Lots of tree planting and plastic tubes in adjacent HS2 land. But in this garden, a few years of not mowing has led to natural regeneration of native oak, birch and hazel.

Unusual mushroom in Knocksink Wood SAC today - my petrifying spring field assistant making good use of the school holidays

This Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Mullaghmore, Burren) was one of the highlights on the first day of the BBS bryophyte meeting in Co. Clare, Ireland. 'Moss of the day' trying to be an owl...

Some wildlife in Dublin suburbs this week - 5 herons (including fledgling) and cormorant, River Dodder, Bushy Park; common spotted orchids in meadow at Marlay Park; pyramidal orchid on flowery roadside verge in Tallaght. Local biodiversity is important.

Lovely to find very abundant 'Handsome Woollywort' Trichocolea tomentella in a flush at Old Head Wood, Co. Mayo. A new hectad record surprisingly. One of my favourite liverworts.

Very determined and wet bryologists for the Irish Bryophyte group meeting in Killarney yesterday. Despite the soaking we saw lots of lovely species - Ulota hutchinsiae, Grimmia ramondii, G. lisae, Campylopus setifolius, C. shawii, C. gracilis, Schistidium strictum etc.

The NPWS Knocksink Education Centre was a great space for a bryophyte walk and workshop for biodiversity week. Thanks for inviting me.

Great opportunity for an 18 month bryophyte trainee position at RBGE (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) - working with the excellent bryologists there. www.rbge.org.uk/about-us/job...

The moss Mnium hornum (pale green) and liverwort Marsupella emarginata (olive green) making a pretty mosaic on a rock in an upland river today at Lough Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Out now, Brambles of Scotland by Angus Hannah, #BSBICountyRecorder for Clyde Isles. This is the latest title in our #BSBIHandbooks series, essential resources for #WildFlowerID on tricky plant groups. Special offer (£7 off!) for #BSBImembers ordering the book. Find out more: bsbi.org/bsbi-handboo...

Lovely to see the cowslips at Tymon Park, Dublin, spreading into less species-rich areas of grassland. Often meet locals who appreciate the flowers here - today a several were admiring cuckoo flowers 😀

Another lovely Irish Bryophyte Group meeting - Oak woodland, Glendollagh, Connemara, Apr 25. Lots of oceanic woodland species, but with calcareous rock species too. Nice to see Sphagnum platyphyllum and of course lots of Trichcocolea tomentella. Thanks to @cianoceallaigh.bsky.social for organising.

We had a great (wet) day with the BBS Irish Bryophyte Group on Saturday. The morning in Ravensdale Forest where Jubula hutchinsiae is abundant in the gorge and afternoon at Long Woman's Grave, with Braunia imberbis on nearly every gabro boulder and occasional cushions of Glyphomitrium daviesii.

Looking forward to getting a copy of this when it's published.

The Irish Bryophyte Group were joined by Chris Preston on Sunday 9th March to record on the shores of Lough Ree nr Lanseborough, Co. Longford. >10 new vice county records made we hope. Highlight was Cian's find of Rhodobryum roseum (which is rare in the midlands) in an old quarry and the sunshine!

The Irish Bryophyte Group were delighted to be joined by Chris Preston last weekend. On Saturday (8th March) we recorded at Birr Castle, Co. Offaly. Great to see the The Leviathan of Parsonstown (telescope) and lovely old oaks. Several new vice county records made (hopefully!) and great company.

Polytrichum commune (Bog haircap) ‘mossicle’ in the Dublin mountains today.

May your 2025 be filled with bryophytes rewilding urban surfaces! Lovely mossy sandstone wall in Kenilworth, England.

A great group travelled from all over Ireland to join the Irish Bryophyte Group meeting in the Wicklow Mountains on Saturday. Lots of nice upland bryos found and definitely a site to re-visit.

#BlackFlyDay you say? Well it'd be rude not to then. Zophomyia temula (a tachinid fly), Choerades marginatus (the Golden-haired Robberfly), Satyramoeba hetrusca (an enormous species of Beefly) and Odontomyia tigrina (the excellent named Black Colonel) for your delectation.

Just chatting to local Social Democrat candidate @sineadgibney.bsky.social at the local supermarket. Was impressed with the level of knowledge in relation to climate and biodiversity from her and the young members supporting her. I’ve found the SD manifesto the most comprehensive in this area.

We had the first Irish Bryophyte Group field meeting of the season last Sunday (17th Nov). An area of private ancient oak woodland, with some wet woodland, in Co. Wicklow. The landowner is keen on biodiversity and was very accommodating. Nice range of oceanic species and a massive oak coppice stool.

Fellow botanists do fill out this quick survey. Made me think about why I got into botany. When I was at university, inspiring field botanist lecturers and great field courses (taught by experienced botanists) led me into a plant focussed career. I'm not sure if that would be the same now...

Not sure there are many bryophyte people on here yet? Testing the water with this moss-covered breeze block at Cefn Onn, Cardiff today. A monoculture of Ctenidium molluscum.

Lovely to see a bryophyte friendly renovation project yesterday. Old bricks with bryophytes on them were reused to assist re-colonisation after repair work on this old well. Too often new brickwork is 'clean', so this was a welcome sight and the contractor was very pleased with it.

Sampling petrifying springs with very high nitrate this morning. Question to ask election candidates - what are their plans to tackle pollution of ground and surface waters in Ireland?

Bryophytes are true ‘re-wilders’. Colonising an urban landscape and creating habitat for other species (spot the seedlings).

Lovely walk in the Glencree Valley this weekend decorated with raindrops on grass and lichens on trees