The Sun Catcher sculpture was commissioned by the Forest of Bowland A.O.N.B (now known as National Landscape) in 2014 as part of the area’s 50th Anniversary of being designated an Area Of Natural Beauty and stood on Jeffrey Hill for 1 year. It was one of 4 sculptures around the area and was designed byContinue reading “The Sun Catcher”
Tag Archives: #Forestofbowland
The Storm Cock
The Mistle Thrush, Turdus viscivorus, is a large pale Thrush with dark speckles, quite often seen high at the top of a tree, singing its flutelike song, or in gardens and fields bullying smaller birds for food. Both its scientific name, Turdus viscivorus and its common name mean ‘the Thrush that eats Mistletoe’ as theyContinue reading “The Storm Cock”
The Nuthatch
The Nuthatch, Sitta europaea, (sitta meaning ‘seed’), is quite similar to, and often confused with, Woodpeckers and treecreepers but is a member of its own genus and quite unique. They are very agile and mobile little birds, able to ascend and descend tree trunks upside down or the right way up, they are unique inContinue reading “The Nuthatch”
Hair Ice
Hair ice, also known as Frost Beard or Ice Wool, is very rare and only forms in very specific conditions, for many centuries its formation had been a complete mystery to science. However researchers found in 2015 that it is formed by a fungus, Exidiopsis effusa, it only forms between 45° and 55° North inContinue reading “Hair Ice”
The December Moth
The December Moth, Poecilocampa populi, (Poecilo is Ancient Greek for ‘varied’ or ‘spotted’, campa meaning ‘field’ and populi meaning ‘common’) is a very aptly named moth, being one of the few, if not the only moth flying in the cold depths of winter. Active when others are asleep It is a medium sized moth, withContinue reading “The December Moth”
The Stoat’s Winter Coat
The Stoat, Mustela erminea, is a Mustelid, related to the Weasel and Otter, the first part of its scientific name; Mustela, relates to the species’ musty smell, and the second part; erminea, is the name given to a Stoat when it is wearing its winter coat. Handsome predator In winter the Stoat’s fur changes colourContinue reading “The Stoat’s Winter Coat”
A Brief History of Browsholme Hall
Deep in the wooded countryside of Bowland sits the privately owned Elizabethan hall of Browsholme, inhabited by the Parker family and commonly stated in tourist brochures to be the oldest family home in the area, although several local family-owned farms also hold claims to this title. In this article i’ll briefly look at the historyContinue reading “A Brief History of Browsholme Hall”
Tracking Animals in the Snow
Now that the first flurries of snow have dusted the Pennine Peaks (it’s just started snowing here in Padiham as I edit this! (Nov 2023)) I thought it would be a good time to publish this short guide to identifying some of the animal tracks you might see whilst out and about. A good wayContinue reading “Tracking Animals in the Snow”
Northwest Nature and History 