
Blog: James Common
Buff tailed bumblebee. Image by: Chris Gomersall/2020VISION.
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Common by Nature: Weetslade - a parched paradise
Walking at Weetslade Country Park this past weekend, the rolling grasslands of the former colliery site appeared almost Mediterranean. Parched grasses, sapped by what seems like an eternity of…

Common by Nature: Enduring the beast at Cresswell Pond
The ‘Beast from the East’ struck last week and Northumberland, much like everywhere else in Britain, lay concealed under a blanket of snow. All around the county, the ground lay white, water…
Common by Nature: Winter walking at Bakethin
Bakethin, located a short-way upstream of Kielder Reservoir, is unique among nature reserves in Northumberland. Here, among the hulking frames of aged firs and a forest floor dominated by mossy…

Common by Nature: The autumn floodgates open at East Chevington
The tell-tale signs of autumn were clear to see upon my latest visit to NWT’s fabulous East Chevington reserve.

Common by Nature: An evening at Prestwick Carr
Prestwick Carr is, in my opinion, a terribly underappreciated site outside of the winter season: when migrant owls arrive and wildlife-watchers flock to the roadsides in search of their routine…
Common by Nature: Invertebrate hunting at Newsham Pond
As is often the case for birdwatchers during summer – when rarities are few and far between and excitement is thus limited – my attentions have recently turned towards invertebrates. Specifically…

Common by Nature: Walking at Weetslade
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…

Common by Nature: Dynamic Druridge
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…

Common by Nature: Spring comes to Holywell
Holywell Pond stands tall as another of Northumberland’s hidden gems.
Common by Nature: The Lady of the North
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…