Category: Nature Notes

Nature Notes by Denis O’Connor For me the defining moments of spring are the emergence of the first butterflies, the arrival of migrant birds and the appearance of frogs in our ponds. The first...

Nature Notes by Aidan Smith Over the years I have acquired lots of knowledge about birds and insects, but  when it comes to identifying flora my abilities to recognise even some of the  commonest...

Nature Notes by Denis O’Connor As winter storms battered the country in the third week of February, signs of spring emerged from the bramble patch growing up against our house wall. Three of the...

Nature Notes by Denis O’Connor Could it be that the era of the country fox is ending? Certainly, for anyone wanting to see foxes in numbers the place to go is into north Leeds...

Nature Notes by Ian Brand An extended version can be found HERE. As soon as the last pumpkin has I am not sure why, but Crocuses (Spring Crocus, Crocus vernus and Early Crocus, C....

Nature Notes by Ian Brand An extended version can be found HERE. As soon as the last pumpkin has been sold for Halloween, the supermarket shelves change colour from orange to red with rows...

Nature Notes by Ian Brand An extended version can be found HERE. The Yorkshire Dales are known for their limestone scenery, especially limestone pavements. It is easy to think that the rock surface of...

Nature Notes by Ian Brand An extended version can be found HERE. The mention of plants and railways might make you think of poorly maintained plant troughs or the usual autumn excuses of ‘leaves...

Nature Notes by Ian Brand An expanded edition of these Nature Notes can be found HERE. Is there a north-south divide? There is botanically. The south with its warmer temperatures has more flowering plants...

An extended version of this article can be downloaded HERE. Last week I spent a morning rummaging around our wardrobe in the spare bedroom. It is where we keep all our outdoor gear. I...