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”
Tag Archives: #Summer
Albert and the Lion
There’s a famous seaside place called Blackpool,That’s noted for fresh air and fun,And Mr and Mrs RamsbottomWent there with young Albert, their son. A grand little lad was young Albert,All dressed in his best; quite a swellWith a stick with an ‘orse’s ‘ead ‘andle,The finest that Woolworth’s could sell. They didn’t think much to theContinue reading “Albert and the Lion”
Northern Shores: Sea Campion
A Study of the Marine Wildflower and its Biology, using Occurrences on the Lancashire coast as an Example Recently my wife and I re-visited a part of the Lancashire coast called Half Moon Bay, which lies between the pretty little village of Heysham and Heysham power station (not so little or pretty.) It’s a partContinue reading “Northern Shores: Sea Campion”
Privet in its Prime
Privet in its Prime Perfect for Pollinators Pretty and Perfumed A B-H (June 2025)
Round-leaved Sundew
The Round-leaved Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia, (Drosera meaning ‘dewy’ in latin) is a small carnivorous plant found in bogs, it is locally common but hard to find, in England its strongholds are our upland moors, in particular those found in the Northwest. Insectivorous A small and peculiar looking plant, with reddish coloured ‘leaves’ covered in stickyContinue reading “Round-leaved Sundew”
The Banded Demoiselle
Between the patches of dappled sunlight and shadows that the overhanging Alder leaves cast on the slow-moving river a flash of iridescent blue catches the eye. This is the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), a damselfly of such striking beauty that it seems more like a fragment of stained glass than a creature of flesh andContinue reading “The Banded Demoiselle”
The Greater Butterfly Orchid
The Greater Butterfly Orchid, Platanthera chlorantha is a herbaceous perennial that typically grows to a height of 20 to 60 cm. It is easily recognised by its pair of broad, shiny, elliptical leaves at the base, with smaller, lanceolate leaves higher up the stem. The plant’s flower spike, which blooms from May to July, bearsContinue reading “The Greater Butterfly Orchid”
Slaidburn Steam Rally
Slaidburn Steam Rally, or The Slaidburn Steam and Vintage Vehicle Display, to give it its official name, is an annual event held in the village of Slaidburn in the Forest of Bowland. Although originally conceived as solely for steam a variety of other vehicles now attend, including vintage cars and tractors, alongside stalls showcasing localContinue reading “Slaidburn Steam Rally”
Northwest Nature and History 