Lacewings are amongst the most enchanting and delicate insects encountered in the British isles and are named so for their exquisitely intricate wings, which resemble fine lace due to the network of veins that crisscross them. These wings are typically held roof-like over their bodies when at rest, giving them a distinctive silhouette and areContinue reading “Beauty and the Beast; the Lacewing and the Lion”
Tag Archives: #Yorkshire
The Upland Collection
Here is a list of some of the articles I have published which fall under the broad category of ‘moorland’ or ‘uplands’, it’s by no means exhaustive as there will be some I’ve missed out, some which overlap other themes and others which sit on the fringes. I hope you find it a useful and/orContinue reading “The Upland Collection”
The Wild and Yellow Bloom of Gorse
The Flowers of Gorse, Bright and Bold, Paint the Landscape with Strokes of Gold Also known as ‘furze’ or ‘Whin’, Gorse, Ulex europaeus, is an exceedingly spiny evergreen shrub with an abundance of aromatic yellow flowers and a familiar sight across the Northwest of England, from the windswept mountainsides of the Lake District to theContinue reading “The Wild and Yellow Bloom of Gorse”
Admiring the Barns and Walls of Northwest England
The Northwest of England is home to some remarkably beautiful landscapes, shaped over millennia by traditional farming practices. It is a part of the world famous for its ancient drystone walls and barns, built from the bones of the land and woven seamlessly into its very fabric in such a way that manmade and naturalContinue reading “Admiring the Barns and Walls of Northwest England”
Nursery Web Spiders
Nursery web spiders are fascinating creatures known for their unique parental care and courting behaviour. Their scientific name is Pisaura mirabilis and the second half of this, mirabilis (the root of the word miraculous), means ‘admirable’ or ‘remarkable’ and refers to the remarkable parental care the mother gives to her progeny. Another name commonly usedContinue reading “Nursery Web Spiders”
The Bullfinch
The Common Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, is perhaps the best-known species within the Pyrrhula genus, aptly named after the Greek word pyrros, meaning ‘flame-colored’. It is the male who is most strikingly coloured, sporting a rich, rosy-pink breast, black cap, and grey back. In contrast the female is more conservatively dressed with a lighter pink breastContinue reading “The Bullfinch”
Seo Wulf-mona
The Wolf-moon Tonight, given that the weather forecast is cloudy and rainy, there is a slim chance that you might be able see the full beauty of the January full moon, also known as the ‘Wolf moon’ or ‘Old moon’. The Northwest of England has several dark sky discovery sites in and around it, theseContinue reading “Seo Wulf-mona”
Skiing for Sheep, Chapter Two
On the western flank of Pendle, in a rather peculiar location that I can only surmise was chosen for its spectacular views, is one of the Ribble valley’s most unique and venerable sports venues, Pendle Ski Club. At the time of this story (1995) we were members and used the facilities quite a lot. (WeContinue reading “Skiing for Sheep, Chapter Two”
Northwest Nature and History 