A blog and photo journal about the natural history of north-west England and beyond
Male Banded Demoiselle damselfly on the banks of the River Mersey. The females are similar but with a green body. Broad-leaved Helleborine in Kenworthy Wood Ragwort being stripped by the caterpillars of the Cinnabar moth Close up of the flower of the Broad-leaved Helleborine. Whilst Read More …
Lady’s Slipper Orchid (part of the reintroduction programme) Officially declared extinct in 1917 due to over zealous Victorian collectors a single plant was rediscovered in the craven district of Yorkshire in 1930. Since then the location of the last of the Lady Slipper Orchids Read More …
Another very impressive National Nature Reserve and country park to the west of Swanage town centre overlooking the bay. To date it’s the best public park I’ve been to in this country it really is a superb area. Even if you can’t visit the park Read More …
An amazing area of woodland historically managed as hazel coppice and now part of the RSPB’s Dorset estate. Until recently it was one of the few areas left that was reasonably reliable for Turtle Dove and the Hazel Dormouse. Whilst Dormouse can still be found Read More …
Not many posts recently due a 2 week break down south based just outside Corfe Castle, Dorset. The sheer diversity of wildlife in such a small area is incredible. Hopefully I’ll be able to illustrate some of the highlights over the next few posts. Green-winged Read More …
Bluebells – Marbury Country Park, Northwich Cuckoo Flower (Lady’s Smock) Cuckoo Flower at Barlow Tip, Chorlton Ramsons (Wild Garlic) Kenworthy Wood, Northern Moor A grand day out
Wood Anemone – Marbury Country Park After the dark days of Winter the banks of Wood Anemones to the west of Budworth Mere are always a great sight. In common with a lot of our plants Anemōnē – is derived from Greek. Literally means Read More …
Whilst officially Spring doesn’t begin until mid March over the past couple of weeks its finally started to slowly arrive. In fact after spending a day walking around in the sunshine close to Morecambe Bay we’ve decided that this year Spring arrived on the 19th Read More …
A few of the late summer highlights from Septembers trip down south. Nettle leaved Bellflower growing at the memorial entrance to DWT’s Kilwood nature reserve. Also occurs along the roadside verge at the base of the Hazel hedge. Unfortunately no sign of the Hazel Dormouse Read More …