Tag Archives: #Northwestnatureandhistory

The Beefsteak Fungus

Beefsteak Fungus, Fistulina hepatica (Fistulina coming from the Latin Fistulosus, meaning ‘full of pipes’, and hepatica coming from the Greek word hepatikos, meaning ‘of the liver’) is also sometimes known as the Beefsteak Polypore, Ox Tongue Fungus and Liver Fungus. It is very common in some areas and highly regarded by connoisseurs of funghi, appearingContinue reading “The Beefsteak Fungus”

The Teasel

The Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, is a tall, distinctive looking and handsome wildflower found throughout the British isles wherever nature has been given free reign to do whatever it likes, for this reason some refer to it not as a wildflower, but as a weed. In the first year of its growth it is a fairlyContinue reading “The Teasel”

The Longridge Line

The Longridge Line If you visit the stone quarries just to the north of the Lancashire town of Longridge you may find the remnants of a short-lived railway that used to run from there to the village of Grimsargh and then on to Preston, a failed enterprise which had great ambitions. This article looks atContinue reading “The Longridge Line”

Bog, or Lancashire Asphodel, an example of how modern science can back up ancient wisdom

Bog Asphodel, Narthecium ossifragum, also known as ‘Lancashire Asphodel’ or ‘moor gold’ in the north of England, grows in wet patches of bog and is a little orange-coloured plant with flowers that look like a little spike of orange wheat. They flower from July to August and if you look closely you can see thatContinue reading “Bog, or Lancashire Asphodel, an example of how modern science can back up ancient wisdom”

The ‘Glorious Twelfth’

Every year on the Twelfth of August, since around the mid 1800’s, on hills and moors all around the British isles, well-heeled men and women have taken to the hills with their shotguns, dogs and supporting entourage of loaders and picker-uppers to take part in the tradition known as the ‘Glorious Twelfth’. Contentious The sportContinue reading “The ‘Glorious Twelfth’”

Bilberry Season is here!

Bilberries Bilberry, or Whinberry, season traditionally begins at the start of August and doesn’t last long, although this year it looks like it’s going to be another fairly productive one. There are many regional names for Vaccinium myrtilus, in some parts of Ireland and Scotland it’s called a blaeberry, in the South of England aContinue reading “Bilberry Season is here!”

Escowbeck House

Escowbeck house is a rambling country manor near the village of Quernmore (pronounced “kor-mer”) on the Western edge of the Forest of Bowland, built in 1842 and surrounded by 20 acres of landscaped parkland. Escouthebroc Its unusual name is Norse in origin, coming from ‘eski’, meaning Ash tree, ‘hofud’ meaning hill, and ‘bekkr’ meaning beckContinue reading “Escowbeck House”