A blog and photo journal about the natural history of north-west England and beyond
19th January 2021 – a bit wet, nothing to worry about. 20th January – hmmm……… still raining, Storm Christoph approaching and where’s the footpath and lower bank? Can’t recall the River Mersey ever being so high next to Chorlton Water Park. Hopefully the Bailey Bridge Read More …
An Autumn dawn approaching over Chorlton Water Park. “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” …….fairly clear that John Keats wasn’t from Manchester. If he had been I doubt his description would have been quite so romantic. Still great to see the Autumn Crocus appearing along Read More …
Great to return to East Creech and the wonderful DWT Kilwood Nature Reserve. Located at the edge of the chalk ridge that runs through the Isle of Purbeck the reserve backs onto Norden Heath and was formerly used as an area of coppiced woodland. Actually Read More …
Another glorious sunny and warm day – we really have been lucky to have picked the best couple of weeks of the year to head down south. In contrast to up north the parched landscape suggests its been a good summer in the south of Read More …
One of our favourite areas along the South-West Coast path the stretch west of Durlston Country Park taking in the outskirt of Langton Matravers and Scratch Arse Ware is a superb area of meadows, sea-cliffs and former quarries. Supposedly on the increase the distinctive Roesel’s Read More …
We’ve been fortunate enough to stay at East Creech on several occasions over the past few years and having woken up to the sight of Creech Barrow dominating the horizon to the north curiosity finally got the better of us. At 637ft high the highest Read More …
One of the more accessible areas of the Jurassic Coast, Kimmeridge has a well deserved reputation for being amongst the best areas of the country for fossil hunting with Ammonites being especially common. We found this one in the mudstone along the shore. Strange to Read More …
Sika Deer grazing the marsh close to Middlebere Farm. Really encouraging to see a relatively large herd. Over the years the numbers of deer appear to have declined in response to over zealous control measures. Fortunately the National Trust appear to be taking a more Read More …
Is there a more picturesque village than Corfe Castle? Rising up to either side of the castle the chalk ridge of the Purbecks cuts across the peninsula leaving the castle effectively at the gateway to the Isle of Purbeck. Due to its prominent location within Read More …