The Painted Lady belongs to the Nymphalidae family (brush-footed butterflies) and is a medium-sized species with a wingspan of approximately 50 to 56mm. Its upper wings are vibrant orange with black tips and white spots, while the underwings feature a more muted, mottled pattern that provides camouflage when resting.
Author Archives: Northwest nature and history
A Stroll Through Time: The Long History of Blackpool’s North Pier
The pier’s story begins in the early 1860s, when Blackpool was rapidly transforming from a modest bathing resort into a booming destination for industrial workers seeking fresh air and entertainment. In 1861, prominent local businessmen gathered at the Clifton Arms Hotel to discuss building a pier. They appointed the renowned pier designer Eugenius Birch, whose innovative cast-iron structures (he designed 14 piers altogether) would define many British seaside landmarks.
The Effects of Large-Scale Construction in Rural Areas
Large-scale construction projects in the countryside bring heavy machinery, thousands of lorry movements, and years of activity.
Vibration damage to old buildings is a well-known concern, and construction causes many other problems for rural communities, landscapes, and environments.
These effects are often prolonged because rural areas have fewer buffers and less infrastructure to absorb the pressure.
Borage, the Starflower
A fast-growing annual that typically reaches 30 to 60 cm (sometimes up to 1 metre) in height Borage’s stems and leaves are covered in stiff, white hairs that can feel prickly to the touch, a trait shared with many members of the borage family, including Comfrey. The leaves are large, oval to lance-shaped, with a wrinkled texture and a distinctive fresh, cucumber-like scent when crushed.
Yellow Flag Iris
Like many wetland plants, I. pseudacorus plays an important role in its ecosystem. Its dense clumps provide cover and nesting sites for birds such as Moorhen and Reed Warbler, while the rhizomes help stabilise banks and prevent erosion. The flowers are visited by a range of pollinators, particularly larger bees (including Bumblebees) that are strong enough to push open the petals to reach the nectar and pollen.
A Pint-Size History of the Inn at Whitewell
The Inn at Whitewell is a venerable old building with a long and storied history. It began its life in the late 14th century as a small manor-house overlooking the River Hodder and served as the residence for the keepers of the King’s Forest of Bowland.
Shining Cranesbill
Shining Cranesbill (Geranium lucidum), sometimes known as ‘gentleman’s buttons’, is a charming, glossy-leaved annual wildflower that brightens walls, banks, and rocky spots throughout the British isles.
It gets its common-name from its distinctive shiny, reflective leaves, which set it apart from relatives like Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum). The leaves are rounded or kidney-shaped, divided into 5 to 7 lobes cut about halfway, often with a glossy green surface that can flush red. Stems are brittle, fleshy, hairless, and frequently reddish, growing up to 35 to 40 cm tall (though often shorter and sprawling).
Nicrophorus, the Death Carrier
Sexton beetles, also known as burying beetles, are nature’s undertakers and very good at their job.
They belong to the genus Nicrophorus within the family Silphidae (carrion beetles) and play a vital ecological role by locating, burying, and recycling small animal carcasses, thereby reducing the spread of disease and returning nutrients back to the soil.
Northwest Nature and History 