Liam Olds

They do stand out a fair bit, even though they're small 😁

Another unexpected find on today's walk near Blackmill, Bridgend, was this Ghost Slug (Selenochlamys ysbryda).

It's been raining here for weeks, and it's generally after a period of very wet weather that I find these most often.

Pleasantly surprised to spot this newly emerged male Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) when walking near Blackmill, Bridgend, today.

I think this is my earliest Black Oil Beetle record!

You can tell he is newly emerged as his abdomen hasn't yet expanded to the typical oil beetle shape.

3 weeks since launching our 'Save the Small Blue at Cwm Tips' #Crowdfunder and we’ve raised £915 - nearly halfway! 💙

Thank you for your support 💚

If you would like to donate, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-the-s...

#SaveTheSmallBlue #GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #Nature #Wales #Cymru #Wildlife

Phengaris teleius (Scarce Large Blue) in a French meadow. One of the 17 species in the European Grassland Butterfly Index. Photo: Martin Warren)

The latest European Grassland Butterfly Indicator is out. It shows that grassland butterflies have declined by 47% since 1991, indicating a huge loss of grassland biodiversity. The data come from 16,150 transects & 15,000 volunteers. We are calling for urgent action. www.bc-europe.eu/documents/69...

Nice one, thanks Sean 😊

Dim problem. Its also helpful to know that it's too early for M. violaceus - I'm not aware of February records of them.

Hi Sean. A great early record there - well done. This is a male M. proscarabaeus.

💧🌿 Today we’re celebrating #WorldWetlandsDay.

Globally, around 87% of wetlands have been lost in the last 300 years.

In the UK, we’ve lost around 90% in just the last century. Wetlands matter more than ever.

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Hope they appear for both of us 😄

Awesome little spiders aren't they!? 😊 I had them in my previous house but not in my new one 😔

The UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George Monbiot It took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Please spread this far and wide, as stories don't get much bigger than this. When the government blocks even the intelligence services from telling us we're heading for environmental catastrophe, you know we have a problem. A very big problem.
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Thanks 😁

Fantastic to hear the biodiversity of coal tips being discussed in the Senedd today, with @gloinatur.bsky.social (which I set up only a few months ago) given a special mention 😌

Blue wildlife for 💙 Blue Monday 💙 Top left: Small Blue. Top right: Cobalt Crust fungus. Centre left: Common Blue. Centre Right: Broad-bodied Chaser. Bottom left: Blue-eyed Grass. Bottom Right: Sheep's-bit Scabious.

To mark #BlueMonday, here’s a selection of beautifully blue coal spoil #wildlife. 💙🦋🌿

From shimmering butterflies to striking fungi, these blue species show just how uplifting the natural world can be. Protecting wildlife like this doesn’t just benefit #nature - it lifts us too.

#BlueBugs #Blue

Thanks for sharing Joey! Much appreciated mate

🐌🎉 One year ago this week, the Pyrenean Semi-slug (Semilimax pyrenaicus) was discovered new to Britain — found on Cwmaman Tip, near Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

A small species, but a big moment for British wildlife.

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Happy New Year 😃

One of the Eratigena species by the looks.

✨ Golden-eye moment! 💛

Out in the Cynon Valley today, our team found Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmos) on hawthorn at the former Aberaman Colliery.

Once Critically Endangered, this Mediterranean species is now spreading - it was first recorded in Wales in 2015 on coal spoil.

🎄 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year / Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda 🎄

Thank you to all who’ve supported us through our transition to Glo i Natur CIC 💚

2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year - with events, training and new projects ahead. Keep an eye on our socials for updates!

We recently visited Parc Calon Lan & the former International Colliery in Blaengarw. Once coal spoil, these sites now offer space for the community and support rich wildlife, including threatened species like Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. A powerful example of nature reclaiming industrial places.

We usually showcase the plants, fungi & invertebrates of coal spoil sites - but here’s some of the hidden life too 🐭

Wood Mice sheltering under a metal sheet at Darren Fawr Tip in the Garw Valley.

Coal tips: full of surprises, even in winter.

#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #SouthWalesValleys

Tufa springs on coal tips 💦

These rare micro-habitats form where water passing through coal spoil picks up calcium - likely from ancient marine bands - and deposits it at the surface. Unusual in the acidic Valleys, and vital for specialist wildlife like soldierflies.

#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature

Great to speak with the Nature Restoration & Forestry students from Black Mountain College in Treherbert today about coal spoil wildlife. Sharing this knowledge is vital - inspiring future practitioners to recognise the biodiversity value of these sites. 🌿💚

We've had nearly 300 bookings for our talk on the Clubmosses of Britain and Ireland by Fred Rumsey next Tuesday evening (2nd December) and there's still places left!

Book now for free (though donations towards our work are appreciated): share.google/lQL6JQ7E9SEQ...

A Snow Flea - a small, long-legged insect with a very long face (like its relatives the scorpionflies). An overall dark, bronzy colour with yellow & orange highlights.

Its that time of year again: a male Snow Flea, one of 3 seen yesterday in woodland on the Shrops/Herefords border. These 4mm relatives of Scorpionflies live in moss (esp. Polytrichum & relatives) & are winter active as adults. Not fleas of course but they can jump a bit.

Sounds like she had a very lucky escape Jeremy!

Loving invertebrates + owning a log burner is a risky combo 🔥🕷️

I always check logs for stowaways, and tonight I rescued a beautifully camouflaged flatbug Aradus depressus from the fire 👀

It’ll be released onto dead wood in the garden to overwinter 🤞

Last night, Liam and Carys from Glo i Natur CIC joined the @wtsww.bsky.social Brecon Group AGM, where Liam gave a talk on the rich biodiversity of South Wales’ coal spoil sites - from Pennyroyal & Adder to the “Maerdy Monster”!

Thanks for the warm welcome.

#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #CoalSpoil

Two Brimstone butterflies mating underneath a purple crocus

It's bulb planting time!

Bulbs make dazzling displays in containers or borders, and they’re also a great source of late winter/early spring nectar for butterflies and moths 🦋

Top 5 bulbs to plant:
🌷 Crocus
🌷 Alliums
🌷 Grape hyacinth
🌷 Winter aconite
🌷 Snake's-head Fritillary

📷: Rob Blanken