Steven Oliver
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steven-oliver.bsky.social
Steven Oliver
@steven-oliver.bsky.social
Recovering public health academic (retired)
Now mainly: natural world | history | prison education | research ethics


‘Yorkshire Best’ in winter, #255 in #treehunting. Yorkshire’s largest Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) dominating the former Beverley Sessions House, 3 of 1000
January 1, 2026 at 3:40 PM
‘Good Neighbour’ #256 #treehunting Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) on Cedar Grove in Beverley, 2 of 1000
January 1, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by Steven Oliver
Final Yearlist to end of December 2025
stands at 164 species.
A good total in what by recent standards could be considered a quiet year with only 1 new addition to the reserve list, a Hoopoe seen by a lucky few on the 3rd October.
@northcavewet.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 8:05 AM
A Humber sunrise en route to the 1st Parkrun of 2026. Happy New Year!
January 1, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Steven Oliver
A fine finale for 2025 - one of #nature’s greatest displays of 70,000+ #starlings preparing for roosting #murmuration @northcavewet.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social
December 31, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Delighted to see Brian's efforts across Public Health and Health Economics recognised 👇👇👇
Three York academics have been recognised in the King's New Year Honours 👏 🎉
Please join us in offering a huge congratulations to:
- Professor Avtar Matharu
- Dee Dyas
- Professor Brian Ferguson
Find out more about their achievements at: https://tinyurl.com/54r2zcyb
#YorkResearch #NewYearHonours
December 30, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Steven Oliver
Fantastic news! Well deserved recognition. 👏👏👏
🎉 Absolutely thrilled to see four ADPH members on this year's New Year Honours List.

Congratulations to our President @felly500.bsky.social OBE, Vice President Alice Wiseman MBE, Dr Catherine Mbema MBE & Tim Allison MBE! 👏
December 30, 2025 at 6:53 AM
‘At the still point of the turning world’ @northcavewet.bsky.social
December 29, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Not that much in flower @northcavewet.bsky.social but Wood avens (Geum urbanum) provided some tiny points of colour.
December 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Bramble is nothing if not an optimist! Flowering today around @northcavewet.bsky.social 🙂 Elsewhere: curlews and stonechats
December 29, 2025 at 1:05 PM
‘Workhouse Elm’ in winter, Scarborough. Tree 230 in Paul Wood’s ‘Tree Hunting’ @thestreettree.bsky.social. A weeping Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra ‘Horizontalis’) #1 of 1000, the game’s afoot! 🙂
December 28, 2025 at 6:09 PM
‘She’s been!’ 🧑🏻‍🎄 Happy Christmas!
December 25, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Alder in flower on a quiet morning @northcavewet.bsky.social Elsewhere: goldfinches and siskins in the alder
December 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
A mild wet winter @northcavewet.bsky.social allowing a Devil’s Coach-horse (Ocypus olens) to still be on the road in December.
December 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Hazel in flower on an overcast day @northcavewet.bsky.social. Elsewhere: Bearded Tits
December 15, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Steven Oliver
Poinsettias are popular plants often used at this time of year to decorate and brighten up our indoor spaces, so here's an illustration of such a bright flower to brighten up your feeds on this December Sunday morning, curtesy of our 19thC Collection.

#ArchiveAdventCalendar #Decoration
December 14, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Apparently this lichen @northcavewet.bsky.social was wearing 'sunscreen' today. Xanthoria parietina, produces a chemical (parietin) that along with giving it a yellow colouration provides it with UV protection (perhaps a bit optimistic in Yorkshire ... in December 😆) Elsewhere: goldcrests.
December 8, 2025 at 5:25 PM
A year on Bluesky in emojis - I’m happy with that! 😀
December 3, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Very few invertebrates to see today in the 🌧️ @northcavewet.bsky.social. So this Common Wasp was a welcome splash of colour. Elsewhere: murmurating starlings.
December 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A glimpse into dragonfly lifecycle today @northcavewet.bsky.social 🐉Scars on willow bark, sites where Willow Emerald Damselfly eggs were laid and overwintered. Larvae then hatched and dropped into the water below. Elsewhere: Bittern & Bullfinches @yorkswildlife.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by Steven Oliver
This Bittern, one of two birds currently on the reserve, gave excellent views as it fished in the cut channel on Village Lake below the Turret Hide at North Cave Wetlands this morning.
@northcavewet.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Surely there can only be one scientific response…. Shun the frumious Bandersnatch!
Rate your score on Factor Fexcectorn.

Well done, Scientific Reports. pubpeer.com/publications...
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Steven Oliver
👇👇👇👇👇👇 #vaccineswork
November 27, 2025 at 12:00 AM
and in other news….
November 27, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Reposted by Steven Oliver
Bishop Wilton Wold – better after it's highest point Garrowby Hill – is situated in the Yorkshire Wolds, a broad sweep of farmland rising north of Pocklington, with the A166 skimming its crest. But its quiet fields hold a sombre memory. On the morning of
November 27, 2025 at 6:38 AM