Common by Nature: Spring comes to Holywell
Holywell Pond stands tall as another of Northumberland’s hidden gems.
Holywell Pond stands tall as another of Northumberland’s hidden gems.
NWT’s Druridge Pools reserve, alongside the National Trust’s Druridge Links, is perhaps the best place in Northumberland at which to watch the spring season unfold. A bold claim to be sure, yet…
The fluffy, white heads of common cotton-grass dot our brown, boggy moors and heaths as if a giant bag of cotton wool balls has been thrown across the landscape!
This common fungus puffs out clouds of spores when it's mature.
Mainly found in Southern and Eastern England, the Common hornbeam is a tall tree of ancient woodlands. Its large catkins appear in spring, and its winged seeds are dispersed by the wind in autumn…
Northumberlandia is a site I have visited regularly since it was unveiled in 2012; due to its curious appearance and exciting wildlife, but mostly due to the ease at which it can be accessed by…
Located no more than a stone’s throw from the bustling heart of Newcastle, yet rife with splendid views, vibrant blooms and great wildlife, Weetslade Country Park is somewhat unique on a local…
The Common clubtail is on the wing in spring and summer. It is an elusive dragonfly that is easiest to see when it first emerges. It can be found along rivers in Southern England and Wales.
In spring and summer, look out for 'cuckoo-spit' - the frothy mass of bubbles that appears on plant stems everywhere. This is actually the protective covering for the nymphs of the tiny…
A scrambling 'weed' of waste ground, fields and gardens, Common fumitory can be found on dry and disturbed soils. Its pink flowers appear over spring and summer.
Despite its name, the "common" skate is not so common anymore. In fact, they are Critically Endangered.
A sprawling, spiny evergreen, Common juniper is famous for its traditional role in gin-making. Once common on downland, moorland and coastal heathland, it is now much rarer due to habitat loss.…