Big Meadow Search
@bigmeadowsearch.bsky.social
UK project to raise awareness and interest in plants, highlighting species interactions (plants and inverts, galls, fungi etc) & encouraging plant recording during the Big Meadow Search (1st June-31st Aug). All welcome #nature #plants bigmeadowsearch.co.uk
To keep momentum going and to stop our botanical brains from seizing up over the winter, I shall be posting a series of vegetative ID posts through December and January.
The posts will start on Monday 1st December. I hope you will find them useful
The posts will start on Monday 1st December. I hope you will find them useful
November 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
To keep momentum going and to stop our botanical brains from seizing up over the winter, I shall be posting a series of vegetative ID posts through December and January.
The posts will start on Monday 1st December. I hope you will find them useful
The posts will start on Monday 1st December. I hope you will find them useful
Yet more depressing news on the state of our species in a new report from Natural Resources Wales.
Link to report in comments
Link to report in comments
November 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Yet more depressing news on the state of our species in a new report from Natural Resources Wales.
Link to report in comments
Link to report in comments
I left it a bit late to find a flowering plant for tonight’s #wildflowerhour but in so doing, I have ended up taking a close look at a Lady’s-mantle flowers for the first time
November 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I left it a bit late to find a flowering plant for tonight’s #wildflowerhour but in so doing, I have ended up taking a close look at a Lady’s-mantle flowers for the first time
For #wildflowerhour it’s a lone Great Mullein, Verbascum thapsus flower from me.
Larval food plant for Mullein and Cinnabar caterpillars
Larval food plant for Mullein and Cinnabar caterpillars
November 16, 2025 at 8:25 PM
For #wildflowerhour it’s a lone Great Mullein, Verbascum thapsus flower from me.
Larval food plant for Mullein and Cinnabar caterpillars
Larval food plant for Mullein and Cinnabar caterpillars
For #wildflowerhour it’s the unglamorous Annual Meadow Grass, Poa annua. According to the 1864 Flora of Harrow, this and Shepherd’s-purse were considered to be the most common plants in the world
November 9, 2025 at 8:07 PM
For #wildflowerhour it’s the unglamorous Annual Meadow Grass, Poa annua. According to the 1864 Flora of Harrow, this and Shepherd’s-purse were considered to be the most common plants in the world
For #wildflowerhour it’s Common Chickweed, Stellaria media and a question from me.
Does anyone know the purpose/function/advantage of having hairs on alternating sides of the stem? I’m intrigued 🤔Thanks
Does anyone know the purpose/function/advantage of having hairs on alternating sides of the stem? I’m intrigued 🤔Thanks
November 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
For #wildflowerhour it’s Common Chickweed, Stellaria media and a question from me.
Does anyone know the purpose/function/advantage of having hairs on alternating sides of the stem? I’m intrigued 🤔Thanks
Does anyone know the purpose/function/advantage of having hairs on alternating sides of the stem? I’m intrigued 🤔Thanks
Snap (I think) near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire
November 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Snap (I think) near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire
Bramble associated species: Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Noctua janthe. Forewing up to 20mm. Flies July to early September. Wide range of larval food plants inc. Bramble, White Dead-nettle, Broad-leaved Dock, Lords-and-ladies, hawthorns, sallows and Blackthorn.
November 2, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Bramble associated species: Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Noctua janthe. Forewing up to 20mm. Flies July to early September. Wide range of larval food plants inc. Bramble, White Dead-nettle, Broad-leaved Dock, Lords-and-ladies, hawthorns, sallows and Blackthorn.
Bramble associated species: Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Noctua fimbriata. Up to 27mm long forewing. Flies July to September. Uses a wide range of larval food plants including Bramble, Blackthorn, Cleavers, Broad-leaved Dock, Common Nettle, Primrose and Hawthorn.
November 1, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Bramble associated species: Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Noctua fimbriata. Up to 27mm long forewing. Flies July to September. Uses a wide range of larval food plants including Bramble, Blackthorn, Cleavers, Broad-leaved Dock, Common Nettle, Primrose and Hawthorn.
For #wildflowerhour here in Wales it’s the Welsh Poppy, Papaver cambricum. Leaves pinnate, dull pale or glaucous green. Yellow flowers up to 7.5cm, solitary, in leaf axils.
October 26, 2025 at 8:12 PM
For #wildflowerhour here in Wales it’s the Welsh Poppy, Papaver cambricum. Leaves pinnate, dull pale or glaucous green. Yellow flowers up to 7.5cm, solitary, in leaf axils.
Here are earlier stage Lackey larvae (this is not speeded up)
October 21, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Here are earlier stage Lackey larvae (this is not speeded up)
Bramble associated species: Lackey, Malacosoma neustria. Larval foodplants include Bramble, Blackthorn, Dog-rose, Hawthorn and Apple. Early instar larvae live together in white, silk tent. Final instar larvae disperse and feed singly
October 21, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Bramble associated species: Lackey, Malacosoma neustria. Larval foodplants include Bramble, Blackthorn, Dog-rose, Hawthorn and Apple. Early instar larvae live together in white, silk tent. Final instar larvae disperse and feed singly
For tonight’s #wildflowerhour it’s Himalayan Knotweed, Koenigia polystachya. Still in full flower in Llandovery. Much less common than Japanese Knotweed as the BSBI map shows
October 19, 2025 at 7:24 PM
For tonight’s #wildflowerhour it’s Himalayan Knotweed, Koenigia polystachya. Still in full flower in Llandovery. Much less common than Japanese Knotweed as the BSBI map shows
Bramble associated species: Bee Beetle, Trichius fasciatus. Adults approx. 1cm. Females lay eggs in dead wood. Larvae feed on dead wood for up to two years. Adults live up to 8 weeks and feed on pollen and nectar
October 19, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Bramble associated species: Bee Beetle, Trichius fasciatus. Adults approx. 1cm. Females lay eggs in dead wood. Larvae feed on dead wood for up to two years. Adults live up to 8 weeks and feed on pollen and nectar
Bramble associated species: Emperor Moth, Saturina pavonia. Flies April-late May. Males are day flyers, females fly at night. Larval food plants include Bramble, heathers, Meadowsweet, hawthorns, Blackthorn, sallows and birches. Larvae feed gregariously out in the open to start with
October 15, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Bramble associated species: Emperor Moth, Saturina pavonia. Flies April-late May. Males are day flyers, females fly at night. Larval food plants include Bramble, heathers, Meadowsweet, hawthorns, Blackthorn, sallows and birches. Larvae feed gregariously out in the open to start with
Bramble associated species: Food plant for the micro moth Stigmella aurella. Leaf mines very common. Mines are long and serpentine and can cross veins and the mid rib. One part of the mine typically has broad line of frass (distinguishing it from S. splendidissimella).
October 13, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Bramble associated species: Food plant for the micro moth Stigmella aurella. Leaf mines very common. Mines are long and serpentine and can cross veins and the mid rib. One part of the mine typically has broad line of frass (distinguishing it from S. splendidissimella).
For #wildflowerhour it’s Pineappleweed, Matricaria discoidea. Pineapple scented when crushed. Much-branched, up to 35cm. Bristle tipped, yellowish-green leaflet lobes. Solitary discoid heads on short stalks, up to 8mm across. No ray florets.
October 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
For #wildflowerhour it’s Pineappleweed, Matricaria discoidea. Pineapple scented when crushed. Much-branched, up to 35cm. Bristle tipped, yellowish-green leaflet lobes. Solitary discoid heads on short stalks, up to 8mm across. No ray florets.
Bramble associated species: Peppered Moth, Biston betularia. Wing length up to 28mm. Flies early May to late August. Wide range of larval food plants including Bramble, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, birches, limes, sallows, oaks, Broom, Goldenrod, Beech and roses. Common across UK & Eire
October 12, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Bramble associated species: Peppered Moth, Biston betularia. Wing length up to 28mm. Flies early May to late August. Wide range of larval food plants including Bramble, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, birches, limes, sallows, oaks, Broom, Goldenrod, Beech and roses. Common across UK & Eire
Bramble associated species: Broom Moth, Ceramica pisi. Wing length up to 20mm. Flies late May to July. Larval foodplants include Bramble, Broom, Heather, Bracken, Sea-buckthorn, larches and sallows. Common across GB and Ireland.
October 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Bramble associated species: Broom Moth, Ceramica pisi. Wing length up to 20mm. Flies late May to July. Larval foodplants include Bramble, Broom, Heather, Bracken, Sea-buckthorn, larches and sallows. Common across GB and Ireland.
Bramble associated species: Green Arches, Anaplectoides prasina. Wing length up to 25mm. Flies June to July. Larvae feed on a variety of shrubs and herbaceous plants including Bramble, Bilberry, Honeysuckle, Primrose, docks. Common across most of Britain
October 11, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Bramble associated species: Green Arches, Anaplectoides prasina. Wing length up to 25mm. Flies June to July. Larvae feed on a variety of shrubs and herbaceous plants including Bramble, Bilberry, Honeysuckle, Primrose, docks. Common across most of Britain
Bramble associated species: Buff Arches, Habrosyne pyritoides. Up to 20mm. Flies late June to early August. Larval food plants are Bramble and Dewberry. Common in England, Ireland and Wales. Scarce in Scotland
October 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Bramble associated species: Buff Arches, Habrosyne pyritoides. Up to 20mm. Flies late June to early August. Larval food plants are Bramble and Dewberry. Common in England, Ireland and Wales. Scarce in Scotland
Bramble associated species: Peach Blossom, Thyatira batis. Flies late May to late July. Larval foodplant is Bramble. Common across the UK
October 11, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Bramble associated species: Peach Blossom, Thyatira batis. Flies late May to late July. Larval foodplant is Bramble. Common across the UK
Bramble, Rubus fruticosus agg: you have no doubt heard the slogan ‘A dog isn’t just for Christmas’ well I think we need a new slogan……..
I shall be making a series of posts highlighting a variety of species associated with it.
I shall be making a series of posts highlighting a variety of species associated with it.
October 11, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Bramble, Rubus fruticosus agg: you have no doubt heard the slogan ‘A dog isn’t just for Christmas’ well I think we need a new slogan……..
I shall be making a series of posts highlighting a variety of species associated with it.
I shall be making a series of posts highlighting a variety of species associated with it.
Black Nightshade, Solanum nigrum. Up to 70cm. Leaves up to 5cm long and variably toothed. White flowers with blunt sepals. Shiny black mature berries.
October 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Black Nightshade, Solanum nigrum. Up to 70cm. Leaves up to 5cm long and variably toothed. White flowers with blunt sepals. Shiny black mature berries.
Me too. Impressive and beautiful
October 6, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Me too. Impressive and beautiful