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
Category Archives: Natural history
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.
Northern Shores: The Common Redshank
Regarding the Redshank, Tringa totanus, its Ecology, Conservation and Occurrence on the Coasts of Northwest England
Chanterelle; Notes on Biology and Foraging
Chanterelles belong to the Cantharellaceae family and their scientific name derives from the Greek word kantharos (κάνθαρος) which is a type of cup, describing their distinctive funnel or trumpet-like shape, with cibarius coming from the latin cibus which simply means ‘food’.
The Marvellous Migratory Silver Y Moth
Notes on the moth species Autographa gamma and its ecology in Northwest England, including a chapter on the phenomenon of Phototaxis
Damson Days
Damson Days, a look at the ancient hedgerow fruit, its origins, uses and cultural history, including a simple recipe for a preserve
Wild Carrot, or Queen Anne’s Lace, a Common Wasteland Wildflower
Wild Carrot, Daucus carota, is a common and widespread wasteland wildflower yet is often overlooked by botanists and passers-by, read about this interesting and ecologically important ancestor of the domesticated carrot here
Northwest Nature and History 