Mark French

New British and Irish bird atlas announced for 2027 A new bird atlas for Britain and Ireland has been announced by five conservation organisations. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), BirdWatch Ireland, the RSPB, Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC) and Welsh Ornithological Society (WOS) have come together to begin work on Bird Atlas 2027-31.

A new bird atlas for Britain and Ireland has been announced by five conservation organisations:

a black and white British Rail poster titled "The argument for electrifying our railways, will become clearer in time." with four panels showing scenes from 1978, 1987, 1995 and 2005 with oil running out over that period

"The argument for electrifying our railways will become clearer in time."
British Rail, 1979.

Close-up of a White Dead-nettle plant with clusters of small white tubular flowers, surrounded by serrated green leaves and a blurred green background.

Close-up of a cluster of Sweet Violet flowers with deep purple petals and small green leaves, set against a softly blurred natural background.

Close-up of a cluster of \Scurvygrass with small white four‑petalled flowers growing densely among bright green foliage, captured in soft natural light.

Close-up of white Wood Anemone flowers with yellow centres, surrounded by green leaves and set against a softly blurred natural background.

March is the month everything starts to stir…🌱

Fresh shoots are pushing through the soil and early flowers are opening up. Maybe you’ve even spotted your first bumblebee out on its daily commute! 🐝

Check out these species popping up at the moment 👇

Have you spotted any?

#Wildflowers #Spring

The crown of a small cherry plum tree covered with beautiful pink-white blossoms seen against a deep blue sky.

Close-up of the delicate pink-white blossoms of a cherry plum tree.

This beautiful little self-sown cherry plum tree (Prunus cerasifera) is one of the first trees in the garden to blossom each spring, often starting in February, as it did this year.

...and just like that, the sun came out in Chester!

Morning David!

Thanks Cathy 😀

The Brothers Gillespie are wonderful, aren't they!

Good morning Andy and all our pals listening in #BlackDogRadio land! Dismal and damp morning here in Chester, but the music will brighten things up 📻🎶😊

#folksgainstfascism #folkmusic #folkmusician #folkmusicians #freepalestine

Sign up to take part in Birds in Greenspaces and to receive updates via our newsletter at www.bto.org/greenspaces 🪶

This project starts in April and we need you to help tell us what birds can be found in your local greenspaces. 🐦🌳

Sounds like you had a brilliant time Cathy 🙌

Morning Cathy, sorry you have a cold. Good that you were well for your trip to see Spiers & Boden though 😀

Morning David, good to 'see' you here.

Good morning Andy and all your #BlackDogRadio listeners! The sun made an appearance here in Chester a few minutes ago, but seems a little unsure if it wants to stay. Never mind, we have the music to enjoy 😊

Black Dog Radio on Mixcloud Live Broadcast live to your community of fans and tune in direct to creators from every genre

Good morning folks, we wake up to another grey morning here in Belper today.

I hope all is brighter with yourselves.

Grab a brew, settle back and join us live at nine here, for three hours of fine music

www.mixcloud.com/live/blackdo...

Very cool map of historic floodplain meadows by @floodplainmead.bsky.social - giving insights into lost habitats and places that will need restoring if we're to become more climate resilient:

floodplainmeadows.org.uk/discover/lea...

Looking down into the Glasgow Wellspring. The well shaft is lined with shimmering blue glass mosaic tiles. A stained glass window is reflected in the glass that partly covers the opening at the top of the well.

The Glasgow Wellspring art installation in the crypt of Glasgow Cathedral. The well shaft is illuminated and lined with shimmering blue glass mosaic tiles.

Looking down the glass mosaic lined shaft of the Glasgow Wellspring you can see the many coins that have been dropped into the well by visitors.

The Glasgow Cathedral Wellspring by Aproxima Collective with Scottish artist Joanna Kessel.
Handblown coloured glass tiles inlaid with gold leaf, shimmer with light.
A well existed on this site long before Glasgow became a city. It is believed St Kentigern/Mungo established his cell here in the 6thC

The nave of Glasgow Cathedral. Sunlight streaming through the windows illuminating the stonework and floor.

View of the choir of Glasgow Cathedral showing the organ pipes, choir screen and timber vaulted roof. The transcept and nave are visible beyond.

View of the choir of Glasgow Cathedral looking towards the altar. Sunlight through clerestory windows illuninating the stonework.

Inside Glasgow Cathedral on a bright January morning.
After visiting the beautiful Glasgow Wellspring mosaic in the crypt, I was in awe of the quality of light and space in the nave and choir, as sunlight streamed through the windows.
The medieval Gothic stonemasons knew what they were doing.

Memories of a lovely house concert from The Brothers Gillespie last November at #FolkAtTheLodge

This is good news. Garry has been found and is now safely at home 👇

Hope you find him soon🤞

Labyrinthitis sounds horrid. Woodpeckers sound amazing!

Have a listen to #BlackDogRadio this Saturday morning. Three hours a great music on Mixcloud Live 📻🎶🎧👇

Morning Andy and all yoir listeners in #BlackDogRadio land! Beautiful morning in Chester too, if a bit chilly. Enjoying the gentle start to the show ☺️

Mackintosh fire: delayed rebuild hinges on looming insurance hearing Mackintosh fire: delayed rebuild hinges on looming insurance hearing

Progress on rebuilding the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) Mackintosh building could be decided by an insurance arbitration hearing next month

A definite keeper, I'd say👏

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science 🔬 🌱 🧪

As a female-led charity, we're proud to work with many incredible women, including scientists, ecologists and hedgehog advocates all over the world - today we're celebrating them all 🙌

#womeninstem #womeninscience #wildlifewednesday

What’s it really like to work in science at the RSPB? To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we speak to six of our Conservation Scientists.

This #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience meet just six of the inspiring women in our Conservation Science department and hear about some of their most memorable moments at the RSPB 🧪

Read the full story here: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...