Exciting PhD project with me and @vorontsovams.bsky.social RBG Kew on Grass Diversity, developing a phylogeny using morphology and genomics for the tropical forage grass genus Urochloa. Applications at centa.ac.uk/students... but contacts Bat or me to discuss

Florida softshell turtle we had to drive around with the Archbold Biological Station team!

500 copies of the new Madagascar grass guidebook!

2 job adverts on a NERC project w myself + @darrenobbard.bsky.social on “What determines the virome: ecology and the environment, evolution, or species history?” early 2026 in @uniexecec.bsky.social - Postdoc: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr... - RA: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr... Pls share!

The new photo guide to the grasses of Madagascar is going to press!

We should come to terms with the fact that forest, shrubland, grassland, and wetland ecosystems cannot offset fossil fuel CO₂ emissions. But we should still protect and restore them for biodiversity and other ecosystem benefits.

What do archaeology, palaeoecology, genetics and many more have in common? They can all be used to understand and protect our grassy landscapes! 🌾💚 Read our paper to find out how 👇 esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

How to be clear when discussing grassy biomes? New paper on recommended terminology and research directions: esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Interested in co designing a fully funded PhD project with ‪@vorontsovams.bsky.social‬ and me on Urochloa plant biodiversity, evolution, morphology and genomics? Please contact us. Building on exciting work on the forage grass by @LizoMasters academic.oup.com/aob/article/...

Fearless colour coordination captured by Sebastian Kettley

I’m still revealing in the joys of #UrbanPlants, especially taking photos of lovey things in grotty places. Here’s Greater Quaking-grass (Briza maxima) by the Network Rail depot in Llandudno Junction #Wildflowerhour

Two great opportunities to gain confidence identifying Grasses and Sedges in the field with @bsbibotany.bsky.social Grasses Id, Castle Coole, Enniskillen - 5th July Sedges Id, Crom NT Estate, Fermanagh - 11th July Book at bsbi.org/botanical-sk... @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

Grass awn adventure day with @madelaineb.bsky.social and team at @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social

Minus ten days to the Darwin zebu project final report deadline. Further empty coffee and tea cups not shown.

Grass competition update at 10 weeks! Left to right: Tesco "fast acting" perennial ryegrass, RHS lemongrass, RHS African savanna decorative Melinis nerviglumis

Reed bed in the Walthamstow Marshes in the rain, bringing a more peaceful Thursday

Nature conservation policies are biased toward forests and neglect grassy ecosystems worldwide www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Grass race between Cymbopogon, Lolium, and Melinis. Pretty close, all first germination might have been on day 4. Lolium (ryegrass) is ahead with the first green shoot over 1cm. Cymbopogon (lemongrass) is second with tiny green shoots. No vertical shoots on the Melinis nerviglumis.

“The consequences of this have been disastrous: funds have dried up and projects have folded." IDS researcher Ian Scoones, on the impacts of #USAID cuts on climate finance and those bearing the brunt of #ClimateChange 👇 @the-independent.com www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

Sad state of nature finance fide @GCBC DEFRA by Stantec

Photo guide to Malagasy grasses almost ready @kewgardens.bsky.social @rfdealmeida.bsky.social @nantynantenaina.bsky.social @royalsociety.org

Things are worse in the US. And I don't work 7d/week any more (though I'm still recovering from the period when I did at least 6). But the themes in here resonate over here.

A team of researchers, including @svmering.bsky.social , @sandyknapp.bsky.social, @siobhanleachman.bsky.social, and @vorontsovams.bsky.social created a dataset of 728 genera honouring women and female beings. doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....

Interesting short term conservation data officer vacancy with the FMH project now live: careers.kew.org/vacancy/proj...

Published! Open letter:There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored. Tropical & subtropical grasslands & savannas matter for biodiversity protection, and the future of this planet relies on these ecosystems to the same extent it relies on forests. doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...

Zoological identification challenge time. What would you say is the species depicted?

New Year, new funding round! The 2025 Botanical Research Fund call is now open. Supporting botanical research by British/Irish nationals since 1913. Awards typically up to £500. Deadline 15th March. For more information and to apply: forms.office.com/e/Xjqh1MLgi3 @bsbibotany.bsky.social do re-sky!

"Any present-day ‘solutions’, including #naturebasedsolutions, must be sensitive to historical realities..." On our blog, Dr Farai Mtero explains the history - including colonial and apartheid-era policies - that has shaped rangelands in South Africa today. repairproject.org/Blog/creatin...

Today is not a day to work on the to-do list. Today is about finding out how long the list is, then pouring a drink.

A feature on the @idsglobaldev.bsky.social website about our project www.ids.ac.uk/news/explori...

Madagascar's Ministry of Agriculture made a film our Productive Pasture Partnership project: youtu.be/yTIfmv2jU9c?...

Plant genera named for women - dataset amplifying roles in botany, over time, geographical, mythical & non-mythical work from @sandyknapp.bsky.social @siobhanleachman.bsky.social @svmering.bsky.social @vorontsovams.bsky.social &al. 👉https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/114408/element/2/10525382

Hi Bluesky!🦋 I’m a botanist/ecologist studying global grassland dynamics, 🌾 particularly how grass traits interact with disturbances like grazing. 🐄🦏🐑🦓 I’ve been lucky to work across Europe and Africa! 🌍 Currently doing my PhD at the University of Edinburgh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 and Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh 🌱

Most hilarious birthday present:

REPAiR is a new three-year research project focusing on Southern African rangelands, communal livestock farming systems and 'nature-based solutions'. Read our overview of the research ideas and plans on our new website: repairproject.org/Blog/introdu...

TREES PhD project available with Dr Natalia Przelomska at Uni Portsmouth: Understanding grasses to support Madagascar's livelihoods and climate transition www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/ Please Bluesky-retweet!

Looks like grass awns are a kind of modified leaf www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Hello world! Also, the new grass phylogeny is now published: nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...