Sheila Whitehead

Lundy has been dramatically described as 'Britain's Galapagos' but it's not an unreasonable comparison. It hosts the only British example of 'co-endemism' - an endemic species that is host to another endemic species (and perhaps even *two* endemic species...)

Interested? Book a ticket!

The Black Death’s counterintuitive effect: as human numbers fell, so did plant diversity New study finds that plant biodiversity collapsed in landscapes where arable production was abandoned during and after the Black Death era.

Very interesting! Thank you @beccyscottuk.bsky.social

theconversation.com/the-black-de...

It's delightful to be able to see this everyday in March on your calendar.

The #CaledonianForest is more than trees 🌲 It’s a wildlife-rich web of life - home to iconic animals like red squirrel, crested tit, wood ant and Scottish wildcat. 🐿🐜

Some are found nowhere else in #Britain, and all depend on rich, healthy habitats for shelter and survival.🌳

#WorldWildlifeDay

I bought a print of irises at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam over 20 yrs ago for my lovely mum in-law, Iris, as they were also her favourite flowers. I have it back now and it's a lovely reminder of her.

@bsbibotany.bsky.social There is a beautiful display of snowdrops near me. But I took this on selfie mode just to get a glimpse of blue sky too.

Maths and biology conspired to make something beautiful: the world’s largest floating leaf (genus Victoria), spanning up to 3 m across. We decoded this enigma with mathematical modelling to show the lattice is an economy of material– the most structurally efficient way to cover a large surface area.

We're trialling something new this year at the BSBI - an activity designed to support absolute beginner botanists with identifying *and* recording their first ever 100 plants in 2026 🌿

If you know anyone that might like to take part then please spread the word:

bsbi.org/take-part/ac...

Swift bricks to be put in every new home in Scotland The Scottish government has made it part of the law, that all new homes should have a special brick added to make a home for swifts

BBC News - Special bricks to help birds put in every new home in Scotland
www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/ar...

If you are in the UK and were born between 1970 and 1990 you may not have had enough doses of MMR vaccine to be protected from measles. Contact your GP to get a booster course for free. www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...

Courting capercaillies up 50% on Cairngorms reserve Conservationists counted 30 lekking males on the RSPB's Abernethy nature reserve last year.

BBC News - Courting capercaillies up 50% on Cairngorms reserve
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Part2 #ExhibitionSneakPeek #ScottishWildcat #wildcat

When beasts spoke - solo exhibition - 28th March to 10th May - Made in Stirling

When beasts spoke - solo exhibition - 28th March to 10th May - Made in Stirling - workshops - oil painting with palette knife

My debut solo exhibition is this spring. I’m delighted to announce the details, and so excited to share what I’ve been working on 🤍

Juliane K. Ishida: From Grandmother’s Garden to the Frontiers of Parasitic Plants Botany One interviews Dr. Juliane Ishida who has gone miles —literally— to undercover the mysteries of parasitic plants.

The journal editor... concluded the topic was not relevant to the scientific community. I was devastated. But my advisor encouraged me, saying the editor lacked vision: “Does everyone in plant biology really have to work on Arabidopsis?” he asked.

May is the month of colours popping🌈🪻🎨🙌🎉

A sea of nemophila (ネモフィラ), known as 'baby blue eyes', welcomes visitors to the top of Mt Hiei. Up here the flowers of early spring are still going strong.

#Hieizan #Kyoto #MtHiei #比叡山 #京都 #Japan #spring #babyblueeyes

Such lovely photos of you both. They made me smile too.

Dr Siôn Parkinson, artist and AHRC research fellow, standing in front of shelves of preserved specimens in RBGE’s Herbarium and holding a specimen.

🚨 New Edinburgh exhibition! Ever wondered what's in our world-renowned herbarium? Now's your chance to find out.

Explore the stories behind diverse specimens and the vital role the collection plays in tackling biodiversity challenges.

📍 22 March - 29 June 2025 at the John Hope Gateway. Free entry.

Our #LochArkaig estate manager Henry Dobson shows the chilly location of a rare and threatened plant species we are conserving in collaboration with @thebotanics.bsky.social

In Finland, this plant is known as "bear hay" because brown bears love to munch on it.🐻

Congratulations! Well deserved. Lovely photo of you both.

So our Chancellor believes industry should “focus on getting things built, and stop worrying about the #bats and the #newts”.

Please read @batconservation.bsky.social's response... and click on their link to find out what they're doing about these so called 'reforms' and how we can help 🦇

👇

Happy to find you on here-welcome.

Reminds me how our last Guide Dog puppy Cookie used to love The Boy, the Fox, the Mole and the Horse.

Love your work. It's looking awesome.

🤩 It’s official! We’re ready for Scotland’s Trade Fair 🤩
First day tomorrow. Looking forward to meeting lots of lovely people…
(Feeling equally excited, nervous, and exhausted already 😆🙌🤞😬💛)

Couldn’t have done any of today without you @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social , thank you xxxxxxx

A plump Wood Pigeon stands confidently on a bird table, chest puffed out, looking slightly smug. Beside it, a glossy Starling with shimmering green and purple feathers sits lower down, tilting its head up as if deep in conversation. The two birds appear to be mid-chat, giving off the vibe of scheming pals casually plotting how to dodge being counted in the Big Garden Birdwatch.

'Alright pal, got plans for the #BigGardenBirdwatch?'

'Nah, just the usual... hang out of sight whilst she's doing the count, then touch down once the hour's over. You?'

'Classic. Planning some fly-bys with a few of the boys, but we'll only land one at a time.'

'Niiice.'

Realise it must be over 20 yrs since I visited Amsterdam as a horticulture student, which was great, but a free afternoon spent at the Van Gogh Museum left a lasting impression on me.

Looking forward to the start of 'Monty Don's British Gardens' 8pm BBC2, today, especially to see Little Sparta, created by Ian Hamilton Finlay & his wife Sue. I wasn't sure what to expect when I visited, but loved this unique moorland garden, its diverse themes of artwork, landscape & planting.

I would have loved to see this but unfortunately not able to. I visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam some years ago and that was amazing.

Golden Labrador Retriever Guide Dog with green bow around neck sitting in front of a decorated Christmas tree.

Golden Labrador Retriever Guide Dog lying on carpet with red and white toy in her mouth.

Puppy raised lovely Cookie for Guide Dogs and we're so proud of her becoming a working guide dog earlier this year. Her guide dog owner sent me these lovely photos as it will be her first Christmas with them. So thoughtful to do that. It really made my day!

Reprising my favourite horticulturally themed Christmas photo! Mistletoe salesmen, 1926.