Nicholas Carter
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neacarter.bsky.social
Nicholas Carter
@neacarter.bsky.social
Lecturer, University of Oxford
Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
‘Living Stone’ out Spring 2028 on Penguin
linktr.ee/neacarter
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It’s not every day you sign your first book deal. Delighted that ‘Living Stone’ has found a home at Penguin Books. Publishing Spring 2028. As time goes on, I’m going to post about the writing of it over on Instagram. But for now here’s Cormoran’s stony heart on my author guide 🐧❤️
It’s said that two stone circles stood either side of Easton Lane on the Isle of Portland in Dorset until they were removed by workmen and built into the walls along the road. I took these photos whilst on a field trip with my students recently. #StandingStoneSunday
November 30, 2025 at 9:38 AM
November 29, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Had a lovely time chatting to Ellie, The Curious Geographer, about stone lichens and how they challenge our thinking about the natural world and our cultural heritage @britishlichensociety.org.uk @oxfordgeography.bsky.social
youtu.be/9tO_5yBvQmw
Dr Nicholas Carter on the fascinating world of Lichens!
YouTube video by the curious geographer
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
New Nature Energy @nature.com study shows the UK can reach net zero faster, cheaper & with fewer risks by cutting energy demand.

ECI’s Prof Christian Brand @profchristianbrand.bsky.social led the transport analysis in this unique gov–research collaboration.

➡️: www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/less-en...
November 20, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
👋 Welcome to the School of #Geography & the Environment @ox.ac.uk!

We’re a world-leading department tackling global challenges through research and teaching.

Follow us + @ecioxford.bsky.social @tsuoxford.bsky.social @oxfordsmithschool.bsky.social for updates from our SoGE community. 🌍
April 9, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Key findings:
1 of 3: Nature exposure is consistently linked to better mental health and higher wellbeing, whereas certain urban characteristics are associated with poorer mental health and increased substance use.
With Ronja Christensen, Charlotte Constable Fernandez, Noémie Topalian, Laura Vaughan @kimonkrenz.bsky.social @alexandrapitman.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @drannekathrinfett.bsky.social @citystgeorges.bsky.social
n=33 studies using GEMA: real-time, location-aware data collection to capture place
📢 Our new publication: A systematic review of geographically informed ecological momentary assessment (GEMA) studies on the place-based correlates of mental health, substance use and wellbeing
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
‘If we are seeking to reassert women’s presence in our public spaces, where better to look than to the very legacies they themselves constructed’. My latest article for @uk.theconversation.com is inspired by a new statue of @ballioloxford.bsky.social’s
co-founder, Dervorguilla of Galloway.
November 11, 2025 at 8:20 AM
It’s been a fantastic field trip on the Isle of Portland with the @oxfordgeography.bsky.social 1st Year geographers. Coast, quarry and sculpture exhibition all feeding keen senses of enquiry. Think one or two may have caught the lichen bug too.
October 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
It’s not every day you sign your first book deal. Delighted that ‘Living Stone’ has found a home at Penguin Books. Publishing Spring 2028. As time goes on, I’m going to post about the writing of it over on Instagram. But for now here’s Cormoran’s stony heart on my author guide 🐧❤️
October 20, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Step inside the world of green careers: from hidden paths you’ve never considered, to hands-on roles shaping the future of our planet. Talk to the people already out there and hear how they got their start. Build practical skills that help you move forward and look great on your CV.

buff.ly/jnpm93w
October 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Great evening with @racheldelman.bsky.social and @stoneclub.bsky.social at @soanemuseum.bsky.social last night for Fragments and Ruins. An unfolding labyrinth of stony wonder introduced by the magical words of the late, great Brian Catling. Thank you to all!
September 27, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Its here!

The first ever Ancient Times, our new zine covering everything stone related and beyond.

This issue contains French Megaliths, Daniel Gumb, Flint, Stonehenge, Druids and more!

40 pages of stone-mania.

Copies will be shipped in October.

stoneclub.bigcartel.com/product/anci...
September 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
It was a huge honour to be welcomed into the @linneansociety.bsky.social recently as a new Fellow. Such a beautiful building, packed full of nature’s stories.
September 21, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
The time is nigh! Something new is coming. It’s in the woods. It’s coming!

Send us your submissions!

Articles! Photo diaries! Reviews! Enthusiasms! Unexpected Tales! UFO Sightings! Favourite Stones!

Whatever takes your fancy!

Email us via our contact form on the website, or slide into our DMs 😉
September 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Looking forward to talking about the lichens and the living stone of Blenheim Palace on this course for Oxford Lifelong Learning on October 7th. Places still available!

lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/natu...
Nature in the Historic Built Environment: How to Make the Most of it
Managing nature around historic buildings can be a challenge. But it also presents exciting opportunities for engagement and conservation. This course will introduce new research, policy trends and ca...
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk
September 12, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Oh my, what an amazing opportunity in such a wonderful location :)
An opportunity of a lifetime for budding lichenologists. The National Trust and the Royal Botanics, Edinburgh are offering a PAID lichen traineeship in #Scotland! The work programme looks fascinating and a great opportunity to develop skills. Deadline: 3/10/2025. www.asva.co.uk/jobs/trainee...
September 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
Save the date! Saturday 4 October is a Black British Folk Renaissance and you are invited. I’ve nurtured this idea for a few years now, so I’m thrilled that @efdss.bsky.social will be hosting it at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social See you there! 🖤 www.efdss.org/whats-on/26-...
August 31, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Thank you for having me over @blenheimpalace.bsky.social for an armchair talk (sorry, couldn’t help but prowl for most of it!) about my research into Blenheim’s lichens and seeing stone differently. And so glad the escaped convict’s skull dressed in glorious Parmelia didn’t cause too great a stir ☠️🦠
July 31, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Wonderful evening with the brilliant Matthew and Lally at @stoneclub.bsky.social. Particularly listening to @lallymacbeth.bsky.social talking about all things folk and my old stomping ground of Painswick in Gloucestershire… just don’t mention the song ;)
July 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Sandstone @harvingtonhall.bsky.social, framing, bridging, laying foundations. Depth, warmth, colour #Stone #Sandstone #HistoricBuildings #Buildings #Weathering
July 27, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Very much looking forward to this. I’ll be talking about my research into Blenheim’s lichens, their cultural history and the life of stone. Hope to see you there!

Date: Tuesday 29th July, 6pm
Place: Blenheim Palace

blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/event…
July 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
#lichenGBI Caloplaca teicholyta with apothecia. First time I’ve seen it fertile. On calcareous ironstone, Warwickshire, UK. Used video to catch the red reaction on the apothecial section, as it dissolved out rapidly. The soredia gave a faint pinkish reaction to K (not really ‘dull violet’) >
May 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Carter
The @britishlichensociety.org.uk LEAF course taught me that my road, Brighton, is typical of Xanthoria parietina-Physconia grisea community (Physcietum ascendentis): well-lit trees, urban areas: Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physconia grisea, Physcia adscendens & X. parietina
June 7, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Stepped into the wonderful world of tree lichens this weekend with @britishlichensociety.org.uk in Somerset. It’s both challenged and enriched how I think about rock and stone lichens and I’ll be exploring those crevices more closely from now on 🔬👀
June 1, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Natural history museums are our most complete records of life on Earth and environmental change. Great talk by @jackdashby.bsky.social at @morethanadodo.bsky.social this evening. And what a lovely book cover 🐚💚
May 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM