Day 2 #30dayswild - red-tailed + buff-tailed bumblebees busily going back and forth today to visit the sage and chive flowers. Grateful for @nenature.bsky.social digital field skills session last week to update my bee ID knowledge 🐝

✨ Award-winning poet Linda France joins us for an evening of nature-themed poetry! 📅 Tue 5 May | 🕕 6–7:30pm 📍 Great North Museum: Hancock 💷 £4/£5 Settle in, enjoy a cuppa and a biscuit (or two!) ☕🍪 while listening to a beautiful selection of Linda’s poems. 🎟️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/for-love-o...

Now is a great time to start looking out for ladybirds as they become more active!🐞 Recording ladybirds on NHSN's North East Ladybird Spot, on iRecord and iNaturalist can further increase our knowledge and understanding of these invertebrates.👇 www.nhsn.org.uk/the-north-ea... ©️Chris Wren

Nature lovers! Join us for a special evening of poetry with award winning poet Linda France, whose work celebrates the beauty, detail and deep interconnectedness of the natural world. Tuesday 5 May, 6pm to 7:30pm Find out more and book your place here: ow.ly/wKmC50YyfFL

Spring wildlife to look out for this week🪶 The call of the Chiffchaff is a welcome reminder that spring has arrived. With its "chiff chaff" song, this bird is a green-brown colour with dark legs. Have you heard a Chiffchaff sing yet?🎵 Thank you to Brian Rutter for this photo📷

Blossom and Blue Tits🌸 Spring has arrived and trees are blooming in white and pink flowers. Blossom is the term used to describe the flowers of stone fruit trees, like cherries, plums and apples. Thank you to Christine Talbot for sharing these beautiful photos!📸

A huge congratulations to our Senior Naturalist James Common (@commonbynature.bsky.social) on the launch of his book- Urban Flora of Newcastle & North Tyneside which brings together many local naturalists hard work and records!!! Discover the book here: www.nhsn.org.uk/launching-th...

Quick, catch that fish!🐟 Take a look at these stunning photos, taken at #GosforthNatureReserve! You can tell Kingfishers apart by looking at their beaks. Males have an black beak, whereas females have an orange patch on the bottom of theirs. Thank you to S&JPhotography for these great photos!📷

Winter is a great time to spot ladybirds🐞 Next time you're near a graveyard, look closer on the headstones and you may be surprised! Why not sumbit your records onto NHSN's North East Ladybird Spot?⬇️ www.nhsn.org.uk/the-north-ea... 📷7-spot, 2-spot, Orange and Harlequin © Chris Wren See less

New for 2026: Introducing Tuesdays at ‘the Hancock’, a relaxed, welcoming evening series exploring the social and cultural sides of natural history, celebrating the North East’s rich tradition of naturalists, stories and ideas. Book here: www.eventbrite.com/cc/tuesdays-...

What a fab time we had at NHSN's AGM! Members came together to hear about the success of 2025 and plans for 2026, as well as discussing new ideas for the future.🌱 From Gosforth Nature Reserve to the North East Nature Achive, projects and more, so many of you shared some brilliant ideas! Thank you!

8 year old local photographer, Theo Nixon, has been out and about capturing bird life of the region. He has been an avid birdwatcher from the age of 5 and has taken these wonderful photos on his new camera🦆 Featuring seabirds, waterfowl and garden birds, enjoy this brilliant selection of photos📷

Over the summer Newcastle East WI went on a walk in the Ouseburn as part of #GosforthsWildWeb and recorded an A-Z list of species to turn into bunting.🐝 After many hours of hard work, you can now take a look at the gorgeous bunting made by the women!🌱 This bunting has been kindly donated to NHSN🌳

Discover one of the North East’s most extraordinary living natural history stories. Join Prof. Stephen Hall to explore Chillingham’s wild cattle, the world’s only near-untouched herd. 🐂 📅 Tue 3 Feb | 6–7:30pm 📍 Great North Museum: Hancock Book your tickets here: ow.ly/qKeI50XSQ3Z

Take a sneak peak at your members' magazine! This winter, enjoy discovering wintering birds, stories on local projects, art inspired by nature and much more!🦆 There is something for everyone to enjoy this season.❄️

Coming March 2026: An introduction to slow stitching in the peaceful surroundings of Gosforth Nature Reserve. Looking for a thoughtful Christmas gift? This course makes a perfect present for the crafter or nature lover in your life. Book here: ow.ly/jivO50XJvf6

A big thank you to volunteers who came to NHSN's annual volunteer Christmas party!🎄 We would like to say a huge thank you to every volunteer who has given their time across NHSN. There wouldn't be as many people inspired, wildlife recorded, stories shared or magazines delivered without you!🌿

Enjoy a selection of winter birds you can spot this season.❄️ Canada Geese, Goldeneye, Coot and Greylag Geese are all species you can spot in a pond, lake or wetland near you. Did you know, the Latin name for Goldeneye, Bucephala, means Bull's head which refers to its unusual head shape?🦆

Every year, the UK gets a number of North American birds visiting for the winter. This year, we have had another return visit from the American Wigeon!🪶 Did you know, the American Wideon has a nickname of "baldpate" because the white stripe on its head resembling a bald head! Chris Barlow📸

With new wetland development at #GosforthNatureReserve, now is an exciting time to take a look at how this new habitat is already encouraging more wildlife at the reserve. Many Little Egrets have been spotted feeding in the mud where the reeds have been cleared, which is a great sign! 📸Kris Dawson

The snow wasn't putting these nature lovers off! Last week students from Milecastle Primary school joined us at Gosforth Nature Reserve, exploring prints in the snow, spotting birds and getting creative with some nature based art!❄️

NHSN's home at the Great North Musuem: Hancock, played host to our New Members' Social last week and what an inspiring evening it was.☕ Chatting about activities, Gosforth Nature Reserve and the North East Nature Archive, it was great to meet so many enthusiastic members!🍄

Coming up next week at NHSN's Winter Talks Impacts of Heavy Metal Pollution on the Common Frog, Tom Childs, Newcastle University🐸 Championing Northumbria’s Bats, Nicola Faulks, Northumberland Bat Group🦇 📍Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University. Doors open 6pm, talks start 18:29

Now is the perfect time to get out and about and discover the fanartic array of fungi there is to see in woodlands.🍄 Join beginners and enthusiasts alike for a session spotting woodland fungi. Book your place today!👇 ow.ly/9EOZ50XkNsQ ow.ly/wlCI50XkNsO

Coming up next week at NHSN's Winter Talks Rewilding in Northumberland, with Lucy Ingham, Northumberland Wildlife Trust🦌 Wallington Beavers, with Helen McDonald, National Trust🦫 📍Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, Newcastle University. Doors open 6pm, talks start at 18:29👏

New on the blog: our library and archive volunteer Alan takes a tour through some of the strange and fabulous stuff he's recently found in just one small corner of our North East Nature Archive www.nhsn.org.uk/an-embarrass...

A colourful display of #waxcaps on today's @nenature.bsky.social fungi foray. Scarlet, Parrot, Butter, Blackening and Golden were recognisable, but several others, not so much! 🍄

The lads at @neheritagelib.bsky.social do excellent work and I'm very chuffed to be representing @nenature.bsky.social in this year's NE History Compendium

We really enjoyed hearing from Grant about his Space Penguins last night! Check out our forthcoming program of Monday Night Talks here: www.nhsn.org.uk/wp-content/u...

We really love this moving blog from our fantastic volunteer Julia, about the life and work of the pioneering North-east bryologist and moss maven Evelyn Lobley: www.nhsn.org.uk/evelyn-m-lob...

Did you know that Great North Museum: Hancock once had its own live condor? Us neither, until our brilliant volunteer Julia found it in our Society Transactions: www.nhsn.org.uk/that-condor-...

Watching @rach-anderson.bsky.social being a legend as we launch our new Archives and Historical Research course at @nenature.bsky.social

It's #GiftAidAwarenessDay and we want to say a massive thank you to all of our members who #TickTheBox! When you #TickTheBox, we can claim an extra 25p on every £1 donated! It has never been more important to #TickTheBox. Please refer to our Gift Aid FAQs at www.nhsn.org.uk/gift-aid-faq/

Due to a last-minute cancellation, we now have one space available on our Introduction to Creative Nature Journaling with Steve Pardue. Be inspired by the treasures of NHSN's North East Nature Archive and discover new ways to connect with nature through art. Book here: https://ow.ly/i5rW50X3rEP

Your photos of the week are here!🍄 Enjoy autumnal delights of...🍂 Snipe © Brian Rutter Small Staghorn © Les Allan Honey Fungus © Les Allan Fox Moth catepillar © Peter Fawcett If you would like to share any of your photos, get in touch via [email protected]

Really chuffed with this new article on our blog, from Ian Bower, about Geordie legend and champion animal-drawer Thomas Bewick: www.nhsn.org.uk/thomas-bewic...

New on the blog - Sandra Bishop writes about an Arctic journey to Svalbard undertaken by the Newcastle explorer, hunter and naturalist Abel Chapman, from our Transactions: www.nhsn.org.uk/from-north-s...

A timeless shot of a Cormorant at #GosforthNatureReserve Cormorants can be spotted in inland freshwater and along the coast.🌊 Did you know that although Cormorants are amazing divers, there feathers aren't actually waterproof? 📸Thank you to Ray Haldane for these wonderful photos.

Join us on Tues 16 Sept as we talk to Mike Pratt, one of the North East's foremost conservationists. His latest book explores how we might reconnect with nature in the face of ecological change and how human contact with the natural world can nurture our health and wellbeing. bit.ly/45TYmZ4

As part of our #NaturesCure project, we've been inviting clients of the Angelou Centre in Newcastle to Gosforth Nature Reserve for guided walks and to talk about what nature means to them. Our heritage researcher Mel picks up the story: www.nhsn.org.uk/peace-friend...

Join us on Tues 16 Sept as we talk to Mike Pratt, one of the North East's foremost conservationists. His latest book explores how we might reconnect with nature in the face of ecological change and how human contact with the natural world can nurture our health and wellbeing. bit.ly/45TYmZ4

Have you ever wanted to do historical research, but not been sure how to go about it? Join our heritage researchers @rach-anderson.bsky.social and @petermitchellnhsn.bsky.social in Oct for a specially curated course on finding your way through the archival maze: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-introdu...

Really chuffed to be in this, with an essay about @nenature.bsky.social in the 19th and early 20th century, field naturalism, imperial science, museums, civic identity and lads with big muttonchop whiskers and giant watch chains dissecting sea slugs

On 16 September, we're really looking forward to hosting Mike Pratt of @northwildlife.bsky.social for a talk about his life and career in North East nature - and a reading from his new book! Tickets available here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mike-pratt...

Today's new book at the NHSN office: Exmoor (Collins New Naturalist series no.150) by Flemming Ulf-Hansen. To go in our complete collection of New Naturalists!

We at NHSN are very sad to note the passing of Angus Lunn MBE. We've tried to pay tribute here to his incredible life and career as an educator, naturalist and conservationist, and to everything he did for nature in the North East: www.nhsn.org.uk/remembering-...

Ever wondered what the inside of a tree sounds like? This and other mysteries are part of our new blog on nature workshops and community: www.nhsn.org.uk/natures-cure...

Today's new book in the NHSN office: The Birds of Britain by James Fisher (1942). Featuring illustrations from John Gould (1804-1881) and Thomas Bewick (1753-1828)

You know what time it is.... it's photos of the week! Scroll through some of the wonderful wildlife that's been sent in recently 🐾 📸 1: Meadow Pipit © Neil Pont 2: Bluetits © Mark Nugent 3: Barn Owls © Chris Ellis 4: Heron © Kevin Ireland

Fantastic photos from #GosforthNatureReserve📸 Recently, the Brown Hawker dragonfly has been spotted! With few North East records, this is an exciting sight to be seen. Their brown wings make this species distinct and they can also be spotted hunting in the woodland.🌳 ©Ron Bowe