Killard has hit peak bloom by the looks of it

Saturday 4th July: Waterfoot Ballymaguigan wildflower meadows - joint with Cookstown Wildlife Trust As well as botany, if sunny, there are usually dragonflies and butterflies. BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

Ferns unfurling in the woods.

It's tomorrow ...

Saturday 9th May: Walk from Portballintrae to Giants Causeway - joint with Belfast Geologists Society Leader: Karen Parks, retired geology teacher. BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

@belfastnfc.bsky.social Today was our first summer outing when we visited Wild Flower Alley in South Belfast. This community project has turned antisocial alleyways into peaceful green havens. It was also a Day of action for Nature Park’s and Green Spaces. #VoteForNature #DayOfAction

Are you joining the #CityNatureChallenge from 25-28th April? Use the free iNaturalist app to document Belfast's nature, as cities compete for the most records! Record as you go, but check out the events occurring too 👀 We're hosting 3 bioblitzes - CEDaR, BSBI & Buglife have events on also! 🐞🌱🐝

Have you signed up for our Birds in Greenspaces project yet? ➡️ www.bto.org/greenspaces Starting 1 April, we'd love to know the birds that use your local greenspaces, whether it’s a single species record or complete list, so we can discover their importance for nature and people. 🌳 🪶

It's this evening ...

Tuesday 10th March 7.30 to 9pm Ulster Museum; also zoom ([email protected] if not a BNFC member) Lisa White (QUB) talks about "Grave Matters - New research on human remains from megalithic sites in County Down" with an emphasis on Millin Bay

It's Saturday ...

Belfast Naturalists Field Club Saturday 21st February - A visit to Ulster Museum's Saints and Scholars Gallery covering the time of St Patrick to the Reformation BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

It's tonight ...

It's on Tuesday ...

Tuesday 10th February 7.30 to 9pm Matthew Jebb, Director of the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin tells the hidden history of the world's trees Zoom - [email protected] if not a BNFC member

Are you interested in learning more about identifying plant pathogens in the wild? Come along to my webinar at 7pm on the 27th of January! bsbi.org/take-part/ev... #FungiFriends #WildPlantDisease

It's tonight ...

Tuesday 13th January 7.30 to 9pm Michael Meharg talk: "Future Natural - winners and losers - how climate change may shape Northern Ireland" - the changes over time, we are now, and the future of habitats and species. Zoom - [email protected] if not a BNFC member

It's tonight ...

Tuesday 16th December 7.30 to 9pm joint with Belfast Geologists Society Ian Enlander talk: "Whitehead and its historical economic Geology - our rocks and what we did to them" Zoom [email protected] if not a BNFC member

It's December and time for your next Winter Bird Survey visit! Here are some thoughts from James Heywood, @bbs-birds.bsky.social and WINBS Organiser, after his second visit. Discover more ➡️ www.bto.org/winbs Survey guidance ➡️ www.bto.org/get-involved... Thank you to all our WINBS surveyors!

It's tonight ...

Tuesday 11th November 7.30 to 9pm Ulster Museum; also zoom ([email protected] if not a BNFC member) Helen James, Ulster Museum, speaks on "Freshwater Insects of Ireland" highlighting their life cycles, and the threats facing our freshwater ecosystems and their inhabitants

Check out our winter 2025-26 programme. Do become a member - see bnfc.org.uk/membership-a...

@belfastnfc.bsky.social last Saturday’s fungus foray might have been cancelled but that didn’t stop one of our members exhibiting a collection of fungi from her garden at the annual Conversazioni.

It's tonight ...

Tuesday 14th October 7.30 to 9pm Ulster Museum; also zoom ([email protected] if not a BNFC member) Neil Reid, QUB, speaks on "The Natural History of the Irish Hare: The Ice Age to present" (Photo: Alan Wolfe)

Don't forget about our upcoming online talk, 'Archaeology of Divis & Black Mountain' on Tues 21 Oct (7pm - 8.30pm) This will be a unique opportunity to hear from National Trust Archaeologist, Mal Conway, as he explores recent archaeological finds on Divis & Black Mt belfasthills.org/events/archa...

Discover some of the best plants for bees: Devil's bit scabious youtu.be/7FQ0LgljTos? An absolute beauty :)

Marjoram: One of the absolute best plants for pollinators! This is one of a series of short videos in a YouTube playlist highlighting some of the best plants to grow if you want to attract bees, butterflies, hoverflies and more. youtu.be/gisVGo-Yirk

Saturday 2nd August, afternoon: Divis archaeology trip to see excavation of a circular stone enclosure Leader: Mike King NT Archaeologist on site: Malachy Conway BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

It's tomorrow ...

Saturday 28th June: This BNFC outing celebrates the Irish Naturalists' Journal centenary - Bee orchids and other botany at Glenarm and Glenarm Forest Leader: David McNeil (BSBI Antrim recorder) BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

Saturday 28th June: This BNFC outing celebrates the Irish Naturalists' Journal centenary - Bee orchids and other botany at Glenarm and Glenarm Forest Leader: David McNeil (BSBI Antrim recorder) BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

Saturday 21st June: Mid-Antrim Iron and Bauxite mines – Geology and industrial history - joint with the Belfast Geologists' Society Leader Ian Enlander BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

Saturday 14th June: Plants and Fungi at Killard Point National Nature Reserve - leader Jake Dalzell. More from Jake about Killard www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH-f... BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

It's tomorrow ...

Saturday 7th June: Archaeology / history visit to sites between St John's Point and Kilclief - leader Mike King. BNFC members only. Not a member? Join at bnfc.org.uk/membership-a... and contact [email protected]

Everyone should read this. I met Dan Janzen when he gave a lecture to @biology.ox.ac.uk I think in the late '80s. I spoke to him afterwards and he said, you know we could save all of the rainforest with a ten cent levy on every cup of coffee sold worldwide.... www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘It is lovely to see the result’ https://www.europesays.com/uk/140086/ Only a handful of endangered corncrakes return each year to Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland, but volunteers are…#uk #news #uknews

Check out our summer 2025 programme. Do become a member - see bnfc.org.uk/membership-a...

It's a wonderful time of year to visit woodlands as they surge back into life. Super opportunities to join Jo and Jen for their guided walks at Murlough NNR & Carnmoney Hill. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social @belfasthills.bsky.social @belfastnfc.bsky.social

Join me on behalf of Buglife for City Nature Challenge 2025 in Belfast for hoverfly surveying Lagan Meadows, 25th April, 12-2pm I will be joined by Jen Farrar from BSBI who will be discussing all things trees! @bsbiireland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social www.buglife.org.uk/events/surve...

I will never understand the logic/appeal of managing a verge outside your home in the country-side, by spraying harmful herbicide, making it look hideous. Just why? How much unneccesary harm has this caused to waterways, invertebrates & other wildlife as well as being a total eyesore!

So many of the roundabouts in #Donegal & the west of Ireland look like this. A win,win for pollinators,tourists & councils. Low maintenance, low cost, native wildflowers,high impact boost for Orangetip butterfly & bumblebees amongst others. Big shout out to @donegalcouncil

Would you like to join our small, friendly team nurturing & developing botanical skills across Northern Ireland & growing participation in the National Plant Monitoring Scheme? We'd love to hear from you! Today is deadline day so you need to apply before midnight: bsbi.org/vacancies/tr... Good luck!

Yesterday was last of BNFC winter programme marking the end of 160th year and start of 161st year. We had an interesting and informative visit to Friars Bush graveyard.

It's time to say goodbye until next winter to some of Northern Ireland's wetland wonders. Find out why NI is so special for this winter waterbird ⬇️ #ukbirding

Puffins are back on Rathlin Island! With over 240,000 seabirds, it's time to plan your visit to the West Light Seabird Centre reopening on Easter Sunday, 20 April. Check out all the details here: bit.ly/PuffinsRSPBNI

There are still places left for both days! Come along and help find this fabulous wee plant at the amazing Murlough National Trust NNR! @nationaltrust.bsky.social @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social @rspbni.bsky.social @bto-ni.bsky.social @daera-ni.gov.uk @belfastnfc.bsky.social @bsbiireland.bsky.social