Matilda Battersby

Hello, I am an experienced editor, journalist and copywriter.


I've spent 15 years working for newspapers, magazines and websites. I produce content for brands, charities and agencies.


Contact me for commissions, editing and copywriting jobs.

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The Bridgerton effect: 10 homes fit for a Duke or Duchess - Zoopla

These stunning Regency-era homes are sure even to get the much-feared Lady Whistledown’s approval. Netflix sensation Bridgerton has whetted our appetites for the sort of homes that have parlours, morning rooms and beautiful pale stone exteriors. This period drama with a twist, set in Regency-era England and based on Julia Quinn’s novels, features fabulous frocks, scintillating storylines and showcases some of the most impressive examples of Georgian architecture around. “With the country bein
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Animals and mental health - the story behind Benedict Cumberbatch's new film

Long before cat memes and kitten videos, if you wanted a feline fix you’d turn to Louis Wain. Even if you haven’t heard of Wain, you’ll recognise the comic expressions and wry whiskers of his anthropomorphic cat paintings, an exhibition of which is set to open at the Bethlem Museum of the Mind on Friday 3 December. A century ago, Wain’s paintings were everywhere, in books, annuals and magazines. He was viewed as a rather eccentric national treasure and wrote widely on his cat theories, includ
BBC Earth •

Why we should all love the vulture

Have a bone to pick with the scraggy vulture? Just remember they’re vital as nature’s waste disposers – which is why their decline is very bad news… Vultures, with their big, ungainly wings, beaky faces and fondness for scavenging on dead meat, have a terrible reputation. They are seen as harbingers of death, circling dying animals, ready to pick at decaying flesh. But they don’t deserve a bad press. They offer a vital service by feasting on carrion, protecting us from diseases spread by rotten

The Dig: 10 homes for sale by ancient treasures - Zoopla

Netflix's movie about the Sutton Hoo dig has led to a surge in interest for ancient treasures. Discover more homes near sites of historical importance. New Netflix movie, The Dig, tells the story of the 1939 excavation of an Anglo Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo, and the remarkable treasures uncovered by amateur archaeologist Basil Brown. The artefacts retrieved from the buried ship are now in the British Museum, having been donated by Edith Pretty, herself an amateur archaeologist, who bought
inews.co.uk •

Can you trust children to teach themselves? Homeschooling tips from a clinical psychologist

Can you trust children to teach themselves? Homeschooling tips from a clinical psychologist The pandemic has given adults an unprecedented opportunity to understand how our children interact and learn at school, and how to adapt our approach when educating them at home Many people, including me, are feeling the intensity and frustrations of homeschooling our children during the pandemic. But trying to reproduce school at home is often a fast track to failure, according to Dr Naomi Fisher, a cli

Homes with secrets: properties with quirky design features you’d never guess were inside - Zoopla

From bathroom offices to electric blue skirting boards and kitchens made from an old ship, discover the homes with surprising design features inside. You can usually tell a lot about a property before stepping inside. But sometimes homes contain secrets you couldn’t possibly have guessed when looking at them from the kerb. From floors made from tombstones, bathtubs in cupboards, and quirky layouts, here are some of the homes currently for sale with design secrets you’d never guess were inside:

Future of living: 7 ways our homes could adapt to meet a changing world - Zoopla

From robot builders and treadmills that generate energy, to ‘greening’ the streets and modular houses, we speak to the experts about what could be in store. This article is part of our Master Your Move Zooploma - a series of free guides, insider advice and inspirational stories delivered straight to your inbox. It’s impossible to predict exactly how we will live and what our homes will look like in the next half a century or more. After all, the science fiction films of 50 years ago present a
inews.co.uk •

I overcame my terror of cycling and learnt to ride confidently in London

I overcame my terror of cycling and learnt to ride confidently in London With cycling levels up 70% compared to early March, it seems I’m not the only one keen to start using two-wheels for a taste of freedom Lockdown continues to ease. But with warnings still in place not to take public transport unless we have to, many of us have been looking for alternative ways to travel. As a result, I recently retrieved the ancient bike donated to me by a friend years ago – which has lain unused ever sinc

School uniform costs are rising so parents are turning to second-hand

School uniform costs are on the rise and pupils’ parents are forced to turn to second-hand clothes Estimates from the Children’s Society last year put the total cost of school clothing at £256 per primary pupil child and £338 for secondary What is the purpose of school uniform? Depending on who you ask, it is descended from elite private schools or a means of levelling the social divisions in the school population. Either way, the cost can still be too much for cash-strapped families. Parents
inews.co.uk •

Why is magic dominated by men?

Magic has long been the preserve of men. For more than a century women have served as the glamorous assistants to male magicians, being sawn in half or disappeared before your very eyes. The “golden age” of magic spanned from the 1880s to the 1930s and, arguably, the profession hasn’t caught up with the modern day in terms of equality. Which prompts the question: do you need to have your own “magic wand” to be a magician today?
inews.co.uk •

A primary school sent stressed teachers on a 10 week wellbeing programme – here’s what happened

More than 3,750 teachers were signed off on long-term sick leave last year due to pressures of work, anxiety and mental illness. Over the past four years 1.3 million days off have been taken by teachers for stress and mental health reasons, leading Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, to warn of an “epidemic of stress” engulfing the profession. A YouGov survey last year found 75 per cent of teachers in the UK reported symptoms of stress compared with just 6
inews.co.uk •

10 best long-haul flight accessories

Flying long haul can be a strain. Nobody likes being stuck in a small seat for hours on end, unable to fully recline and with hundreds of other people at close quarters. But don’t let that put you off heading to Barbados, Bora Bora or another dream destination thousands of miles away. With the right gear anyone can experience comfort travelling between continents, without having to upgrade. Just make sure you pack it all in your hand luggage – don’t leave it languishing in the hold. From £6.9
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