Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola, (scolopax being the genus name and rusticola coming from the latin words rusticus, meaning ‘rural’ and colere ‘to live’,) are arriving by the tens of thousands in the British isles at the moment, by the light of the full moon. The ‘Woodcock moon’ as it is called is traditionally the last fullContinue reading “The Woodcock Moon”
Author Archives: Northwest nature and history
Unnatural Histories, Pudsey’s Leap and the Fairy’s Silver Bit
In St Peter and St Paul’s church in the village of Bolton-by-Bowland in deepest, darkest Lancashire you can find the ornate tomb of the 15th century landowner, Sir Ralph Pudsey, his three wives and twenty-five children. There are many stories about Ralph Pudsey but one stands out more than the others, this story is theContinue reading “Unnatural Histories, Pudsey’s Leap and the Fairy’s Silver Bit”
The Shaggy Inkcap
The Shaggy Inkcap is commonly found in the autumn months growing on roadside verges, in meadows and on garden lawns, its scientific name, Coprinus comatus, coprinus meaning ‘of dung’ and comatus meaning ‘shaggy’ or ‘hairy’, is fairly descriptive of its nature, it is also known as the ‘judges wig’. Its most common name, ‘Inkcap’ comesContinue reading “The Shaggy Inkcap”
Unnatural Histories, The Mysterious Murder of Jim Dawson
The murder of Jim Dawson In March 1934, on a quiet country lane just outside the tiny village of Bashall Eaves, Yorkshire, a mysterious murder once occurred that has remained unsolved to this day, yet still haunts the local imagination. Still a mystery to this day The murder of Jim Dawson, who was returning homeContinue reading “Unnatural Histories, The Mysterious Murder of Jim Dawson”
Lonks sheep
Lonks are a handsome black-and-white faced hill sheep traditionally kept in Bowland and the Pennines, the breed is at least 200 years old, having first been added to farmers stock books in the 1900’s. They are said to derive from flocks that Cistercian monks kept hundreds of years ago at monasteries such as Sawley Abbey.Continue reading “Lonks sheep”
Hazel Glove Fungus
The Hazel Glove fungus Hypocreopsis rhododendri, is a member of the ascomycete genus of funghi, which derives its name from the ancient Greek word ‘ascus’, which means sac. On this species the the openings of these sacs are visible as black dots on the surface of the funguses orange fingers. This fungus is found fruitingContinue reading “Hazel Glove Fungus”
Unnatural Histories, The Peculier tale of Peg O’ Nell
Peg O’ Nell or ‘peg of the well’ is a name of which nearly everyone in Clitheroe and the surrounding area knows, a character from local folklore whose history is somewhat vague and the nature of which is thought to be malevolent. St Margaret’s well Historians believe that Peg derives from Meg or Margaret, andContinue reading “Unnatural Histories, The Peculier tale of Peg O’ Nell”
Usnea Lichens
In a previous article I looked at various families of lichens and how they each indicate how clean the air is where they are found. Out of three main families we found that the lichens which require the cleanest air to survive and thrive in are the Fruticose lichens, so-called because they are bushy inContinue reading “Usnea Lichens”
Northwest Nature and History 