Red Dead Nettle adding early colour at Robin Hood Hills. One of the earlier wildflowers to appear, its small magenta blooms provide welcome nectar for insects on mild days - a subtle but reassuring sign that spring is beginning to stir. #SpringSigns #Wildflowers #NottsNature

🦇 What’s flying over Sherwood’s heathlands after dark? New bat surveys by the Sherwood Forest Trust reveal thriving species at Oak Tree Heath and big plans for future habitat restoration. Read more 👉 nottsbag.org.uk/2026/03/10/b... #NottsWildlife #Biodiversity #Heathland #Bats

A Common Frog surfacing among pondweed is a familiar sign that spring is on its way. These amphibians help keep insect numbers in check and often return to the same ponds each year to breed. A quiet but important moment in early spring... Rrrrrribbit!🐸 #SpringSigns #Amphibians #NottsNature #Frogs

🌳This week we planted native #BlackPoplar at Vicar Water Country Park in #Nottinghamshire. They offered a place for 8 saplings which will hopefully grow, so that we can take further cuttings and distribute the tree across the county!🌳 @nottswildlife.bsky.social @trentriverstrust.bsky.social

Our winter Grizzled Skipper work parties are complete! #Volunteers across #Nottinghamshire have transformed key sites to help this rare butterfly thrive. See the before‑and‑after and what’s next: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/03/04/g... #NottsWildlife #Conservation #Butterflies #GrizzledSkipper

🌼 A quiet woodland milestone 🌼 Wood Anemones are starting to appear in Portland Park, taking advantage of early spring light before the canopy closes. Always feels like a turning point in the season when these show up. Have you seen them yet? #SpringSigns #NottsNature #Wildflowers

🌳Big changes are underway at Toton!🌿 A cleared stretch of floodplain is now set to become a rich wet meadow, supporting butterflies, wildflowers and more. Click here to see what’s planned next: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/03/03/t... #NatureAdvent #NottsWildlife #Conservation #floodplain #wildlife

Winter sun over Belmoor Ponds, Idle Valley. This highlights Lowland Reedbeds which quietly shelter wildlife through the cold months. As a UK priority habitat in Nottinghamshire’s #LBAP, they’re carefully managed to support nature’s recovery: nottsbag.org.uk/lbap/ @nottswildlife.bsky.social

Did you know that native Black Poplar (Populus nigra) are rare but not #endangered? 😱 On Thursday, at Nottingham Trent University's Brackenhurst Campus we planted cuttings with the hope that we can continue growing the tree to plant across #Nottinghamshire! @nottinghamtrentuni.bsky.social

A welcome splash of yellow! Vivid gorse is brightening the slopes at Calverton Pit Top. These hardy shrubs thrive on former pit sites and along heathland edges, bringing colour through winter and offering year round shelter for wildlife. #NottsNature #Heathland #WinterColour

Spring starts small. Sweet Violet is in bloom at Portland Park. One of the earliest wildflowers to wake, it makes the most of cool spring light before the canopy closes. On mild days, it offers a quiet nectar stop for early insects hovering back into activity. #SpringSigns #NottsNature #Wildflowers

#Sycamore buds at #Newstead showing their classic mid March look: large, pointed terminal buds with neat overlapping scales and opposite side buds along the twig. One of the clearest signs that trees are waking up for spring 🌳 #TreeBuds #SpringSigns #NottsNature @nottswildlife.bsky.social

On Tuesday we were at #Alverton disused railway, clearing the scrub for the #GrizzledSkipper. We focused on removing saplings and exposing the rubble associated with railways, exposing Creeping Cinquefoil. We also planted some to help attract the butterfly to the area. @nottswildlife.bsky.social

Nottinghamshire’s heathlands are rare treasures of Sherwood Forest, home to many unique species. With 80% lost since 1800, restoration is vital to protect them and these precious landscapes. 🌿✨ Read our in-depth blog to find out more: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/02/19/h... #nottinghamshire #heathland

Last week we were at #NottinghamTrentUniversty promoting #NottsBAG and the next Conservation Internship (a.k.a. the next Me!) at the NTU Careers Fair! We spoke to LOTS of students and we had a lot of interest in our conservation projects! #NTU #CareersFair #InternshipOpportunity #Conservation

🌿 New on the blog! 🌿 Center Parcs’ conservation team is restoring lowland heathland in Sherwood Forest using scrub removal, bare‑ground creation, and heather transplants! Read more to find out how: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/02/17/l... #conservation #heathland #biodiversity #Nottinghamshire #Sherwood

Early colour, and a local species. Nottingham Spring Crocus (Crocus vernus) in bloom at Holy Trinity Church, #Lenton. This locally scarce plant has a Nottinghamshire LBAP Species Action Plan and provides a welcome nectar stop for early insects: nottsbag.org.uk/lbap/ #SpringSigns #NottsNature #LBAP

Spring, wrapped and waiting. A Horse Chestnut bud at Clifton Grove. These large, sticky buds hold leaves, flowers and future conkers all at once, sealed up as the tree prepares quietly while winter fades. One of those moments where spring feels very close. #SpringSigns #NottsNature #TreeBuds

New on the blog! 🌱 The Wilder Crow Hill Project is restoring acid grassland, reconnecting woodland, and boosting habitat for wildlife at Bramcote Hills Park! Click here to find out how this is taking place: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/02/12/w... #biodiversity #conservation #nature #Nottinghamshire

A Common Toad resting in the grass at Bunny, #Nottinghamshire. With its warty skin and copper eyes, it’s a key predator of slugs and insects, and many return to the same breeding ponds every spring. This #amphibian is an #LBAP species, reflecting ongoing population declines nottsbag.org.uk/lbap

Explore the wild side of Nottinghamshire! Our latest blog uncovers surprising species, local conservation wins, and why these spaces matter. Take a look 👇 nottsbag.org.uk/2026/02/10/b... #NatureAdvent #NottsWildlife #Biodiversity #Conservation

Early February Thieves Wood, and nothing is truly still. Winter light reveals the structure of a woodland quietly preparing for spring. Mosses, fungi and foraging birds keep the habitat alive, ready for the season to unfold. A moment where the pause before spring feels just as rich. #WoodlandLife

A quiet woodland milestone. Wood Anemones are starting to appear on the woodland floor at Portland Park, taking advantage of the spring light before the canopy closes. Always feels like a turning point in the season when these show up. Have you seen them yet? #SpringSigns #NottsNature #Wildflowers

A sign of spring! Soft, silvery sallow buds beginning to burst at Mill Lakes, #Bestwood Country Park. Goat #Willow is vital for early pollinators, providing some of the first pollen and nectar of the year when little else is available. Easy to walk past, but hugely important. #SpringSigns #Sallow

🌳Free woodland creation workshops are coming! 🌳 Plus a major Grey Squirrel event following new Red Squirrel sightings in the East Midlands! 🐿️ Find out more: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/02/05/w... #NatureAdvent #NottsWildlife #Conservation #GreySquirrel #Biodiversity

Nottinghamshire’s native white‑clawed crayfish have had quite a year, from rescues to new Ark site investigations. 🦐💚 Want to know what happened and what’s planned next? Read on to find out more: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/02/04/w... 🦐💚 #WhiteClawedCrayfish #Conservation #CheckCleanDry

Tree bark that breathes? Cherry bark like this in #Newstead, #Nottinghamshire, is lined with lenticels - tiny pores that allow the tree to exchange gases. They also create miniature shelters for lichens, mosses and invertebrates. Even in winter, these surfaces are alive if you look closely! #Nature

This week, we kicked off Dragonflies on the Bog habitat restoration work at our project’s NTS Glencoe locations with Stag Infrastructure and National Trust for Scotland. #dragonfliesonthebog #naturerestorationfund #naturescot #scotgovnetzero #worldwetlandsday

Quiet winter light over Ransom Heath, #Nottinghamshire. Open, low nutrient ground like this doesn’t persist by chance. Ccareful winter management keeps heathland open, and without it rare species would quickly lose the space they depend on. Quiet season. Vital work. #HeathlandHabitat #ConservationIn

Happy February! From now until the end of June, Notts BAG will post every weekday, sharing spring‑to‑summer photos of habitats and species. 🌱☀️ We’ll also post 2 blogs a week and include updates regarding what we are up to in terms of our conservation activities. 🌿Come follow the journey with us! 🌿

On Tuesday, we were out at #Rushcliffe Halt and Cutting, clearing the ground for the #GrizzledSkipper. We removed some plants to expose the #grassland, planted Agrimony and Wild Strawberry to attract the butterfly, and had a bonfire to dispose of the woody plants! @nottswildlife.bsky.social

🌞 16 volunteers joined the #GrizzledSkipper Project near #Kilvington, to enhance the site for invertebrates. Clearing scrub, creating sheltered areas of grassland, and planting 20 - 30 wild strawberry and agrimony plants. In addition, a number of tree guards were removed from the area🦋

🦋#Volunteer Opportunity - Join us for a Grizzled Skipper Work Party in #EastLeake! We regularly maintain habitats for this gorgeous species, and your help would be very welcome - just bring your enthusiasm! Visit our website for more info: nottsbag.org.uk/events/ #conservation #grizzledskipper

🌳 Big changes at Millennium Green! Two Bird Cherry trees lost to storms & heat – brash turned into #wildlife habitat. Next: coppicing Hazels to protect the historic wall & keep trees thriving. 👉 Read more: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/01/06/t... #conservation #wildlife #mansfieldwoodhouse #biodiversity

🦞 339 Crayfish Saved! The UK’s native white-clawed #crayfish is on the brink of #extinction due to invasive species and crayfish plague. This year, the #Environment Agency and partners rescued 339 individuals from a threatened #Nottinghamshire river. Read more here: nottsbag.org.uk/2026/01/01/w...

🌿 Gedling Borough Council is boosting biodiversity! Native bulbs & ferns planted, tree works planned, and scrub managed with local partners to protect the mosaic of habitats at #GedlingCountryPark. A commitment to nature & community collaboration! #LBAP #HabitatManagement #BiodiversityAction

🎄 Day 24 of our Nature Advent – The Grand Finale!🎄 The beautiful Major Oak—Sherwood’s snowy sentinel, majestic and timeless.❄️ 🎄 Merry Christmas from all of us—thank you for celebrating nature with us this Advent! 🎄 #NatureAdvent #Nottsinghamshire #Wildlife #Conservation #SherwoodForest

🪿 Day 23 of our Nature Advent!🪿 Three geese on an icy lake at Daneshill Lakes Nature Reserve – a serene winter scene and a reminder of how wetlands sustain wildlife year-round.❄️ What’s your favourite winter wildlife sighting? 🦢 #NatureAdvent #goose #geese #Nottinghamshire #Conservation

Spa Ponds thrives thanks to volunteers! 🌿 Last November, in #Nottinghamshire, Forest Town Nature Conservation Group joined forces with Virgin/O2, Mansfield Building Society & Reach to restore hedgerows, woodlands & pollinator corridors. Discover the site’s history 👉 nottsbag.org.uk/2025/12/23/s...

🦋 Last month, 11 volunteers helped restore habitat for the rare Grizzled Skipper at Saxondale! We cleared scrub, uncovered cinquefoil for egg-laying, and planted 20 agrimony plants. Huge thanks to all who made this wildlife haven even better! 🌿#NottsWildlife #Conservation #BiodiversityMatters

🦋 Last month, the #GrizzledSkipper Project volunteers were working along the public footpath north of #Flawborough village. Managing scrub to prevent its encroachment to expose the species rich, nutrient poor grassland, planting #agrimony and #wildstrawberry, and exposing #creepingcinquefoil 🦋

🌳 Day 22 of our Nature Advent! 🌳 Snow blankets the woodland on the way to the legendary Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. This ancient reserve is a sanctuary for wildlife and a living link to history—even more magical in winter! 🌬️ 🌨️What’s your favourite winter walk?❄️ #NatureAdvent #woodland #Notts

🦆 Day 21 of our Nature Advent!🦆 A splash of colour at Valley Road Washlands – the elegant Teal, our smallest dabbling duck! These winter visitors thrive in wetlands, reminding us why protecting floodplain habitats matters. Have you spotted one yet? #NatureAdvent #NottsWildlife #Conservation #teal

❄️ Day 20 of our Nature Advent!❄️ Snow transforms Daneshill Lakes Nature Reserve into a serene winter haven. Even in the cold, wildlife thrives here – a reminder of the resilience of nature What’s your favourite winter walk in Nottinghamshire? #NatureAdvent #NottsWildlife #Conservation #WildChristmas

🐍 19 of our Nature Advent! 🐍 Today’s star is the Slow Worm – a legless lizard, not a snake! These secretive reptiles play a vital role in ecosystems by keeping slug populations in check. Protected in the UK, they’re a rare winter find. Have you spotted one? #NatureAdvent #Conservation #slowworm

Day 18 of our Nature Advent! Daneshill Energy Forest – the UK’s largest Eucalypt plantation, a pioneering project by Notts County Council to create a carbon-neutral energy source for schools and public buildings. Have you seen an energy forest before?🌱 #NatureAdvent #Conservation #eucalyptus

From pit tip to paradise! 🌳 On 11 Nov, we cleared rides at Freckland Wood to boost biodiversity—creating sunny spaces for wildflowers & pollinators. See how restoration brings life back to nature 👉 nottsbag.org.uk/2025/12/18/r... #Woodland #Conservation #Nature #Nottinghamshire #natureconservation

🌿Looking for ways to get involved in local conservation?🌿 Check out nottsbag.org.uk for the latest news, events and ways to #volunteer. Together we can protect Nottinghamshire's biodiversity💪 #natureconservation #nottinghamshire #nottingham #biodiversity #habitatconservation #volunteering

Day 17 of our Nature Advent! An LBAP Species today - a sweet dormouse in peaceful slumber—nature’s tiny hibernator. 🐭🍂 Dormice are expert sleepers, hibernating through winter and resting in summer to conserve energy. #NatureAdvent #NottsWildlife #Conservation #WildChristmas #dormouse #dormice

🌼 Wildflowers on Roadsides. Trees for Climate. Big wins for nature! 🌳 Nottinghamshire is going greener – and wilder. Want to see how? 🔗 Dive into the blog: nottsbag.org.uk/2025/12/16/w... #Nottinghamshire #TreesForClimate #wildflowers #wildflowerverges #nature #conservation