Neil Forbes
@treebeard793.bsky.social
Ecologist, based in South Cumbria. Mostly focused on coastal, wetland, limestone and upland habitats; botany, birds & Natterjacks. Views my own.
Reposted by Neil Forbes
Today we raised our voices outside Scottish Parliament in one last push to ensure politicians stand up for Scotland's nature.
The Natural Environment Bill could be a game-changer - introducing nature targets and Swift bricks. The final debate starts today, we hope to see major wins for wildlife.
The Natural Environment Bill could be a game-changer - introducing nature targets and Swift bricks. The final debate starts today, we hope to see major wins for wildlife.
January 27, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Today we raised our voices outside Scottish Parliament in one last push to ensure politicians stand up for Scotland's nature.
The Natural Environment Bill could be a game-changer - introducing nature targets and Swift bricks. The final debate starts today, we hope to see major wins for wildlife.
The Natural Environment Bill could be a game-changer - introducing nature targets and Swift bricks. The final debate starts today, we hope to see major wins for wildlife.
January 25, 2026 at 8:54 PM
First of the year for me. Lesser Celendine, Ficaria verna. Early for up here in North Lancs.
Jenny Brown's Point, #Silverdale
#wildflowerhour
Jenny Brown's Point, #Silverdale
#wildflowerhour
January 25, 2026 at 8:48 PM
First of the year for me. Lesser Celendine, Ficaria verna. Early for up here in North Lancs.
Jenny Brown's Point, #Silverdale
#wildflowerhour
Jenny Brown's Point, #Silverdale
#wildflowerhour
It's a classic early flowering species, but not usually this in these parts. Erophila verna, Arnside Promenade.
A total of 69 records this year on the #NewYearPlantHunt but I'd wager not many were this far north.
#wildflowerhour
A total of 69 records this year on the #NewYearPlantHunt but I'd wager not many were this far north.
#wildflowerhour
January 25, 2026 at 8:27 PM
It's a classic early flowering species, but not usually this in these parts. Erophila verna, Arnside Promenade.
A total of 69 records this year on the #NewYearPlantHunt but I'd wager not many were this far north.
#wildflowerhour
A total of 69 records this year on the #NewYearPlantHunt but I'd wager not many were this far north.
#wildflowerhour
Slow going on the #BigGardenBirdwatch today but we managed 15 species and 52 birds by the end (also Great Tit, Greenfinch & Collared Dove nearby but not obliging). House Sparrows (19) as usual stole the show & it was nice to get a Goldcrest right at the end.
@rspb.bsky.social
@rspb.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Slow going on the #BigGardenBirdwatch today but we managed 15 species and 52 birds by the end (also Great Tit, Greenfinch & Collared Dove nearby but not obliging). House Sparrows (19) as usual stole the show & it was nice to get a Goldcrest right at the end.
@rspb.bsky.social
@rspb.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil Forbes
This might be the most metal beetle I've ever seen.
January 18, 2026 at 5:34 PM
This might be the most metal beetle I've ever seen.
Whilst the first #spring plants are now on their way, some stragglers from last year still remain.
Nipplewort in South Cumbria.
This was the 25th most frequently recorded species with 243 records on the #NewYearPlantHunt
#wildflowerhour
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
nyph.bsbi.org/species.php?...
Nipplewort in South Cumbria.
This was the 25th most frequently recorded species with 243 records on the #NewYearPlantHunt
#wildflowerhour
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
nyph.bsbi.org/species.php?...
January 18, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Whilst the first #spring plants are now on their way, some stragglers from last year still remain.
Nipplewort in South Cumbria.
This was the 25th most frequently recorded species with 243 records on the #NewYearPlantHunt
#wildflowerhour
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
nyph.bsbi.org/species.php?...
Nipplewort in South Cumbria.
This was the 25th most frequently recorded species with 243 records on the #NewYearPlantHunt
#wildflowerhour
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
nyph.bsbi.org/species.php?...
Aren't Hazel flowers brilliant 💚
- The Lodge Nature Reserve.
#wildflowerhour
#Phenology
#Hedgerows
#Tree #Flowers
@rspbengland.bsky.social
- The Lodge Nature Reserve.
#wildflowerhour
#Phenology
#Hedgerows
#Tree #Flowers
@rspbengland.bsky.social
January 18, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Aren't Hazel flowers brilliant 💚
- The Lodge Nature Reserve.
#wildflowerhour
#Phenology
#Hedgerows
#Tree #Flowers
@rspbengland.bsky.social
- The Lodge Nature Reserve.
#wildflowerhour
#Phenology
#Hedgerows
#Tree #Flowers
@rspbengland.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil Forbes
"There is one political problem from which all others follow, [including] the devastation of the living world.
It is simply stated: the extreme wealth of a small number of people."
If you truly care about nature, it's madness to ignore the root cause of its destruction.
It is simply stated: the extreme wealth of a small number of people."
If you truly care about nature, it's madness to ignore the root cause of its destruction.
It is the source of so many of our evils: the astonishing concentration of wealth in the hands of a very few, and the immense political power that gives them. We cannot solve our problems until we tackle it.
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
At the root of all our problems stands one travesty: politicians’ surrender to the super-rich | George Monbiot
There are many excuses for failing to tax the ultra-wealthy. The truth is that governments don’t tackle the problem because they don’t want to, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:10 AM
"There is one political problem from which all others follow, [including] the devastation of the living world.
It is simply stated: the extreme wealth of a small number of people."
If you truly care about nature, it's madness to ignore the root cause of its destruction.
It is simply stated: the extreme wealth of a small number of people."
If you truly care about nature, it's madness to ignore the root cause of its destruction.
Reposted by Neil Forbes
Six roles with @rspbcymru.bsky.social to survey breeding waders in #Wales in March/April, with a particular focus on #Curlews. Closing date is 25 January.
#ConservationJobs
app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car...
#ConservationJobs
app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car...
Breeding Wader Surveyor (Fixed Term) | RSPB
We are looking for fieldworkers to undertake a survey of breeding wader species at sites across Wales (primarily in North Wales, Powys and Gwent). The role will be mobile, visiting a wide range of upl...
app.vacancy-filler.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Six roles with @rspbcymru.bsky.social to survey breeding waders in #Wales in March/April, with a particular focus on #Curlews. Closing date is 25 January.
#ConservationJobs
app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car...
#ConservationJobs
app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car...
Reposted by Neil Forbes
The Little Tern colony @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social is one of the most productive in the UK. A funding shortfall means eggs & chicks could be lost to disturbance & predation in 2026. Please donate and spread the word to keep our #LittleTerns safe. #SuperSeabirdSunday #seabirds gofund.me/45a4b0054
Donate to Save the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project, organized by Spurn Bird Obs
Without urgent support, the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project may not be able … Spurn Bird Obs needs your support for Save the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project
gofund.me
January 16, 2026 at 1:11 PM
The Little Tern colony @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social is one of the most productive in the UK. A funding shortfall means eggs & chicks could be lost to disturbance & predation in 2026. Please donate and spread the word to keep our #LittleTerns safe. #SuperSeabirdSunday #seabirds gofund.me/45a4b0054
After the excitement of the #NewYearPlantHumt I've barely had a minute to look for plants this week. Nothing in flower of note but this thriving patch of Black Spleenwort brightened up a very wet, grey day in the Forest of #Bowland today.
#wildflowerhour
#WildFernHour
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#wildflowerhour
#WildFernHour
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
January 11, 2026 at 8:00 PM
After the excitement of the #NewYearPlantHumt I've barely had a minute to look for plants this week. Nothing in flower of note but this thriving patch of Black Spleenwort brightened up a very wet, grey day in the Forest of #Bowland today.
#wildflowerhour
#WildFernHour
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#wildflowerhour
#WildFernHour
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil Forbes
If you missed my talk on alien plants and have an hour to kill before #TheTraitors (haha!), it’s now available here www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCdC.... Enjoy! @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Winter Talk: Urban plants, with Trevor Dines
YouTube video by Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:39 PM
If you missed my talk on alien plants and have an hour to kill before #TheTraitors (haha!), it’s now available here www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCdC.... Enjoy! @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Too early for the #NewYearPlantHunt, Cow Parsely was an unexpected find in Kentmere on 29th Dec given that there was almost nothing else in flower here.
#wildflowerhour
#Cumbria
#wildflowerhour
#Cumbria
January 4, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Too early for the #NewYearPlantHunt, Cow Parsely was an unexpected find in Kentmere on 29th Dec given that there was almost nothing else in flower here.
#wildflowerhour
#Cumbria
#wildflowerhour
#Cumbria
Heathwaite (Arnside Knott) for the #NewYearPlantHunt
Lesser trefoil was unexpected and Procumbent Pearlwort was pleasing due to the sheer improbability of finding one of the tiny flowers at this time of year. Crepis capillaris a bit more expected bit always nice to see
#wildflowerhour
Lesser trefoil was unexpected and Procumbent Pearlwort was pleasing due to the sheer improbability of finding one of the tiny flowers at this time of year. Crepis capillaris a bit more expected bit always nice to see
#wildflowerhour
January 4, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Heathwaite (Arnside Knott) for the #NewYearPlantHunt
Lesser trefoil was unexpected and Procumbent Pearlwort was pleasing due to the sheer improbability of finding one of the tiny flowers at this time of year. Crepis capillaris a bit more expected bit always nice to see
#wildflowerhour
Lesser trefoil was unexpected and Procumbent Pearlwort was pleasing due to the sheer improbability of finding one of the tiny flowers at this time of year. Crepis capillaris a bit more expected bit always nice to see
#wildflowerhour
The #Winter10 (16) for the #NewYearPlantHunt
#wildflowerhour
#Arnside Village, #Cumbria
An equal split between native and naturalised species (I think).
Names in Alt.
#wildflowerhour
#Arnside Village, #Cumbria
An equal split between native and naturalised species (I think).
Names in Alt.
January 4, 2026 at 8:46 PM
The #Winter10 (16) for the #NewYearPlantHunt
#wildflowerhour
#Arnside Village, #Cumbria
An equal split between native and naturalised species (I think).
Names in Alt.
#wildflowerhour
#Arnside Village, #Cumbria
An equal split between native and naturalised species (I think).
Names in Alt.
We really weren't expecting to find Early Hair-grass, Aira praecox at Low Wood in the Duddon Valley on the #NewYearPlantHunt. Early normally means April not Jan. The supporting cast included Hazel catkins & Wavy Bittercress.
#wildflowerhour
#Cumbria
#wildflowerhour
#Cumbria
January 4, 2026 at 8:42 PM
We really weren't expecting to find Early Hair-grass, Aira praecox at Low Wood in the Duddon Valley on the #NewYearPlantHunt. Early normally means April not Jan. The supporting cast included Hazel catkins & Wavy Bittercress.
#wildflowerhour
#Cumbria
#wildflowerhour
#Cumbria
The #Winter 10 (12) from @rspbengland.bsky.social #Hodbarrow
#NewYearPlantHunt for #wildflowerhour
Silver Hair-grass was the least expected species. Rough Hawkbit and Smooth Hawk's-beard were nice to get. & Tim Rich has kindly confirmed that we can count the Scarlet Pimpernel as flowering 😁
#NewYearPlantHunt for #wildflowerhour
Silver Hair-grass was the least expected species. Rough Hawkbit and Smooth Hawk's-beard were nice to get. & Tim Rich has kindly confirmed that we can count the Scarlet Pimpernel as flowering 😁
January 4, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The #Winter 10 (12) from @rspbengland.bsky.social #Hodbarrow
#NewYearPlantHunt for #wildflowerhour
Silver Hair-grass was the least expected species. Rough Hawkbit and Smooth Hawk's-beard were nice to get. & Tim Rich has kindly confirmed that we can count the Scarlet Pimpernel as flowering 😁
#NewYearPlantHunt for #wildflowerhour
Silver Hair-grass was the least expected species. Rough Hawkbit and Smooth Hawk's-beard were nice to get. & Tim Rich has kindly confirmed that we can count the Scarlet Pimpernel as flowering 😁
Reposted by Neil Forbes
We've been working with @metoffice.gov.uk to analyse 10 years of #NewYearPlantHunt data.
The analysis provides the clearest evidence yet of how rising temperatures are impacting the British & Irish flora, with knock-on effects for all our wildlife.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The analysis provides the clearest evidence yet of how rising temperatures are impacting the British & Irish flora, with knock-on effects for all our wildlife.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Winter blooming of hundreds of plants in UK ‘visible signal’ of climate breakdown
New year plant hunt shows rising temperatures are shifting natural cycles of wildflowers such as daisies
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:25 AM
We've been working with @metoffice.gov.uk to analyse 10 years of #NewYearPlantHunt data.
The analysis provides the clearest evidence yet of how rising temperatures are impacting the British & Irish flora, with knock-on effects for all our wildlife.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The analysis provides the clearest evidence yet of how rising temperatures are impacting the British & Irish flora, with knock-on effects for all our wildlife.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Any thoughts on including this Lysimachia arvensis in the #NewYearPlantHunt ?
We've erred on the side of caution and omitted it at present but aware that the flowers can close up in certain weather conditions. It was a fairly bright, cold and dry day though.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
We've erred on the side of caution and omitted it at present but aware that the flowers can close up in certain weather conditions. It was a fairly bright, cold and dry day though.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
January 3, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Any thoughts on including this Lysimachia arvensis in the #NewYearPlantHunt ?
We've erred on the side of caution and omitted it at present but aware that the flowers can close up in certain weather conditions. It was a fairly bright, cold and dry day though.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
We've erred on the side of caution and omitted it at present but aware that the flowers can close up in certain weather conditions. It was a fairly bright, cold and dry day though.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
Some amazing figures from the first two days of the #NewYearPlantHunt. We've managed two surveys so far in Cumbria. The most unexpected finds have been both Aira praecox and caryophyllea. Lets see what we can find today.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
January 3, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Some amazing figures from the first two days of the #NewYearPlantHunt. We've managed two surveys so far in Cumbria. The most unexpected finds have been both Aira praecox and caryophyllea. Lets see what we can find today.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
Crepis capillaris (Smooth Hawk's-beard) on Arnside Knott today. Looking likely to be a few in flower for the #NewYearPlantHunt.
2 days to go.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
2 days to go.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Crepis capillaris (Smooth Hawk's-beard) on Arnside Knott today. Looking likely to be a few in flower for the #NewYearPlantHunt.
2 days to go.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
2 days to go.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
One of the more common winter-flowering grasses - Dactylis glomerata, Cock's-foot.
#wildflowerhour
Witherslack, South #Cumbria
#wildflowerhour
Witherslack, South #Cumbria
December 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
One of the more common winter-flowering grasses - Dactylis glomerata, Cock's-foot.
#wildflowerhour
Witherslack, South #Cumbria
#wildflowerhour
Witherslack, South #Cumbria
I walked right past this one 3 times before I finally spotted it.
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis.
#StillFlowerimg for #wildflowerhour
Witherslack
South #Cumbria
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis.
#StillFlowerimg for #wildflowerhour
Witherslack
South #Cumbria
December 28, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I walked right past this one 3 times before I finally spotted it.
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis.
#StillFlowerimg for #wildflowerhour
Witherslack
South #Cumbria
Nipplewort, Lapsana communis.
#StillFlowerimg for #wildflowerhour
Witherslack
South #Cumbria
Becoming something of a regular find in December (but nowhere near as much of an outlier as my October 2023 record). Just one in flower, plus one in bud, from a cast of hundreds.
Saxifraga tridactylites, Rue-leaved Saxifrage.
#wildflowerhour
Yewbarrow, #Cumbria
Saxifraga tridactylites, Rue-leaved Saxifrage.
#wildflowerhour
Yewbarrow, #Cumbria
December 28, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Becoming something of a regular find in December (but nowhere near as much of an outlier as my October 2023 record). Just one in flower, plus one in bud, from a cast of hundreds.
Saxifraga tridactylites, Rue-leaved Saxifrage.
#wildflowerhour
Yewbarrow, #Cumbria
Saxifraga tridactylites, Rue-leaved Saxifrage.
#wildflowerhour
Yewbarrow, #Cumbria