolkWT is expanding. This is my fuel. This is why I'm running.
youtube.com/watch?v=lnbEjigh…
2026tcslondonmarathon.enthus…
Love a local holiday! Here's a midwinter break in the far east (of Norfolk and Suffolk) – theguardian.com/travel/2026/…
Great news amidst all the gloom. There have been a lot of beaver releases but these wild releases are really significant in England – finally we are giving this life-giving animal the right to roam. theguardian.com/environment/…
Roger Deakin and my biography, the Swimmer, is on the fabulous Radio Sohemia podcast (can't quite remember what I said but hope I make sense, it was, erm, recorded in the pub!) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
Short, neat version of my dad, John Barkham's life, here: theguardian.com/environment/… Glad to have snuck in the knitwear, and the birds and butterflies on the day of his death!
