Oh look at that, it’s raining again. Let’s look at some early daffodils on York’s walls instead.

I painted a whole year of flowers in 2025, then had a quiet month to recover, conveniently coinciding with a month of rain and mud. But it turns out that I miss the mindfulness of seeing colour in the hedgerows and putting it onto paper, so here’s a crocus to celebrate today’s sunshine. ☀️🎨🌸

If you're an active researcher or practitioner working in the field of applied ecology - why not apply to join us as an Associate Editor?🌍 We're seeking a range of expertise such as marine ecology, disease ecology & local knowledge!🧪 Find out more 👇 www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/appl...

'Sunset #SycamoreGap' etching by contemporary Northumberland based UK printmaker Rebecca Vincent #WomensArt

Deborah Lowe, contemporary stained glass artist, UK #WomensArt

Hi Playful Blueskyers... just a reminder that the call for submissions for this year's Playful Learning Conference is end of play on Mon 2nd Feb. Don't miss out! playfullearningassoc.co.uk/submit-a-ses...

'Running Iris' linocut by Australian printmaker Rachel Newling #WomensArt

If you're looking for new volunteering opportunities, then this post is for you 👇 We are now recruiting for roles in the EDGE Network, Climate Change Group, Welsh Policy Group and Alder Network.  Keep reading to find the role that best matches your interests and experience.

An Exclusive Look Inside My Writing Routine: www.tom-cox.com/an-exclusive...

Mona Caron, contemporary Swiss-born artist, known for her large scale murals of wild flowers connecting to environmental concerns #WomensArt

'January Thaw' by contemporary US printmaker Jeanne Amato #WomensArt

Introducing the second cohort of BES Fellows 🙌  We are delighted to announce that 23 outstanding ecologists have been selected to join our prestigious membership category.  👇Meet our new Fellows here 

Tough day? Tough week? Tough 2026? May the Hall on a sunny day bring you peace. 🧘

Yes it could be argued that keeping up with world events is important but alternatively can I interest you in hugging an ancient mossy boulder that looks like a face and quietly listening while it tells you stories from centuries cloaked in mist.

🦋🌿Hiring 12 x Botanists or Entomologists for 2026 field surveys in England! 4-month, full-time roles from late April to early September. Field sites in Yorkshire, Devon, Warwickshire, Kent/Sussex, Lincolnshire/Cambridge, Essex/Suffolk. Apply now: ceh.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CEH_Ca... 🧪

'Murmuration' by contemporary UK printmaker Hester Cox #WomensArt

Reminder: open call for Associate Editors for @britishecologicalsociety.org journals closes 23 Feb. Come join us at @jappliedecology.bsky.social or choose your favourite BES journal to apply for. Please share! www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/appl...

Machine and hand embroidered lanscape artwork by Alison Holt, UK textile artist #WomensArt

The snowdrop is a messenger of the seasons, the darkest moment of winter has passed. It is a messenger of hope. #January1st #NewYearsDay Mary Delany, Galanthus Nivalis, Single Snowdrop, 1777 #womensart

And that’s a wrap on a year of watercolour #WildflowerHour: 365 flowers painted within a week of blooming. Mostly wildflowers, with a few garden escapes, and a whole lot of joy.

First snowdrops flowering in a sheltered courtyard in York, while the red campion clings on to summer and the dandelions remain bright. I’m celebrating #WildflowerHour with marzipan flowers for the Christmas cake this year.

Anyway is this the story I had published this year that made the most people claim to have leaked their precious vital essences out of their eyes? MAYBE. Am I thinking about the end of the world a lot? (A lot a lot a lot?) YES. psychopomp.com/everyone-kee...

We're currently looking for new Associate Editors to join our Editorial Board! 🌎🧪 If you're interested in contributing to the publishing landscape, check out the link below 👇 www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/appl...

Another self-heal to mark 330 flowers, as I approach the end of this year-long watercolour self-challenge. The really big question is, with 20 panels per page, will I stop at 365 flowers, finish the page at 380, or just keep going forever and ever and ever… 🌸

🌿🍄‍🟫🌱🍄We’re recruiting!!🌿🍄‍🟫🌱🍄 I’m looking for two postdocs and a technician to join my group @sheffielduni.bsky.social @sheffieldpps.bsky.social to work with me on my exciting @royalsociety.org Faraday Discovery Fellowship project, details for each post as follows:

We are happy to introduce the Soil Ecology SIG @britishecologicalsociety.org! Our aim is to connect soil ecology researchers across career stages, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration. Check out www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/plan... and feel free to get in touch!

📣 We are hiring! An education-focused Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Biomedical or Biophysical sciences. It’s a chance to be a part of a team of single molecule /cellular biophysicists building a brand new undergraduate curriculum, here at UNSW in sunny Sydney. Happy to answer queries.

🧵Can recognising rivers, forests, and mountains as legal persons help heal our planet? 🌏 Our new blog explores environmental personhood — from Ecuador’s pioneering constitution to Māori perspectives on the Whanganui River.

📣Calling ecological leaders! We're looking for people with a passion for effective leadership and management in the ecology workplace to join our Emerging Leaders and Managers (ELM) network committee.

'Golden Park Light' linoprint by contemporary printmaker Alexandra Buckle #ReframingWomenPrintmakers #Autumn #Fall

FOLKS! We are SO VERY NEAR to securing the peerless archive of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson for the nation, forever. That's Hancock, Steptoe and Son plus so so much more. Its all their scripts, professional correspodence, plus diaries, working notes - the lot yustart.hubbub.net/p/galtonands...

My #FavouritePlant for #WildflowerHour is probably the late spring bluebells, but I always enjoy looking out for the bee orchids on campus @york.ac.uk every June 🥰

A quick reminder: if you read something you love, don't forget to write to the author to thank them for it, and tell them why you loved it.

Good morning from the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. May your day be as serene as the Great Hall is on a Sunday morning.

Tansy, field bindweed, dog rose and poppies still valiantly bringing their colourful cheer to the end of the summer for #WildflowerHour

“What it has done, though, is made me think in more detail about the nature of what we define as work and what we define as “rest” from work.”

It’s the weekend! May your Saturday be as colourful and bright as the plasterwork on the Hall is yellow. 💛

Jalene LaMontagne, colleagues win 2025 Robert P. McIntosh Award from the Vegetation Section of the Ecological Society of America for research on community synchrony in seed production. #ESA #LTER #MastSeeding blogs.umsl.edu/news/2025/08...

(a) This story sounds amazing and (b) that mysterious character on the cover is clearly related to the legendary #LongBoi of York 🦆 so (c) how could I not pre-order it before I’ve even had breakfast?

I'm very proud to receive the 2025 Robert P. McIntosh Award from the @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social Vegetation Section at #ESA2025 with an amazing group of colleagues, for our paper on Community #MastSeeding. 🥳 Paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1... Award info: esa.org/vegetation/a...

It’s late summer and the Asteraceae or daisy family are looking just splendid. Perfect for this week’s #WildflowerHour! See if you can find one & share your pics this Sunday evening 8-9pm using the hashtag #DaisyFamily. Happy Asteraceae hunting!

Want to make a difference in ecological policy? Join the first Journal of Applied Ecology and British Ecological Society Policy Lab to answer the pressing question: “What is irreplaceable habitat?” Your expertise can drive real-world impact. Applications open until 15 September.

This is an official Skype a Scientist HQ Mayday Alert to all Archaeologists. We've already gotten more requests for archaeologists than we have archaeologists. We have 38. We need a lot more than 38! Dig yourself into this database, we NEED ya www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

It was a week of five-petalled #WildflowerHour beauties for me - creeping cinquefoil, scarlet pimpernel, sea-spurrey, and then glorious heather and gorse sprinkled with ragwort above the sea cliffs (still #ByTheSea)

This week’s challenge is #PollinatorPals! Find a flowering wild or naturalised plant with a pollinating visitor & snap away. Of course it’s not just about bees! Butterflies, moths, wasps, flies & beetles can all be #pollinators too! Share your pics for #Wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm!

The sandcastles were the only thing I photographed towering #ByTheSea this week, but tormentil and heather covered the Northumbrian hills, cornflowers were in bloom and the butterflies were loving the buddleia for #WildflowerHour

Tansy and purple loosestrife glowing in the sunshine this week #WildflowerHour

✨New science, new ideas, new friends.  Our much anticipated BES Annual Meeting is here!  Join ecology's global community at the BES Annual Meeting, which brings together over 1,200 ecologists from around the world.

The image for this week’s #wildflowerhour challenge post is one from W. Keble Martin’s classic wildflower guide, The Concise British Flora in Colour. Isn’t it a beauty? There’s some very lovely members of the Lamiaceae or #DeadNettlefamily can you find one for #wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm?

Introducing FRISBEE: the Farm Rewilding Investigation into Species Biodiversity, Ecology and Environment research project, by Prof Curtis Jarsdal, Uni of Borkshire. Curtis has written about the reason for the study and what he and his team hope to learn. fieldworkpodcast.substack.com/p/frisbee-fa...