My first walk into the field for 5 weeks and there's a Clouded Yellow right by the path. First I've seen for around 20 years. #ukbutterflies #ukwildlife

(Not Birds…) At least 40+ Small pearl-bordered fritillary seen on the Claife, Cumbria afternoon… seem to like the thistles in the emerging bracken… #ukbutterflies #butterflies

Between tarmac & pasture, a wall-top blooms with Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Harebell, ferns and fine grasses. A narrow ribbon of biodiversity squeezed between two low-diversity landscapes. #WildflowerHour #Biodiversity #Cumbria forktail.co.uk/2025/08/27/a...

‘It has echoes of happiness’: life for gen Z in the seaside town I once called home

UK Butterfly abundance Indicators for 1976-2024 have been released, showing an 18% decline in overall butterfly abundance for the UK. Habitat specialists have fared worse, declining by over a third. Check out the full statistics here ⬇️ buff.ly/1AIDB3J

Long time since we've seen multiple Small Tortoiseshell #butterflies in the garden. A joy to see 5 of them on a self-sown buddleia between us and our neighbour. #ukwildlife

Such an abundance of butterflies, bumblebees & hoverflies in the Devil's bit scabious #meadows. A joy to see.

🌿 The secret to saving Yorkshire’s wild plants? It starts in a tiny upland nursery! 👀 Read @jackwallington.com’s blog to discover how this hidden gem in #WildIngleborough is growing hope for our upland habitats. 🌱 www.wildway.info/p/wild-ingle... #NatureRecovery

This morning's view while washing up the breakfast things: a female sparrowhawk dismembering and eating a jay on the garden wall. #ukwildlife

A message from our CEO. Please, donate today: www.bumblebeeconservation.org/give

On a mud-puddling site hundreds or even thousands of butterflies can gather for minerals (mostly males). During 40 years of butterflying I have see quite a few, but this site in SE France can now be added. Mostly Chalkhill Blue (P coridon).

Multiple Ringlets, Small copper & Large yellow underwing all on Ragwort.

As someone who's putting considerable effort into changing perceptions of wasps from "kill" to "appreciate", I often feel at odds in the company of pest controllers. But Steve Light is a pest-controller who I hope represents a change. Read his blog. #WaspLove shire-pest-solutions.co.uk/wasp-talk/

Rock garden, limestone and wild thyme, Arnside knott. Stopping to admire the flowers and catch my breath as I try to get my legs used to running again.

These horses have been grazing in this field full of ragwort for at least five years now with no ill effects

Here is the same Lime Hawkmoth caterpillar 24 hours apart. The change in colour from green to grey shows it’s ready to pupate. Nature is amazing! 🤩 #TeamMoth #NatureWithin @savebutterflies.bsky.social

10 #butterfly species in the garden today, including this male Brimstone – not common round here, and first time we've had one in the garden in summer. #ukwildlife

The Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus, might be one of the commonest hoverflies, but I love seeing them – think it one of the prettiest. #ukwildlife #insects

Eryngium 'Big blue' has been anincredible magnate for pollinators this year, even in overcast conditions.

A curious fly on the garden scabious. Apparently this is Physocephala rufipes, the Waisted beegrabber, and not seen much in our area. It parasitizes bumblebees. Thanks to Rob Zloch for confirming ID. #ukwildlife #insects #diptera

Large White #butterflies making lots more Large White butterflies in the garden. #ukwildlife

A *lot* of Hoverflies in the garden this morning on the Wild carrot and Fennel in the ‘vegetable’ patch. 📷 #photography #Diptera #Hoverflies

Lancaster University looks to cut jobs and save £30mn amid rising costs and fewer international students, which means less income. Robbie MacDonald northwestbylines.co.uk/news/educati...

The B1257 traverses the Howardian Hills landscape, in places flanked by ancient meadow remnants, which hint as to how rich this lowland grassland might once have been. Galium verum, Lady's Bedstraw, and Anacamptis pyramidalis, Pyramidal Orchid. @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social #NationalMeadowDay

'Kensington High Street' (1930) by Tirzah Garwood

A few meadows we have restored over the last few years... #LakeDistrict #HayMeadow #GrasslandRestoration

Our #IrreplaceableMeadows are vanishing fast. 🌾 Only 1% of the UK is covered by species-rich grassland — a huge blow to biodiversity and the climate. You can help save what's left by donating today 👇 https://joinplantlife.org/4ns8C1q?utm_source=Bluesky&utm_campaign=Save%20the%20last%20meadows

IMPORTANT. Please sign and repost. This petition is based on our recent research which found that English rivers are universally contaminated with these potent neurotoxic insecticides, the source being treated dogs and cats. Link in comment below.

Road verge managed as hay meadow. #dontmow

Extraordinary abberation of the Dark Green Fritillary seen on the Purbeck coast www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/06/dark...

1/3 Common Spotted-orchids just coming into their own in Miss Whalley's Field in Lancaster. 🌱 #wildflowers

Found what I think is a Snout moth (?) on the bathroom window sill this morning. Crawled on to my finger very willingly to be released outside. @mothiduk.bsky.social #ukmoths

Melancholy Thistle, flowering with Meadow Crane's-bill, Meadow Buttercup, Oxeye Daisy, Rattle and Sorrel. Miss Whalley's Field in Lancaster. 🌱#wildflowers

Large Skippers abundant in the field just now. Love the dappled golden light on their wings. #nature #butterflies #ukwildlife 🌱

Why would you want a neat stripy boring lifeless lawn when you can have a shaggy, flower-filled paradise for pollinators? Maybe this short video will provide some inspiration! youtu.be/2SJFg3NbrFY

Our latest research shows spot-on flea treatments on dogs are released into water when dogs swim even 28 days after treatment - in contrast to the label which suggests dogs can safely swim 48 h after treatment. www.newscientist.com/article/2482...

This 3.5 ha field @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social was restored to agricultural grassland after quarrying ceased 30+ yrs ago. Managed as hay meadow with 0 inputs for most of past 25 yrs, and you can see results. No seeding, just natural regen. Habitat for Lapwing & Skylark as well as abundant flowers.

17th century Flemish artist Jan van Kessel was famous for his precise but pleasingly-arranged studies of bugs etc, usually painted on copper. Here’s his ‘Butterflies, moths and other insects with a sprig of periwinkle’, which for some reason makes me feel cheery (1661)

Stop saying "passed away". On the actual radio. In the actual paper.

Simnel cake for Easter.

The vastness of Thorne Moors always impresses, especially given its location between Doncaster and Goole, amid a sea of arable. The Humberhead Peatlands cover 2,887 ha, the largest tract of lowland bog peat in Britain. Sadly, almost all has been damaged by peat extraction, which only ceased in 2004.

🌱 Here's another for early-season #wildflower sward nerds. Melancholy Thistle spreading nicely. This is in the same bit of the meadow where we are operating a 'mow once every 3 years' cycle. Not much Yellow Rattle in evidence here.

Stonking germination of Yellow Rattle in the field this year. Had been concerned the Rattle would have disappeared following our intermittent mowing regime: 2021: mow and sow Rattle 2022: not mown 2023: not mown 2024: mown 🌱 #wildflowers

In the mid-9th century, amidst fierce Viking raids, scribes in northeast Ireland copied a Latin textbook written in 6th-century Constantinople, this manuscript, is key to understanding the Irish language of the time. #NMIBlog #MuseumBlog #CuratorBlog #Archaeology www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collec...

Work with your local Council and claim land for wildlife that they would otherwise continually cut. This will be the 3rd year of #MakingADifference in Malvern.

I’m seeing a lot of bumblebees nectaring in daffodils this year. Daffs are quite toxic and bees generally avoid them. A sign of desperation perhaps? Anyone else seen this? @davegoulson.bsky.social @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @benjyhere.bsky.social

Huge win! Government announces plans to open up the Land Registry. If delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wales. Read my blog post for more details & how you can write to the Minister to make sure this now happens: whoownsengland.org/2025/03/06/h... 🧵1/

🦅 Scotland’s Raptors Are Recovering 🌍 A new WildLand Cairngorms report shows golden eagles, hen harriers & goshawks rebounding in Cairngorms NP. But risks remain—illegal persecution, habitat loss & climate change. www.positive.news/environment/... #Raptors #Scotland #Wildlife #Conservation

Hurray! Some good news for bees at last. Our new government has followed the science, and refused the application by sugar beet farmers to use banned neonicotinoid pesticides.