In the cold depths of a northern winter farmers will go through a lot of hay, it’s good, nutritious winter fodder for store lambs, hill sheep overwintering in the valleys, dairy cows, beef cattle, and horses. It’s also portable, there are 3 types of bale which can be easily transported in winter time when feedingContinue reading “Haytime”
Tag Archives: #Lancashire
The Common Blue
The Common Blue Butterfly, Polyommatus icarus, is on the wing now and can be seen in most parts of the British isles fluttering low in the grasses and shrubs of our countryside and gardens. There are several species of blue butterflies in the British isles but the Common Blue, as its names suggests, is theContinue reading “The Common Blue”
Common Butterwort
The Common Butterwort, Pinguicula vulgaris, is a carnivorous plant and member of the Lentibulariaceae family, which are all carnivorous, it is one of several carnivorous plant species found in the British isles which include Bladderworts and Sundews. Its common name is thought to come from its traditional use as an agent to help milk curdleContinue reading “Common Butterwort”
Padiham on Parade
Padiham on Parade is on the 29th and 30th of June this year, it’s a whole weekend themed around the 1940s and well worth visiting as there’s lots of events and things to see for all ages and interests. This years programme; Here’s some photos from the last couple of year’s events; A B-H
The Common Field Grasshopper
The chirping of grasshoppers is a familiar sound in the British countryside during the summer months and certainly contributing its song to this chorus is the Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus, which is one of our most common and widespread grasshopper species. Its scientific name is rare in being perfectly descriptive of the creature, (youContinue reading “The Common Field Grasshopper”
Padiham Greenway, Part One
There are several thousand miles of closed railway lines around the British isles, many of which have been re-purposed as footpaths, bridle-ways and cycle-paths for the use of the public. Many of these were closed in the decades since the ‘Beeching cuts’ of the 60’s, when the incumbent Chairman of the British Railways Board, RichardContinue reading “Padiham Greenway, Part One”
Meadow Crane’s-bill
Meadow Cranesbill, Geranium pratense, is a perennial wildflower of the British countryside and is in bloom from June to August, its scientific name pratense means ‘of the meadow’ but it is often found on roadside verges, embankments and hedgerows too. Its nectar-rich flowers make it an important and popular plant for many species of pollinatingContinue reading “Meadow Crane’s-bill”
The Lady of the Stream
Otherwise known as the lady of the stream, the Grayling, Thymalus thymalus, is a freshwater fish native to the British isles and here in the northwest we’re lucky enough to have many rivers this beautiful fish deems pleasant enough to call home; In Cumbria the rivers Eden and Derwent, the latter known as ‘the queenContinue reading “The Lady of the Stream”
Northwest Nature and History 