Sad to see these two local Elms getting the chop- they had been going strong until the 2022 heatwave. I spoke to some of the guys doing the work and managed to secure some sizable cross sections for dendrochronlogy work. The memory of these trees will live on with me!

It's real!! Very excited to hold in my hands a hardback copy of my new book, THE LIE OF THE LAND - an expose of what the 'custodians of the countryside' have done to nature in Britain. Published 12th September - pre-order yours here: lnkfi.re/dsHR7n

A view of the Camel Estuary from Rock, oh and a little spirally flower too.

The Botanical University Challenge tote bags have arrived filled with botanical goodies for all at the 2nd Student Botany Festival @QueensCollegeOx from 28 August! Watch the contest here: bit.ly/46Tr6ju or follow the QR code. #BUC2024 University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum Gatsby Education New Phytologist BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland FSC Biodiversity

Day 1 of 2024 Azores field trip. The scenery at this new field site is not too bad. We are looking at plant adaptations to salinity in buck's horn plantain and the Azorean species of sea lavender Biological and Marine Sciences University of Plymouth Billy Fullwood

New ‘Tracking the Colour of Peatlands’ site has been installed - Lochend - a Peatland ACTION restoration site on Shetland! #PeatTwitter #PeatColours

Botanical University Challenge #BUC2024 semifinal team from team Backs Buttercups University of Cambridge. For a reminder sign up at forms.office.com/e/Aw2uJn5vWq Streamed live on the day, then recorded YouTube youtube.com/@BotanicalUniv… Department of Plant Sciences Cam Botanic Garden @HamishSymington

What a tree! 🌳😍This Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) has a diameter of well over 2 meters. Hard to translate the size in pictures. Probably one of the most impressively big trees I have come across in the UK #trees #SummerBankHoliday Ancient Tree Forum

The survivors photo after a fabulously varied day 2 - the careers and employability day Botanical University Challenge 2nd Student Botany Festival @QueensCollegeOx #BUC2024 University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum Gatsby Education New Phytologist BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland FSC Biodiversity

Devil's Bit and Grass-of-Parnassus at the Lye Valley this afternoon 🤩 and many pathogens including Puccinia convolvuli and Ragnhildiana ferruginea. A strikingly diverse place deep in suburban Oxford.

Had a brilliant few days in Oxford for Botanical University Challenge 2024! Everyday was jam-packed with inspired talks, good food, and most importantly- botanical fun! Here's to Botanical University Challenge 2025! 🌱

Nice morning on the locally restored heathland near my house. Despite the muggy weather a few Whitethroat,Wheatear & Chiffchaff around along with all the regular bits & bobs.

The improbable Babington’s Leek (Allium ampeloprasum babingtonii) almost 2m tall at Gwithien Towans, Cornwall - a British (including Channel Is) endemic. Hard to miss! #wildflowerhour

Autumn Lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) was quite frequent on short dune turf at Gwithien in Cornwall this week, always lovely to see #wildflowerhour #orchids

Flanders Moss in Scotland looking lovely in the sunshine this past weekend - including another #bogdog 📸 taken by the public as part of the Tracking the Colour of Peatlands project #PeatTwitter #PeatColours

Congratulations to Cambridge University Backs Buttercups on winning the Botanical University Challenge finals last week! 👉tinyurl.com/mr2986ek 🎉🏆🌱🌸

I had such a great time in Oxford last week, it'll stay with me for a while. What a wonderful city!

Grass of Parnassus in #LyeValley #fen #SSSI seems to get well pollinated despite deceiving insects with its branched 'false nectaries' - groups of shining globules, look like nectar drops, but give none.... here just a variety of inverts searching,or just resting, in the flowers.

Pleased to take some members of the Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire to #LyeValley #fen to appreciate everything about the remarkable Grass of Parnassus, still flowering in abundance in a restoration area. Thanks to C. Hoskin for the photo. Friends of Lye Valley

Ooooo! It’s the best time of year! It’s when my pasture is grazed low on purpose so my bloody lovely #waxcap fungi get to shine like the beauties they are!! Only a few out so far, but I can almost smell the rest just waiting to make an appearance!