The long and complex history of the British isles, composed of centuries of conquest and colonisation, has bequeathed to us a linguistic heritage unlike that of any other country, this is reflected most clearly in the history behind our place names. Inspired by the article I recently published about ‘Bothvar’s farm’ here we have aContinue reading “Some notes on Placenames of the Northwest and the Ancient Wildwoods”
Tag Archives: #Yorkshire
The Common Adder
The Common Adder, Vipera berus, is locally common in the Northwest of England and can often be found in the summer sunbathing on paths in the woods or on the fells, it is one of only four species of snake in the British isles and the only species of snake that can be found withinContinue reading “The Common Adder”
The Early Purple Orchid
The Early Purple Orchid, Orchis mascula, is, as its name implies, one of the earliest orchids to appear in the British countryside, flowering in April, all the way through to June. Its scientific name; mascula, derives from the shape of its tubers and roots which are, not to put too fine a point on it,Continue reading “The Early Purple Orchid”
Bothvar’s Cattle Farm
Bothvar was a Norse cattle farmer who settled in the Bowland area between 900 to 1100 AD, not much more is known about him or his fate, what is known is that he established a cattle farm near Dunsop bridge which is now called Beatrix Farm. The Norse that settled in the north of EnglandContinue reading “Bothvar’s Cattle Farm”
The Green Tiger Beetle
The Green Tiger beetle, Cicindela campestris, is a beautiful looking, strikingly iridescent, green beetle about 1 to 1.5cm long with yellow spots on its wing cases, they are superb and voracious predators and have the large eyes and mandibles needed to keep this appetite satisfied. Their scientific name originates from the Latin word cicindela, meaningContinue reading “The Green Tiger Beetle”
Part Two of The Bluebell, in which we look its lifecycle and the problem of the invasive Spanish Bluebell
Part Two of The Bluebell In Part 1 of this 2 part series about the Bluebell we looked at where and when you might see this beautiful spring flower bloom, in this part I’ll write more about the lifecycle of this plant and one of the main threats to its existence, the Spanish Bluebell. Fragrant,Continue reading “Part Two of The Bluebell, in which we look its lifecycle and the problem of the invasive Spanish Bluebell”
A rough guide to some of the various bits of farm machinery you might see around the countryside of Northern England
Types of farm machinery This is a basic and non-exhaustive guide to some of the various bits of agricultural machinery you might see in use in the fields, trundling in front of you on a narrow country lane, or rusting away in a farmyard around the countryside of Northern England. Balers, little, square, and roundContinue reading “A rough guide to some of the various bits of farm machinery you might see around the countryside of Northern England”
The Swift and its fleeting visit to our isles
The Devil’s bird The screaming, soaring Swift, Apus apus, has always seemed a magical bird, in the way of all of the natural phenomena in the world whose nature has always been mysterious to us, they were once known as the ‘Devil’s bird’ as the screaming flocks of black crosses around church spires seemed toContinue reading “The Swift and its fleeting visit to our isles”
Northwest Nature and History 