With a total land area of approximately 13 million hectares, this small but densely populated country supports over 58 million souls, making it one of the most tightly packed nations in Europe. Yet beneath the statistics lies a more complex story of constrained landscapes, protected wild places and productive farmland that has sustained us for generations.
Author Archives: Northwest nature and history
The Gentleman’s Terrier
The Manchester Terrier is one of our oldest identifiable terrier breeds, with a lineage that can be traced back centuries. Sleek, black-and-tan, and combining the speed of a sighthound with the tenacity of a terrier, it was purpose-bred for vermin control and sport. Today, it remains a spirited yet affectionate companion, though it is considered a vulnerable native breed in its homeland.
Ragged Robin
Ragged Robin (Silene flos-cuculi, formerly Lychnis flos-cuculi) is a plant of many names, these include: Cuckoo Flower (because it flowers as the Cuckoo arrives,) Thunder flower (in some parts of Yorkshire picking it will bring thunderstorms) Shaggy Jacks, and Marsh Gillyflower.
St Patrick’s Chapel
Perched dramatically on its rocky headland, overlooking the wild expanse of Morecambe Bay, the ruins of St Patrick’s Chapel are one of the most evocative early medieval sites in the British Isles.
Opisthograptis luteolata, the Brimstone Moth
Adult Brimstones are typically on the wing from April to October. In southern regions, there are often two or even three overlapping generations, while in our cooler northern parts this may reduce to a single brood. The species is strongly attracted to light and can often be found resting on walls or fences near outdoor lamps.
Challenging the Consensus: Is Building More Homes Really the Solution to Britain’s Housing Crisis?
The prevailing view in British politics and media holds that the country suffers from a severe housing shortage, necessitating the construction of hundreds of thousands of new homes each year, often pegged at 300,000 or more, to address population growth, household formation, and affordability issues.
This narrative suggests that ramping up supply would ease prices, rents, and homelessness, yet a detailed review of the evidence paints a more complex reality.
Common Bistort
The pink flower spikes of Common Bistort, towering over other wildflowers on their tall, straight stems, are a familiar sight to many of us who have walked the highways and byways of Northwest England in spring and early summer.
The Pinnacle, Part Two
In the shadow of Clitheroe Castle, standing alone on its Limestone mount watching over the Ribble Valley, stands a rather unlikely monument: a tall, ornate gothic spire that once graced a very different skyline.
