Ric Lander

Chains to Slavery at Ingestre Hall

Atop a Staffordshire Hill, surrounded by formal gardens and complete with two sets of stables, swimming pool, tennis courts, orangery and chapel, at its peak Ingestre Hall had all the grandeur associated with a house that spent centuries at the centre of British power. I came to Ingestre to help organise a conference for UK […]
21 acts of defiance: Scottish people’s 10 year war against Trump and the politicians who backed him

Photo: Protestors march on Donald Trump’s half-built golf course at Menie, Aberdeenshire, 2010. Copyright Aaron Sneddon, used with permission. Scotland’s fight against Trump wasn’t about his bulging personality, but corporate power. Earlier this year Scotland was engaged, if not enthralled, in one of the more progressive parliamentary election campaigns in the wee Parliament’s short history. […]
“I began to feel a little bit shaky”: Charles Lander in the Somme, 100 years ago

Painting above: ‘We Are Making a New World’ by Paul Nash 100 years ago today began the Battle of the Somme. Few episodes in human history are remembered with such a grand sense of supreme awfulness. But with this grandeur comes distance and incomprehension. As time passes the gulf widens: we need personal stories to […]

Short film: St Fittick’s Kirk vs Aberdeen Harbour

St. Fittick’s Kirk, Torry, used to look out across a wide open beach: the Bay of Nigg. A popular bathing spot in the early 20th century in more recent years it was a haven for dog walkers and surfers. That was until the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council decided to concrete the bay over […]

November 1, 2022
Cycling through Spaghetti Country

This summer I travelled with my bike from Derby to Kidderminster cycling along some beautiful lanes and canals, stepping off a new train and finishing on an old one. Beginning at Willington, my route followed the Trent and Mersey Canal, Coventry Canal, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal then Birmingham Main Line Canal before leaving the waterways […]

July 1, 2022
The science of Edinburgh’s gloaming

Last night we had the most gorgeous velvet simmer dim in Leith. I thought I would dip into the science of twilight because as it turns out, 1st June – 11th July is the gloaming time at 56˚ north! For most of the year the night is bordered by different depths of twilight. “Astronomical Twilight” […]

June 6, 2022

Previous posts

Fossil fuel industry spills money and power in year of tumult

December 23, 2020
Just & Green Recovery letter sent to the First Minister

September 30, 2020
A Coronavirus reading list for UK Climate Activists

April 13, 2020
Fossil fuels are coming to the UN talks in Glasgow

January 23, 2020
The Brexit Vote

December 10, 2019
Diary: Making a safer world for trans people

November 20, 2019
Visualising UK oil and gas extraction

November 3, 2019
How to divest a nation from fossil fuels

October 14, 2019
The truth behind Shell’s big story

December 3, 2018
Boredom, bungles and dodging death: Charles Lander on the Western Front

November 11, 2018

Instagram

ric_james_lander

I'm making a short film about Shell Oil's demoliti

I'm making a short film about Shell Oil's demolition of Old Torry and why it matters in the struggle for a just transition. 🛢️

💙 Some of the archival material of Old Torry before it was lost is fab - so I wanted to share a few snippets.

#torry #aberdeen #scotland #scottishhistory #archive

Edinburgh badgers! 🖤 This lovely footage is fro

Edinburgh badgers! 🖤 This lovely footage is from the Seafield sett over the weekend. They're much less active in winter so this is a rarer sight but nice to see they're still coming out for a wee nosey.

🖤 For more find us at 'Leith Badger and Night Wildlife Group' on Facebook.

We're excited about Edinburgh's badgers featuring on BBC Winterwatch from Tuesday. 🖤

@bbcspringwatch @gillians_voice #winterwatch #badgers #leith #seafield #edinburgh #scotland #wildlife #scottishwildlife

I did some archiving of family photos on my Dad's

I did some archiving of family photos on my Dad's side this winter and these are a few of my favourites from the Edwardian and interwar period. Some of the old portraits really do shine through across the 100+ years. 📸👥🖤

A Christmas trip to Train World, Brussels, for a w

A Christmas trip to Train World, Brussels, for a walk through the history of European railways. Very enjoyable!
🚂🚝🚞🔔🕓
#trainworld #railways #railways_of_europe #schaerbeek #brussels #bruxelles #belgium

The cold snap: wintry walks in the Pentlands and M

The cold snap: wintry walks in the Pentlands and Melrose, then always home to Leith.
#snow #melrose #pentlands #leith #scotland #uk

The Water of Leith was so still today that you cou

The Water of Leith was so still today that you could see every tiny ripple made by passing sea birds 🏞️🦆💙 #Leith #Edinburgh #Scotland #UK

🏆💚 Hibs v Herts 💚 Scottish Women's Premie

🏆💚 Hibs v Herts 💚 Scottish Women's Premier League 💚🏆
Fantastic game and what a view for the penalties!
#hibs #hibernian #hibernianwomen #swpl #football #leith #edinburgh #scotland

St. Fittick’s Kirk, Torry, used to look out acro

St. Fittick’s Kirk, Torry, used to look out across a wide open beach: the Bay of Nigg. 🌊🐚🦀

A popular bathing spot in the early 20th century in more recent years it was a haven for dog walkers and surfers (see images 2-4).

That was until the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council decided to concrete it over to further expand Aberdeen Harbour. 🚧🚫🚧

The Bay of Nigg has been sacrificed to industry. Now the planners want to destroy the local park behind it too.

If you turn up the sound you can still here birdsong competing valiantly with reversing cement mixers and unloading cranes. 🐦🪶🦆

St Fittick’s Park is worth saving but it needs national attention. This is Torry’s park but it’s being demolished with Scottish Government money.

👉 Find out more about the campaign to Save St. Fitticks Park at:
www.saintfittickstorry.com

Video recorded by me, October '22
Pic 2: Bay of Nigg by Vicky Mitchell
Pic 3: Surfers in 2016, John Dillon via www.magicseaweed.com
Pic 4: 1930s, Aberdeen City archives

#torry #stfittickspark #aberdeen #snp #wildswimming #swimming #beach #beaches #protectourbeaches #scotland #uk

Mushrooms, horsies and soggy leaves between the Ri

Mushrooms, horsies and soggy leaves between the Rivers Esk, Dalkeith. 🍃🍁😌 The park is fully open now which is a real boon; in previous years many paths had been closed off for nefarious reasons. The third picture is from Dalkeith town centre, by the bus stops. The fourth photo is from 2018, not today (sneaky!).

Had the privilege of taking photos at the Scottish

Had the privilege of taking photos at the Scottish launch of 'Suzanne', a gorgeous new tennis comic biography by the extremely talented Tom Humberstone last night in Portobello. Find it in all good book shops!

📸 I'm thinking of getting back into event photography so do get in touch if you have any gigs for me. ☺️✌️

Welcome to Edinburgh, the night of 12th September

Welcome to Edinburgh, the night of 12th September 2022: Elizabeth Windsor lies in rest in St Giles and a virtual festival has sprung up to meet the mourners, queuing across the city. From the accents I'd guess many had come from England, perhaps even further afield. The queue and Kirk exit is thronged with press: "how was it for you?" The most common explanation: "I wanted to be part of history!" (not really mourners then, I suppose). People left in groups back to hotels or their cars I guess. Opposite the Kirk, on the High St. it was strangely quiet, see last video. Solemnity was in short supply, but it wasn't totally absent.
#queen #queenelizabeth #queenelizabethii #edinburgh #scotland #uk #royal #royalfamily

Back in July I filled my phone with 999 views of t

Back in July I filled my phone with 999 views of the Bass Rock, all perfect. ☺️👏 I couldn't fit them all in one post unfortunately, so you'll have to make do with this brief selection.
#seacliff #tantalloncastle #tantallon #bassrock #northberwick #eastlothian #edinburgh #scotland #daytrips #uk

Went out with the family for a trip to the Bass Ro

Went out with the family for a trip to the Bass Rock last weekend: s-p-e-c-t-a-c-u-l-a-r!
🪶🌊🪶🌊🪶
It’s late in the season which means the young Gannets, or Guga, are all in various stages of (pretty hilarious) development, testing their wings, and getting ready to leave for the high seas. A few yearlings can also be seen. (We also saw a Minke Whale, but of course, my I didn’t get it on camera, doy!)

Earlier this year a wave of avian flu killed off many of the rock’s gannets: search “seabird centre flu” to read more. But this did not impair our experience and in my view should not put you off visiting colonies, especially where your money supports charities like the excellent Scottish Seabird Centre.

If you’re feeling powerless about our wildlife, consider supporting campaigning against industrial fishing, probably the single most powerful thing you can do to protect our sea-life and sea birds. 💙🦭🦅🐟💙

#seabirds #birding #birds #guga #gannets #sealife #bassrock #forth #northberwick #eastlothian #edinburgh #scotland #boattrip #daytrips #uk

In 1901 the British research ship 'Discovery' laun

In 1901 the British research ship 'Discovery' launched from Dundee to huge cheering crowds bound for Antarctica, the period equivalent of landing on the moon.

After three years at sea and two fatalities the mission was the first to witness Emperor Penguins nesting, and would also be the first to see the continent's interior dry valleys, the dryest places on earth.

After they had arrived in Antarctica part of the mission was to make an attempt at reaching the farthest South. 🚩 This which would prove successful, but perilous: it's recorded that supplies were so low during mid-December 1902 that they <<fed dogs to their other dogs>>. The following week, on Christmas Day, Shackleton revealed he'd been carrying a secret Christmas pudding with him in his sock. Priorities dude. 🤨 (I read about this afterwards it was not covered in the exhibition. 😂)

82 years later the NASA Shuttle Discovery would launch into space, named after it! 🚀🌛

The ship is beautiful and the story is pretty incredible! You can just go prance about on deck, the staff are very informed, not too busy, 10/10 would sail again!

#rrsdiscovery #dundee #scotland #history #uk

Finally getting the courage to switch the 7" singl

Finally getting the courage to switch the 7" singles display (these have been on our wall for over three years!) but still liked them so much that wanted to share their beautiful likenesses here before putting them back in the cupboard. 😄
#music #7inch #vinyl #vinylcollection #7inchvinyl #recordcollection #katebush #wallart #wallartdecor

Too many things to say about Climate Camp Scotland

Too many things to say about Climate Camp Scotland so will start with something simple: the local cats and dogs of St Fittick's were lovely pals all weekend, most especially this gorgeous friend who kept the Camp Nightshift company, helped them in their efforts to stop the Foxes pinching our food stores, and even seemed to consider coming back with us on the coach! (Just for show I'm sure) ☺️
#aberdeen #torry #stfittickspark #cats #climatecamp #bluegrey

Sensory deprivation in the Combe Down Tunnel, Some

Sensory deprivation in the Combe Down Tunnel, Somerset, surely one of the most bizarre legs of the National Cycle Network.
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
#cycling #bath #somerset #tunnel #england #uk #tourist #darkness

Day 3 of my Midlands Cycles Odyssey
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Waking up at the wonderful Unicorn Inn, Hampton Loade with a warm welcome, hot shower and cheap breakfast in sunshine 😌🌄🙏 all much needed after a tough late evening ride over the hill from Dudley.

Caught the morning Severn Valley diesel South to Kidderminster. The Station Master was more than happy to take my bicycle (plenty of space, as you can see!). Cash only though pals, it is a trip down memory lane after all?

Beautiful views all the way... and so my trip was complete! 10/10 would recommend.

#severnvalleyrailway #severnvalley #hamptonloade #railways #railwaystation #steamrailway #heritagerailway #shropshire #england #englandtravel #cycletouring #camping

Midlands Cycle Odyssey Day 2, tangent: Spaghetti J

Midlands Cycle Odyssey Day 2, tangent: Spaghetti Junction.
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
As my sisters will attest, I was slightly obsessed with the ungodly stylings of motorways as a kid, and so my mecca was Spaghetti Junction in Brum. On a trip to the West Midlands I successfully nagged my pa to drive us through the it (despite it being slightly out of our way). It was of course a huge let down.

Cycling under it, however, was not! It turns out that this place has both *history*, and, perhaps even more remarkably, nature!

Gravelly Hill, as the maps call the area, has been an important junction for centuries, the meeting point of the Birmingham & Fazeley, Tame Valley, and Grand Union Canals, meaning in times past one could sit at this place and watch boat traffic from the length and breadth of England pass by.

I recently discovered there is a word for such canal rubbernecking. Defined a something between back-seat driving, train-spotting and sunbathing: it’s called ‘Gongoozling’. Honestly!

Today’s traffic thunders overhead while the canals lie empty, but the waters flow remarkably clean and I spotted a Little Egret*, Rainbow Trout, Grey Wagtail and followed throughout by an adorable Mallard family, pictured. 🦆🐟🪶🌼
(*really!!)

The cleanest waters flowed in the River Tame which flowed a remarkably wild course threaded beneath the canals, which themselves found their way underneath railway lines and local roads, the motorways on monumental concrete piles high above. It is quite a dystopian place. Bit if you come with no expectations, quite reassuring too.

#England #englandtravel #cycling #cycletouring #brutalism #motorway #spaghettijunction #birminghamandfazeleycanal #birmingham #westmidlands #grandunioncanal #canals #canal #history

Midlands Cycle Odessy Day 2, the Birmingham & Faze

Midlands Cycle Odessy Day 2, the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal then B'ham Main Line Canal. An urban explore into the underbelly of the West Midlands.
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Incredible that these canals have survived, in places now literally buried by 200 years of railways, roads, factories, housing and motorways, yet still navigable by narrow boat. Headlights not a bad idea, and some majorly steep ramps (weeeeee!)... cycling it was total Super Mario Birmingham. The trickiest obstacle was more relatable: the queue for Ariana Grande at the B'ham Arena! The excellent Birmingham Library, which was overfull with young people trying to revise for A-Levels (adults! We need to fund more study spaces!), was a nice stop off, before speeding off North West towards Dudley. 🌇

#canals #birmingham #westmidlands #midlands #cycling #cycletouring #camping #England #englandtravel #underground #tunnels #industrialhistory #birminghamandfazeleycanal

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