Hi Vic! Hope you're well. If you see this, please unblock me on X - you blocked me whilst going through your Elon Musk phase..
No sign whatsoever, apart from the numbers that show entry figures for the coming year have dropped significantly?
No, also schools were hit with 5x business rate increase, NIC hike, increased energy bills, increased wages and pension contributions, increased capex, and reduced roll.
On average fees have gone up 22.6%.
Ah, thank you very much! It's like the good old days being corrected on a shieldbug nymph id by Rockwolf 😊
@urbanponds.bsky.social great footage!
Thanks Matt!
Thanks Martin!
Had a late night walk on Friday just as the rain was arriving for Bank Holiday.
A couple of years ago I found Philodromus albidus at a graveyard in Leeds, which was a first record for anywhere in the north of England. I'm now seeing them everywhere, particularly in the garden. Not confirmed to species so albidus/rufus. @britishspiders.bsky.social
Breakfast clubs 🤦
School budgets are being cut. Again.
Yet in court they admitted their analysis had predicted 54,000 would switch to state, so they were lying.
As a state school parent, I want better funded schools with smaller class sizes and that's exactly the opposite of what the VAT is bringing. It's not just the private schools that are laying teachers off.
That's a massive drop and if the trend continues the policy becomes extremely expensive. You were wrong about elasticity.
Better use than paying for teachers and directly supporting local business whilst relieving pressure on the underfunded and overcrowded state sector?
Schools are just announcing that they will no longer be offering bursaries from next year.
The vast majority haven't and fees are up on average 22%.
Thanks Stefan!
I've taken this exact shot so many times in the past but can never resist another one!
A spider I'm seeing loads of at the moment (Araniella sp.) @britishspiders.bsky.social
The main theme of yesterday's little macro walk was seeing Dagger flies (Empididae) either mating or feeding on St. Mark's flies (Bibio marci) - or doing both at the same time as it happens...
Thanks Ian! I've popped it on iRecord as it does seem to be under-recorded. Only one record for Yorkshire that I can see and nothing further north.
Suggesting colour isn't 100% reliable, perhaps more so if your specimen has been preserved in ethanol. Hoping the experts will know🤞
One of my regular spots and always enjoy the visit any time of year. Loads of invert activity at the moment!
Stopped by at Brockadale yesterday as I was in the area and spotted what I believe is a Hawthorn Jewel Beetle (Agrilus sinuatus). Not the best shot but thought I'd share as I've never seen one of these before. In fact, not many records for them up north.
A dapper looking male Philodromus dispar searching the garden for a mate. @britishspiders.bsky.social
First Pardosa with egg sac of the year, an early one (28th April). They'll be out in big numbers in the coming weeks. A fleeting shot of the back before she shot off into the undergrowth. @britishspiders.bsky.social
If you're looking for a mate, you need to find her the perfect gift - preferably wrapped in silk.
A male Nursery Web spider (Pisaura mirabilis) carrying a nuptial gift for a nearby female. @britishspiders.bsky.social
Despite some dry weather here, plenty of moisture in the rotting deadwood lying around and loads of activity. Here's a springtail (Neanura muscorum) and a tiny mite.
