At first glance, Chitons (pronounced “Ki-ton”) don’t demand much attention; grey, unassuming and measuring only a few centimetres in length they usually go unnoticed by the casual passer-by or, at the least, are presumed to be limpets or a part of the rocks they live upon. Yet, like a lot of our wildlife, if youContinue reading “Northern Shores: Chitons, Armoured Knights of the Intertidal Realm”
Category Archives: Natural history
Northern Shores: Sea Campion
A Study of the Marine Wildflower and its Biology, using Occurrences on the Lancashire coast as an Example Recently my wife and I re-visited a part of the Lancashire coast called Half Moon Bay, which lies between the pretty little village of Heysham and Heysham power station (not so little or pretty.) It’s a partContinue reading “Northern Shores: Sea Campion”
Privet in its Prime
Privet in its Prime Perfect for Pollinators Pretty and Perfumed A B-H (June 2025)
Round-leaved Sundew
The Round-leaved Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia, (Drosera meaning ‘dewy’ in latin) is a small carnivorous plant found in bogs, it is locally common but hard to find, in England its strongholds are our upland moors, in particular those found in the Northwest. Insectivorous A small and peculiar looking plant, with reddish coloured ‘leaves’ covered in stickyContinue reading “Round-leaved Sundew”
The Banded Demoiselle
Between the patches of dappled sunlight and shadows that the overhanging Alder leaves cast on the slow-moving river a flash of iridescent blue catches the eye. This is the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), a damselfly of such striking beauty that it seems more like a fragment of stained glass than a creature of flesh andContinue reading “The Banded Demoiselle”
The Ecological Importance of Urban Gardens
Introduction Our street is much like any other in Great Britain, it’s in the middle of a largish housing estate, built in the 70’s and situated between boxy brick council houses built in the 50’s and a grey, rabbit-warren like concrete council estate built in the 80’s, known locally as ‘Lego-land’. Along our street sitsContinue reading “The Ecological Importance of Urban Gardens”
The Greater Butterfly Orchid
The Greater Butterfly Orchid, Platanthera chlorantha is a herbaceous perennial that typically grows to a height of 20 to 60 cm. It is easily recognised by its pair of broad, shiny, elliptical leaves at the base, with smaller, lanceolate leaves higher up the stem. The plant’s flower spike, which blooms from May to July, bearsContinue reading “The Greater Butterfly Orchid”
Comfrey
Comfrey, Symphytum officinale, also known as ‘knitbone’ is a hardy perennial herb, native to the British Isles and thriving in our temperate climate, especially in the damp, fertile soils often found along riverbanks, ditches, and meadows. From late spring to early autumn this attractive-looking wildflower produces clusters of delicate tubular flowers, typically in shades ofContinue reading “Comfrey”
Northwest Nature and History 