'kin feed me, useless owner. #BorderTerrier

This is lovely.

Only 16% of people understand key Highway Code rules designed to keep everyone safe. TfL have a new campaign aims to raise awareness of the Highway Code, highlighting key rules designed to protect people walking, cycling & motorcycling.

Some times the old ways are the best ways. Grassland in my local SW London park being managed for biodiversity using heavy horses today. I'll be joining the volunteers to rake and bail next week. @nicolawriting.bsky.social

Couple of European hornets (Vespa crabro) investigating the bark of an oak tree in Dulwich Woods, either for insects or maybe a sap run?

The US Ambassador should be summoned and challenged over Trump’s rampant Islamophobia. Trump continually spreads lies. In London, we celebrate our diversity and reject racists and bigots. London is the greatest city in the world in huge part due to @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social's leadership.

Have been trying to grow nicotiana for ages, with no joy, yet it has self seeded into a wall just like that...

Duff Wandsworth cycling infrastructure, an occasional series. Wandsworth Common West Side, the road on the right, is one way against you here, likewise the slip up from Trinity Road to the left. Where am I meant to go when the pavement ends? @wandsworthcycling.bsky.social @willnorman.co.uk

Tucked away on a gyratory near Wandsworth Town, the old 'Huguenot Cemetery' is these days home to more live #ivy bees than dead bodies. Mesmerising.

Went looking for dinosaurs today. Found some. Grey #heron #Cormorant

Subtly different cast of characters on the #ivy today. After spending days shouting "HORNET!" at what turned out to be its Volucella mimic (last photo), finally some actual Vespa crabro turned up - 1/2 pictured. Several bumbles, lots of other flies and the ubiquitous ivy bees. Actually thrilling.

Must be autumn, there's a #chiffchaff in the garden.

Ivy pulling in all sorts of customers in the sunshine.

Chiffchaff or Willow warbler? That's a willow tree it's in and it was jumping out to catch insects. @rspb.bsky.social

Common darter, migrant hawker dragonflies and willow emerald damselflies around the ponds on Wandsworth Common, SW London. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social 📸 award-winning (mine)

I wrote something about feeling like a guest in a country that is my home. bestforbritain.substack.com/p/my-place-o...

In London, hate will never win.

A 3rd visit from a female Brown hairstreak butterfly in my SW London garden. And this time I watched her lay some eggs - in a pair unusually - on the cherry plum. Very quick video of her ovipositing in next post. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @richardfoxbc.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

Heroes. In the face of species extinction, some people are standing up and saying, 'not on my watch'. @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/global/ng-in...

News from Finland. A 9-year-old lost an especially good stick he’d had since he was 2. He hung up 20 posters. A few days later it was returned. It had been found by a 2-year-old, who wanted to keep it for herself, but her mother made her return it. She got toys, flowers and candy as a reward.

A second female Brown hairstreak in the garden. Looks like the robins didn't get all the caterpillars after all. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

#Autumn. Cormorant. Wandsworth Common, SW London 11.09.2025

We always get a few ivy bees in the garden and here's this year's first. #SolitaryBees

Garden cross spider (Araneus diadematus). @britishspiders.bsky.social

Which reminds me, it's that time of year again for National Trust members to vote. The easiest way is to use the 'quick vote' to keep out the traditionalist 'Restore Trust' candidates. secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/... 1/2

Ivy bee on ivy. This small leaved lime tree with its ivy cloak will be thrumming with all sorts of pollinators very soon.

Female Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) on Verbena bonariensis. A new species for my garden, it was only a matter of time before it turned up as present in numbers in local park. There is Birds Foot Trefoil by the pond should she require. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ecameron.bsky.social

Fairly unbelievable anyone would do this. Link to donate to the wildlife hospital in the article. raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/09/03/p...

There's a decent chance of seeing the aurora tonight - it may be visible as far south as the Midlands (perhaps even further south) 🌃

A year to the day since the last time I saw the grass snake in my garden. Keeping fingers and toes crossed it comes back to feast on all the frogs before hibernating.

Hi Lin, I want to tell our local park group about how brilliant and under-rated red bartsia is for pollinators at this time of year. Did you ever do one of your excellent associates threads for it and if so, where would I find a link please? The park has exploded with it. @haggewoods.bsky.social

Female Brown hairstreak butterfly in my SW London garden, 3rd year in a row. They lay on cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) here as my blackthorn is tiny. Egg photo taken last winter. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @patrickbarkham.bsky.social @richardfoxbc.bsky.social @donnarainey4.bsky.social

The echinops party isn't over for everyone. Harlequin #Ladybird

Little more joyous than a blackbird talking his bath. They've made a welcome return to the garden after months away. That look as he leaves... @rspb.bsky.social

Female Volucella inanis (wasp plumehorn) nectaring on garden mint. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Looks like today's visit wasn't the first egg-laying by a Hummingbird Hawk moth in the garden this season, here's a fairly fat caterpillar with pink shoes and a fine blue tail. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

Once you spot one... hummingbird hawk moth eggs freshly laid in the garden. #TeamMoth @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Female Hummingbird Hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) ovipositing all over the hedge bedstraw (Galium album) I planted *for them*. Given this is SW London, there's a chance the caterpillars might survive. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth

As we mark the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, we honour those who endured unimaginable suffering. Our city’s streets must tell the full story of our history so that we can all learn from it.

If you haven't tried this plum crumble alternative from @nigelslater.bsky.social and his kitchen diaries, you haven't lived. Don't overdo the cinnamon but it is *essential*. As is muscovado sugar. Any leftover bread will do though and any variety of plum.

Went to my local park to check red bartsia (bottom right) for its associate bee. No joy but plenty of other treasure about - common blue, small copper, green veined white, gatekeeper, small bath and speckled wood butterflies, emperor and common darter dragonflies + more. @willleohawkes.bsky.social

Can you get any more late summer than this? #SmallCopper on ripening bramble. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Horse chestnuts in my local park packing up for the winter, silver birch along for the ride. #EarlySenescence #BigWord #ClimateBreakdown

Willow emerald damselflies out and about in Dulwich Park, SE London today. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Messing about in boats, Isles of #Scilly.

Lots of Heather colletes (Colletes succintus) nectaring on Rock samphire on the dunes, Bryher, Isles of Scilly. And this rather fetching Tachinid. @ianbeavis.bsky.social

So what do we think, sea watchers? About 1.8-2 metres long, my hunch is harbour porpoise... @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social Bryher, Isles of Scilly.

Female speckled bush-cricket. South of Bath, today.

I struggle with abraded bumbles. Would anyone have an opinion on this one, just south of Bath today? @nickgalley.bsky.social @bathnature.bsky.social @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social

Fleabane pulling in the leaf cutters and their nemesis. #SolitaryBees