Peter Driver

Surprised to find at least 15 Palmate newts in a local woodland stream. They were loitering in the deeper slow flowing pools. At least 15 in this pool but probably more #newts #amphibiansuk

Some more beautiful examples nearby #oaks #woodlandtrust

And this one has a girth of 7.1 metres #oaks #woodlandtrust

We are lucky to have some superb Oak trees in Benenden. None of them are classed as Ancient on the Ancient Tree Inventory but this one looks like a good candidate to me #oaks #woodlandtrust

Catherine is there any chance you could send me a higher res copy of your knopper gall pic? I have written a piece for our parish magazine about Oaks (which mentions knoppers) but I need a pic suitable for printing in colour. Would you be happy for me to use it?

Fascinating shape to this Oak in Benenden. Bell bottom trees like this one occur when the tree sustains damage which allows infection to reach into the heart of the tree and weaken it. The tree responds by growing more wood around the damaged area strengthening the trunk of the tree. #oak #trees

Early Purple Orchids well on their way now, Benenden, Kent

This is an iconic Oak tree in the village but I'm worried! In 2009 it was 7 degrees from vertical but now it's more like 16 degrees. I suspect the roots were cut when the path was constructed. Can this be saved? It's 300 years old but how much longer can it last? #trees #oak @WoodlandTrust

The Ashes of London series by Andrew Taylor is my favourite historical fiction. Set soon after the restoration of the monarchy, the books have mystery, romance, politics and great characters both real and fictional. Give it a go!

YouTube video by Pond Lab Pond Dipping - an in depth guide

I just posted my in depth guide to pond dipping - for those who enjoy looking for pond life and those that might be interested in doing so :)
youtu.be/OLQjl6dj2Hc
#Bugsky #PondLife #freshwater #UKWildlife

A couple of Common brackets today in misty Kent woodland - Birch Polypore and Oak Mazegill
#funghi #Kentwildlife

The 2024 Headline of the Year Nominees

🧵

Do you think there's enough food around for them or would they be better off conserving their energy? I wonder if a cold winter would be better for hibernators.

Back in April I smeared a Mistletoe berry onto this apple tree. A month later you can see it's taken but not much has changed since then - perhaps the roots are a little sturdier but I don't think there'll be any kissing under this for a few years #trees #mistletoe #christmas

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Dungeness: Dartford Warblers bred for the first time on The Point this year, these pictures of the foraging male taken in May. #UKBirding #Kentbirding

It's mostly an early spring flower although a few bloom this time of year.

A primrose blooming well in time for Christmas in Kent #wildflowerhour

Partial "rainbow" today with no rain (it's pretty nippy but with bright sunshine) . Is this caused by light refraction from ice crystals in the cloud? Or something else? #cloud #rainbow #cloudbow #cloudspotting

Plant of the Week – December 9th 2024 – Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis) One of the ‘World’s Worst Weeds’ but rather harmless here in its native range.

The Botanical Society of Scotland’s species of the week: Scarlet Pimpernel

botsoc.scot/2024/12/08/p...

Warning issued to anyone with magpies in their garden Magpies can cause damage to gardens, particularly in the breeding season.

According to the Express, magpies are "hooligans" & "instinctive killers" best controlled by using pesticides to kill their insect prey. Against stiff competition, possibly the worst piece of journalism I've seen. www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1984...

Plan for Change: Don’t blame bats - News - Bat Conservation Trust The Prime Minister was wrong to label the regulators as “naysayers” and to undermine the regulations that protect out natural heritage and environment.

Disappointing to see the PM has succumbed to populist nonsense using 🦇 as scapegoats for spiralling costs and delays of HS2.

Undermining regulations that protect our natural heritage and environment is not the way forward.

Future generations will not forgive us!
www.bats.org.uk/news/2024/12...

Unfortunately I don't know but the chap who found the nest has found and recorded one 5 years running in Benenden so they are still clinging on here. Sadly he's only on 'X'!

'Unsustainable' breeding season for British Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has endured a woeful breeding season in Britain, with The Woodpecker Network describing 2024 as

A pair bred in Benenden this year - one of just 9 nests found in the whole of Britain. A grim outlook
www.birdguides.com/news/unsusta...

I also found two Orange Ladybirds, another common species which feeds on mildew, particularly that found on Sycamore and Ash

Hundreds of 16 Spot Ladybirds, a fairly common grassland species, overwintering on these fence posts in Benenden, Kent

Wall chart of tree bark - free download - UK species.

The hi-res file is a free download or you can buy a print
also tree leaves & buds posters

microcosmic.shop

@brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social
@chrisgpackham.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social

The Chequered Skipper caterpillar is incredible! Before it creates an overwintering cocoon, it is green, to match the leaves of its foodplant. The plant dies back in the winter and, in the spring & before pupating, the caterpillar (without moulting) has turned light brown, now matching dead leaves.

Graphical abstract of science paper 'bumble bee damage plant leaves and accelerate flower production' with a list of the authors on a grey background. On the left is a watercolour illustration of a bumble bee damaging a plant leaf with the description 'when hungry for pollen, bumble bees use their mouthparts and mandibles to damage plant leaves'. this illustration is connected by a orange arrow to a watercolour drawing of a flowering yellow black mustard plant with a bumble bee. This has the description: 2) the damage inflicted by bees causes plants to flower earlier than paired control plants.

🌟 Throwback to my 2020 research published in @science.org 🌼🐝We showed how bumble bees actively shape their environment—making plants flower earlier to meet their needs. Nature’s engineers in action!🧪🌏
Sharing this for anyone who missed it—let’s dive in![1/17] 👇

Slovenian girl, 12, saves project aiming to reintroduce cicadas to New Forest Conservationists failed to capture elusive insects this summer, so Kristina Kenda offered to step in

I'm not quite sure why this article has cheered me up but it has! 12 year old girl to the rescue
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A nice holiday butterfly poolside - a Scarce Swallow tail (although quite common here in Puglia!) It's lost half a hind wing probably to a bird distracted by it's "eyes"