All about the Natural History and History of the Northwest of England
Last year news was released of a private initiative to build a £100 billion, 45,000 acre city of 400,000 homes in the countryside east of the city of Cambridge.
Upon hearing about the proposal, called Forest City 1, which would count as Britain’s largest ever such ‘mega-development’ and is intended to be the first of several, I scrutinised it in great detail.
Bullrush spread via robust rhizomes underground, forming dense colonies that can dominate wetland edges, and flowering occurs from June to August, with wind-pollination ensuring widespread dispersal. Come autumn, the female spikes burst open, releasing fluffy seeds on the breeze, each equipped with a downy parachute for travel.
Forest City 1 is a recently proposed city development planned for agricultural land on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border. A private initiative its purported aims are to address the housing crisis in the UK and stimulate economic growth.
Here I dissect these proposals, uncover the flaws within them that may cause irreparable harm to our environment and society, and suggest some viable alternatives and solutions.
The month of January, in the heart of winter when claws of ice, wind and rain grip the British countryside, can prove hard for those that work outdoors, it is also a pivotal time when decisions must be made and tallies taken, especially for our 3000+ gamekeepers.
The Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, also known as Quickthorn, Whitethorn, or the May tree, is one of the most common small trees, (or large shrubs, depending on how you look at it), to be found in the British isles. Their scientific name comes from the Greek word for ‘strength’; Crataegus, and monogyna comes from mono, meaningContinue reading “The Hawthorn”
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.
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).
Notes on the moth species Autographa gamma and its ecology in Northwest England, including a chapter on the phenomenon of Phototaxis
Northwest Nature and History