This time of year, (around the end of November / start of December as of writing) is known as the “hinge of the year” by upland farmers. The clocks have gone back, the bracken has bleached to rust, and the last of the swallows are long gone. Up on the fells the year’s main outdoor work might be done, yet it never really stops. This is the season of maintenance, mending, and quiet worry.
Tag Archives: Farming
Broken Pledges
In July 2024, the Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, assumed power with ambitious pledges to restore nature, combat climate change, and position the UK as a global leader in environmental stewardship.
However, by November 2025, several policy decisions, particularly in planning and infrastructure, have drawn sharp criticism for diluting longstanding environmental protections, and it has become apparent that Labour have reneged on these pledges (1).
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
Farming, the Next Generation
The United Kingdom’s agricultural sector stands as a pillar of food security, rural economies, and environmental management, yet it faces a generational shift amid rapidly evolving challenges. With the average farmer’s age around 60, the industry urgently needs fresh talent to ensure its sustainability yet many have abandoned the profession. For a long while theContinue reading “Farming, the Next Generation”
Hairy, or Forage Vetch, Vicia villosa
Hairy vetch, Vicia villosa, commonly known as Fodder vetch, is a vibrantly coloured and highly adaptable wildflower belonging to the Fabaceae family, which includes peas, beans, and other legumes. Native to the British isles and found in a wide array of habitats the plant typically grows as a climbing or scrambling herbaceous perennial, reaching heightsContinue reading “Hairy, or Forage Vetch, Vicia villosa”
Dunsop Bridge’s Beginnings
Part of a Series of Notes about Dunsop Bridge and other Hodder Valley Communities At the heart of Great Britain, in the centre of the Forest of Bowland, sits the pretty, well-kept village of Dunsop Bridge. Just 9 miles northwest of the Ribble valley town of Clitheroe, this tiny settlement is often celebrated as theContinue reading “Dunsop Bridge’s Beginnings”
The Small Heath Butterfly and its Reliance on Grazed Pastureland
The Small Heath butterfly, Coenonympha pamphilus, a diminutive member of the Nymphalidae family, is a widespread yet increasingly vulnerable species across the British Isles. In Northwest England, this unassuming butterfly thrives in a variety of open, grassy habitats, but its populations are closely tied to specific ecological conditions, particularly those shaped by traditional land managementContinue reading “The Small Heath Butterfly and its Reliance on Grazed Pastureland”
Northwest Nature and History 