When you check in on your friends to how their Frogs 🐸 are fairing during the hot spells, be be prepared Wasn’t expecting quite the varied replies, wonderful full description in the pictures 1. Common frog 2. Frog fastener 3. Brick frog 4. Flower frog Any others? #Frogs

Nudged to wonder back through the Somerset Levels & marshes for a summer peek to the ‘Sweet track’ Scutellaria galericulata, the common skullcap, marsh skullcap or hooded skullcap often seems to be tucked away within deep foliage A lovely little thing amongst a landscape of immense history

A wonderful time to observe subtle seasonal changes within our summer landscapes Look out for Oak trees with wrinkly mutant acorns known as ‘Knopper’ Galls made by the Gall Wasp ~ Andricus quercuscalicis The word Knopper derives from the German word 'Knoppe' meaning a kind of felt cap/helmet #Oak

During July 2018, the 1st of the Leaf-Cutter #Solitarybees were observed within my garden in order to their most prolific foliage preferred nesting materials totalling 17 varieties Forward to 2025 still creating their convex nesting homes they chose >40 different varieties Wisteria again came top

If like me you’re seeking something rather uplifting atm checkout the posts, pictures and descriptions pouring in for the Wildflower hour challenge. Absolutely fabulous! #DeadNettlefamily

I’m cycling home & literally just passed an elder gentleman swinging a hand trowel & a bag At 1st I thought he was weeding I cycled back, gently enquiring of his trowel, he opened his bag it was full of wildflowers on a open dual roadside He planned to dig more up to plant at home aw gawd tbc… 🥺

Built during the Neolithic period the ‘Sweet track’ located within the Somerset levels dates back to 3806 BC A past visit during the winter with less overgrowth, it is a spectacular sight to see Interesting insight🎥 from the South West Heritage Trust youtu.be/aj8n_Bhte38?... #InternationalBogDay

The beauty of backdrops even in the depths of winter, cracked Willow #withy in abundance throughout the Somerset levels A warm barmy afternoon, Glastonbury Tor once again graces my return to this idyllic Willow vista, the Blue Lias stonewall offering a still chalice to drink it all in #Biophilia

Just returned from sweeping up the sunrise whilst sauntering #naturesblanket Common Fleabane ~ Pulicaria dysenterica offering a hidden home for the incredible: #Waspspider ~ Argiope bruennichi What a beauty and superb camouflage to find amongst one of my fav wildflowers #Biophilia

…that perfect perennial parasol for all seasons in one day #Harebell ~ Campanula rotundifoli

Up early today, pulled up on the brakes 🚲 to admire the low flying swifts and this beauty greets me Wait for it… Right next to my front wheel Heart in mouth moment, sigh…

A great opportunity & a simple way to support our wonderful 🦔 friends Posting a further batch of used stamps to: The British Hedgehog Preservation Society @hedgehogsociety.bsky.social A fab way to assist this incredible charity Here’s the 🔗 👇if you think you could help: shorturl.at/iBa4a

Ever paused over a rippling blue field aching to ‘pull up’ anchor and ⛵️ sail off? It’s possible With a bounty of Flax/Linseed ~ Linum usitatissimum = “most useful” As once rippled, rettled and hetcheled you have your sail cloth How would you set your binnacle in #naturesblanket #Biophilia 

There’s something really magical about the audio of a wildlife friendly garden/space Particularly if you love the sounds of buzz pollination or ‘sonification’ It seems, letting these Welsh poppies do their thing trailing upto my door is a real welcome to all including the #Bees #naturesblanket

Today I checked in on the homemade #Hoverfly lagoons ooh! Did u know @buzzclub.bsky.social are interested in yr lagoon visitors? tinyurl.com/thtefede @ellenrotheray.bsky.social You can easily make a lagoon encouraging #Hooverfly population with @davegoulson.bsky.social tinyurl.com/5n6v2kxy

An ideal time to check in on this stunning rare wildflower root system Scutellaria altissima L. ~ Somerset Skullcap As it’s local patch & habitat has been obliterated Thankfully, I was called on the day so scooped a few seeds, now plant size & ready to reintroduce #wildflowers #naturesblanket

A dab of pink from the delicate tips of Quaking grass to the bold & beautiful Salsify With bulging bundles of Ragged Robin tucked amongst blissful hues for the #PinkFlower 🌸 quest Love the tiny Bee nectaring on Red campion #WildflowerHour @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

Early morning 🐦 calls from within the #Somersetlevels Pop up your speaker to listen 🎧 into to the collective bird song of today’s #Dawnchorus with the elusive #Bittern boom What a gift to navigate #naturesblanket welcoming in the month of May on 2 wheels 🚲 #Birdsong #nature #Biophilia

No exaggeration this has to be the largest ‘patch’ of Wild garlic I’ve seen in years at this spot It’s as far as the eye could see, with a fabulous hit on the olfactory A favourite ancient wood peppered with Wood vetch, Archangel and the resting Bluebells What a wonder to wander #naturesblanket

Oh that’s fantastic! Stunning find. Thanks for sharing (I cant forget your inspiration of the measuring bottle of your gin was it?) 🫢 still got the pic?

⚠️ Just the perfect height to brush by on🦶🚲 or with 🐶’s Capers spruce ~ Euphorbia lathyris is dangerous ⚠️ to humans and pets I’ve carefully removed this one along the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal Network tinyurl.com/mux46y47 #NationalCycleNetwork @sustrans.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

It’s been a while for a #WildFlowerHour post! 👋 @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social With a fabulous find of Herb Paris ~ Paris quadrifolia that’s just beginning to open on the fringes of an ancient woodland Such a stunning sight in #naturesblanket at all growth stages

So many uplifting ‘take homes’ whilst ambling #naturesblanket Completely immersed within an ancient woodland Particularly when it’s #Bluebell time Celebrating the wonderful array of: #Bees #pollinators #wildflowers all in abundance this year #Biophilia

I know, but who doesn’t adore a male Andrena cineraria ~ Ashy mining bee? Such a cool ‘tash’ as they emerge from their burrows searching for a mate, only to pop his clogs. Job done! #solitarybee #naturesblanket #baskingbee

Lin always offers the most incredible and generous 🧵’s

Always a bonus to experience sand literally sailing up the shoreline towards you ‘Aeolian’ process I think? Blowing out the cobwebs with an incredible sea breeze Check list: Historic structure ✅ Tide times ✅ Woolly hat ✅ Magic hand ✅ Big pockets ✅ #natbagging Burnham on Sea #Lighthouse on legs

In a new paper that I co-authored we suggest that #Biodiversity Net Gain may be falling short for some of the most vital, yet overlooked, members of our ecosystems: invertebrates. Read more about it here, with a link to download the open-access paper: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/03/28/i...

Delighted 3 cob nesting boxes created in 2017 safely survived another overwintering As here comes the girls and they’re early Anthophora plumipes ~ The hairy-footed flower bee #solitarybees So many females this year are already inside evacuating new cells in the homemade cob loam nesting boxes

pelagicpublishing.com/products/pan... In the end phase of a first draft of this book. Exciting!

Wow! What a surprise x 5 Blackswans during todays amble An absolute treat, although pretty far away hence the blurriness Are these beauties still classified as ‘rare’ sightings within the SW of the uk? @wwtworldwide.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social #BlackSwans

Plenty of great names mentioned in the 🎥 One omitted is the wonderful George Pilkington: Nurturing nature ecologist, environmental educationist, researcher & inventor.Take a 👀 at his extraordinary in depth research on Wool carder bees for e.g: nurturing-nature.co.uk/wildlife-gar... #Solitarybees

Buzz Club Christmas Appeal youtu.be/lrDp8OiH2CA?... The Buzz Club needs your help. Without it we will fold in March 2025. Watch this video for information about what the Buzz Club does and how you can help us. Pls share & help today: alumni.sussex.ac.uk/Buzz_Club_Gi... Thank you!

Well hello! It’s taken a while to buzz over to what seems like an incredibly soft landing hangout I think it’s going to be as welcoming as a Anthidium manicatum - Wool-carder bee taking hold of a patch on the immensely soft to touch Stachys byzantina ~ lamb's-ear patch