ThornyHedges

British Orchid Meadows, by Dr Wilson Wall Dr Wilson Wall, Bewdley Orchids www.bewdleyorchids.com During the twentieth century, a great deal of highly biodiverse land has been lost. This is not just meadows such as lowland grassland, but do…

orchidstudygroup.org.uk/orchid-meado...

Plant specimens in the bound herbarium collected by William Paine titled "Plants collected in ye County's of Hants, Sussex, Surrey, Bucks, Berks, Middlesex & Oxon Anno 1737". The specimen of Navelwort (modern Umbilicus rupestris) beside it also appears to be from the same location)

"Wild-sea Holley by ye passage as you goe from portsmouth into Cornwall" collected by William Paine, 1737, from @cuherb.bsky.social. Now, this is in fact from Plymouth, and in modern parlance it is Eryngium campestre

@jillwhitelock.bsky.social @timpurches.bsky.social

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Can you find any wild or naturalised plants that have white blooms? That’s the #wildflowerhour challenge this week! Share your finds this Sunday 8-9pm using the hashtag #WhiteFlowers. Happy flower hunting!
@bsbibotany.bsky.social

Long waving wands of leaves delicately set and of an exquisite pattern, detaching themselves against the sky or the hedge or the wall, wherever you happen to have it set. Never make the mistake of trying to train Rosa moyesii tight against a wall: #Gardening

Today's #SpringArrivalSpotlight is on Wheatears! 😍

These little birds take on an epic journey from sub-Saharan Africa, crossing oceans, ice and deserts to arrive in the UK from early March onwards.

Look for the striking black 'T' marking on their tail in flight.

Close up and slightly stylised illustration of a robin in full voice perched on early blossom twig with a backdrop of grey sky and bare winter trees

‘Robin’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
(Birds and how they Live, 1965)

Not yet...it's a good idea.

This is a photo of stained glass window panel set in a door. The windows show a landscape design depicting a tree and a potted plant

Stained glass windows in a door in Arkansas

#WindowsOnWednesday
#photography #EastCoastKin #PhotographersofBlueSky #scape #urbanphotography #art #stainedglass

With Reeves focus on encouraging everyone to buy shares & play the stock market, I wonder how much influence these large companies have on Labour too.

Painting of cherry tree in blossom.

Cherries in Bloom, Hasegawa Kyuzo.

Unlikely! This situation is increasing profits of fuel suppliers. We just get to pay more of our meagre earnings/pensions to support them, as ever. It is obvious that they don't actually care.

Sleekit 😡

It reminds me of those big lose fit jumpers of the 80s.

2 'Lazarus' animals thought to be extinct for over 7,000 years found alive in New Guinea The pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider, until now known only through fossils, have been rediscovered.

Two marsupials previously believed to be extinct found in New Guinea:

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Red and black Seven-spot ladybird on a branch covered in yellow and green grey lichen.

Seven-spot ladybird on a lichen-covered branch in West Cambridge last week. #WildWebsWednesday

Help a toad across the road – and five more ways to save these endangered amphibians.

Britain’s toads have begun their spring migration, putting them at even greater risk than usual. Here’s how – and why – we should look after them: https://ow.ly/eORE50Yrnci

📷Mel Holley

RES advertisement for entomology courses featuring a common chaser dragonfly, Potamarcha congener (c) Sruthi Parupudi 2020

New to entomology or looking to get started in #InsectScience? 🐞

Take a look at our list of institutions offering full and part-time courses in the UK and Ireland and launch your #career in #entomology 🔽

buff.ly/mHNculS

#Research #Science #Education #Course

The front cover of the ladybird book from the 1960s, showing the princess assisted by the Queen. The princess is rubbing her back and looking disgruntled

Ladybird book in the spotlight.
‘The Princess and the Pea’, 1967
Artist: Eric Winter

I know, but I didn't know what the thresholds would be. My point was that they wouldn't be poor.

For those of you who balk at 98% tax. Do the maths. 1,000,000,000 x 2% (100-98) = 20,000,000.

Yes, they are left with TWENTY MILLION!

#SpringArrivalSpotlights are back, and we’re kicking off with Chiffchaffs!

Flitting back from Southern Europe & North Africa through March-April, their sweet 'chiff-chaff' song is the sound of spring.

Listen for them in parks and hedgerows.

Have you heard one calling near you?

I know someone who worked for over 40 yrs but because they worked part time when bringing up children, now have a pension of £100 per week. 😡 We are actively encouraged to be selfish!

Spring sunshine means reptiles are starting to wake up!

Common lizards are one of the first reptiles to emerge in early spring after spending winter in hibernation. They can often be spotted basking in the sun to warm up.

You might see them on logs, rocks, or sunny patches of grassland.

A small drawing in an illustrative style of a flower meadow filled with pink flowers with distant trees. An original art work, please note that the frame is not included. Colour pencil on white acid free artist watercolour paper (postcard size). Approximately 4 by 6 inches (10.16 x 15.24 cm) will fit into a standard 4 by 6 inch photo frame.

Looking for something for Mother's Day that won't break the bank? I have this little original drawing, and you can have it sent direct with your message...
folksy.com/find/item/86...

#Landscape #Wildflowers #OriginalArt #Drawing #ColourPencil #Artwork #GiftIdeas #ArtShop #ShopIndy #bsnm

Large tortoiseshell butterfly confirmed no longer extinct in UK Early spring sightings show colourful insect is a resident species for first time in decades, says conservation charity

Large tortoiseshell butterfly confirmed no longer extinct in UK

Another arrivals board with a set of migratory birds arriving in the UK later in the spring. The background is dark teal, with "Arrivals" in green. Arriving in April: Nightingale, Reed Warbler, Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat, House Martin. Arriving April–May: Garden Warbler, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Arctic Tern, Common Tern. Arriving in May: Swift, Spotted Flycatcher, Nightjar. These birds mainly arrive in April and May, with some late arrivals like the Swift and Nightjar appearing in May.

An airport style arrivals board showing migratory birds arriving in the UK. The background is dark teal, with "Arrivals" in green at the top. Bird names are in orange, and arrival times in green. Arriving March–May: Wheatear. Arriving March–April: Sand Martin, Chiffchaff, Osprey, Swallow, Ring Ouzel, Blackcap. Arriving in April: Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher. Arriving April–May: Yellow Wagtail. Most birds start arriving from March, with peak arrivals in April and some extending into May.

It’s springtime and migratory birds are on the move! 🌍

Have you seen any of our fair-weather friends arriving? Stay tuned: we'll be shining a daily spotlight on our spring returnees.

Check out the Arrivals Board to see who's flying in and when... 👇

#SpringArrivalSpotlight

Large tortoiseshell butterfly confirmed no longer extinct in UK Early spring sightings show colourful insect is a resident species for first time in decades, says conservation charity

Amidst the gloom, a small shaft of light: Large tortoiseshell butterflies confirmed no longer extinct in the UK!

Lovely piece by @patrickbarkham.bsky.social:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A serious looking child, formally dressed in sleeveless jumper shirt, tie, shorts and grey socks is attempting to walk on home-made tin can stilts

Tin can stilts

(Things to Make, 1963)
Artist: G Robinson

The Large Scabious Mining Bee Andrena hattorfiana needs our help...plant more scabious everywhere there is suitable soil for the bee to nest in

Bug Directory Try our Bug indentification guide here or become a member to submit stories about missing bugs.

www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-dir...