Northwest nature and history

Cotton Chronicles: The Cotton Mill

Hum, whirl, click, click, clatter, Rolling, rambling, moving matter: Whizzing, hissing, hitting, missing, Pushing, pulling, turning, twisting.

Buntings in Bowland

Snow Buntings are true Arctic specialists, thriving in barren, open habitats with sparse vegetation. They breed in high-latitude tundras but undertake impressively long migrations southward during winter to avoid the perpetual darkness and sub-zero temperatures.

The Controversial Practice of Controlled Burning (v2)

Version 2 of an article originally published in 2023, looking at the land management practice known as controlled burning, heather burning or muirburn, updated and amended with latest research, data, policy and regulations

Tommy Stroo’s Ghost by John Charles Twist

Th’ moon wur sheignin’ rare, an’ breet,

An’ stars wur twinklin’ o’er mi heyd,

When aw wur walkin’ deawn th’ owd street,

Wi’ Tommy Stroo’s ghost bi mi seyd.

Unnatural Histories; The Crier of Claife

For generations, ferrymen operating the historic crossing betwixt Ferry Nab and Sawrey knew better than to heed these unearthly cries after dark, for they knew that these were no ordinary pleas but rather the desperate howls of a damned soul.

The Effects of Fireworks on Migrating Birds

Fireworks, while a staple of celebrations around the world, from New Year’s Eve to national holidays like Diwali and Bonfire Night, are increasingly coming under scrutiny for their enormous environmental impacts.

Beyond the visual spectacle and auditory booms that we enjoy, these pyrotechnic displays release noise, light, and chemical pollutants that can profoundly affect wildlife.

Among the most vulnerable are migrating bird species, which rely on precise navigation, energy conservation, and undisturbed rest during their arduous journeys.

The Common Inkcap, Coprinopsis atramentaria

As the autumn rains soak our countryside, the fruiting bodies of fungi sprout forth, bewitching us with their bewildering multitude of forms.
One of the most bizarre of these is the Common Inkcap.

Unnatural Histories; Burnley’s Boggarts

Lancashire’s misty moors and ancient lanes are inhabited by all sorts of weird and eldritch beings; witches, spectral dogs and highwaymen have haunted these parts for centuries. Yet few of these mythical entities evoke as much intrigue and trepidation as the boggart.