Tales of the Railway Bank, July 11 – Bees and Moths
The railway bank at Greenwich station has thrown up a few surprises in the last few weeks. Evening Primrose – Greenwich Railway Bank Several Evening primrose flowers have been in bloom, which is the...
View ArticleSolitary Bees – a garden colony in Conyer, Kent
It was just a garden bank besides the road. There was no hedge, just a tumbling sandy soil bank. And the Solitary bees had amassed to nest and breed. There was a girl playing in the garden....
View ArticleBoar’s throat thistle – old brick works Kent
The golden heads of the Boar’s throat crowned the poor soils of the brick works north of Conyer. The thistle is a much maligned plant yet their flowers are a bonus for pollinators and their grey seeds...
View ArticleKilled for its hairiness – Sad Story of a Hairy Caterpillar
We were walking along the gravel path when we encountered the hairy caterpillar. At first I thought it was warming itself in the September sun but on closer inspection it had its ‘inners’ spilling out...
View ArticleSeptember’s butterflies – the end of the year
September’s butterflies on the butterfly bank have dwindled over the month since the end of the big butterfly count. The first week of September saw a few Meadow browns and Gatekeepers hang on and a...
View ArticleWasp’s demise, Spider’s revenge – a skirmish in a web
I have nothing against wasps – they cause me a degree of irritation that is irrelevant compared to the harm humans cause to the natural world and biodiversity.However there was something a ‘best served...
View ArticleA New Green Roof Breeding Bird Species
A new Green Roof Breeding Bird Species was discovered last week, whilst we doing a green roof tour in Essex. With the delegates from our workshop series enjoying the lovely ‘Land Rover’ wildflower...
View ArticleQueen Teasel’s Crown Jewel
Queen Teasel’s Crown Jewel – holds firm to thistle head – and like a brooch sparkles in the sun. This Four-spotted Chaser entertain many of us at John Little’s 50th Birthday in his lovely garden in...
View ArticleAdventures with Swedish Squirrels
Adventures with Swedish Squirrels is a little video of Christmas last spent in the middle of the a Scandinavian Forest. Thanks to Jonatan Malmberg and Gittan Matsson.
View ArticleEarly Spring Butterflies
Life got a whole lot better today. My lunchtime walk was enriched by three species of butterflies on what I call the butterfly bank. A pair of Commas chased amongst the emerging bugloss and a Peacock...
View ArticlePollination Awareness Week 1
Hummingbird Hawk-moth is a real beauty to watch. Last week whilst I was in Hungary, over ten of this wonders visited the garden of the hotel I was staying in. I managed to get quite a lot of slo-mo and...
View ArticleNational Pollinator Week 2 -Ragwort
In praise of Ragwort Its ragwort time of year again which is pertinent as it is pollination awareness week. For ragwort is pollinator central in parts of the country. Soon the big butterfly count will...
View ArticleButterfly Count 2015
The Big Butterfly Count has only a few days to go. It finishes on 9th August. Since 17th July I have been out counting on Blackheath Blackheath Big Butterfly Count The map shows the main areas of...
View ArticleOwl Conservation Conundrum
Is the Tawny owl alien and invasive to Ireland? Tawny owl is a pretty sedate creature. However reading Barn owls and voles in Ireland I was concerned to read : ‘And there’s a new and unexpected risk...
View ArticleCounting butterflies on Blackheath
Counting butterflies is now a daily happening for on Blackheath. Or anywhere I might be, because it is time of year when the Big Butterfly Count happens. Butterflies – the big count I have been doing...
View ArticleHoney bee hunter stalks a heath near you
The honey bee has many natural predators. There is none more fascinating than the Bee wolf (Philathus triangulum). The bee wolf used to be relatively rare in the UK, limited to loose colonies on the...
View ArticleMigrants – wildlondoncomp
Migrants flock to London each year. In the summer birds and insects migrate from the south. In the winter, many birds head here from north and east of Europe to escape the cold. Yesterday I dealt with...
View ArticleButterfly beauties on green roofs
Butterfly beauties do make it to the top of buildings with green roofs. The highest green roof in London installed back in 2005 attracted many insects species within a few weeks. Butterflies, five...
View ArticleHedgehogs put a prick in HS2
What do ZSL Hedgehogs tell us about our perception of nature – are we bound by a romantic view of what and where nature should be? Hedgehogs go where they want not where we want them too It would...
View ArticleEarly Spring Butterflies
Life got a whole lot better today. My lunchtime walk was enriched by three species of butterflies on what I call the butterfly bank. A pair of Commas chased amongst the emerging bugloss and a Peacock...
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