March 10, 1775 – Rooks are very much engaged in the business of nidification: but they do not roost on the their nest-trees ’til some eggs are lain. Rooks are continually fighting & pulling each other’s nests to pieces: these proceedings are inconsistent with living in such close community.
Images of the writers at the Gilbert White Watching Narrowly Natural History Book Day on 21 March 2026.
Mega-excited to be in conversation with @nicolawriting.bsky.social in Watching Narrowly: A Natural History Book Day on Sat 21 March at @gilbertwhites.bsky.social. We'll be 2 of 7 writers celebrating landscape & close observation of nature.
Do join us in the South Downs: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk
The last of our nature writers announcements!
We will be joined by @bsbicountries.bsky.social to celebrate the publication of 1st book Endemic. 📚🌱
Find out more and book tickets: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/watchi...
A list of workshops and talks that Nic is giving over the next few months: Saturday 21 March Gilbert White Festival, Selbourne In Conversation with Nicola Chester Saturday 18 April, 7.30pm Market Theatre, Hitchin Spotlight on Nature Show Wednesday 22 April, 10am-4pm University of Cambridge Botanic Garden Digging with the Pen: Intro to Garden Writing Tuesday 5 May, 10-11.30am Waresley Park Estate, Bedfordshire Wild Writing for Wellbeing: Celebrate & Energise Tuesday 12 May, 10-11.30am Waresley Park Estate, Bedfordshire Wild Writing for Wellbeing: Listen & Engage Sunday 17 May, 2-4pm Herts Book Fair, Southern Maltings, Ware Intro to Nature Writing Workshop Tuesday 19 May, 10-11.30am Waresley Park Estate, Bedfordshire Wild Writing for Wellbeing: Relax & Restore Saturday 14 June, 11am-3pm John Clare Cottage, Helpston All Nature has a Feeling: Writing from the Wild Tuesday 21 July, 7.30pm North Herts Museum, Hitchin Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds Saturday/Sunday 5-6 September Fantasy Forest Festival, Hatfield House, Herts Writing Fantasy Landscapes Workshop Thursday 17 September, 10am-4pm Serge Hill Project, St Albans Nature Writing Workshop with Sue Stuart-Smith Monday 21 September, 7:30pm Richmond Walking Festival, North Yorkshire Land Beneath the Waves
I've got some exciting events coming up, incl. the Gilbert White festival, fantasy forest landscapes, leading a workshop at Serge Hill with Sue Stuart-Smith, wild writing for wellbeing & nature writing day at #JohnClare cottage. Check out my website for booking links: nicwilson.co.uk/events-talks...
We will be joined by Peter Marren at our Natural History Book day on the 21st March! 📚🍄
We will be talking about his book The Devil's Garden
Find out more and book your tickets here: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/watchi...
Plant of the week 🌼
Narcissus pseudonarcissus 'Lobularis' (Lent lily daffodil) is flowering in the Naturalist's garden under the apple trees. This narcissus is regularly mentioned by Gilbert White.
March 3, 1782 – Daffodil opens. Missel-thrush sings.
Happy 1st March! 🌼
The snowdrops are still with us but the daffodils are catching up!!
March is an exciting month!
All our events and tickets can be found on our website: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/events-grid/
We are SO looking forward to welcoming Tiffany Francis-Baker to our Natural History Book Festival on the 21st March! 📚
Don't miss out! Book your tickets! 🌱
Tickets: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/watchi...
Can't wait to hear James at our Natural History Book day on the 21st!
Travelling to us sustainably? 🚲
Green Travellers (i.e. non car users) get 50% off of admission. Just ask at the desk.
We know that travelling to us without a car is difficult, see our website for hints and timetables.
gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/how-to-find-...
The stunning Primrose (Primula vulgaris) is this week's plant of the week! 🌱
These can be found in our six quarters and provide colour in the early months of the year. They can grow in most soils as long as they aren't too wet or dry, in sun or light shade.
Timothy’s Tots, Signs of Spring🐢 - (Tue 24th Feb, 11am - 12pm)
Join Timothy the Tortoise for our interactive preschool sessions connecting your child to nature.
Sessions include stories, songs, craft and sensory activities exploring Gilbert’s Garden and the Museum.
Find out more via our website!
Calling all Under 25's!
South Downs National Park have kindly sponsored 6 young people to attend our Nature Writing Book Day for free!
It is first come first served, simply email: collections@gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk.
If you miss out & are under 25, use the discount code: BOOKDAY1625
In Episode 4 of The Natural Podcast of Selborne we talk to Violet Nicholls about the world of Fossils.
We discuss what Gilbert understood about fossils and what he didn't, Plant Fossils and how easy it is to find and learn about fossils today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfmP...
Do come along and join us at the Watching Narrowly: Natural History Book Day. @gilbertwhites.bsky.social have organised a fantastic range of talks...
gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/watchi...
Can't wait for this event - it'll be my first time at @gilbertwhites.bsky.social and I'm so looking forward to chatting to @nicolawriting.bsky.social and listening to the other writers, including @bsbicountries.bsky.social, @chawtonhouse.bsky.social, Melissa Harrison, Tristan Gooley & Peter Marren.
Looking forward to meeting you Nic!!
Nic Wilson will be joining us for our Watching Narrowly Book day on the 21st March!
@nicwilson.bsky.social will be discussing her book Land Beneath the Waves with fellow nature writer @nicolawriting.bsky.social.
Tickets: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/watchi...
Well deserved! You can see Nic Wilson at our Natural History Book day on the 21st March.
Find out more: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/watchi...
From Secret Missions to the Penguin Post Office: The Story of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust 🐧
19 Feb
How do you manage a museum at the bottom of the world? Join us for a fascinating insight into the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.
gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/antarc...
Plant of the week: The beautiful Crocus which can be found in our Six Quarters. Flowering often in late Winter to early Spring there are around 90 species of genus Crocus, native to regions stretching from southern and central Europe to North Africa, the Middle East, and western China.
Happy Valentines Day 💕
We love celebrating love here at Gilbert White's House & Garden's especially when celebrating weddings!
Photo Credit : Roderick Alan Photography
Really looking forward to this gorgeous celebration of books & nature, & the wonderful Gilbert White. It’s a stunning place & a great line-up. Excited to be on stage with the brilliant @nicwilson.bsky.social where we’ll be discussing her wonderful book #LandBeneaththeWaves, along with mine.
We are looking forward to welcoming @nicolawriting.bsky.social to our Watching Narrowly Book Day on the 21st March. 📚
Nicola will be in conversation with @nicwilson.bsky.social
To find out more about the Book Day and to book your tickets visit our website: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/watchi...
Our plant of the week is the spectacular Snowdrop, (Galanthus nivalis). This wonderful plant is a hardy, early-spring bulb that blooms as early as January, often pushing through snow thanks to natural anti-freeze in its leaves.
Great News! Melissa Harrison will be joining us on the 21st March for our Watching Narrowly Natural History Book Day! 📚🌱
👉To book tickets to see Melissa and our other incredible Nature Writers Click here: gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/event/watchi...
Today we are remembering Frank Oates who died on this day in 1875.
Frank had reached his goal of seeing Victoria Falls at New Year, after years of attempts to reach it. Shortly afterwards he caught fever likely malaria, which was very common around the Zambesi especially at this time of year.
Ever wondered about volunteering?
❤We love our volunteers day❤
16th February from 10:30
Meet the team at Gilbert White’s House & Garden’s to learn more about volunteering opportunities.
A relaxed drop-in coffee morning, come for a cuppa and a chat, no commitment needed on the day
Plant of the week 🌱
Well as it's February, we couldn't not do snowdrops could we?
The snowdrops are up in the garden. Galanthus elwesii (Giant snowdrop) is an early flowering snowdrop so may not be around for long. It's at the top of Baker's hill under some apple trees.
We'd like to share something we're pretty proud about!
Our education team have been very busy with both schools and home education groups this January, we have ALREADY had nearly 500 children at the Field Studies Centre and in the House mainly learning this term about Antarctica. 🐧
